The band began by playing rhythm and blues music. After some early lineup changes, the band settled on a line-up of Pinder, Thomas, Edge, guitarist Justin Hayward and bassist John Lodge, which would stay together for most of the band's "classic era" through the late 1960s-early 1970s. Their second album, "Days of Future Passed", released in 1967, was a fusion of rock with classical music and established the band as pioneers in the development of art rock and progressive rock. Days Of Future Passed has been described as a "landmark" and "one of the first successful concept albums".
The Moody Blues became known internationally by recordings of songs including "Go Now", "Nights in White Satin", "Tuesday Afternoon", "Question" and "Your Wildest Dreams". The band has been awarded 18 platinum and gold LP’s. The band sold 70 million albums worldwide. The Moody Blues were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.
The Moody Blues formed in 1964 in Erdington, a suburb of Birmingham in the county of Warwickshire. Ray Thomas, a young John Lodge and (occasionally) Mike Pinder had been members of El Riot & the Rebels. They disbanded when Lodge, the youngest member, went to technical college and Pinder joined the army. Pinder then rejoined Thomas to form the Krew Cats. Back from a disappointing spell in the Hamburg region a few months later, the pair recruited guitarist/vocalist Denny Laine and band manager-turned-drummer Graeme Edge. Pinder and Thomas initially approached their former El Riot bandmate John Lodge about being the bass player, but Lodge declined as he was still in college. They instead recruited bassist Clint Warwick. The five appeared as the Moody Blues for the first time in Birmingham in 1964. The name developed from a hoped-for sponsorship from the M&B Brewery which failed to materialise, the band calling themselves both "The M Bs" and "The M B Five", and was also a subtle reference to the Duke Ellington song "Mood Indigo". In an interview it was revealed that the band was named "Moody Blues" because Mike Pinder was interested in how music changes people's moods and due to the fact that the band was playing blues at the time. Around this time the band were the resident group at the Carlton Ballroom, later to become rock music venue Mothers on Erdington High Street.
The Moody Blues' "rich symphonic sound" influenced groups such as Yes, Genesis, the Electric Light Orchestra and Deep Purple. They also helped make synthesizers and philosophy "part of the rock mainstream".
The Moody Blues became members of the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. In 2013, readers of Rolling Stone Magazine voted for them as one of the ten bands that should be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Ultimate Classic Rock called them "perennial victims of an unaccountable snubbing" and inducted them into its own Hall of Fame in 2014.
Writing for The Guardian in 2015, Rob Chapman described the band as "psychedelia's forgotten heroes". He stated: "Despite their success, rock critics rarely took the Moody Blues seriously, a pattern that continued for the next 45 years." He also wrote: "Despite the critical disapproval, the best of the Moody Blues music between 1967 and 1970 possessed grace and beauty. Like The Beatles, they understood how pop songs worked as ensemble pieces. None of them were particularly virtuosic or showy as musicians and their music is refreshingly free of the noodling longeurs that characterised the output of their more self-indulgent contemporaries."
In December 2017, the band were announced as inductees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. On 14 April 2018, they were inducted as part of the 2018 class. During his acceptance speech in Cleveland, OH, Justin Hayward said, "If you didn't know already, well we're just a bunch of British guys, but of course to us and to all British musicians, this is the home of our heroes and we all know that..." acknowledging the inspirational role of America's rock and roll icons. During the ceremony, Ray Thomas was included as a star that was lost in the past year.
On 11th November 2021 Graeme Edge died. Upon Edge's death, Justin Hayward announced that The Moody Blues had no longer been active since Edge had retired in 2018 (Edge being the only member to remain with the band from formation to ending). Founding member Denny Laine died on 5 December 2023.
House of Four Doors
The Moody Blues Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Outside we came nowhere at all
Perhaps the answers here
Not there anymore
Then in our hearts the light broke through
A path lost for years is there in view
You'll be lost now forever
House of four doors
Rest of life's life forever
House of four doors
You'll be lost now forever
House of four doors
The Moody Blues's House of Four Doors is a song with deep philosophical undertones that contemplate the human struggles of life and the never-ending pursuit of purpose and fulfillment. The lyrics open with the singer walking through a door that leads to nowhere, searching for answers that may no longer be there. This line can be interpreted as the human tendency to constantly seek out answers and direction in life, but sometimes, the journey itself is more important than the destination.
As the singer journeys further, they begin to see the light of hope and rediscover a path that has been lost for years. This line can be seen as a metaphor for hope and the human need to believe that things will get better, even in the darkest of times. However, this journey leads the singer to the "House of Four Doors," which seems to be a trap that they can never escape from.
The house represents the never-ending struggle of life, where once you enter, you can never leave. It is a metaphor for how once you get caught up in the complexities of life, it is difficult to break free and find true fulfillment. The song ends with the haunting repetition of "House of Four Doors, you'll be lost now forever," emphasizing the never-ending cycle of life and the feeling of being stuck in a rut.
Line by Line Meaning
Walking through that door
Beginning a new stage or chapter of life
Outside we came nowhere at all
Feeling lost or uncertain about one's journey
Perhaps the answers here
Hoping to find solutions or guidance in the new chapter
Not there anymore
Realizing that the answers or guidance sought may no longer exist
Then in our hearts the light broke through
Suddenly realizing or finding clarity about one's direction
A path lost for years is there in view
Rediscovering a direction or purpose that was lost for a long time
House of four doors
Metaphorically representing life's many different options or paths
You'll be lost now forever
Warning that making a choice or heading down one path may lead to a sense of permanent loss for the unchosen paths
House of four doors
Reinforcing the idea that life is full of choices and opportunities that lead to different outcomes
Rest of life's life forever
Implying that the choices made in life will impact one's future forever
House of four doors
Reinforcing the importance of making conscious choices and accepting the outcomes in life
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN LODGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@michaelsainio3497
Always loved this song. My moms favorite. As she lain in hospice..this song played.. from a medicine induced stupor. She became lucid long enough to give ear to THIS song. Smile and back into stupor. John Lodge..you , thru your brilliance in performance on this truly touched her..as also many. Thank you for your spirited gifts used to really touch souls. God bless
@sharonallison9922
YOU ARE A BEAUTIFUL SOUL.......YOUR MOM IS ALWAYS WITH YOU....TALK WITH HER......I HEAR MY LOVING PARENTS.....THEY STILL GUIDE ME FROM THE OTHER REALM SWEETIE.........🙏🙏🙏🙏😇💗❄🤗
@1JUSTPASSINGTHROUGH
Hospice nurse here. I LOVE this story. Music reaches the soul. I always encourage families to play the music their loved one loves the most. This is an example of how music speaks to our souls.
@joejoe7212
@@1JUSTPASSINGTHROUGH hospice nurses are angels of death so go piss off 😉
@CincyDirtyBird
I have been blesssed to grow old with The Moody Blues and their craft. What an empty space I would had to fill without them as a part of my life. I have seen most groups one can mention, and there is NO experience like seeing the Moody Blues...My favorites forever!! As a musician myself, what a blessing it must be to be a part of this music history... I think the greatest group ever.....Hands down! Nice post again Moodiesfan!
@nestorraulcordini1183
I completely agree with you, the greatest group ever! Greetings from Argentina! Saludos!
@Sumof86
Truly, the greatest group ever.
@Sutterjack
I'm glad the "younger generation" respects this music---to me it stands the test of time
@RagenRibbonz
ha, my first concert at age 11 was the Moodies at cal expo in 1991. will always be grateful for being raised right form the start. ^__^
@Sutterjack
@Maito You were a hippie in a former life - lol