Driftwood (Moody Blues song)

"Driftwood" is a 1978 single by the English progressive rock band the Moody Blues. It was the second single released from the album Octave, after "Steppin' in a Slide Zone". Written by Justin Hayward, "Driftwood" is a slow love ballad, in a similar manner to "Nights in White Satin" and "Never Comes the Day."

"Driftwood"
Single by The Moody Blues
from the album Octave
B-side"I'm Your Man"
Released6 October 1978
RecordedJanuary - April 1978
GenreRock
Length5:02 (Album version)
4:31 (Single version)
3:56 (Promo Version)
LabelDecca
Songwriter(s)Justin Hayward
Producer(s)Tony Clarke
The Moody Blues singles chronology
"Steppin' in a Slide Zone"
(1978)		 "Driftwood"
(1978)		 "Gemini Dream"
(1981)

Background

Billboard described "Driftwood" as a "lush romantic ballad."[1] Cash Box called it "a smooth and spacy ballad about beaching on the shore of life" and also praised the vocal performance.[2]

"Driftwood" was also the final single to feature keyboardist Mike Pinder, who left the band shortly before the completion of Octave for personal reasons. He would later be replaced by former Yes keyboardist Patrick Moraz.

Shortly after release, a promotional video was recorded for "Driftwood." The video features Patrick Moraz on the keyboards, although Mike Pinder is playing the keyboards in the actual recording. The song also includes an alto saxophone which is played by session musician R.A. Martin, although Ray Thomas is depicted playing the alto saxophone in the video.

Personnel

Additional personnel
  • R.A. Martin: horns, alto saxophone

Chart success

The record spent seven weeks on the U.S. Billboard charts and peaked at No. 59.[3] It also reached No. 38 on the Adult Contemporary charts.[4][5]

References
  1. "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. September 30, 1978. p. 90. Retrieved 2020-07-09.
  2. "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. September 23, 1978. p. 22. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
  3. "Chart History The Moody Blues". www.billboard.com. Retrieved April 8, 2017.
  4. Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 167.
  5. "The Moody Blues: Adult Contemporary". Billboard. Retrieved 2023-01-31.
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