The Moody Blues – December (2003)
📀 Album Overview
December is the sixteenth studio album by The Moody Blues, released in 2003. It is a holiday-themed record that combines traditional Christmas songs with a few original compositions. The album reflects a softer, orchestral-leaning interpretation of the band’s sound, emphasizing atmosphere, warmth, and vocal harmony over progressive experimentation.
🎶 Genre
The album is primarily holiday music, with elements of soft rock, pop rock, and symphonic rock. It leans heavily on orchestral arrangements, seasonal standards, and gentle acoustic textures.
💿 Tracklist
- Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
- Winter Wonderland
- When a Child Is Born
- White Christmas
- In the Quiet of Christmas Morning (Bach 147)
- Blue Christmas
- This Is the Moment
- A Winter’s Tale
- The Spirit of Christmas
- In the Bleak Midwinter
- The Christmas Song
- December Snow
- A Don’t Need a Reindeer
👥 Album Credits
Justin Hayward – guitars, vocals
John Lodge – bass guitar, vocals
Ray Thomas – flute, vocals
Graeme Edge – drums, percussion
Additional musicians – orchestral and choral arrangements
⚡ Fun Facts
• The album includes both classic Christmas standards and newly arranged material.
• It features orchestral backing that emphasizes a cinematic holiday atmosphere.
• “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” is a cover of the well-known John Lennon and Yoko Ono song.
🧠 Trivia
• The album represents a rare full Christmas project in The Moody Blues’ discography.
• It revisits the band’s symphonic roots in a more seasonal context.
• Some arrangements draw subtle inspiration from classical and choral traditions.
📚 Did You Know
• December is the final studio album released under The Moody Blues name.
• It closes their official studio discography after nearly four decades of recording.
• The project highlights the band’s long-standing connection to orchestral and atmospheric music styles.
Get The Moody Blues albums from Amazon Music Store
The Moody Blues Full Discography: Complete Guide to Albums & Covers Collection (1965--2003)
More Albums:
The Moody Blues - The Magnificent Moodies (1965)
The Moody Blues - Days of Future Passed (1967)
The Moody Blues - In Search of the Lost Chord (1968)
The Moody Blues - To Our Children's Children's Children (1969)
