Moody Blues – In Search Of The Lost Chord – 3CD/2DVD Deram Universal – 02-11-2018
In questo florilegio di ristampe di dischi che festeggiano il 50° Anniversario dalla data di uscita ora arriva anche il cofanetto per In Search Of The Lost Chord dei Moody Blues, quello che viene considerato il loro secondo album (almeno del periodo prog, prima erano una band beat pop), a parere del sottoscritto forse il disco più bello del gruppo inglese, insieme a To Our Children’s Children’s Children, ma altri prediligono il primo Days Of Future Passed oppure anche On The Threshold On A Dream, senza dimenticare A Question Of Balance. Diciamo che fino al 1970 non sbagliavano un disco e anche gli altri due del 1971 e 1972, fino a Seventh Soujourn compreso erano eccellenti. Lo scorso anno per i 50 anni del primo album erano usciti due dischi celebrativi: la ristampa potenziata vera e propria di Days Of Future Passed e una nuova versione dal vivo di quel classico https://discoclub.myblog.it/2018/04/28/una-celebrazione-elegante-e-di-classe-moody-blues-days-of-future-passed-live/ . Entrambe molto interessanti e comunque in passato non erano mancati altri cofanetti celebrativi della loro carriera, l’ultimo https://discoclub.myblog.it/2013/11/20/meglio-tardi-che-mai-the-moody-blues-timeless-flight/ , ma si sa che le case discografiche sono scatenate ed ogni occasione e ricorrenza è buona per festeggiare e un bel box non si nega a nessun disco. Tanto più se è bello come questo In Search Of The Lost Chord, un piccolo capolavoro del prog rock più melodico e raffinato o se preferite della migliore psichedelia morbida britannica.
Ovviamente si parla spesso di edizioni per fan sfegatati e compulsivi, nonché audiofili, ma qualche motivo di interesse si trova sempre: il primo CD contiene l’originale Stereo Mix e qualche traccia in mono, il secondo dischetto un nuovo Mix Stereo targato 2018. Il terzo CD, quello più interessante, propone 5 BBC Sessions ed una serie di versioni alternative oltre a qualche rarità. Il primo DVD riporta l’audio in versione 5.1 Dolby Surround, mentre il secondo DVD riporta parecchio materiale video tra cui 10 brani registrati per la trasmissione della BBC Colour Me Pop: In Search of the Lost Chord del 14 settembre 1968. Se avete almeno 50/60 euro da cui separarvi (perché comunque questi cofanetti li fanno sempre pagare) ecco il contenuto completo.
[CD1]
1. Departure – The original stereo mix
2. Ride My See-Saw – The original stereo mix
3. Dr. Livingstone, I Presume – The original stereo mix
4. House of Four Doors – The original stereo mix
5. Legend of a Mind – The original stereo mix
6. House of Four Doors (Part 2) – The original stereo mix
7. Voices in the Sky – The original stereo mix
8. The Best Way to Travel – The original stereo mix
9. Visions of Paradise – The original stereo mix
10. The Actor – The original stereo mix
11. The Word – The original stereo mix
12. Om – The original stereo mix
13. Voices in the Sky (mono)
14. Dr. Livingstone, I Presume (mono)
15. Ride My See Saw (mono) – Previously unreleased on CD
16. A Simple Game
17. Legend of a Mind (mono mix) – Previously unreleased
[CD2]
1. Departure – “In Search of the Lost Chord” new stereo mix:
2. Ride My See-Saw – “In Search of the Lost Chord” new stereo mix:
3. Dr. Livingstone, I Presume – “In Search of the Lost Chord” new stereo mix:
4. House of Four Doors – “In Search of the Lost Chord” new stereo mix:
5. Legend of a Mind – “In Search of the Lost Chord” new stereo mix:
6. House of Four Doors (Part 2) – “In Search of the Lost Chord” new stereo mix:
7. Voices in the Sky – “In Search of the Lost Chord” new stereo mix:
8. The Best Way to Travel – “In Search of the Lost Chord” new stereo mix:
9. Visions of Paradise – “In Search of the Lost Chord” new stereo mix:
10. The Actor – “In Search of the Lost Chord” new stereo mix:
11. The Word – “In Search of the Lost Chord” new stereo mix:
12. Om – “In Search of the Lost Chord” new stereo mix:
13. A Simple Game (Justin Hayward Vocal Mix / Remastered 2018)
[CD3]
1. Dr. Livingstone, I Presume (BBC Radio One “Top Gear” Session / 1968)
2. Voices in the Sky (BBC Radio One “Top Gear” Session / 1968)
3. The Best Way to Travel (BBC Radio One “Top Gear” Session / 1968)
4. Ride My See-Saw (BBC Radio One “Top Gear” Session / 1968)
5. Tuesday Afternoon (BBC Radio One John Peel “Top Gear” session – 16th July 1968)
6. Departure (alternate mix) – Mixed at Decca Studios, West Hampstead in September 1968
7. The Best way to Travel (additional vocal mix) – Mixed at Decca Studios, West Hampstead in September 1968
8. Legend of a Mind (alternate mix) – Mixed at Decca Studios, West Hampstead in September 1968
9. Visions of Paradise (instrumental mix) – Mixed at Decca Studios, West Hampstead in September 1968
10. The Word (Mellotron mix) – Mixed at Decca Studios, West Hampstead in September 1968
11. Om (extended mix) – Mixed at Decca Studios, West Hampstead in September 1968
12. King and Queen – Mixed at Decca Studios, West Hampstead in September 1968
13. Gimmie a Little Something – Mixed at Decca Studios, West Hampstead in September 1968
14. What Am I Doing Here? (full version) – Mixed at Decca Studios, West Hampstead in September 1968
15. A Simple Game (Justin Hayward vocal version) – Mixed at Decca Studios, West Hampstead in September 1968
[DVD1]
“In Search of the Lost Chord” 96 kHz / 24-bit 5.1 Surround, new Stereo mix and re-mastered original stereo mix
1. Departure
2. Ride My See-Saw
3. Dr. Livingstone, I Presume
4. House of Four Doors
5. Legend of a Mind
6. House of Four Doors (Part 2)
7. Voices in the Sky
8. The Best Way to Travel
9. Visions of Paradise
10. The Actor
11. The Word
12. Om
[DVD2]
1. Departure / Ride My See-Saw – Visual content
2. Dr. Livingstone I Presume – Visual content
3. House of Four Doors – Visual content
4. Voices in the Sky – Visual content
5. The Best Way to Travel – Visual content
6. Visions of Paradise / The Actor – Visual content
7. Om – Visual content
8. Tuesday Afternoon – BBC TV “Colour Me Pop: In Search of the Lost Chord” – 14th September 1968
9. Nights in White Satin – BBC TV “Colour Me Pop: In Search of the Lost Chord” – 14th September 1968
10. Bye Bye Bird – BBC TV “Colour Me Pop: In Search of the Lost Chord” – 14th September 1968
11. Fly Me High – BBC TV “Colour Me Pop: In Search of the Lost Chord” – 14th September 1968
12. I’ve Got a Dream – BBC TV “Colour Me Pop: In Search of the Lost Chord” – 14th September 1968
13. A Beautiful Dream – BBC TV “Colour Me Pop: In Search of the Lost Chord” – 14th September 1968
14. Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood – BBC TV “Colour Me Pop: In Search of the Lost Chord” – 14th September 1968
15. Peak Hour – BBC TV “Colour Me Pop: In Search of the Lost Chord” – 14th September 1968
16. Dr. Livingstone, I Presume – BBC TV “Colour Me Pop: In Search of the Lost Chord” – 14th September 1968
17. Ride My See Saw – BBC TV “Colour Me Pop: In Search of the Lost Chord” – 14th September 1968
Nei prossimi giorni altre uscite autunnali imminenti.
Bruno Conti