On April 24, 2024, Michael Thomas Pinder died aged 82. He was musician (keyboards) and singer, known as the founding member and keyboards player of the band Moody Blues. Pinder was renowned for his contributions in the development and emergence of the Mellotron in 1960s rock music. In 2018, he was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” as a member of the Moody Blues.As leader Pinder released two albums.
Tag Archives: Mike Pinder
Mike Pinder: The Promise
On April 11, 1976, “Treshold” label released “The Promise”, the debut Mike Pinder album. It was recorded 1974 – 1976, at Pinder’s studio at Malibu, Indigo Ranch, and was produced by Mike Pinder and Bob Margouleff.
Personnel:
- Mike Pinder– vocals, synthesizer, acoustic guitar and 12 string guitar, piano, mellotron
- Jim Dillon – vocals, acoustic, electric and slide guitar, sitar
- Steve Beckmeier – acoustic and electric guitar
- William D. “Smitty” Smith – organ
- Fred Beckmeier – bass guitar
- Joel DiBartolo – bass guitar
- Jimmy Johnson– bass guitar
- Bill Berg– drums, percussion
- Jeanne King – vocals
- Julia Tillman Waters – vocals
- Maxine Willard Waters – vocals
- Bobby Keys– tenor saxophone
- Steve Madalo – trumpet
- Susan McDonald – harp
- Dean Olch – flute, shakuhachi
- Tom Peterson – flute, tenor saxophone
Track listing:
All tracks by Mike Pinder except where noted.
- Free As A Dove
- You’ll Make It Through – Mike Pinder, Jim Dillon
- I Only Want To Love You
- Someone To Believe In
- Carry On
- Air
- Message
- The Seed
- The Promise
The Moody Blues: Days Of Future Past
On November 10, 1967, “Deram” label released “Days of Future Passed”, the second Moody Blues (The) album. It was recorded October – November 1967, at “Decca Studios” in London, and was produced by Tony Clarke and Michael Dacre-Barclay. It was band’s first concept album, with mixture of classical and rock elements, and is widely regarded as one of the first progressive rock albums at all.
Personnel:
- Mike Pinder – vocals, mellotron, piano, tambura
- Ray Thomas – vocals, flutes, percussion, piano
- Justin Hayward – vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, piano, sitar
- John Lodge – vocals, bass
- Graeme Edge – vocals, drums, percussion
- Peter Knight– conducting, arrangements
- The London Festival Orchestra
- Derek Varnals – engineer
- David Anstey – design, cover painting
- Hugh Mendl– executive production, liner notes
Track listing:
- The Day Begins
- The Day Begins – Peter Knight, Mike Pinder, Ray Thomas, Justin Hayward, John Lodge, Graeme Edge
- Morning Glory – Graeme Edge
- Dawn: Dawn Is a Feeling
- Intro – Peter Knight
- Dawn Is a Feeling – Mike Pinder
- The Morning: Another Morning
- Intro – Peter Knight
- Another Morning – Ray Thomas
- Lunch Break: Peak Hour
- Intro – Peter Knight
- Peak Hour – John Lodge
- The Afternoon: Forever Afternoon (Tuesday?) / Time to Get Away
- Forever Afternoon (Tuesday?) – Justin Hayward
- (Evening) Time to Get Away – John Lodge)
- Evening: The Sun Set: Twilight Time
- Intro – Peter Knight
- The Sunset – Mike Pinder
- Twilight Time – Ray Thomas
- The Night: Nights in White Satin
- Nights in White Satin – Justin Hayward)
- Late Lament – Graeme Edge, Peter Knight
The Moody Blues: Question Of Balance
On August 7, 1970, “Threshold” released “Question of Balance”, the sixth Moody Blues (The) album. It was recorded January – June 1970, at “Decca Studios” in London, and was produced by Tony Clarke.
Personnel:
- Justin Hayward – vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, mandolin
- Ray Thomas – vocals, flute, tambourine
- Mike Pinder – vocals, Mellotron, Moog synthesizer, piano, maracas, acoustic guitar
- John Lodge – vocals, bass
- Graeme Edge – drums, percussion, whispered vocal
Track listing:
- Question – Justin Hayward
- How Is It (We Are Here) – Mike Pinder
- And the Tide Rushes In – Ray Thomas
- Don’t You Feel Small – Graeme Edge
- Tortoise and the Hare – John Lodge
- It’s Up to You – Justin Hayward
- Minstrel’s Song – John Lodge
- Dawning Is the Day – Justin Hayward
- Melancholy Man – Mike Pinder
- The Balance – Graeme Edge, Ray Thomas
The Moody Blues: In Search of the Lost Chord
On July 26, 1968, “Deram” label released “In Search of the Lost Chord”, the third Moody Blues (The) album. It was recorded January – June 1968, at “Decca Studios” in West Hampstead, in London, and was produced by Tony Clarke. In the “Q” and “Mojo” “Classic Special Edition Pink Floyd & The Story of Prog Rock”, “In Search of the Lost Chord” was ranked at number 37 in the list of “40 Cosmic Rock Albums”.
Personnel:
- Justin Hayward– vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, 12-string guitar, sitar, harpsichord, bass, percussion, mellotron, piano
- Mike Pinder– vocals, mellotron, piano, harpsichord, acoustic guitar, bass, cello, autoharp, tambura, spoken vocals
- John Lodge– vocals, bass, acoustic guitar, cello, snare drum, tambourine
- Graeme Edge- vocals, drums, timpani, tambourine, piano, percussion, tabla, spoken vocal
- Ray Thomas– vocals, C flute, alto flute, soprano saxophone, oboe, French horn, tambourine
Track listing:
- Departure – Graeme Edge
- Ride My See – Saw – John Lodge
- Livingstone, I Presume – Ray Thomas
- House of Four Doors – John Lodge
- Legend of a Mind – Ray Thomas
- House of Four Doors (Part 2) – John Lodge
- Voices in the Sky – Justin Hayward
- The Best Way to Travel – Mike Pinder
- Visions of Paradise – Justin Hayward, Ray Thomas
- The Actor – Justin Hayward
- The World – Graeme Edge
- Om – Mike Pinder
The Moody Blues: Every Good Boy Deserves Favour
On July 23, 1971, “Threshold Records” released “Every Good Boy Deserves Favour”, the seventh Moody Blues (The) album. It was recorded November 1970 – March 1971, at “Wessex Sound Studios” in London, and was produced by Tony Clarke.
Personnel:
- Justin Hayward– vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, sitar
- John Lodge– vocals, bass, cello
- Ray Thomas vocals, flute, tambourine, oboe, woodwinds, harmonica
- Graeme Edge– electric and acoustic drums, percussion
- Mike Pinder– vocals, mellotron, harpsichord, Hammond organ, piano, keyboards, Moog synthesizer
- Derek Varnals – recording
- David Baker – engineer assistant
- Harry Fisher – cutting engineer
- Phil Travers – sleeve artist
- Randall Nelson – lyrics sheet photograph
Track listing:
- Procession – Graeme Edge, Justin Hayward, John Lodge, Mike Pinder, Ray Thomas
- The Story in Your Eyes – Justin Hayward
- Our Guessing Game – Ray Thomas
- Emily’s Song – John Lodge
- After You Came – Graeme Edge
- One More Time to Live – John Lodge
- Nice to Be Here – Ray Thomas
- You Can Never Go Home – Justin Hayward
- My Song – Mike Pinder
The Moody Blues: Long Distance Voyager
On May 15, 1981, “Threshold” label released “Long Distance Voyager”, the tenth Moody Blues (The) album. It was recorded February 1980 – April 1981, at “Threshold Studios” and “RAK Studios”, and was produced by Pip Williams.
Personnel:
- Justin Hayward– vocals, guitars
- Patrick Moraz– keyboards
- John Lodge– vocals, bass
- Ray Thomas– vocals, flutes, harmonicas
- Graeme Edge– drums
- J. Cole– pedal steel guitar
- Pip Williams–string arrangements
- The New World Philharmonic – string section
- Greg Jackman – recording, mixing
- Melvyn Abrahams – mastering
- Cream –design, artwork
Track listing:
- The Voice – Justin Hayward
- Talking Out of Turn – John Lodge
- Gemini Dream – Justin Hayward, John Lodge
- In My World – Justin Hayward
- Meanwhile – Justin Hayward
- 22,000 Days – Graeme Edge
- Nervous – John Lodge
- Painted Smile – Ray Thomas
- Reflective Smile – Ray Thomas
- Veteran Cosmic Rocker – Ray Thomas
The Moody Blues: On the Threshold of a Dream
On April 25, 1969, “Deram” label released “On the Threshold of a Dream”, the fourth Moody Blues (The) album. It was recorded January 1969, at “Decca Studios” in London, and was produced by Tony Clarke. The album was mixed and released in both stereo and quadraphonic sound.
Personnel:
- Justin Hayward- vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, twelve-string acoustic guitar, cello,
- Mike Pinder- vocals, mellotron, Hammond organ, piano, cello
- Ray Thomas- vocals, harmonica, flute, tambourine, oboe, piccolo
- John Lodge- vocals, bass, cello, double bass
- Graeme Edge- drums, percussion, vocals, EMS VCS 3
- Phil Travers – artwork
Track listing:
- In the Beginning – Graeme Edge
- Lovely to See You – Justin Hayward
- Dear Diary – Ray Thomas
- Send Me No Wine – John Lodge
- To Share Our Love – John Lodge
- So Deep Within You – Mike Pinder
- Never Comes the Day – Justin Hayward
- Lazy Day – Ray Thomas
- Are You Sitting Comfortably? – Justin Hayward, Ray Thomas
- The Dream – Graeme Edge
- Have You Heard (Part 1) – Mike Pinder
- The Voyage – Mike Pinder
- Have You Heard (Part 2) – Mike Pinder
The Moody Blues: To Our Children’s Children’s Children
On November 21, 1969, “Threshold Records” released “To Our Children’s Children’s Children”, the fifth Moody Blues (The) album. It was recorded May – September 1969, at the “Decca Studios” in London, and was produced by Tony Clarke.
Personnel:
- Justin Hayward– vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, sitar
- Mike Pinder– vocals, Mellotron, piano, Hammond organ, acoustic guitar, celesta, double bass
- Ray Thomas– vocals, flute, tambourine, bass flute, oboe
- John Lodge– vocals, bass guitar, harp, acoustic guitar
- Graeme Edge– drums, percussion
Track listing:
- Higher and Higher – Graeme Edge
- Eyes of a Child I – John Lodge
- Floating – Ray Thomas
- Eyes of a Child II – John Lodge
- I Never Thought I’d Live to Be a Hundred – Justin Hayward
- Beyond – Graeme Edge
- Out and In – Mike Pinder, John Lodge
- Gypsy (Of a Strange and Distant Time) – Justin Hayward
- Eternity Road – Ray Thomas
- Candle of Life – John Lodge
- Sun Is Still Shining – Mike Pinder
- I Never Thought I’d Live to Be a Million – Justin Hayward
- Watching and Waiting – Justin Hayward, Ray Thomas
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