The Moody Blues: For My Lady

Released in 1972, “Seventh Sojourn” happened to be The Moody Blues’ eighth album and its follow-up “Octave” was actually the ninth by the band. The counting of albums eliminated the band’s debut album, “The Magnificent Moodies,” that contained Denny Laine and Clint Warwick. Instead, the official enumeration began with the enlistment of Justin Hayward and John Lodge and their landmark release of "Days of Future Passed" in 1967.

“Seventh Sojourn” was the album that brought us today’s Friday Flipside, “For My Lady.” Written and sung by the Moodies’ flautist, Ray Thomas, it was one of his most memorable songs and is in a completely different style than the “A” side: “I’m Just a Singer in A Rock N’ Roll Band.”

While it sounds like an accordion on the number, it is a Chamberlin – the precursor to the better known Mellotron. With the exception of Ray Thomas’ flute, all of the orchestral and keyboard sounds were produced by the Chamberlin by Mike Pinder.

Working on the same principle as a Mellotron, a bank of tapes with instrument sounds for each note rotated on a loop and when a key was depressed, a tape head came in contact with the tape loop.

Joining Thomas and Pinder, Justin Hayward played acoustic guitar, John Lodge bass, and Graeme Edge on drums and percussion. Hayward, Lodge, and Pinder all provided back-up vocals. The song remains one of the most beautiful love songs recorded by the band.