On the Threshold of a Dream
On the Threshold of a Dream is the fourth album by The Moody Blues, released in April 1969 on the Deram label.
On the Threshold of a Dream | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 25 April 1969 (UK) 30 May 1969 (US) | |||
Recorded | 12–31 January 1969 | |||
Studio | Decca Studios, London | |||
Genre | Progressive rock | |||
Length | 36:59 | |||
Label | Deram | |||
Producer | Tony Clarke | |||
The Moody Blues chronology | ||||
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Singles from On the Threshold of a Dream | ||||
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Content
The album begins with a poem derived from Cogito, ergo sum and inspired by I have no mouth and I must scream 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.
Release
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
Robert Christgau | D−[2] |
On the Threshold of a Dream was released on 25 April 1969 in the UK[3] and 30 May 1969 in the US.[4] On the Threshold of a Dream provided the Moody Blues with their first British number-one album, and also boosted their American fortunes by becoming their first top-20 album there. It proved to be one of the group's more enduring records in the US, staying in the Billboard LPs chart for more than two and a half years.
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.[5]
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.
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead vocals | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "In the Beginning" | Graeme Edge | Hayward, Pinder, Edge (narration) | 2:08 |
2. | "Lovely to See You" | Justin Hayward | Hayward | 2:35 |
3. | "Dear Diary" | Ray Thomas | Thomas | 3:56 |
4. | "Send Me No Wine" | John Lodge | Hayward, Lodge, Thomas, Pinder | 2:20 |
5. | "To Share Our Love" | Lodge | Pinder, Lodge | 2:54 |
6. | "So Deep Within You" | Mike Pinder | Pinder | 3:07 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead vocals | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Never Comes the Day" | Hayward | Hayward | 4:43 |
2. | "Lazy Day" | Thomas | Thomas, Hayward | 2:43 |
3. | "Are You Sitting Comfortably?" | Hayward, Thomas | Hayward | 3:29 |
4. | "The Dream" | Edge | Pinder (narration) | 0:57 |
5. | "Have You Heard (Part 1)" | Pinder | Pinder | 1:30 |
6. | "The Voyage" | Pinder | instrumental | 3:58 |
7. | "Have You Heard (Part 2)" | Pinder | Pinder | 2:32 |
Personnel
- Justin Hayward – vocals, guitars, cello, Mellotron (7)[6]
- John Lodge – vocals, bass guitar, cello, double bass
- Ray Thomas – vocals, harmonica, flute, tambourine, oboe, piccolo, EMS VCS 3
- Graeme Edge – drums, percussion, vocals, EMS VCS 3
- Mike Pinder – vocals, Mellotron, Hammond organ, piano, cello
- Additional personnel
- Tony Clarke - Producer
- Pete Jackson – triangle
- Phil Travers – cover artwork
- Lionel Bart, David Symonds – sleeve note
Charts
Chart (1969) | Peak position |
---|---|
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[7] | 26 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[8] | 11 |
Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts)[9] | 6 |
French Albums (SNEP)[10] | 1 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[11] | 37 |
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[12] | 12 |
UK Albums (OCC)[13] | 1 |
US Billboard 200[14] | 20 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Canada (Music Canada)[15] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[16] release of 2008 |
Silver | 60,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[17] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
References
- Allmusic review
- Christgau, Robert (18 September 1969). "Consumer Guide (4)". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- "Moody Blues | Full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
- "The Moody Blues – Chart History | Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
- "Al Worden's Apollo 15 Flown Music Cassette Tapes".
- "Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues on His Days of Future Passed (and Present) |". Rockcellarmagazine.com. 28 September 2016. Archived from the original on 4 October 2014. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
- "Top RPM Albums: Issue 6061". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
- "Dutchcharts.nl – The Moody Blues – On the Threshold of a Dream" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
- Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
- "Le Détail des Albums de chaque Artiste – M". Infodisc.fr (in French). Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2012. Select Moody Blues from the menu, then press OK.
- "Offiziellecharts.de – The Moody Blues – On the Threshold of a Dream" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
- "Norwegiancharts.com – The Moody Blues – On the Threshold of a Dream". Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
- "The Moody Blues | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
- "The Moody Blues Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
- "Canadian album certifications – The Moody Blues – On the Threshold of a Dream". Music Canada.
- "British album certifications – The Moody Blues – On the Threshold of a Dream". British Phonographic Industry.
- "American album certifications – The Moody Blues – On the Threshold of a Dream". Recording Industry Association of America.
External links
- On the Threshold of a Dream at Discogs (list of releases)