The Voice (Moody Blues song)
| "The Voice" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by The Moody Blues | ||||
| from the album Long Distance Voyager | ||||
| B-side | "22,000 Days" | |||
| Released | 23 July 1981 | |||
| Recorded | 19 February 1980 – mid April 1981 | |||
| Genre | Progressive rock, new wave | |||
| Length | 5:16 (album version) 4:13 (single version) | |||
| Label | Threshold | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Justin Hayward | |||
| Producer(s) | Pip Williams | |||
| The Moody Blues singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"The Voice" is the second single released from the Moody Blues' 1981 album Long Distance Voyager. The song continued the success of previous single "Gemini Dream", becoming a Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at No. 15 in October 1981. The song had previously topped the Billboard Top Rock Tracks chart for four weeks during June–July 1981.[1] The song also reached No. 9 in Canada.
According to Allmusic critic Dave Connolly, the song "is a sweeping and majestic call to adventure."[2] Billboard described it as "a texturally lush piece of pop in the best tradition of [the Moody Blues'] earlier work".[3] Record World said that "The symphonic arrangement envelops Justin Hayward's dramatic vocal."[4]
Classic Rock critic Malcolm Dome rated it as the Moody Blues' 5th greatest song, saying that the song "offers hope for the future, as long as people take control of their lives and events."[5] Ultimate Classic Rock critic Nick DeRiso rated it as the Moody Blues' 6th greatest song, saying that it is "one of the last [Moody Blues songs] to so deftly marry the mystical elements of Hayward's classic songcraft with [a more] modern approach."[6]
Personnel
- Justin Hayward: electric and acoustic guitars, lead vocals
- John Lodge: bass guitar, backing vocals
- Ray Thomas: tambourine, backing vocals
- Patrick Moraz: piano, mellotron, Oberheim Custom double 8-voice synthesizer, Yamaha CS80, Roland Jupiter 8, Minimoog
- Graeme Edge: drums
Chart performance
See also
References
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 8th Edition (Billboard Publications), page 436.
- ^ Connolly, Dave. "Long Distance Voyager". Allmusic. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
- ^ "Top Single Picks". Billboard. August 1, 1981. p. 67. Retrieved 2019-11-05.
- ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. August 1, 1981. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ Dome, Malcolm (August 8, 2016). "The top 10 best Moody Blues songs". Classic Rock. Louder Sound. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
- ^ DeRiso, Nick (August 31, 2013). "Top 10 Moody Blues songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
- ^ "Australian Chart Book". Austchartbook.com.au. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2016-10-25.
- ^ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 167.
- ^ "The Moody Blues: Adult Contemporary". Billboard. Retrieved 2023-01-31.
- ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-10-25.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1999). Pop Annual. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. ISBN 0-89820-142-X.
- ^ "Top 100 Year End Charts: 1981". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved 2016-07-19.
