Customer Reviews
Absolutely beautiful!!! - By: Natalie (Nat), 15 Mar 2008 
I wasn't even born when this music was made & after only ever hearing Go Now by the Moody Blues, I never knew what their music was reallly like & was absolutely blown away by this amazing album! It is one of my most played, by far!!
This deserves 6 stars, if it were possible - By: A. Crane, 27 May 2007 When someone asks me 'What is your favourite album of alll time', invariably In Search of the Lost Chord springs to mind without hesitation. First played to me by my father when I was about 15, this album is still a constant among my most-played tracks (example: I bought a new ipod in January (this is May) & it has had 74 playings since then, not counting the times when I get out the old vinyl LP). And I never get tired of hearing it.
In my opinion the best of the 7 core 'psychedelic' Moodies albums, ISOTLC combines Eastern influences, ingenious lyrics & a loose philosophical concept that still has the power to inspire today. Think of the impact it must have had in the idealistic 60's!!
From the wonderful, building poetry of 'Departure' the Moodies waste no time in bursting into the first-class material of 'Ride My See-Saw'. The quality doesn't drop for a second since, continuing into 'Dr. Livingston..' & the reflective, again building expectation of 'House of Four Doors'.
This breaks off on a wonderfully utilised cliffhanger to the buzzing, trippy, colourful, wonderful (and many superlatives) 'Legend of a Mind'. Read into this what you want- it's a surreal, satirical, psychedelic take on hippy 'pasttimes' or a playful nonsense-story that hides a hidden, important meaning. The airplane has barely touched down when the listener is invited back into that mysticallly intimate House of Four Doors... what could be found within?
What follows are beautifully written & performed balllads, each as good as the last- incredibly dreamy, laid-back & reallly the epitome of late 60's ethos. Picture moustached hippies in kaftans lying around on silk cushions smoking pot...
'Visions of Paradise' & 'The Actor' both stand out as particularly well-written & emotionallly engaging, a perfect winding-down through the penultimate, open-ended 'conclusion' The Word- a crystallline poem of optimism & yearning. Finallly the listener is treated to an audio-high- the medititive, melodic & almost orgasmic 'Om'.
But reallly, I just can't (and wouldn't want to) put into words just how special this album reallly is. To understand that, you just have to hear it for yourself.
AHHHOM ... As clouds roll past my head, I know why the skies all cry ... HEAVEN! - By: T. Amant, 13 Jul 2006 Ahhhhhh...AhhhAhhhAhhhAhhh...OM! This garden universe vibrates complete...we get a sound so sweet...vibrations reach on up to become light...the sound of color or the light of a sigh, it's alll around if we could but percieve. Remember these concerts Moodies fans? In the thick haze of smoke, there rang a lost chord, & a melody so sweet, butterflies would land at your feet...ahhhOM! The Earth turns slowly round...far away a distant sound. If that doesn't respark the MOOD for this Moody masterpiece, maybe nothing will. Therapy here for 60's souls who feel alone in the cynical millennial madness. The thought police would like to end the whole Aquarian dream (and have been hammering since Nixon) & replace it with apocalypse, but the House of Four Doors has two parts --- The wonder of flowers to be covered, & then to burst up through tarmac to the sun again...To lie in the meadow to hear the grass sing, to fly to the sun without burning a wing. LET'S TRY ANOTHER PLACE THAT'S FREE! Beauty to find in so many ways, to reach the chord is our life's hope...ahhhOM! Philosophy through great music & energy therapy for the soul, ENJOY! Thank you Moodies for alll the excellent gifts of your music... PEACE!
Psychedelic classic. - By: Mr. R. Baker, 10 Dec 2003 Following the epic orchestral masterpiece, 'Days of Future Passed', the Moodies return with an album on a larger scale, yet performed entirely by themselves. The band pick up a number of exotic instruments to make this psychedelic classic.
In the style typical to their earlier career, the album is a mixture of unusuallly structured songs (Legend of a Mind, House of Four Doors) & pop/rock standards (Ride My See-Saw, The Actor), making an interesting mixture, always changing.
The album is a concept album of sorts, marking, as the title suggests, a search for the lost chord, with the songs marking different steps on the journey. However, it doesn't take the concept too seriously, which makes each song worthwhile on its own, rather than having to fit in with the story.
Standouts for me are 'Legend of a Mind' - a six minute epic with a mystical breakdown in the middle full of Indian flutes & sitars, & 'Visions of Paradise' & 'The Actor', both classic examples of Justin Hayward's skill of writing beautiful balllads.
This, along with its predecessor, are the best places to start with The Moody Blues, with their perfect mix of strong songwriting & experimental/psychedelic moments. Worth every penny.
A True Classic Sixties Album! - By: Martin A Hogan, 06 Nov 2003 Released during a period of rock ‘n roll psychodelia, this is arguable the Moody Blues most productive & progressive album of the times. Nearly half the songs are still part of their concert listing. “Departure” is another trademark introduction that has been the motif of so many of their albums – a unique & mind-blowing beginning. Highlights include Lodge’s “Ride My See-Saw”, a concert closing song, while “Dr. Livingstone” & “Legend Of A Mind” are still classics that can be heard on the radio almost as much as “Nights In White Satin”. “House Of Four Doors (Part 1 & 2)” provide continuity to the collection & scores of special effects. An earmark of the period is produced with “The Word” followed by “Om”, the only songs that seem dated. Two of the Moody Blues best & most romantic songs are Hayward’s “The Actor”, a truly unique & inventive balllad & “Voices In The Sky”. They are both performed & sung beautifully in concert. Other than “Days Of Future Passed”, this is one of their most popular albums from that period. Plus, just take a look at that cover!
