THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

313-Moody Blues-Nights in White Satin.

1967-Number 19 single. The song was re-issued in 1972, this time peaking at Number 9. The song was re-released for a third time in 1979, and this time reached Number 14.

Best Bit-At 3.56. Like many a great song the lyrics are vague and open to interpretation, but it is probably not about a very comfortable pair of pyjamas.

The Moody Blues were formed in Erdington, Birmingham, England, in 1964, the original line up were Graeme Edge (1941-2021) (drums) Denny Laine, (1944-2023) (guitar) Mike Pinder, (1941-2024) (keyboards) Ray Thomas, (1941-2018) (flute and harmonica) and Clint Warwick, (1940-2004) (bass) all five members also provided vocals. The Moody Blues first found success with the release of their second single ‘Go Now’ in 1964, it was a cover of an ‘R&B’ track first recorded by the American artist Bessie Banks earlier in the same year. The lead vocals were provided by Denny Laine (see also best songs 646 and 107) who would stay with the band until 1966, that year also saw the departure of Clint Warwick, and the arrival of their replacements Justin Hayward, and John Lodge. It was Mike Pinder who chose the bands name, as they played a mixture of ‘R&B’ and the ‘Blues,’ Pinder has said that ‘He was interested in how music changes people’s moods.’ The Moody Blues were active until going on hiatus in 1974, but they reformed in 1977, until the band were retired in 2018, in total their have been nine members, with Graeme Edge being the bands one constant.

The discography of the Moody Blues includes 16 studio Albums released between 1965-2003, and 36 singles released between 1964-2003, there is also one extended play, (EP) 27 official compilation Albums, and eight live Albums available. In the UK, 12 of their studio Albums have made the top 40, with three of those Albums reaching the Number 1 position, while 10 of their singles have made the UK top 40, with ‘Go Now’ peaking the highest at Number 1 in 1964. In America on Billboard, 12 of their Albums have reached the top 40, with two of those making Number 1, while 13 of their singles have reached the Billboard Hot 100 top 40, with the 1972 re-issue of ‘Nights in White Satin’ peaking the highest at Number 2.

‘Nights in White Satin’ was the first of two singles released from ‘Days of Future Passed,’ which was the second studio Album released by the Moody Blues, from November 1967, the song was written by Justin Hayward, with the production being by Tony Clarke, who was born Anthony Ralph Clarke, on August 21st, 1941, in Coventry, England, he died on January 4th, 2010, of emphysema, at the age of 69. Tony Clarke who was affectionately known as ‘the sixth member of the Moody Blues,’ worked on eight of the groups studio Albums between 1967-1978, he also produced the collaboration Album ‘Blue Jays’ (1975) for Justin Hayward, and John Lodge, as well as solo Albums for each of them in 1977.

Justin Hayward was born David Justin Hayward, on October 14th, 1946, in Swindon, Wiltshire, England, in 2018 he was inducted into the ‘Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’ as a member of the Moody Blues, and then was appointed ‘Officer of the Order of the British Empire’ (OBE) in the 2022 ‘Birthday Honours,’ for services to music. In 1966 Justin Hayward replaced Denny Laine in the Moody Blues, and within a few weeks John Lodge replaced Clint Warwick. The Moody Blues had initially found great commercial success with their American ‘R&B’ cover versions, but they had made little money, and their popularity was beginning to fade. The arrival of Justin Hayward and John Lodge marked a significant shift in the type of music the Moody Blues recorded. Hayward in particular changed their sound, by introducing Art/Progressive/Psychedelic, and Symphonic Rock. Their second studio Album, and the first to feature Justin Hayward, ‘Days of Future Passed’ is considered to be a ground breaking recording, and one of the first examples of what would become known as ‘Progressive Rock,’ and one of ‘Rock Music’s’ first ‘concept’ Albums. Away from the Moody Blues Justin Hayward has issued eight studio Albums between 1975-2013, two live Albums, and one official compilation Album. In 1975 the song ‘Blue Guitar’ credited to ‘Justin Hayward and John Lodge’ reached Number 8 on the UK top 40 singles chart, the track featured three unaccredited members of 10cc, (see also best songs 663 and 154) Lol Creme, (slide guitar & vocals) Kevin Godley, (drums, & vocals) and Eric Stuart (guitar & vocals.)

‘Nights in White Satin’ first appeared on the Moody Blues second studio Album ‘Days of Future Passed,’ from 1967. In it’s original form it was the middle segment of three pieces of music. Part one is ‘The Night’ written by Justin Hayward, and Pete Knight, (1917-1985) and part three ‘Late Lament/Resolvement,’ was written by Graeme Edge and Pete Knight. Along with the five members of the Moody Blues, also performing on the track were ‘Peter Knight and the London Festival Orchestra,’ who also provided the orchestral arrangements. Justin Hayward was just 19 years old when he wrote Nights in White Satin, he has said that he got the idea for the song after someone gave him a set of white satin sheets, and he then wrote it in his bed-sit at Bayswater. Haywood has recalled, ‘It was a series of random thoughts and was quite autobiographical. It was a very emotional time as I was at the end of one big love affair and the start of another. A lot of that came out in the song.’ Haywood has also said, ‘These are the things that boys, when they’re in the middle of love affairs, they think about. Every word in that song makes perfect sense to me, but trying to explain it to someone is difficult. I mean, I lived every one of the lines in that song.’

‘Nights in white satin never reaching the end, letters I’ve written never meaning to send. Beauty I’d always missed with these eyes before, just what the truth is I can’t say anymore.’