Moody Blues Remain

Forty-four years after the release of Days of Future Past, the Moody Blues--well, three of them--are still touring the world. Known especially for their great series of albums in the 1960s, 70s and even into the 80s, the band explored spiritual and romantic themes with plenty of dramatic background.

The aforementioned iconic album was recorded with a symphony orchestra, but afterwards they still got that sound of sailing through the universe thanks to the Mellotron (artificial orchestra) and the Chamberlain after.

Through the years they've diminished to three old gray guys--Justin Hayward, John Lodge and Graeme Edge--they're still out there--as perennial as the planets and stars that were part of their early songs.

I remember the Moody Blues from my youth and spent a lot of time listening to their early albums when I was in college. They seemed so cool--perfect hair, great music, psychedelic and "meaningful." Nights in White Satin was everywhere--and even got re-released in the early 1970s--a double hit.

I think of the Moodies today because I heard a song that reminded me of them yesterday when my iPod pulled up the song Ghost, from the album Ghost, by the Devin Townsend Project. Six and a half minutes of that choral background with mellow keyboard was relaxing--but I know the project's secret. They can turn 180 degrees and sound like heavy metal, too. More on that fascinating band later.

Blue Blog

It all started last night driving home, when I saw the baby blue old Chevy pickup with no roof and beautiful billet interior details, lowered to car height. Then, a minute later, a nice Navy Blue Mazda3--one of my favorite current "regular" cars. I began thinking about blue.

My wife's car is blue too--Liquid Blue Metallic--and that paint cost plenty when we special ordered it five years ago. My dad's 1964 Corvette was that shade too. I have a blue Plymouth van whose paint is peeling on the roof--it's less blue than when new.

What about music? Well, there are the blues themselves--the simple three-chord structure used by musicians for years. I don't know how long. I do know about B.B. King and Lucille, his guitar. There are the Moody Blues, who aren't really a blues band, and more obscure, the Blues Magoos. Blues Image is responsible for the early 1970's hit Ride Captain Ride. Try forgetting that once you've been reminded of its existence.

Joni Mitchell recorded an early lp called Blue. I have it on my iPod. The Beatles aren't a blues band but John Lennon wrote and recorded Yer Blues on the White Album and George's For You Blue has a real traditional, acoustic sound. The list goes on--how about the Blues Project? Blues Traveler? Fats Domino singing "Blue Monday?" Van Morrison wailing Blue Money? Love is Blue?

Hey, what about bluegrass?

What else? I'm always happy to see the big blue roof of an iHop. I love their Harvest Grain 'n' Nut pancakes, with scrambled eggs and bacon. Just had them last night. More healthful are blueberries, known for their antioxidant properties (I always think of rust prevention when I hear that word).

There are blue states -- with a majority of Democratic voters. If blue is good or bad in this case depends on your political bent.

My favorite blue is the color of the sky, which changes all the time. They sold a VW New Beetle years ago that was that color.

Am I feeling blue today? No.

100th Post of the Year!

It just shows that the secret of success is to make a plan and then stick to it. At the end of last year, I decided to write a post a day here starting January 1. Well, here we are on April 8 and this is it. It also demonstrates that time flies when you're having fun.

Now, what about 100? It's the first three-digit number. If you're that old you'll probably get your name in the local newspaper, with you staring, bleary eyed, at the camera ("What's going on?"). Listen to the Moody Blues' I Never Thought I'd Live to be 100."

Chevrolet celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2011. Next year, Arizona and New Mexico will have their centennials. New Mexico has issued a beautiful turquoise commemorative license plate (see above) which won the 2010 "America's Best License Plate" award.

On the negative side, there's the Hundred Years War, which actually lasted 116 years, and kept France on edge from 1337 to 1453.

There's Gabriel Garcia Marquez' 100 Years of Solitude, a great book that I haven't read yet.

Here's to the next 100 posts.