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1969

General Notes:
Graeme and Carol Edge's first child, Samantha, is born in mid-1969..
Justin Hayward's father, Fredrick, passed away in 1969.

DATES

VENUES

SET LIST

NOTES

January 1, 1969

Graeme Edge weds Carol Mayers

Reported in "Disc and Music Echo" January 11, 1969

 

 

 

 

January 6-10, 1969

The Moody Blues are featured by BBC radio's David Symonds

 

Media appearance noted at www.marmalade-skies.co.uk (retrieved May 11, 2016).

January 10, 1969

TV appearance on “Where It’s At” (Canada)

 

Broadcast on CBC-TV, this show featured an interview with the Moodies, noted a TV guide printed in “The Province” (Vancouver, BC) of January 10, 1969, p. 18 (retrieved January 15, 2021 via Newspapers.com).

January 11, 1969

 

 

 

January 12, 1969

Radio interview on CKLG-FM (Vancouver, BC)

 

Interview noted in an article titled, “CKLG Boss 30” in “The Province” (Vancouver, BC) of January 10, 1969, p. 11 (retrieved January 15, 2021 via Newspapers.com).

January 12-13, 1969

In the studio recording “So Deep Within You”

 

Reported in “Higher and Higher” #46/47, Spring/Summer 2004, p. 18-27. 

 

Recording “Have You Heard” on January 18 was also reported on Official Moody Blues Facebook page, January 18, 2017 (retrieved January 18 2017).

January 14, 1969

In the studio recording “Lovely to See You”

 

January 15, 1969

In the studio recording “Dear Diary”

 

January 16, 1969

In the studio recording backing tracks for “So Deep Within You”, “Lovely to See You”, and “Dear Diary”

 

January 17, 1969

In the studio recording “Send Me No Wine”

 

January 18, 1969

In the studio recording “Have You Heard (Parts 1 and 2)”

 

January 19-21, 1969

In the studio recording “The Voyage”

 

January 22, 1969

In the studio recording “Never Comes the Day”

 

January 23, 1969

In the studio recording backing tracks and overdubs

 

Radio appearance on “The Tom Jones Show” on 3LO (ABC Melbourne, Australia)

 

Reported in “Higher and Higher” #46/47, Spring/Summer 2004, p. 18-27. 

 

 

 

Noted in radio program guide printed in “The Age” (Melbourne, Australia) on January 16, 1969, p.12 and in an article in the same issue on p. 2 (both retrieved January 15, 2021 via Newspapers.com). The article describes the show as, “Dynamic Welsh singer Tom Jones stars in an hour show recorded at London’s Paris Theatre. Also on the bill are Bobby Gentry and The Moody Blues.”

January 24, 1969

In the studio recording backing tracks and overdubs

 

College of Commerce, Manchester

Reported in “Higher and Higher” #46/47, Spring/Summer 2004, p. 18-27. The article confirms that the band took January 24 off to play the show at Manchester.

 

Show date of January 24, 1969 and venue from an advertisement in "Melody Maker" January 25, 1969 reported by Val Weston.

 

The websites www.marmalade-skies.co.uk (retrieved May 12, 2016) and setlist.fm (retrieved August 22, 2020) reports this concert as occurring on January 27, 1968, but given the other documentation, January 24 seems more likely.

January 25, 1969

California Ballroom, Dunstable, UK

 

Show date and venue reported at setlist.fm (retrieved August 22, 2020).

January 26, 1969 (and possibly January 27)

In the studio recording “To Share Our Love”

 

Reported in “Higher and Higher” #46/47, Spring/Summer 2004, p. 18-27. 

 

January 28, 1969

In the studio recording “Lazy Day”

 

January 29, 1969

In the studio recording “In the Beginning”

 

January 30, 1969

In the studio recording “Are You Sitting Comfortably”

 

January 31, 1969

In the studio recording “The Dream”

 

February 1, 1969

Mothers Club, Birmingham

Show date and venue noted in "Disc" January 11, 1969 reported by Val Weston and also noted at www.marmalade-skies.co.uk (retrieved May 12, 2016).

February 2, 1969

 

 

 

February 3-4, 1969

Mixdown of On the Threshold of a Dream

 

Reported in “Higher and Higher” #46/47, Spring/Summer 2004, p. 18-27. 

February 5, 1969

Top Rank, Leicester

Show date and venue and “with The Nice and Fairport Convention” noted at www.marmalade-skies.co.uk (retrieved May 12, 2016).

Also noted as an upcoming show in "New Musical Express" of January 18, 1969 as the student's Arts Ball with Bedrocks, Nice and Fairport Convention, reported by Val Weston.

February 6, 1969

King's Hall, Aberystwyth

Show date and venue noted in "Disc" January 11, 1969 reported by Val Weston and also noted at www.marmalade-skies.co.uk (retrieved May 12, 2016).

February 7, 1969

TV appearance on ITV's (UK) "This Is Tom Jones Show" Season 1, episode 2, also broadcast in the US on ABC as the first episode of the show.

Departure
Ride My See-Saw

Media appearance noted at www.marmalade-skies.co.uk (retrieved May 12, 2016) as occurring on February 9, 1969 and titled “Tom Jones Show”, however www.tv.com/episode (retrieved May 12, 2016) reports the date as February 7, 1969, the name of the show as “This Is Tom Jones”, and the songs played as “Ride My See Saw” and “Departure”.

A TV listing for February 7 in “The Morning Call” (Paterson, NJ) on February 7, 1969, p. 18 (retrieved December 3, 2020 via Newspapers.com) also lists “This Is Tom Jones” as the show title hosting the Moodies, and that the song performed was “Ride On A Seesaw” [sic]. Many other US newspapers also carried similar listings.

February 8, 1969

University of Southampton, Southampton

Show date, venue and opening act Pfusiform (a band comprised of students at the University) noted on a ticket stub, reported by Marlene Sower. Show date and venue also noted at http://www.marmalade-skies.co.uk (retrieved May 17, 2016).

 

 

 

 

February 13, 1969

Skyline Ballroom, Hull

Show date and venue reported at www.marmalade-skies.co.uk (retrieved May 12, 2016).

February 14, 1969

Old Union, University of Southampton, Southampton

Goldsmith's College, London

Southampton show date and venue noted at www.goldenjubilee.soton.ac.uk/1969.htm, which also noted that the Moodies played to a capacity crowd, reported by Val Weston.
It is possible that this show was moved to February 8 (see above). In any case, it is unlikely that the Moodies played both London and Southampton on the same day.

London show date, venue, and that the Moody Blues shared the bill with Alan Bown, Elmer Gantry's Velvet Opera and Deviants reported at www.marmalade-skies.co.uk (retrieved May 12, 2016).

February 15, 1969

Liverpool University, Liverpool

 

Show date and venue noted at www.marmalade-skies.co.uk (retrieved May 12, 2016). 

 

 

 

 

February 18, 1969

Recorded songs for BBC radio’s “Top Gear” aired on February 23

Lovely to See You

Never Comes the Day

To Share Our Love

Send Me No Wine

Date and songs noted on the CD set The BBC Sessions 1967-1970.

 

 

 

 

February 21, 1969

University, Sheffield

Show date and venue noted in "Disc", January 11, 1969 reported by Val Weston.

February 22, 1969

Brunel University, Uxbridge

Show date and venue noted at www.marmalade-skies.co.uk (retrieved May 17, 2016).

February 23, 1969

The Moody Blues are featured on BBC radio's "Top Gear"

Lovely to See You

Never Comes the Day

To Share Our Love

Send Me No Wine

Media appearance noted at www.marmalade-skies.co.uk (retrieved May 12, 2016). Songs (recorded February 18) noted on the CD set The BBC Sessions 1967-1970.

February 24, 1969

February 25, 1969

Sheffield University, Sheffield

Show date, venue, and that the Moody Blues shared the bill with Hollies, Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity, and Fairport Convention reported at www.marmalade-skies.co.uk (retrieved May 12, 2016).

February 26, 1969

 

 

 

February 27, 1969

London College Student’s Union, London

 

Show date and venue noted at www.marmalade-skies.co.uk (retrieved May 12, 2016).

February 28, 1969

Queen Elizabeth College, London

Show date and venue reported at setlist.fm (retrieved August 22, 2020), which also notes that Pink Floyd played the same venue on that date.

March 1, 1969

Manchester Tech College, Manchester

Show date and venue reported at www.marmalade-skies.co.uk (retrieved May 17, 2016).

 

 

 

 

March 7, 1969

Grand Gala du Disque Populaire, RAI (Rijwiel en Automobiel Industrie) (Bicyle and Automobile Industry Convention Center), Amsterdam, Netherlands

 

Show date and venue reported at setlist.fm (retrieved August 22, 2020), and by Yvonne Bouten-van Der Blij.

 

 

 

 

March 15, 1969

Edward Herbert Building, Loughborough University

Show date and venue and that the Moodies shared the bill with Van der Graaf Generator and Legay noted at www.marmalade-skies.co.uk. This information is corroborated by a listing of University events noted at www.vandergraafgenerator.co.uk

 (retrieved May 17, 2016). Reported by Ian.

 

 

 

 

March 22, 1969

Aston University, Birmingham

Show date and venue noted in “Melody Maker”, March 22, 1969, reported by Val Weston.

 

Show date and venue also noted at www.marmalade-skies.co.uk (retrieved March 17, 2016).

 

 

 

 

March 28, 1969

Seymour Hall Student's Union, London

Show date and venue from an advertisement in “Melody Maker”, March 22, 1969, reported by Val Weston.  The Moody Blues shared the bill with Chicken Shack and Rainbows.

 

Show date, venue and that the Moodies shared the bill with Rainbows, also reported at www.marmalade-skies.co.uk (retrieved March 17, 2016).

 

 

 

 

April 2, 1969

Recorded songs for BBC radio’s Tony Brandon’s show, aired April 14-18, 1969

So Deep Within You

Lovely to See You

Are You Sitting Comfortably

Date and songs “So Deep Within You” and “Lovely to See You” noted on the CD set The BBC Sessions 1967-1970.

 

“Are You Sitting Comfortably noted on 2006 “Digi-Pak” and 2008 remastered releases of On the Threshold of a Dream.

 

 

 

 

April 14-18, 1969

The Moody Blues are featured by BBC radio's Tony Brandon

So Deep Within You

Lovely to See You

Are You Sitting Comfortably

Media appearance noted at www.marmalade-skies.co.uk (retrieved March 17, 2016).

 

Songs played noted in sources cited on recording date (April 2, 1969) above.

April, 18, 1969

Album On the Threshold of a Dream is released worldwide

Month of album release noted in first “discography issue” of “Higher and Higher” #4, Winter/Spring 1985, p. 5.

 

Exact date posted to Official Moody Blues Facebook page, April 18, 2016 (retrieved April 18, 2016). However, the liner notes of the 2008 re-mastered release of Every Good Boy Deserves Favour report that this was the UK release date, and the US release did not occur until May 31, 1969 (see below).

 

 

 

 

April 26, 1969

Mothers Club, Birmingham

Show date and venue reported at www.marmalade-skies.co.uk (retrieved March 17, 2016).

April 27, 1969

Sadler's Wells, London

Dr. Livingstone, I Presume

Never Comes the Day

Tuesday Afternoon

The Sunset

Are You Sitting Comfortably

The Poem [sic](probably The Dream)

Have You Heard

Nights in White Satin

Ride My See-Saw

This was a one-off concert "In Aid of Shelter", which began at 3:00 p.m. with the Moodies playing for one hour.  Show date, venue and songs played noted in "New Music Express" and "Disc" both of May 3, 1969, reported by Val Weston.
The song listed as "The Poem" is probably "The Dream", and although not mentioned, "Have You Heard" probably consisted of Parts 1 and 2, including "The Voyage". The set list may be incomplete, and the order given is an educated guess.

An ad of unknown origin also gives this date and venue, with the Moody Blues getting top billing, supported by Indo-Jazz Fusions, John Mayer and Joe Harriott, reported by Val Weston.

Also noted at www.marmalade-skies.co.uk (retrieved March 17, 2016).

April 28 - May 2, 1969

The Moody Blues are featured by BBC radio's Tony Brandon

Media appearance noted at www.marmalade-skies.co.uk (retrieved March 17, 2016).

April 29, 1969

The Moodies shot the performance video at Muiderslot castle in The Netherlands for TV show “Twien

Never Comes the Day

Date and location reported by Yvonne Bouten-van Der Blij. The show was aired on May 16, 1969 (see below) and the video was included on the DVD Nights in White Satin.

April 30, 1969

Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky, Amsterdam, Netherlands

 

Show date and venue reported at setlist.fm (retrieved August 22, 2020).

April, 1969

Alkmarr, Netherlands

 

Show reported by Yvonne Bouten-van Der Blij. Exact date and venue unknown.

 

 

 

 

May 3, 1969

Album On the Threshold of a Dream becomes the first Moodies’ #1 album in the UK charts, where it remains for 73 weeks.

 

Reported in the liner notes of the 2008 remastered release of Every Good Boy Deserves Favour.

 

 

 

 

May 10-24, 1969

In the studio recording To Our Children's Children's Children

To Our Children's Children's Children was recorded in blocks on May 10-24, July 11-12, July 29-31, August 8-11, and August 18-19, 1969, as reported in “Higher and Higher” #26/27, Summer 1995, p. 21-29.

May 16, 1969

TV appearance on "Twien" (Dutch TV)

Never Comes the Day

Date, program name and song played noted on the DVD Nights in White Satin.

The Moodies are shown playing the song among suits of armor Muiderslot castle in The Netherlands, shot April 29, 1969 (see above) reported by Yvonne Bouten-van Der Blij.

 

 

 

 

May 29, 1969

Recording of appearance on Grampian TV’s show “Pop Scotch” in Aberdeen canceled

 

“The Press and Journal” (Aberdeen) printed an article on May 30, 1969 titled, “Pop group have to call off” which began, “One of Britain’s leading pop groups, the Moody Blues, due to record a television programme in Aberdeen last night, had to call of at the last moment when their lead singer, Justin Hayward, suddenly became ill.” Reported by Val Weston.

 

 

 

 

May 31, 1969

Album On the Threshold of a Dream released in the US.

 

Noted in the liner notes of the 2008 remastered release of Every Good Boy Deserves Favour. However, other sources report April 18, 1969 for a worldwide release. (See above.)

 

 

 

 

June 2-6, 1969

The Moody Blues are featured by BBC radio's Jimmy Young

Media appearance noted at www.marmalade-skies.co.uk (retrieved March 17, 2016).

 

 

 

 

June 23, 1969

Chesford Grange Hotel, Kenilworth

 

Show date with year of 1965 and venue noted on official Moody Blues Facebook page June 23, 2016.  Corrected to 1969 in comments to Facebook post by Nigel Ward, according to a ticket for the show (for 10 shillings).

 

 

 

 

June 25, 1969

In the studio recording To Our Children's Children's Children

To Our Children's Children's Children was recorded in blocks on May 10-24, July 11-12, July 29-31, August 8-11, and August 18-19, 1969, as reported in “Higher and Higher” #26/27, Summer 1995, p. 21-29.  June 25 was also noted as a recording date at a different studio, which was deemed unsuitable, so the remainder of that session was canceled.

 

 

 

 

June 27, 1969

TV appearance on French TV show "Tous En Scene", from Le Kremlin- Bicêtre, Paris

Ride My See-Saw

Nights in White Satin

Never Comes the Day

Legend of a Mind

Media appearance and set list from a video boot, reported by Gloria Shiraef.

 

 

 

 

June 30 - July 4, 1969

The Moody Blues are featured by BBC radio's Terry Wogan

 

Media appearance noted at www.marmalade-skies.co.uk (retrieved March 17, 2016).

July 1, 1969

Malvern Winter Gardens, Worcestershire

 

The Moodies shared the bill with Fern’s Brass Foundry. Noted (with photos) at https://www.malvernrockarchive.org.uk/performance/the-moody-blues-ferns-brass-foundry-01-july-1969, reported by Donna Whititng.

 

 

 

 

July 5 (?), 1969 (late June or early July)

Ray Thomas weds Gillian Jary

 

“Higher and Higher” #6, Spring/Summer 1986, p. 25, photo p. 24 reported the wedding to have taken place in June 1969.

 

“The Journal News” (White Plains, New York) on July 12, 1969 (a Saturday), p. 12 (retrieved January 16, 2021 via Newspapers.com) reported the wedding as happening “over the weekend”, so perhaps July 5.

 

 

 

 

July 11-12 and 29-31, 1969

In the studio recording To Our Children's Children's Children

To Our Children's Children's Children was recorded in blocks on May 10-24, July 11-12, July 29-31, August 8-11, and August 18-19, 1969, as reported in “Higher and Higher” #26/27, Summer 1995, p. 21-29.

 

 

 

 

August 2, 1969

The Singer Bowl Music Festival, Flushing Meadow Park, Queens, NY (doubtful)

 

Show date, venue, and additional acts Steppenwolf, Procol Harum, and NRBQ (New Rhythm and Blues Quartet) from ads in “The Village Voice” of June 12 and July 17, 1969 and posted at concertarchive.org (retrieved July 13, 2020). I have marked this show as “doubtful” since the surrounding shows are in the UK.

August 3, 1969

Atlantic City Pop Festival, Atlantic City Race Course, Mays Landing (Atlantic City), NJ canceled

The Moodies were slated to appear at this festival, as noted in "New Musical Express", May 17, 1969 (reported by Val Weston) and in a (New Jersey) Star-Ledger Staff online article of August 1, 2004 (reported by Donna Whiting), but canceled, as confirmed by the person who handled the bookings for the festival.

August 4, 1969

 

 

 

August 5, 1969

Torquay Town Hall, Torquay

Show date and venue reported at setlist.fm (retrieved August 22, 2020).

August 6, 1969

 

 

 

August 7, 1969

Van Dyke's, Plymouth

Show date and venue from an advertisement in "Melody Maker", August 9, 1969, reported by Val Weston. The Moodies were supported by Audience.

Show date and venue noted at www.marmalade-skies.co.uk (retrieved March 17, 2016).

August 8-9 and 11, 1969

In the studio recording To Our Children's Children's Children

To Our Children's Children's Children was recorded in blocks on May 10-24, July 11-12, July 29-31, August 8-11, and August 18-19, 1969, as reported in “Higher and Higher” #26/27, Summer 1995, p. 21-29.

August 10, 1969

Storrowton Pop Festival, Storrowton Theatre, Exposition Park, West Springfield, MA canceled

 

An ad for the First Storrowton Pop Festival appeared in the “Hartford Courant” (Hartford, CT) on July 12, 1969, p.11 (retrieved December 3, 2020 via Newspapers.com).

 

Another article in the “Hartford Courant” on July 19, 1969, p. 14 (retrieved January 16, 2021 via Newspapers.com) titled, “The Moody Blues Cancel Pop Tour” begins, “Moody Blues, an English pop music group scheduled to appear at the Storrowton Pop Festival on Aug. 10, have cancelled their entire American tour, according to Concert Guild Productions.”

 

A poster for the festival at https://concerts.fandom.com/wiki/August_3,_1969_Storrowton_Theatre,_West_Springfield,_MA(retrieved December 3, 2020) shows Arlo Guthrie performing on August 10.

 

 

 

 

August 16 (?), 1969

Socialist Rally, venue and city unknown France

The Moodies had been invited to play both this event and Woodstock, and although they appear on some Woodstock promotional posters, they instead played in France, based on the flip of a coin, reported by Robin Bean. Although the exact date of this concert is unknown, Woodstock took place August 15-17, so Saturday, August 16 is a guess.

August 17, 1969

Woodstock, NY canceled

 

The Moodies were scheduled to play Woodstock on this date according to an ad in the “Philadelphia Inquirer” (Philadelphia, PA) on July 13, 1969, p. 5 (retrieved January 16, 2021 via Newspapers.com) and several other publications. They even appear on some Woodstock promotional posters.

The Moodies had been invited to play both the above Socialist Rally and Woodstock. They decided to play in France, based on the flip of a coin, reported by Robin Bean. 

August 18-19, 1969

In the studio recording To Our Children’s Children’s Children

To Our Children's Children's Children was recorded in blocks on May 10-24, July 11-12, July 29-31, August 8-11, and August 18-19, 1969, as reported in “Higher and Higher” #26/27, Summer 1995, p. 21-29.

August 19, 1969

Baldwin Pavilion at Oakland University, Rochester Hills, MI canceled

An article titled “Summer festival set - Meadow Brook suits all long-hairs” in “The Windsor Star” (Windsor, ON) on June 14, 1969, p.42 and in the “Detroit Free Press” (Detroit, MI on July 6, 1969, p. 8B (both retrieved January 16, 2021 via Newspapers.com) advertised the Moodies as scheduled to appear.

An article in the “Detroit Free Press” on August 1, 1969, p. 4C (retrieved January 16, 2021 via Newspapers.com) noted, “The Moody Blues, who cancelled out of their booking at Meadow Brook have been replaced. On August 19 you can sit under the stars and listen to Tim Buckley, The Frost, and the Symphonic Metamorphisis. Nice replacing.”

 

 

 

 

August 22, 1969

Jazz Bilzen Festival, Bilzen, Belgium

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, IL canceled

Tuesday Afternoon

Have You Heard (Part 1)

The Voyage

Have You Heard (Part 2)

The Moodies played at the Jazz Bilzen festival (August 21-24, 1969), which included Soft Machine, Taste, Deep Purple and Brian Auger & the Trinity, and many more. reported by Jens Pruess.

 

A DVD of this festival was released, noted at http://dvdconcertth.blogspot.com/2011/03/bilzen-jazz-and-pop-festival-1969.html (retrieved August 22, 2020), which gives the Moodies’ set list and the date of their performance.

 

The DVD Nights in White Satin identifies the performance of “Tuesday Afternoon” as being from the Jazz Bilzen festival of 1968.  However, a listing of the bands for 1968 at https://www.jazzbilzen.be/bands-1968 (retrieved August 22, 2020) does not include the Moody Blues. Therefore, it is assumed that the performance on that DVD is from this concert.

 

An ad in the “Chicago Tribune” on July 6, 1969, p. 5-11 (retrieved January 16, 2021 via Newspapers.com) shows the Moodies were to appear with opening acts Mickey, Larry & the Exciters and Conquerer Worm.

 

The website http://rockprosopography102.blogspot.com/2010/03/cheetah-club-aragon-ballroom-1106.html (retrieved May 11, 2016) shows for this date: Moody Blues / Mickey, Larry & The Esiters / Conqueror Worm at the Aragon Ballroom, Chicago (which was known as the Cheetah for a few years)

August 23, 1969

TV appearance on ATV’s (UK) “Frankie Howerd Show”

Media appearance noted at www.marmalade-skies.co.uk (retrieved March 17, 2016).

 

 

 

 

August 26, 1969

TV appearance on the John Davidson show (UK) - Air date in Canada and parts of the US (Vermont)

Send Me No Wine

TV listings in the “Edmonton Journal” (Edmonton, AB), p. 9, “The Province” (Vancouver, BC), p. 18,  “The Vancouver Sun” (Vancouver, BC), p. 20A, and the “Calgary Herald” (Calgary, AB), p. 8 all of August 22, 1969, and “Thee Ottawa Citizen” (Ottawa, ON), p. 11, “The Burlington Free Press” (Burlington, VT), p. 10 of August 23, 1969, p. 10 (all retrieved January 16, 2021 via Newspapers.com) noted the guest appearance on the show in the “Tuesday” lineup, which would give a date of August 26. This show was produced in the UK.

See below for other air dates.

 

 

 

 

August 30, 1969

Isle of Wight Festival

Dr. Livingstone, I Presume

Never Comes the Day

Peak Hour

Tuesday Afternoon

Nights in White Satin

Ride My See-Saw

Show date, venue and songs played (although likely not a complete list, and not in the correct order – the order listed is a guess) noted in “New Musical Express”, September 6, 1969, reported by Steve Davis. The festival program cover is shown at http://www.themoodyblues.co.uk/page108.htm (retrieved April 26, 2016).

 

 

 

 

September 5, 1969

Playback of the final mix of To Our Children’s Children’s Children for the band

 

TV appearance on the John Davidson show (UK) - most of the US and UK air date

 

 

 

 

Send Me No Wine

Reported in “Higher and Higher” #26/27, Summer 1995, p. 21-29.

 

 

Appearance and song played reported at http://ctva.biz/UK/ITC/JohnDavidsonShow.htm (retrieved December 2, 2020).

 

Various TV listings, for instance “The Times Record” (Troy, NY) of August 30, 1969, p. B19, “Idaho State Journal” (Pocatello, ID), p. 8, and the “Globe-Gazette” (mason City, IA), p. 7 both of August 29, 1969 (all retrieved January 16, 2021 via Newspapers.com), describe the show being aired “Friday”, which gives a date of September 5.

 

 

 

 

September 16, 1969

Ernst-Merck Halle, Hamburg, Germany

 

Concert date from poster shown at http://www.themoodyblues.co.uk/postersroom.htm (retrieved April 25, 2016).

 

 

 

 

October 1969

The Moody Blues launch their Threshold label with Timon and Trapeze being the first bands to sign on

Noted at http://www.marmalade-skies.co.uk (retrieved July 22, 2016).

 

 

 

 

October 7, 1969

Pavilion, Bournemouth College Students Union, Bournemouth

 

Show date from poster shown at http://www.themoodyblues.co.uk/postersroom.htm (retrieved April 25, 2016).  The poster shows the venue as “BCSU” and the event as “Intro Ball.” The owner of the website has interpreted this as “Bournemouth College”. The Moodies had top billing, supported by Inflatable Toy, Sunday St. Petersburg, and Dave Fry Disco.

 

 

 

 

October 11, 1969

University of Leeds, Leeds

 

Show date and venue reported at setlist.fm (retrieved August 22, 2020).

 

 

 

 

October 21, 1969

TV appearance on BBC’s “Monster Music Mash”

Media appearance noted at http://www.marmalade-skies.co.uk (retrieved July 22, 2016).

 

 

 

 

Tour of North America

General Notes:

Information on dates for this tour as a whole is non-existent. Each date and venue has been determined separately, and was apparently in a constant state of flux. To quote an article from November 28, 1969 (see below), determining this information “is like searching for the successor to the throne of Spain.”

DATES

VENUES

SET LIST

NOTES

October 31, 1969

Los Angeles Forum, Inglewood, CA canceled due to delayed visas

 

Show date and venue from “New Music Express”, October 11, 1969, reported by Val Weston.  “Graeme Edge and Mike Pinder, of the Moody Blues, were in Hollywood this week meeting with the Press and making arrangements for their upcoming tours here, commencing with an October 31 appearance at the Inglewood Forum with Jefferson Airplane. . .”

 

Cancellation due to delayed visas noted in “New Music Express”, November 8, 1969, reported by Val Weston.  “The group is now hoping to compensate by giving a free concert in Los Angeles before returning to Britain on December 1.”  This free concert became the Elysian Park Love-In on November 2 with Jefferson Airplane and others.

 

An article in “The Corpus Christi Calleer-Times (Corpus Christi, TX) on Noveember 15, 1969 recalled, “The Moody Blues were scheduled to appear first, but at the last minute two of the fellows were caught in immigration red tape and never make it.” Midway through Jefferson Airplane’s 3 sets (lasting well over 3 hours), “Mike Pinder of the Moodies came on stage and announced that the Airplane had invited the group to participate in the free concert held last Sunday in Elysian Park (that’s next to the police academy, folks).”

November 1, 1969

Golden Gym, California Western College, San Diego, CA

Gypsy

Dr. Livingstone, I Presume

Never Comes the Day

Tuesday Afternoon

The Sunset

Are You Sitting Comfortably

The Dream

Have You Heard (Part 1)

The Voyage

Have You Heard (Part 2)

Legend of a Mind

Nights in White Satin

Ride My See-Saw

Show date and venue noted at www.sandiegoconcertarchive.com/concertarchive/11-november.html, reported by Claudia Bobrow.

 

Show date, venue and songs played (although the order is uncertain) reported by Chuck and Carol Bramwell.

November 2, 1969

Elysian Park “Love-In”, Los Angeles, CA

Free concert played with Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna and Wolf Gang. Show date and other acts noted at www.mv.com/ipusers/owsley/airplane/jabase.txt (retrieved July 22, 2016).

A photo by Ed Caraeff at https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/an-unidentified-hippy-couple-dance-to-the-moody-blues-at-a-news-photo/157470603 (retrieved August 22, 2020), gives the date and the description, “An unidentified hippy couple dance to the Moody Blues.”

 

 

 

 

November 6, 1969

TV appearance on “This is Tom Jones” Season 2, episode 7

Are You Sitting Comfortably

It’s a Hang Up Baby - sung by Tom Jones with the Moodies as backing band

Noted at www.txhighlands.com/titjepisodes.htm, reported by Bob Hardy.

Episode number noted at http://www.tv.com/shows/this-is-tom-jones/episodes/ (retrieved May 12, 2016).

Clip of “It’s a Hang Up Baby” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-uGQUXneIo (retrieved July 25, 2021).

November 7, 1969

John F. Kennedy Memorial Pavilion, Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA

 

Pavilion, British Columbia Student Union, Vancouver, BC (Unlikely)

 

Show date and venue reported at setlist.fm (retrieved August 22, 2020).

Show advertised in “The Spokesman-Review” (Spokane, WA) of November 1, 1969, p. 6 (retrieved January 16, 2021 via Newspapers.com). The show was to be “Friday”, which results in the date of November 7, and the opening acts were “Spokane entertainers Shirley Lorene and Track”.

 

Concert date from poster shown at http://www.themoodyblues.co.uk/postersroom.htm as of April 25, 2016.  The poster shows the venue as “BCSU” and the event as “Intro Ball.” The owner of the website has interpreted this as “Bournemouth College,” but based on the surrounding dates on the west coast of North America, it has been corrected to British Columbia. The Moodies had top billing, supported by Inflatable Toy, Sunday St. Petersburg, and Dave Fry Disco. I have shown this concert as “unlikely” due to the November 9 date in Vancouver.

November 8, 1969

Seattle Center Arena, Seattle, WA

 

Show date and venue reported at setlist.fm (retrieved August 22, 2020).

 

Show date and venue also reported in the Port Angeles Evening News (Port Angeles, WA) of November 20, 1969, p.24 (retrieved December 3, 2020 via Newspapers.com).

November 9, 1969

Agrodome, Vancouver, BC

The Moodies shared the bill with Canned Heat, reported by Stefan Stanimirov.

Show date of November 9 reported at rockprosopography102.blogspot.com (retrieved May 11, 2016), and confirmed by “The Ubyssey” (student newspaper of the University of British Columbia, Vancouver) November 11, 1969, p. 12, although that publication lists the venue as the Coliseum. (Retrieved August 30, 2020.)

There were also multiple mentions of this show in “The Vancouver Sun” (Vancouver, BC), for instance on November 7, 1969, p. 29A (retrieved January 15, 2021 via Newspapers.com).

November 10, 1969

Article and review in “The Province” (Vancouver, BC)

 

Review of the November 9 show in “The Vancouver Sun”

 

“The Province” (Vancouver, BC) ran an article on the chaotic ticket situation for the November 9 concert that still had thousands of people outside after the concert started, and a favorable review of the concert. (p. 23).

 

A favorable review of the November 9 show was printed in “The Vancouver Sun” p. 30.

 

Both articles retrieved December 2, 2020 via Newspapers.com.

November 11, 1969

 

 

 

November 12, 1969

A mention of the November 15 show (see below) with a photo of the band was printed in “The Sacramento Bee” (Sacramento, CA)

 

p. F2 (retrieved January 16, 2021 via Newspapers.com).

November 13, 1969

Houston Music Theater, Houston, TX (2 shows - 6:30 and 8:30)

 

Show date and venue reported in “The Rice Thresher” (student newspaper of Rice University, Houston, TX) of November 6, 1969, p. 10 and November 13, 1969, p. 8. (Retrieved August 30, 2020 via https://scholarship.rice.edu.)

November 14, 1969

Swing Auditorium, San Bernardino, CA

 

Show date and venue reported at setlist.fm (retrieved August 22, 2020).

 

Show date, venue, the Moodies sharing the bill with Aum, and the fact that the Moodies were to re-open the Swing to pop/rock acts was reported in the “San Bernadino County Sun November 11, 1969, p. A9 and A11. The article also mentioned, “This will be what is called a ‘free form’ concert. Just bring yourself and do what you like, the promotors (Magna/Pisces of San Diego) says. There will be no chairs set up in the auditorium, which means you can sit, sprawl, dance - whatever you’ve a mind to do. The producers plan to pass out free incense and little bids [sic] of good. Probably apples and marshmallows.” (Article retrieved December 2, 2020 via Newspapers.com.)

November 15, 1969

Cal Expo, Sacramento, CA

The Moody Blues were top of a bill shared with Country Joe and the Fish, billed as a “Moratorium Day Gathering” (a protest for war moratorium).  Show date, venue and supporting acts noted on a poster or handbill, reported by Bob Hardy.  Bob also reports that there was an unlisted opening act called AUM, which was a power trio featuring Carlos Santana’s cousin Wayne on guitar and vocals.  Although there is no year listed on the poster, Bob supplied the year for the show, and described the venue as a big concrete box with no seats.

 

The show date, venue and opening act of Country Joe and the Fish was also advertised in a brief article in the Auburn Journal (Auburn, CA) on November 13, 1969 p. B3 (retrieved December 2, 2020 via Newspapers.com).

 

 

 

 

November 18, 1969

Grande Riviera, Detroit, MI

 

Show date and venue “Grand Riviera Theater” reported at setlist.fm (retrieved August 22, 2020).

November 19, 1969

Grande Riviera, Detroit, MI

 

Show date and venue “Grand Riviera Theater” reported at setlist.fm (retrieved August 22, 2020).

 

 

 

 

November ?, 1969

Fountain Street Church, Grand Rapids, MI

Show date and venue noted in a “Grand Rapids Press” article by John Sinkevics on November 17, 2003, which noted, “At that time, only two years after release of their first album, band members had asked about experiencing an American Thanksgiving firsthand, so the Fountain Club youth group that sponsored the Fountain Street Church concert arranged preshow dinners with some East Grand Rapids families.”  Article reported by Phil Ohmer, who also reports that the Moodies mentioned that it was the first time they had performed in a church. 

 

Setlist.fm (retrieved August 22, 2020) shows this concert on November 27, 1969 (probably because that was Thanksgiving), but that seems unlikely given the surrounding dates.

 

 

 

 

November ?, 1969

Gym at the Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY

 

Show month and venue reported by Rich I. and venue confirmed in a review of Justin Hayward’s solo show of May 14, 2014 in the Rome Sentinel (at http://romesentinel.com/entertainment/a-lone-moody-blue-still-packs-a-wallop/QBqneo!hZzvTl7vCK@yM5TTWBkseQ/ (retrieved June 27, 2017)

 

 

 

 

November 21, 1969

Maritime College, New York, NY

 

Album To Our Children’s Children’s Children is released worldwide

 

Show date and venue reported at setlist.fm (retrieved August 22, 2020).

 

 

First album released on Threshold records, the band's own record company.

 

Album release date posted to Official Moody Blues Facebook page November 21, 2020 (retrieved November 21, 2020). Album release noted as “November” in first “discography issue” of “Higher and Higher” #4, Winter/Spring 1985, p. 5.

 

An article in “New Musical Express” (date unknown) discussing the upcoming album release gave the planned release date as November 14. Reported by Wolfgang Sanns on the Ray Thomas Legend of a Mind Facebook page November 21, 2020 (retrieved November 24, 2020).

November 22, 1969

Gym at the State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY (2 shows)

Legend of a Mind

Year and venue noted in an article from the WUSB FM Program Guide, Fall 1985, reprinted at web.archive.org/web/20050219204003/http://wusb.fm/archive/articles/ConcertMemories.htm, reported by Joyce Kelley. “Incredible moments remain from these days at Stony Brook: ... Timothy Leary materializing on stage to join The Moody Blues for “The Legend of a Mind,”...”

 

Date and opening act Blodwyn Pig from an ad in “Statesman” (student newspaper of SUNY Stony Brook) Vol 13, no 19, November 21, 1969, p. 6, (retrieved August 30, 2020).

 

In an interview with Justin Hayward by Newsday on April 3, 2012 at https://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/justin-hayward-the-moody-blues-story-in-his-eyes-1.3641274 (retrieved September 10, 2020) the interviewer noted that there were two shows at the Stony Brook University.

 

 

 

 

November 28, 1969

Kleinhans Music Hall, Buffalo, NY

 

Grande Riviera, Detroit, MI canceled

 

Show date, venue, and opening act Ace Trucking Co. (“from Tom Jones T.V. show”) noted in an ad in “The Record”, student newspaper of SUNY Buffalo State, Buffalo, NY on November 19, 1969, p. 15 (retrieved January 17, 1969).

 

Show date, venue of “Riviera Grande”, and opening act Humble Pie noted in “Detroit Free Press” (Detroit, MI) on October 17, 1969, p. 8D.

However, an article in “The Windsor Star” (Windsor, ON) on November 29, 1969, p. 49 (retrieved January 17, 2021) said, “Trying to track down the happenings at Detroit’s rock halls is like searching for the successor to the throne of Spain. Rumors fly, events are switched, pretenders rise and fall. At this point - Friday afternoon - it looks like the Grande Riviera will be open Saturday with Jethro Tull and Chicago Transit Authority” (but not the Moody Blues).

November 29, 1969

Massey Hall, Toronto, ON

 

Grande Riviera, Detroit, MI unlikely

Show date and venue reported at setlist.fm (retrieved August 22, 2020).

 

 

See notes for same venue on November 28, 1969.

November 30, 1969

Festival, West Palm Beach, FL presumed canceled

 

 

Auditorium Theater, Chicago, IL

Festival date and city noted at www.timeisonourside.com/guests.html, reported by Val Weston. Other performers at the festival were the Rolling Stones, Ten Years After, King Crimson, Spooky Tooth, The Band, Janis Joplin, Iron Butterfly, Steppenwolf and The Chamber Brothers. Although the Moodies were scheduled to play, given the review of the Chicago concert, it seems that they played in Chicago instead.

 

Tour date and venue from an ad in “The Seed” (an underground Chicago newspaper) October 15, 1969, posted to concertarichives.org (retrieved July 13, 2020).

 

Tour date and venue from an ad in “The DePaulia” (student newspaper of DePaul University) October 17, 1969, p. 8, (retrieved August 30, 2020).

 

Large photo of the band with caption advertising the show printed in “Chicago Tribune” on November 28, 1969, p. 2-3 (retrieved January 17, 2021 via Newspapeers.com).

 

Review of the concert reported in the “Chicago Tribune” on December 1, 1969 p. 66, which also noted that the opening act was Humble Pie, and that this show was the end of the tour. (Retrieved December 2, 2020 via Newspapers.com.)

 

UK Tour

General Tour Notes:

The Moodies toured the UK in December 1969 with Trapeze and Timon as opening acts, reported in “Higher and Higher” #23, Fall 1994, p.28.

 

The tour program is shown at http://www.themoodyblues.co.uk/page108.htm (retrieved April 26, 2016).

 

Tour dates and venues noted in “New Music Express”, November 8, 1969 reported by Val Weston. Article posted to Ray Thomas Legend of a Mind Facebook page by Lee Thomas on January 30, 2021 (retrieved January 30, 2021) shows that the article appeared on page 11, and confirmed that the opening acts were Trapeze and Timeon [sic].

 

An ad of unknown source and date was posted to Ray Thomas: Legend of a Mind Facebook page by Alan Long on March 10, 2021 (retrieved March 11, 2021) which showed the Newcastle show on Dec 6 and the Manchester show on Dec 5. The ad also noted that David Symonds, noted UK radio DJ, hosted the concerts.

 

Set list from the December 12 show, which was recorded and released as the “live” portion of Caught Live +5

DATES

VENUES

SET LIST

NOTES

December 5, 1969

Odeon, Newcastle or Manchester

Gypsy

The Sunset

Dr Livingston, I Presume

Never Comes the Day

Peak Hour

Tuesday Afternoon

Are You Sitting Comfortably

The Dream

Have You Heard (Part 1)

The Voyage

Have You Heard (Part 2)

Nights in White Satin

Legend of a Mind

Ride My See-Saw

December 6, 1969

Odeon, Manchester or Newcastle

December 7, 1969

Usher Hall, Edinburgh

Show date and venue noted in “New Music Express”, December 13, 1969, reported by Val Weston.  “It was the first-ever Sunday night pop concert Edinburgh Corporation had allowed in their beloved hall.  Not even in the Beatles and Stones era would they permit the doors to be opened on the Sabbath.  If the Moodies and the crowd kept the thing nice and orderly, other Sunday concerts would follow.  Well, we can look forward to more Sunday sessions.  The Moodies behaved themselves (what else do the City Fathers expect?) and the 2,420 fans who packed the house offered not the slightest hint of trouble.”  The songs noted in the article were “Gypsy”, “Legend of a King” [sic], “Dr. Livingston, I Presume”, “Sunset” and “... a three-part excerpt, comprising two songs and a poem from Threshold of a Dream”.

December 8-10, 1969

off

December 11, 1969

Colston Hall, Bristol

December 12, 1969

Royal Albert Hall, London

This show was recorded and released as the “live” portion of Caught Live +5 in 1977.

December 13, 1969

Gaumont, Southampton

December 14, 1969

Odeon, Birmingham

Tour date and venue confirmed by an ad posted to Ray Thomas: Legend of a Mind Facebook page by Alan Long on March 7, 2021 (retrieved March 7, 2021).

December 17, 1969

Paris Theatre, London

Gypsy

The Sunset

Never Comes the Day

Are You Sitting Comfortably

The Dream

Have You Heard

Nights in White Satin

Legend of a Mind

This show was recorded and broadcast December 27 on the BBC. Date and set list from the 2007 CD set The BBC Sessions 1967-1970. These live songs were also released on the 2006 SACD version of To Our Children’s Children’s Children.

 

The show included Timon performing “And Now She Says She’s Young” and “Seagull”.  Songs from a vinyl bootleg of the broadcast called, The Moody Blues - Christmas On the BBC, 1969 which omitted “Legend of a Mind” from the Moodies’ set, shown at discogs.com (retrieved August 12, 2021).

 

"New Music Express”, November 8, 1969, p. 11 posted to Ray Thomas Legend of a Mind Facebook page by Lee Thomas on January 30, 2021 (retrieved January 30, 2021) announced that this 1-hour concert was to take place on December 27 on Radio 1 and would include interviews with the band and extracts from their four albums.

 

 

 

 

December 27, 1969

Concert from December 17 broadcast on BBC Radio 1

with interviews with the band and extracts from their four albums

 

"New Music Express”, November 8, 1969, p. 11 posted to Ray Thomas Legend of a Mind Facebook page by Lee Thomas on January 30, 2021 (retrieved January 30, 2021).

Updated July 14, 2021

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