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Germain Amphitheater

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Germain Amphitheater (originally Polaris Amphitheater ) was a 20,000-seat outdoor entertainment venue located in Columbus, Ohio , near the suburb of Westerville . The venue opened as part of a large development venture off of Interstate Highway I-71 . There were 6,700 seats in an open-air pavilion—much of it under cover—and room for another 13,300 people on general admission lawn seating. The concert season began mid-May, continuing through early October and featured 20-30 concerts per year. At the time it opened, it was the largest and most suitable venue for concerts in central Ohio .

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85-493: The amphitheater opened on June 15, 1994, with a concert by The Moody Blues and the Columbus Symphony Orchestra . Since that time, it hosted some of the largest names in music, including: Rush, Aerosmith, Janet Jackson, Dave Matthews Band, Spice Girls , Farm Aid, and Ozzfest . Toby Keith played the final show on September 16, 2007. The venue was originally owned by Polaris Amphitheater Concerts, Inc.;

170-432: A Feeling" and "The Sun Set" were written by Pinder, "Another Morning" and "Twilight Time" were written by Thomas, "Peak Hour" and "Evening (Time to Get Away)" were written by Lodge, and the opening and closing poems, "Morning Glory" and "Late Lament", were written by Edge. The lead vocal on each track was provided by its writer, with the exception of "Dawn Is a Feeling", which was sung by Hayward (although Pinder sang lead on

255-467: A five-year sponsorship, renaming the venue Germain Amphitheater. On June 17, 1997, at Ozzfest , concert goers began throwing bottles at the stage, others smashed box office windows, started brush fires, kicked over a trash can, and overturned cars outside the amphitheater, after the announcement was made that Ozzy Osbourne would not perform. On September 7, 2003, the amphitheater was the site of

340-490: A fusion of rock with classical music (performed with the London Festival Orchestra ) that established the band as pioneers in the development of art rock and progressive rock . It has been described as a "landmark" and "one of the first successful concept albums ". The group released six more albums and toured extensively until they went on hiatus in 1974. Their records from this period were among

425-564: A joint partnership between PromoWest Productions, Belkin Productions and Sunshine Promotions. In 1997, ownership was purchased by SFX Entertainment . In 2000, the building was owned by Clear Channel Entertainment, when the company bought out SFX Entertainment. In 2005, Clear Channel was spun off into Live Nation , who owned the building from 2005 until its closing. In February 2003, the Germain Automotive Group purchased

510-662: A new musical influence to the band with his folk -inspired songwriting style. In April 1967 they were introduced to Decca staff producer Tony Clarke , who produced the band's next single, their first record with Hayward and Lodge, "Fly Me High" (written and sung by Hayward) with "Really Haven't Got the Time" (written and sung by Pinder) as the B-side, released in May 1967. Sometimes known to fans as "the Sixth Moodie", Clarke would remain

595-506: A number of tracks from the attempted 1966 album included. Most of the songs for this second album were Laine/Pinder originals, with Tim Hardin 's "Hang On to a Dream" being the only cover. Laine would go on to join Paul McCartney's post-Beatles band Wings in 1971. Along with Paul and Linda McCartney , Laine was one of the three members to remain with Wings from their formation to their 1981 split. The three remaining members of

680-406: A very melodic buzzing guitar-solo sound. The Moody Blues had by now become a bill-topping act in their own right and appeared at both the 1969 and 1970 Isle of Wight Festivals (an album and DVD of their 1970 performance would be released in 2008). The title of the band's next album, 1971's Every Good Boy Deserves Favour , was derived from a mnemonic used to remember the musical notes that form

765-793: The Billboard Hot 100 and becoming a certified million-seller; the song had "bubbled under" the Hot 100 charts on its original release. The song also returned to the UK charts, reaching No. 9, ten places higher than its original release in 1967. The Moodies were one of the earliest rock acts to start their own label, following the Beatles' Apple Records . In 1969 they created Threshold Records , prompted in part by disputes with Decca over album design costs (their gatefold record jackets and expensive cover art were not popular with company executives). The idea

850-635: The Billboard chart in the US. The LP was a song cycle or concept album that takes place over the course of a single day. The album drew inspiration in production and arrangement from the pioneering use of classical instrumentation by the Beatles, to whom Pinder had recommended the Mellotron in 1965 (the Beatles first used the instrument on their 1966 album Revolver , specifically the track " Tomorrow Never Knows ", and would continue to use it sporadically for

935-467: The Cashbox R&;B singles chart. Bessie Banks later commented: I remember 1963 Kennedy was assassinated; it was announced over the radio. At the time, I was rehearsing in the office of Leiber and Stoller. We called it a day. Everyone was in tears. "Come back next week and we will be ready to record 'Go Now ' "; and we did so. I was happy and excited that maybe this time I'll make it. 'Go Now'

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1020-631: The Wings Over America live album and another live recording in a studio setting on One Hand Clapping recorded in 1974 but released in 2024. He also sang the song at the Birmingham Heart Beat Charity Concert 1986 raising money for the local children's hospital. In January 1997, "Go Now" (without an exclamation mark) was released on The Very Best of the Moody Blues ; its release on this album

1105-549: The English Invasion and the end of Bessie Banks’ career, so I thought. America's DJs had stopped promoting American artists. Banks' recollections are questionable, because her single was released in the US in January 1964, and The Moody Blues' version was not released until November 1964 in the UK and January 1965 in the US. The Bessie Banks version is included on the soundtrack of the film Stonewall (1995) and on

1190-401: The "Red Bird Story". "Go Now!" (adding an exclamation mark) was made popular internationally later in 1964 when the Moody Blues , an English beat group from Birmingham, recorded it, with Denny Laine on guitar and lead vocals. When Laine first heard Bessie Banks's version, he immediately told the rest of the band that they needed to record the song. At the time the single was released, it

1275-484: The 16th annual Farm Aid concert. Tickets to the event sold out within two weeks. After the 2007 season, the amphitheater closed. According to The Columbus Dispatch , the rising real estate values were the main reason behind the sale. They also speculated that competition from other similarly-sized venues in the area, such as Nationwide Arena , Value City Arena , Columbus Crew Stadium , and Lifestyle Communities Pavilion , along with noise complaints from residents of

1360-635: The 1970s, A Question of Balance . This album, No. 1 in the UK and No. 3 on the Billboard chart in the US, was indicative of the band's growing success in America. Hayward's "Question" was issued as a single, reaching No. 2 in the UK. Pinder's "Melancholy Man" would be released as a single in France, reaching No. 1 there. Hayward began an artful exploration of guitar tone through the use of numerous effects pedals and fuzzboxes and developed for himself

1445-491: The 1980s they took on a more synth-pop sound, having hits with " Gemini Dream " (1981), " The Voice " (1981), " Your Wildest Dreams " (1986) and " I Know You're Out There Somewhere " (1988). "Your Wildest Dreams" made the Moody Blues the first act to earn each of its first three Top 10 singles in the United States in three different decades. Moraz departed in 1991, followed by Thomas in 2002. The band's last studio album

1530-715: The B-side, in September 1964. Despite some publicity, including an appearance on the cult television programme Ready Steady Go! , the single failed to chart. The band's big breakthrough came with their second single, a cover of Bessie Banks ' " Go Now ", released in November 1964. Promoted on television with one of the first purpose-made promotional films in the rock and pop era, it reached No. 1 in Britain (where it remains their only No. 1 single) and No. 10 in America , where it

1615-465: The Beatles and Marianne Faithfull among others. The day after the party, as Laine later recalled, "we called up the Ridgepride office and said we needed £100 to pay for the drinks bill. They told us they would be right over to see us, but they never showed up. When we went around to the office we discovered they had closed it down and run to the hills, leaving us in the lurch!". Ridgepride left

1700-739: The Beginning", leading into Hayward's "Lovely to See You". His "Never Comes the Day" was issued as a UK single, while Thomas contributed wry observations of life in "Dear Diary" and "Lazy Day". Pinder contributed the closing track on side one, "So Deep Within You". Side two closed with the "Dream Sequence", Edge's poem "The Dream" leading into Pinder's "Have You Heard?" parts I and II with the two parts separated by his classically themed instrumental piece "The Voyage". The band's music continued to become more complex and symphonic, with heavy amounts of reverberation on

1785-621: The British beat and R&B scene of the early–mid 1960s, the band came to prominence with the UK No. 1 and US Top 10 single " Go Now " in late 1964/early 1965. Laine and Warwick both left the band in 1966, with Edge, Pinder and Thomas recruiting new members Justin Hayward (guitar/vocals) and John Lodge (bass/vocals). They embraced the psychedelic rock movement of the late 1960s, with their second album, 1967's Days of Future Passed , being

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1870-626: The Diplomats (formed 1962), with vocalist and guitarist Denny Laine and another future ELO member, drummer Bev Bevan . El Riot & the Rebels split when Lodge went to technical college in 1963, with Thomas and Pinder forming a new band, the Krew Kats. At the end of 1963, after a disappointing spell in Hamburg , Germany, Thomas and Pinder began making plans to start a new band. Meanwhile, by

1955-538: The Four Tops , with the former winning Pinder an Ivor Novello Award . Elkie Brooks later covered Hayward's "Nights in White Satin". Pinder also appeared on John Lennon 's Imagine album in 1971, providing additional percussion on " I Don't Wanna Be a Soldier (I Don't Want to Die) ". In late 1972, a re-issue of the five-year-old "Nights in White Satin" became the Moody Blues' biggest US hit, reaching No. 2 on

2040-492: The Lost Chord , included " Legend of a Mind ", a song written by Ray Thomas in tribute to LSD guru Timothy Leary which encompassed a flute solo performed by Thomas – four members of the group had taken LSD together for the first time in early 1967. Lodge provided a two-part song "House of Four Doors" set either side of Thomas's epic piece. Hayward began playing sitar and incorporating it into Moody Blues music ("Voices in

2125-466: The Moody Blues' own new material was undertaken instead, with Decca/Deram executives not finding out about the change of plan until after the album was finished. The Decca/Deram executives were initially sceptical about the hybrid style of the resulting concept album. Released in November 1967, Days of Future Passed peaked at No. 27 on the British LP chart. Five years later it reached No. 3 on

2210-600: The Moody Blues, Pinder, Thomas and Edge, assembled a new line-up in October 1966. The new members were bassist and vocalist (and ex-El Riot & the Rebels member) John Lodge and guitarist and vocalist Justin Hayward . Hayward was formerly of the Wilde Three with famed UK singer Marty Wilde (father of future pop star Kim Wilde ). He was recommended to Pinder by Eric Burdon of the Animals . Pinder phoned Hayward and

2295-511: The Sky", "Visions of Paradise", "Om"), having been inspired by George Harrison. Hayward's "Voices in the Sky" charted as a single in the UK (No. 27), as did Lodge's "Ride My See-Saw" (No. 42, No. 15 in France), which featured a non-album track, Pinder's "A Simple Game", as the B-side. Pinder contributed " The Best Way to Travel " and album's closer "Om". Graeme Edge found a significant secondary role in

2380-426: The UK. Unable to get gigs, they had no choice but to play the cabaret circuit. This lasted only a short time and after a confrontation with an audience member at one show, who went backstage to berate the band on their performance, the band realised that continuing to play rhythm and blues covers without Laine, whose voice had been the best suited to that style, was not working (in a 2005 interview, Hayward stated that

2465-704: The US Top 20 (with two reaching No. 1) and eight of which made the UK Top 20 (with three reaching No. 1). They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018, for "over 50 years of exhilarating and significant music that has influenced countless musicians and rocked fans around the world". In 1958, rock and roll band El Riot & the Rebels formed in Birmingham , England, featuring vocalist and harmonica player Ray Thomas ("El Riot") and bassist John Lodge . At

2550-457: The US, and reached No. 5 in the UK. The album saw Pinder using the new Chamberlin instrument. His stirring lament "Lost in a Lost World" opened the album, while he also contributed a sympathetic ode to Timothy Leary, "When You're a Free Man". The album also included one of Thomas's most popular songs, "For My Lady". Lodge's songs " Isn't Life Strange " and " I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band) " (the latter written in response to some of

2635-512: The US, "Nights in White Satin" did not make the Billboard Hot 100 on its original release as a single in 1968 ("bubbling under" at No. 103), although it reached No. 2 on re-release in 1972. It is now regarded as the Moody Blues' signature song. In the US "Tuesday Afternoon" was also released as a single and was more successful on initial release, peaking at No. 24 on the Billboard Hot 100. The band's next album, 1968's In Search of

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2720-548: The album and made No. 19 in the UK in late 1967/early 1968. It would eventually make No. 9 in the UK on re-issue in December 1972 and No. 14 on the charts in another re-issue at the end of 1979 — by which time it had been covered by several artists, including Eric Burdon and War , Giorgio Moroder , The Dickies and eventually by various non-English-language artists, including Franck Pourcel , Dalida , Tommy Körberg , and I Nomadi ., and American Bettye LaVette . Likewise, in

2805-446: The album included a Lodge/Pinder collaboration, "Out and In". Lodge provided his two-part "Eyes of a Child" and "Candle of Life", while Pinder contributed "Sun Is Still Shining". The album closed with its only single, " Watching and Waiting ", sung by Hayward and composed by him and Thomas. It was during 1969 that the band established their own label Threshold Records under licence to Decca Records. To Our Children's Children's Children

2890-427: The album, including backing up Graeme Edge's opening and closing poems. The orchestra and band never performed together during the recording. With the exception of the overdubbed strings on the latter part of Hayward's " Nights in White Satin ", the orchestral sounds on the band's own songs were actually played by Pinder on Mellotron. Despite being a lush concept album, it was recorded in a very workmanlike manner, with

2975-423: The band as a writer of poetry, with all their late 1960s albums beginning with various band members reciting poems by Edge that were conceptually related to the lyrics of the songs that followed. Edge narrated his brief "Departure" poem on Lost Chord , although Pinder recited the majority of Edge's poetry, as according to Edge, he had the best voice for it due to "smoking more cigarettes and drinking more whisky at

3060-448: The band bankrupt with several debts, taking all the money earned from their records up to that point, including the No. 1 hit "Go Now", with them. Now without Ridgepride, the band signed directly to Decca Records in the UK and London Records in the US, with the Beatles' manager Brian Epstein taking on management of the Moody Blues. Their next single "Everyday", another Laine/Pinder original,

3145-553: The band continued playing their biggest hit "Go Now" after he and Lodge joined, with different members attempting lead vocal, but that it never sounded right). Although the band had only released original songs on record after The Magnificent Moodies in July 1965, the R&;B covers were still the main focus of their live show until this point, after which the band focused primarily on playing their own original songs, with Hayward bringing

3230-535: The band obtained a management company, Ridgepride, formed by Alex Wharton (later known as Alex Murray), who had been in the A&;R division of Decca Records . They signed a recording contract with Ridgepride, who then leased their recordings to Decca. They released their first single, a cover of Bobby Parker 's "Steal Your Heart Away" with the Laine/Pinder original "Lose Your Money (But Don't Lose Your Mind)" as

3315-491: The band recording a particular song, then the track being presented to Peter Knight who quickly composed a suitable "linking" orchestral portion, which he and the orchestra then recorded. The album was as much an original work by Knight himself as the group. The composing credit for the whole album was listed as Redwave/Knight (Redwave being a made-up collective name for the five Moody Blues), although "Nights in White Satin" and " Tuesday Afternoon " were written by Hayward, "Dawn Is

3400-528: The band were unable to make any television appearances in the US during the tour, although the live concerts still went ahead. In July 1966, Warwick retired from the group and the music business. After unsuccessful attempts to recruit Klaus Voormann (who took up a simultaneous offer to join Manfred Mann instead) and the Who 's John Entwistle , the band hired Rod Clark as Warwick's replacement on bass. At

3485-661: The band's hippie fans, who mistook the Moodies as spiritual leaders due to the philosophical themes of many of their lyrics) were lifted as singles from Seventh Sojourn, both reaching the Top 40 in the UK and US. In an interview following the release of Seventh Sojourn , Edge told Rolling Stone : "We've got two Christians, one Mystic, one Pedantic and one Mess, and we all get on a treat." By this time, other bands were picking up their work. Pinder's songs "A Simple Game" (1968) and "So Deep Within You" (1969) were successfully covered by

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3570-411: The band's producer for the next eleven years. "Fly Me High" picked up both radio airplay and favourable reviews, but failed to chart in the UK. The track showed elements of the folk rock and psychedelic styles that were pervading rock music during this time. The band went further in the psychedelic direction on their next single, Pinder's "Love and Beauty", which was issued in September 1967. This too

3655-569: The band, and Ray Thomas attempted to sing it a couple of times. Laine continued to perform the song in concert during his years in Wings . On June 21–23, 1976, at The Forum in Inglewood, California , Laine performed "Go Now!" with the rest of the group, accompanying himself on piano; Paul McCartney was on bass and vocals, Linda McCartney on vocals, Jimmy McCulloch on lead guitar, and Joe English on drums. This version of "Go Now" appears on

3740-531: The beginning of 1963 they were joined by keyboardist Mike Pinder , who had just returned home from time in the army. Other Birmingham rock and roll bands around during these years included Danny King & the Dukes (formed 1958), with bassist Clint Warwick , Gerry Levine & the Avengers (formed 1959), with drummer Graeme Edge and future Electric Light Orchestra member Roy Wood on guitar, and Denny &

3825-408: The beginning of 1964, Warwick, Edge and Laine had all left their previous bands and begun working together in a new band, the R&B Preachers. Thomas and Pinder formed their new band in May 1964, recruiting Edge and Laine with the line-up completed by Warwick after Lodge turned down an offer to join; the other members intended to move to London as a professional band after a few local gigs, while he

3910-413: The beginning of October, Laine also left the band, followed by new member Clark a few days later. Shortly after Laine and Clark left, Epstein announced that he no longer represented the Moody Blues. While the Moodies appeared to be disintegrating, Decca released their new single, "Boulevard de la Madeleine" with "This Is My House (But Nobody Calls)" as the B-side, just a few days after Laine's departure

3995-485: The bridge section), and the two poems which were recited by Pinder. Together with Tony Clarke, engineer Derek Varnals also contributed heavily to the creation of the Moody Blues' classic studio sound, working with Pinder and Clarke to create a more symphonic overlapping sound on the Mellotron as opposed to the sharp 'cut off' the instrument normally gave, partly achieved by removing all the "sound effects" tapes (trains, whistles, cockerel crowing, etc.) and then 'doubling up'

4080-430: The deeper drama of Hayward's "You Can Never Go Home", Lodge's "One More Time to Live" and Pinder's "My Song". Edge started writing lyrics intended to be sung, rather than verses to be spoken – his "After You Came" featured each of the other four members taking a vocal section. The album saw the band moving away from the Mellotron as their primary keyboard instrument, with the synthesizer starting to take its place. The album

4165-729: The former amphitheater's parking lot, along I-71. The site plan for the new store also incorporated the previously proposed plan to extend Gemini Place east to Worthington Rd. through the amphitheater complex. IKEA opened in 2017, along the newly extended Gemini Place (named “Ikea Way” between I-71 and Worthington Road). A Topgolf was constructed on the remainder of the property, opening in 2018. The Moody Blues The Moody Blues were an English rock band formed in Birmingham in 1964. The band initially consisted of Graeme Edge (drums), Denny Laine (guitar/vocals), Mike Pinder (keyboards/vocals), Ray Thomas (multi-instrumentalist/vocals), and Clint Warwick (bass/vocals). Originally part of

4250-419: The group's earlier recordings; however, it became a far more featured instrument from this point onwards as the psychedelic influences became stronger in the band's music. By the autumn of 1967 the Moody Blues' contract with Decca Records was set to expire and they owed the label several thousand pounds in advances. They had the support, however, of Decca A&R manager Hugh Mendl , who had been instrumental in

4335-682: The lines of the treble clef: EGBDF. One of the Moodies' most experimental albums, the opening track, "Procession", depicted the "evolution" of music, leading into Hayward's " The Story in Your Eyes ", which was released as a single in the US where it reached No. 23. "Procession" is the only Moody Blues song credited to the entire band (not counting the Redwave credit on Days of Future Passed ). Lodge's contributions included "Emily's Song", written for his newly born daughter, while Thomas's reflective "Our Guessing Game" and whimsical "Nice to Be Here" offset

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4420-455: The management firm, with the band's next single, the Laine/Pinder original "From the Bottom of My Heart (I Love You)", being produced by Denny Cordell , who would remain their producer into 1966. The single was released in May 1965 and did better than "I Don't Want to Go On Without You", reaching No. 22 in the UK. In July 1965, the band released their first album, The Magnificent Moodies . It

4505-428: The mid-1960s, which led to Laine's departure from the band, later being replaced by Justin Hayward . Bassist Clint Warwick had already departed the band by this time. Rodney Clark had replaced him for a while before they recruited John Lodge . With the new lineup, the Moody Blues continued to perform "Go Now!" for a short time, until they began writing their own material. Hayward sang the song during his first year with

4590-454: The most successful in the progressive rock genre, and produced FM radio hits such as " Nights in White Satin " (1967; charting again in 1972), " Tuesday Afternoon " (1968), " Question " (1970), " The Story in Your Eyes " (1971), " Isn't Life Strange " (1972), and " I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band) " (1973). After resuming activities in 1977, Pinder left the following year and was replaced by former Yes keyboardist Patrick Moraz . In

4675-444: The nearby communities of Westerville and Genoa Township may have contributed to the decline in the number of shows hosted by Germain Amphitheater in the years leading up to its closure. In 2007, only nine shows were scheduled, the fewest shows at the venue since it opened. Following the 2007 concert season, the facility and property were auctioned for sale, but received no bids from buyers. After its closure, seats were uprooted, and

4760-502: The next two years, while the Moodies' Decca/London labelmates the Rolling Stones used Mellotron heavily on their 1967 album Their Satanic Majesties Request and its preceding single " We Love You "). It took the idea of rock/classical fusion to new heights, using the London Festival Orchestra to provide an orchestral linking framework to the group's already written and performed songs, plus overture and conclusion sections on

4845-481: The project, and Mendl (as executive producer) was able to provide this despite Decca's notoriously tight-fisted attitude to its artists. According to the band, Peter Knight , who had been assigned to arrange and conduct the orchestral interludes, came to see them play live before the recording and liked their newly written songs so much he preferred to work on an album of those rather than the Dvořák assignment. An album of

4930-411: The recent establishment of London/Decca's new subsidiary imprint Deram Records . With Mendl's backing, the Moody Blues were offered a deal to make a rock version of Antonín Dvořák 's New World Symphony to promote the company's new Deramic Stereo Sound audio format in return for which the group would be forgiven their debt. The Moody Blues agreed, but insisted that they be given artistic control of

5015-524: The resident band. The band's name quickly evolved from the M&;B5 to the Moody Blues. Aside from incorporating the M&B letters, the name was also a subtle reference to the Duke Ellington song " Mood Indigo ". Pinder also stated in a later interview that, at the time, he was interested in how music can affect and change people's moods. The "Blues" was also a reference to the band's set at

5100-428: The song as having a "rare beat" and "interesting gospel -like piano support." The next chart successes for The Moody Blues were " Nights in White Satin " and " Tuesday Afternoon " in 1968. In a 2018 interview with author Robert Rodriguez on the podcast "Something About the Beatles", White Album engineer Chris Thomas recalled that George Harrison asked him to add a piano part to the Beatles song " Long Long Long " in

5185-457: The song was heard by songwriters and record producers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller , who re-recorded it in late 1963, with arrangement by Gary Sherman and backing vocals from Dee Dee Warwick and Cissy Houston . The single was first released in early 1964 on their Tiger label, and later reissued on the Blue Cat label, the R&B/soul imprint of Red Bird . Her version reached No. 40 on

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5270-480: The style of the Moody Blues' version of "Go Now". Ultimate Classic Rock critic Nick DeRiso rated it as the Moody Blues' greatest song, saying that "Laine's scorching take on this old Bessie Banks track is as emotionally gripping as it is career-makingly important." Classic Rock critic Malcolm Dome rated it as the Moody Blues' 10th greatest song, saying that it's "catchy yet also calmly intricate." The Moody Blues had little success with singles after "Go Now!" in

5355-406: The tapes of orchestral instruments' sounds, which combined with Pinder's knowledge of the instrument and ability at playing it, and Clarke and Varnals' recording skills, created an orchestral 'wave' sound that characterised the Moody Blues' music thereafter. "Nights in White Satin" — despite eventually becoming a legendary classic — was very slow to gain popularity. It was released as a single from

5440-399: The time Laine and Clark departed, the Moody Blues had been in the process of recording their second album, to be titled Look Out! , with Cordell still producing. The album was shelved and "Really Haven't Got the Time" is the only song title mentioned in the article. In 2014 Cherry Red Records , on their Esoteric Records imprint, released a double CD edition of The Magnificent Moodies with

5525-429: The time consisting mostly of rhythm and blues . During their first year together, as well as playing their own shows and making their own records, the Moodies (as they were often nicknamed by fans and the band themselves) also provided backing for various blues performers touring England, including Sonny Boy Williamson and Memphis Slim . The Moody Blues moved to London in the summer of 1964. Soon after they arrived,

5610-474: The time". In Search of the Lost Chord was the band's first album to feature artwork by Phil Travers, whose striking surreal scenic imagery would continue for all their albums through to 1972's Seventh Sojourn . The band released two albums in 1969. The first, On the Threshold of a Dream , became their first No. 1 album in the UK. It opened with Hayward, Edge and Pinder sharing narration on Edge's "In

5695-507: The track, "there's a great big bit in the middle where nothing happens, it was supposed to be Ray playing flute"). "I Don't Want to Go On Without You" was also included on a four-track EP, simply titled The Moody Blues , in April 1965 which reached No. 12 on the UK EP chart. The other tracks included were "Go Now", "Steal Your Heart Away" and "Lose Your Money". Around this time Alex Wharton left

5780-528: The venue was extensively looted and vandalized. The site was purchased by Polaris 91 LLC in January 2012 for $ 5.5 million. The structure was completely demolished by May of that same year. Subsequent considerations for the site included an office complex, retail shopping center or multi-family residential space. On June 15, 2014, the twentieth anniversary of the amphitheater's first concert, the Columbus Dispatch reported that site developer NP Limited

5865-406: The vocal tracks. The second album of 1969, To Our Children's Children's Children , was a concept album inspired by the first Moon landing . The album peaked at No. 2 on the UK charts. The opening track, "Higher and Higher", saw Pinder simulate a rocket blast-off on keyboards, then narrate Edge's lyrics. Thomas contributed the songs "Floating" and "Eternity Road", while Hayward provided "Gypsy" and

5950-451: Was a mix of rhythm and blues covers and Laine/Pinder originals, the latter showing more of a Merseybeat influence. The album also included a cover of the George and Ira Gershwin standard " It Ain't Necessarily So ". The back cover featured a specially-written prose poem by Donovan . The band held a launch party for the album, with guests including George Harrison and Paul McCartney of

6035-428: Was also one of the earliest records to feature electronic drums, played by Edge. Every Good Boy Deserves Favour became the band's second consecutive, and third overall, No. 1 album in the UK and reached No. 2 in the US, their highest album chart placement there so far. In 1972, the band returned to the more lush sound of their late 1960s albums with Seventh Sojourn , which became their first album to reach No. 1 in

6120-568: Was announced (the single had been released in the US in June 1966, though the A- and B-sides were switched for the UK release). A further single, " Life's Not Life ", was issued in January 1967. This single's release is often listed in discographies as being cancelled, though both promo and regular stock copies have been seen over the years. In the November 1966 issue of Hit Week , Dutch interviewers Hans van Rij and Emie Havers wrote an article saying that at

6205-543: Was being promoted on television with one of the first purpose-made promotional films in the pop era, produced and directed by their co-manager Alex Wharton (the father of DJ Sonny Wharton ). The song reached No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart in late January 1965. In the US, "Go Now!" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100 until mid-February 1965; it peaked at No. 10 and No. 2 in Canada. Billboard described

6290-482: Was for Threshold to produce new albums and deliver them to Decca in the UK and London in the US who would act as distributor. Go Now " Go Now " is a song composed by Larry Banks and Milton Bennett and first recorded by Bessie Banks , released as a single in January 1964. The best-known version was recorded by the Moody Blues and released the same year. The song was first recorded by Larry Banks's former wife, Bessie Banks. A 1962 demo recording by Bessie of

6375-522: Was impressed when Hayward played him his single "London Is Behind Me" (released in January 1966) during their car ride to meet the other members in Esher . Around this time "Boulevard de la Madeleine" became a hit single in Belgium and with the band's commercial success floundering in the UK, they relocated there almost immediately after Hayward and Lodge joined. By February 1967 the band had returned to

6460-456: Was not a UK hit, but was significant for being the first Moody Blues track to feature Mellotron , played by Pinder. Prior to the Moody Blues' formation, Pinder had worked for the company that manufactured the Mellotron, though he had not been able to afford one until 1967. Pinder's Mellotron work would become a major part of the band's sound for the next several years. Primarily playing harmonica up to this point, Thomas had played flute on some of

6545-522: Was released as a single there in December 1965. In early December 1965, the Moody Blues were the support band for the Beatles on what would ultimately be the Beatles' last British tour . The Moodies then spent late December 1965 into January 1966 on their first tour of North America. What could have been a valuable appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show had been booked prior to the tour; however, visa issues upon their arrival in New York City meant

6630-460: Was released in January 1964, and right away it was chosen Pick Hit of the Week on W.I.N.S. Radio. That means your record is played for seven days. Four days went by, I was so thrilled. On day five, when I heard the first line, I thought it was me, but all of a sudden, I realized it wasn't. At the end of the song it was announced, "The Moody Blues singing 'Go Now'." I was too out-done. This was the time of

6715-457: Was released in October 1965. The single stalled at No. 44 in the UK, where the band would not release any more records for a year. They were still in demand for live gigs though, and while their chart success was declining in the UK and North America, they were still successful in some other countries during this time, particularly France where their cover of Sonny Boy Williamson's " Bye Bye Bird " from The Magnificent Moodies reached No. 3 when it

6800-516: Was released on London Records . The band struggled to continue the success of "Go Now". They enjoyed a minor British hit with a cover of the Drifters ' " I Don't Want to Go On Without You ", reaching No. 33 in February 1965. Wanting to capitalise quickly on the No. 1 hit, Decca had rush-released the single before the band had completed its recording (as Edge recalled in a 1978 interview regarding

6885-477: Was seeking state and local funding to build a road connecting the I-71/Gemini Place interchange to Worthington Road, passing through the former amphitheater site, in order to support future commercial and residential development of the 90-acre (360,000 m) site and alleviate existing traffic congestion on Polaris Parkway. On January 27, 2015, IKEA announced plans for a store on the western edge of

6970-520: Was still in college and determined to finish. The new band hoped to receive sponsorship from the local Mitchells & Butlers Brewery (who owned numerous live music clubs), even naming themselves the M&B5, though the sponsorship failed to materialise. The M&B5 played their first live show a few days after their formation, at the Carlton Ballroom (later to become rock music venue Mothers ) on Erdington High Street , where they became

7055-645: Was the Christmas album December (2003), after which they decided against recording any further studio albums. They continued to tour throughout the 2000s and later reunited periodically for events, one-off concerts, short tours and cruises, until Graeme Edge, the last remaining original member, retired in 2018. Clint Warwick died in 2004, followed by Ray Thomas in 2018, Graeme Edge in 2021, Denny Laine in 2023, and Mike Pinder in 2024. The Moody Blues sold 70 million albums worldwide, including 18 platinum and gold LPs. They produced 16 studio albums, six of which made

7140-463: Was the first of their albums to be released on their own label. Although the Moodies had by now defined themselves with a lush, atmospheric and high-production psychedelic style, which had been an influence on the then-burgeoning progressive rock genre, by 1970 the band were finding it difficult to recreate their sound in concert and decided to record an album that could be played live more easily, losing some of their lush sound for their first album of

7225-450: Was the first time it had been released on a Moody Blues compilation album. "Go Now" was also released on the subsequent Moody Blues two-disc compilation album Anthology . Laine later covered "Go Now" in 2007 on his album Performs the Hits of Wings . "Go Now!" was performed by Denny Laine with The Fab Faux on December 11, 2010, at Terminal 5 in New York City, and February 26, 2011, at

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