On the Threshold of a Dream

On the Threshold of a Dream
Studio album by The Moody Blues
Released 25 April 1969 (UK)
30 May 1969 (US)
Recorded 12–31 January 1969 at Decca Studios, West Hampstead, London
Genre Progressive rock
Length 36:59
Label Deram
Producer Tony Clarke
The Moody Blues chronology
In Search of the Lost Chord
(1968)		 On the Threshold of a Dream
(1969)		 To Our Children's Children's Children
(1969)
Singles from On the Threshold of a Dream
  1. "Never Comes the Day"
    Released: 2 April 1969
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Robert ChristgauD–[2]

On the Threshold of a Dream is the fourth album by The Moody Blues, released in 1969 through Deram Records.

Like the band's preceding two albums, On the Threshold of a Dream follows a concept. It explores dreams, especially on the second side, which climaxes with the "Voyage" suite, inspired in part by Richard Strauss's Also sprach Zarathrustra. The piece, by Mike Pinder, features mellotron orchestration and flute.

The album begins with a poem accompanied by electronic sounds, and these sounds also appear at the close of the album – 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 album versions employ a slow fade.

On The Threshold of a Dream provided The Moody Blues with their first British #1 album, and also boosted their American fortunes by becoming their first Top 20 album there. The album also enjoyed lengthy stays in both album charts. By contrast, its one and only single, "Never Comes the Day", was a commercial flop.

The album was mixed and released in both stereo and quadraphonic. (The quadraphonic mix includes some variations from the stereo version, including an extended ending of "To Share Our Love" and a reprise of the electronic sounds from the beginning of the album after "So Deep Within You.") 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.

Original Track Listing

Side One

  1. "In the Beginning" (Graeme Edge) – 2:08 (narrators: Hayward, Pinder, Edge)
  2. "Lovely to See You" (Justin Hayward) – 2:35 (lead: Hayward)
  3. "Dear Diary" (Ray Thomas) – 3:56 (lead: Thomas)
  4. "Send Me No Wine" (John Lodge) – 2:20 (leads: Hayward, Lodge, Thomas, Pinder)
  5. "To Share Our Love" (Lodge) – 2:54 (lead: Pinder)
  6. "So Deep Within You" (Mike Pinder) – 3:07 (lead: Pinder)

Side Two

  1. "Never Comes the Day" (Hayward) – 4:43 (lead: Hayward)
  2. "Lazy Day" (Thomas) – 2:43 (lead: Thomas)
  3. "Are You Sitting Comfortably?" (Hayward, Thomas) – 3:29 (lead: Hayward)
  4. "The Dream" (Edge) – 0:57 (narrator: Pinder)
  5. "Have You Heard (Part 1)" (Pinder) – 1:40 (lead: Pinder)
  6. "The Voyage" (Pinder) – 3:58
  7. "Have You Heard (Part 2)" (Pinder) – 2:32 (lead: Pinder)

2006 SACD Expanded Edition tracks (also 2008 remaster)

Bonus tracks on the SACD version:

  1. "In The Beginning (Full version)" (Edge) – 3:28
  2. "So Deep Within You (Extended version)" (Pinder) – 3:30
  3. "Dear Diary (Alternate vocal mix)" (Thomas) – 4:05
  4. "Have You Heard (Original take)" (Pinder) – 3:53
  5. "The Voyage (Original take)" (Pinder) – 4:20
  6. "Lovely To See You (BBC Top Gear Session 18 February 1969)" (Hayward) – 2:26
  7. "Send Me No Wine (BBC Top Gear Session 18 February 1969)" (Lodge) – 2:40
  8. "So Deep Within You (BBC Top Gear Session 18 February 1969)" (Pinder) 3:08
  9. "Are You Sitting Comfortably? (BBC Live 'The Tony Brandon Show' 2 April 1969)" (Hayward, Thomas) – 3:38

Personnel

Additional personnel

Chart positions

Album

Year Chart Position
1969 UK Albums Chart[3] 1
Billboard 200 20
RPM Canada Album Chart 26
Preceded by
The Best of The Seekers by The Seekers		 UK Albums Chart number-one album
10 May 1969 – 24 May 1969 		Succeeded by
Nashville Skyline by Bob Dylan

Singles

Year Single Chart Position
1969 "Never Comes the Day" Billboard Hot 100 91

References

  1. ↑ Allmusic review
  2. ↑ Christgau, Robert (18 September 1969). "Consumer Guide (4)". The Village Voice (New York). Retrieved 2012-07-29.
  3. ↑ "Chart Stats - The Moody Blues - On the Threshold of a Dream". chartstats.com. Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
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