On The Threshold of a Dream, Songs Ranked
On the Threshold of a Dream is the fourth album by The Moody Blues, released in April 1969 on the Deram label. The album begins with a poem accompanied by electronic sounds, and these sounds also appear at the close of the album – Most European vinyl pressings of the album continue the sounds into the album’s run-out groove, causing them to play continuously until the record player’s tonearm is lifted. Tape and CD versions of the album employ a slow fade. The album, along with the subsequent To Our Children’s Children’s Children, was among the tapes carried by Apollo 15 astronaut Al Worden to the moon. In March 2006 the album was completely remastered into SACD format and repackaged with nine extra tracks. In 2008 a remaster for standard audio CD was issued with the same bonus tracks. Here are all of On The Threshold of a Dream, songs ranked.
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13. In the Beginning
“In The Beginning” (by Graeme Edge) starts off with Pinder’s mellotron droning, melding in harmony with an organ , then acting as ambient filler in a dialogue between the Individual Everyman and The Establishment.”
12. Never Comes the Day
“Never Comes The Day” (by Justin Hayward) opens with a softly strumming guitar and Hayward pensively singing “Never comes the day for my love and me,” then building to a crescendo with mellotron, harmonica and the Moodies in harmony. Great song!”
11. Lovely to See You
“Lovely To See You” (by Justin Hayward) is a electric guitar driven song juxtaposed with an peppy bass line about meeting up with and inviting a friend to “walk along to the next bend”. Great guitars and vocals. “…where empires have turned back to sand.”
10. Lazy Day
“Ray is developing into his one good and one – well – interesting/goofy/quaint song writing pattern – and these were the good years! This song and I have a love/hate thing going. I enjoy RT’s singing – but the down home lyrics sometimes get under my skin.”
See more: The Moody Blues Albums Ranked
9. Dear Diary
“Back to RT and a pensive mood – plodding and bemused wtih the bit about the H bomb at the end – very British. Nice flute work and a strange voice mod for RT.”
8. Are You Sitting Comfortably
“On these collaboration songs I don’t know who is doing what – maybe RT is getting JH to write some less than serious lyrics. On this song it works well. Very dreamy and medieval – the Moodies could have tapped into this theme more – “let Merlin cast his spell” and all that – JH is no mystic and not a D&D player I would wager – never wrote about his horses for that matter – far as I can tell.”
7. Send Me No Wine
“A very reminicent of Peak Hour from DaysOFP – lovely harmonies and some mellotron flourishes, jangly guitars – a bit too jaunty a tune for my taste. Must admit to it being one of the limited number of Moodies songs to sing in the shower…”
6. The Dream
“The Dream” (by Graeme Edge) is a poem recited by Mike Pinder with mellotron in the background. It essentially sums up the album’s concept: “…Love of love, love of life and giving without measure gives in return a wondrous yearn of a peace almost seen. Live hand in hand, and together we’ll stand on the threshold of a dream.”
5. To Share Our Love
“To Share Our Love” (by John Lodge) is a throbbing bass, electric guitar and percussion song with superb vocal counterpoint built around the lyrics. Surprisingly, Pinder is the lead singer.”
See more: The Moody Blues Songs Ranked
4. Have You Heard (Part I)
“Have You Heard – Part I” (by M. Pinder) concludes by telling the listener, “Now that you know you are real. Show your friends that you and me belong to the same world, turned on to the same word,” suggesting we’ve heard the Moodies’ message of love.”
3. So Deep Within You
“So Deep Within You” (by Mike Pinder) is a jazzy upbeat song, reminiscent of the original Moodies’ line-up, using timpani, guitar and flute to excellent effect. Pinder sings it with passion and conviction, “Your love is like a forest fire. I want to touch the fire, so deep within you”
2. Have You Heard (Part II)
“Have You Heard – Part II” (by M. Pinder) reprises the lyrics and music — “Now you know how nice it feels. Scatter good seeds in the field. Life’s ours for the making. Eternity’s waiting, waiting for you and me. Now that you know you are real. Show your friends that you and me belong to the same world, turned on to the same word. Have you heard? Have you heard? Have you heard?”
1. The Voyage
“The Voyage” (by M. Pinder) is an instrumental journey using piano, timpani, organ and mellotron. The piece is grand, reflective and moving! Lush, spacey, magnificently orchestrated, wistful, with a little bit of irony, there just isn’t a better album out there…equal in different ways…but none better.
