The Sunset (The Moody Blues song)
Encyclopedia
"The Sunset" is a song from The Moody Blues
1967 album Days of Future Passed
. It is the second of three songs on the album representing the evening, along with "(Evening) Time to Get Away
" (which is actually on "The Afternoon" track), and "Twilight Time
." Written by keyboardist Mike Pinder
, "The Sunset" is a very low-key song describing the scene in the sky as the sun sets. At the end of the song, an orchestral transition is used to segue the song into "Twilight Time." This orchestral transition also includes a brief orchestral excerpt from "Forever Afternoon
" (which is better known as "Tuesday Afternoon"). "The Sunset" is one of two songs written by Mike Pinder for Days of Future Passed, with the other being "Dawn is a Feeling
."
The original LP
featured piano underneath the mellotron part of the song. In 1978, the entire album was remixed due to deterioration of the original master tapes, and the piano backing was removed.
"The Sunset" should not be confused with the Moody Blues later song "English Sunset
", which was released in 1999 on Strange Times.
The Moody Blues
The Moody Blues are an English rock band. Among their innovations was a fusion with classical music, most notably in their 1967 album Days of Future Passed....
1967 album Days of Future Passed
Days of Future Passed
Days of Future Passed is the second album and first concept album by The Moody Blues, released in 1967. It was also their first album to feature Justin Hayward and John Lodge, who would play a very strong role in directing the band's sound in the decades to come...
. It is the second of three songs on the album representing the evening, along with "(Evening) Time to Get Away
(Evening) Time to Get Away
" Time to Get Away" is an unlisted song from The Moody Blues 1967 album Days of Future Passed, a concept album with each song representing a part of the day...
" (which is actually on "The Afternoon" track), and "Twilight Time
Twilight Time (The Moody Blues song)
"Twilight Time" is a song from The Moody Blues' 1967 album Days of Future Passed. It is the final of three songs on the album representing the evening, along with " Time to Get Away" , and "The Sunset." Written by the Moody Blues' flautist Ray Thomas, "Twilight Time" primarily describes the scene...
." Written by keyboardist Mike Pinder
Mike Pinder
Michael Thomas "Mike" Pinder is an English rock musician, and is a founding member or the British rock group, the Moody Blues. He left the group following the recording of the band's album, Octave, in 1978...
, "The Sunset" is a very low-key song describing the scene in the sky as the sun sets. At the end of the song, an orchestral transition is used to segue the song into "Twilight Time." This orchestral transition also includes a brief orchestral excerpt from "Forever Afternoon
Tuesday Afternoon
"Tuesday Afternoon" is a 1968 single by English symphonic rock band The Moody Blues, and presented in its original album form on their 1967 album Days of Future Passed in two parts.-Part one:The first part, the one most familiar to listeners, called "Tuesday Afternoon", was...
" (which is better known as "Tuesday Afternoon"). "The Sunset" is one of two songs written by Mike Pinder for Days of Future Passed, with the other being "Dawn is a Feeling
Dawn is a Feeling
"Dawn is a Feeling" is the second song from The Moody Blues 1967 album Days of Future Passed. Days of Future Passed is a concept album with each song representing a part of the day, with "Dawn is a Feeling" representing Dawn....
."
The original LP
LP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
featured piano underneath the mellotron part of the song. In 1978, the entire album was remixed due to deterioration of the original master tapes, and the piano backing was removed.
"The Sunset" should not be confused with the Moody Blues later song "English Sunset
English Sunset
"English Sunset" is the first and only single released by The Moody Blues from their 1999 album Strange Times, making it their first single in nearly 8 years. Their previous single had been 1991's "Bless the Wings " from Keys of the Kingdom...
", which was released in 1999 on Strange Times.
Personnel
- Justin HaywardJustin HaywardJustin Hayward is an English musician, best known as singer, songwriter and guitarist in the rock band The Moody Blues.Hayward was born in Dean Street, Swindon, Wiltshire, England...
: sitar, (on the original album, only) piano (on the original mix, only) - John Lodge: bass guitar (on the original mix, only)
- Mike PinderMike PinderMichael Thomas "Mike" Pinder is an English rock musician, and is a founding member or the British rock group, the Moody Blues. He left the group following the recording of the band's album, Octave, in 1978...
: lead vocal, tambura, mellotron - Ray ThomasRay ThomasRay Thomas is an English musician, best known as the flautist and as a singer and composer in the rock band, The Moody Blues.-Career:...
: flute, percussion - Graeme EdgeGraeme EdgeGraeme Charles Edge is best known as the drummer and a songwriter for the Moody Blues, but has also led his own outfit, the Graeme Edge Band.-Biography:...
: drums, percussion - Peter KnightPeter KnightPeter Knight is a folk musician, member of the electric folk group Steeleye Span.Peter Knight was born in London on 27 May 1947. As a child he learned the violin and mandolin before going to the Royal Academy of Music from 1960 to 1964. The recordings of the Irish fiddler Michael Coleman inspired...
and the London Festival OrchestraLondon Festival OrchestraThe London Festival Orchestra was established in the 1950s as the 'house orchestra' for Decca Records. In 1980 it was incorporated as an independent performing orchestra under Ross Pople....
: orchestral arrangements