Octave (album)

Octave
Studio album by The Moody Blues
Released	9 June 1978
Recorded	October 1977 - January - April 1978 The Record Plant, Los Angeles
Genre	Rock, Pop
Length	46:08
Label	Decca Records
Producer	Tony Clarke
The Moody Blues chronology
Caught Live + 5 (1977) Octave (1978) Long Distance Voyager (1981)
Singles from Octave
"Steppin' in a Slide Zone" Released: May 1978 "Driftwood" Released: October 1978

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

Octave is the ninth album by The Moody Blues, and their first release after a substantial hiatus following the success of the best-selling Seventh Sojourn in 1972. The album proved to be the last for the group with keyboardist Mike Pinder, who departed during the album's sessions, and declined an offer to tour with the group. Pinder had just started a new family in California, and also found that he was not getting along with his bandmates as he had previously. As a result of Pinder leaving, Hayward and Lodge were forced to play some of the remaining keyboard parts themselves, and Pinder would be replaced by former Yes keyboardist Patrick Moraz in time for their 1979 tour, beginning a new era in the band's history.

Octave was considered a departure from previous Moody Blues albums, mainly because the group's use of lounge-style organs and synthesisers in place of a Mellotron or Chamberlin (Pinder's song "One Step Into the Light" referenced the Mellotron). Real strings were used on three songs: "Under Moonshine" and "I'm Your Man" (both written by Ray Thomas), as well as "Survival" (written by John Lodge).

Released after a considerable break, which saw The Moody Blues returning in an era of punk music and disco, Octave evidenced a reduced commercial impact for the band, but still performed valiantly, reaching #6 in the United Kingdom and going platinum in the United States, where the album reached #13. The album produced the hit single "Steppin' in a Slide Zone," which hit #39 in the US, in addition to "Driftwood", which was a smaller success.

In November 2008, the album was remastered and released on CD with five previously unreleased Live Bonus tracks.

Original Track Listing

Side One

1. "Steppin' in a Slide Zone" (John Lodge) – 5:29
2. "Under Moonshine" (Ray Thomas) – 5:00
3. "Had to Fall in Love" (Justin Hayward) – 3:42
4. "I'll Be Level With You" (Graeme Edge) – 3:48
5. "Driftwood" (Hayward) – 5:03

Side Two

1. "Top Rank Suite" (Hayward) – 3:42
2. "I'm Your Man" (Thomas) – 4:21
3. "Survival" (Lodge) – 4:09
4. "One Step Into the Light" (Mike Pinder) – 4:29
5. "The Day We Meet Again" (Hayward) – 6:19

The 8-track tape version of this album has the distinction of being one of the few 8-tracks that is arranged exactly like the album, with no song breaks.

2008 CD Expanded Edition Tracks (UK)

11. "Steppin' in a Slide Zone (Live In Seattle 25 May 1979)" (Lodge) - 4:57
12. "I'm Your Man (Live In Seattle 25 May 1979)" (Thomas) - 4:51
13. "Top Rank Suite (Live In Seattle 25 May 1979)" (Hayward) - 4:28
14. "Driftwood (Live In Seattle 25 May 1979)" (Hayward) - 5:02
15. "The Day We Meet Again (Live In Houston 12/07/78)" (Hayward) - 7:16

Personnel

• Justin Hayward - vocals, guitar, keyboards
• John Lodge - vocals, bass, keyboards
• Ray Thomas - vocals, flute, harmonica, tambourine
• Graeme Edge - drums, percussion, vocals
• Mike Pinder - vocals, organ, synthesiser

Additional personnel

• R.A. Martin - horns, saxophones

Chart positions

Album-Billboard (North America)

Year	Chart	Position
1978	The Billboard 200	13
1978	UK Albums Chart	6

Singles - Billboard (North America)

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1978	"Steppin' In a Slide Zone"	Billboard Hot 100	39
1978	"Driftwood"	Billboard Hot 100	59

References

1. ^ Eder, Bruce. "Octave - The Moody Blues | AllMusic". allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/album/octave-r13377. Retrieved 19 November 2011.