The Moody Blues – The Present (1983)
📀 Album Overview
The Present is the eleventh studio album by The Moody Blues, released in 1983. It followed the commercial success of Long Distance Voyager and continued the band’s early-1980s sound, combining synth-driven production with their established melodic rock identity. The album reflects both optimism and introspection, though it did not match the chart impact of its predecessor.
🎶 Genre
The album is primarily synth rock, progressive pop, and soft rock. It leans heavily on keyboards and polished production, aligning with early-1980s mainstream rock trends while retaining the band’s signature atmospheric style.
💿 Tracklist
- Something You Said
- Running Water
- I Don’t Mind
- It’s Cold Outside of Your Heart
- Running Out of Love
- The Present
- Blue World
- Meet Me Halfway
- Surrender
- Heavens Above
👥 Album Credits
Justin Hayward – guitars, vocals
John Lodge – bass guitar, vocals
Ray Thomas – flute, vocals
Graeme Edge – drums, percussion
Patrick Moraz – keyboards
Pip Williams – producer
⚡ Fun Facts
• “Blue World” was one of the album’s more recognizable singles and received radio airplay.
• The album continued the band’s use of synthesizers as a dominant musical element.
• It was part of a trilogy of early-1980s albums featuring Patrick Moraz on keyboards.
🧠 Trivia
• The album’s sound reflects the influence of early-1980s production trends, including gated drums and digital textures.
• Despite strong musicianship, it received a more mixed critical reception than Long Distance Voyager.
• The band continued balancing progressive roots with mainstream accessibility.
📚 Did You Know
• The Present was the last Moody Blues album to chart strongly in the US during their early-1980s peak.
• It represents the closing phase of their most commercially successful modern era.
• After this period, the band would shift toward longer gaps between studio albums.
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)
The Moody Blues - Strange Times (1999)
