To Our Children’s Children’s Children Songs Ranked

To Our Children’s Children’s Children is the fifth album by The Moody Blues, released in November 1969. “Watching and Waiting” was released as a single to promote the album, but sold poorly. On the other hand, “Gypsy (Of a Strange and Distant Time)” became a fan and album-oriented rock radio favorite, despite never being released as a single, and remained in the band’s concert setlist through the 1970s. The album was the first released on the group’s newly formed Threshold record label, which was named after the band’s previous album from the same year, On the Threshold of a Dream. It was inspired by the 1969 moon landing. In the opening track, “Higher and Higher”, sound effects of a rocket launching begin the song and last for the first minute. Here are all of To Our Children’s Children’s Children songs ranked.

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13. Out and In

“The Heavenly intro to Mike Pinder and John Lodge’s “Out And In” sounds like a continuation of “Beyond” … The mellotrons really stand out on this track, including the beautifully soaring intro (Makes me think of sunlight beating down on my face, as I close my eyes). Mike delivers some nice vocals with his double-tracked “Out And In” harmonies, at the tail end of the song.”

12. Beyond

“Beyond” features more amazing sound effects, in between the “rock and roll” parts of this mysterious instrumental (The second set of sound effects sounds a little like the intro to “Strawberry Fields Forever,” by The Beatles!). I always thought of the rock and roll part of the song representing a space shuttle traveling to other planets, and the parts that featured the sound effects representing the different planets where the spaceship would land”

11. Watching and Waiting

“”Watching And Waiting,” to me, is just as lovely and enjoyable as “Nights In White Satin,” from “Days Of Future Passed.” My father once told me that, from what he got out of the lyrics, he interpreted that the Earth was trying to express itself, if the planet could talk (“But don’t be alarmed by my fields and my forests”). It’s a beautiful, tranquil, and relaxing Justin/Ray ballad, featuring marvelous mellotrons all around.”

10. I Never Thought I’d Live to Be a Hundred

“Justin Hayward’s “I Never Thought I’d Live To Be A Hundred/Million” create excellent links between the surrounding songs … The guitars are well played on both pieces and each tune sounds amazing through headphones. I get a mental image of Justin playing his acoustic guitar in a dark room lit by a single candle only, when I listen to both of these tracks.”

See more: The Moody Blues Albums Ranked

9. I Never Thought I’d Live to Be a Million

“I Never Thought I’d Live to Be a Million” is a reprise of “Hundred”, and though it is very brief, it manages to bring back some of the feel on the first half. I Never Thought I’d Live to Be a Million” is somewhat a reprise of “I Never Thought I’d Live to Be a Hundred” and it’s similarly beautiful.”

8. Eyes of a Child II

“John’s “Eyes Of A Child – Part Two” sounds like an earlier version of “Question,” from “A Question Of Balance,” and it really rocks, too! Listen for John’s brief falsetto chant, echoing the word “Light,” in the middle of the song. 🙂 Both parts of “Eyes Of A Child” are equally enjoyable, to my ears.”

7. Sun Is Still Shining

“”Sun Is Still Shining” is a nice, relaxing song by Mike, and I like how the intro to the track features a guitar feedback effect, like the one that is heard at the beginning of “To Share Our Love,” from “On The Threshold Of A Dream” … By the way, this particular sound freaked out my cat Pickles, when I played this album, recently!”

6. Floating

“Ray Thomas’ pleasant-sounding composition, “Floating,” gives me a natural high, whenever I listen to it, and Ray’s heavily echoed vocals make him sound as though he is delivering the tune from The Heavens! On a rare occasion, Ray would sing in falsetto, near the end of this track!”

5. Candle of Life

“Sounds like both Justin and John collaborate on vocals for John’s “Candle Of Life,” something they would do many years later throughout the late 1980’s albums “The Other Side Of Life” and “Sur La Mer.” To hear something amusing on this track, move the “balance” dial (or switch) all the way to the right channel (speaker) on your stereo system and you can hear a delayed echo from the mellotron beginning at 2:33 in the song!”

See more: The Moody Blues Songs Ranked

4. Eyes of a Child I

“The harp like effects that introduce John Lodge’s “Eyes Of A Child – Part One” are lovely, and the song does an excellent job of progressing from a peaceful tone to a more lively one, most notably through the group’s combined vocals. Spooky but well executed mellotrons on this track, too!”

3. Eternity Road

“Ray’s “Eternity Road” includes a pretty neat “Beatle-esque” double-tracked lead guitar solo from Justin, mid song, as well as powerful vocals and a fantastic flute solo near the end of the song, courtesy of Ray … The flute solo is just as well executed as the flute solos heard on “Legend Of A Mind,” from “In Search Of The Lost Chord,” and “Don’t You Feel Small,” from “A Question Of Balance.” The ascending mellotron parts, between the verses, and especially near the end of this song, are well delivered and make for another natural high on the album”

2. Higher and Higher

“One thing I’d like to know is how The Moody Blues produced the sound effect of the rocket blasting off, at the beginning of Graeme Edge’s “Higher And Higher?!” It was a treat, however, to find out, from the interview within the CD booklet, that The Moodies conjured up the sound effect themselves! Nice job on the “radio-to-live-in-person” effects on Mike Pinder’s narration, as well as Justin Hayward’s stereophonic guitar solos, near the end of the song (Best experienced through headphones).”

1. Gypsy

“Justin’s rockin’ outer space number, “Gypsy,” features excellent double-tracked Justin Hayward vocals and a wickedly cool lead guitar scattered throughout the song. Lots of instrumental activity going on here, just like on the previous two offerings, and everything blends together just right … I love the way the mellotrons come right at you during the “Left without a hope of coming home” parts of the song! Nice arrangement”