Legend of a Mind: Difference between revisions

"Legend of a Mind"
"Legend of a Mind"
Song by The Moody Blues
from the album In Search of the Lost Chord
Released	July 1968
Recorded	13 January 1968
Genre	Progressive rock, psychedelic rock, acid rock
Length	6:34
Label	Deram
Songwriter(s)	Ray Thomas
Producer(s)	Tony Clarke
Music video
	"Legend of a Mind" on YouTube

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"Legend of a Mind" is a song by the British progressive rock band the Moody Blues, and was written by the band's flautist Ray Thomas, who provides the lead vocals. "Legend of a Mind" was recorded in January 1968 and was first released on the Moody Blues' album In Search of the Lost Chord. Prominently featuring the Mellotron,^[1] it was the first song recorded for the album.

Background and content

The song's lyrics are about 1960s LSD icon Timothy Leary.^[2] Leary was an advocate for the use of the drug, enjoying its spiritual benefits, with one of his catchphrases being "Turn on, tune in, drop out." A re-recorded version of the song, with different lyrics, "Legend of a Mind (Timothy Leary Lives)" appears on the 1996 album Beyond Life With Timothy Leary.

The song is perhaps best known for its opening lines: "Timothy Leary's dead / No, n-n-no he's outside looking in",^[3] which allude to Leary's use of eastern mysticism (most notably The Tibetan Book of the Dead) to frame the psychedelic experience.^[4]

The song's lyrics describe both Leary and the effects of LSD, such as:

He'll fly his astral plane
Takes you trips around the bay
Brings you back the same day^[3]

as well as:

He'll take you up,
He'll bring you down.
He'll plant your feet back firmly on the ground.
He flies so high,
He swoops so low.
He knows exactly which way he's gonna go.^[3]

"Legend of a Mind" is one of the Moody Blues' longer songs, lasting about six and a half minutes, with a two-minute flute solo by Ray Thomas, in the middle.

During the 1980s, Thomas and keyboardist Patrick Moraz (who joined the band in 1978, replacing Mike Pinder) modified the live performance of the song by composing a flute and keyboard duet as part of the flute solo. The flute and keyboard duet on "Legend of a Mind" was sometimes the most popular part of The Moody Blues concerts, and Ray Thomas often received a standing ovation at the end of the flute solo for his performance.^[5] Even after Moraz left the band in 1991, the flute and keyboard duet continued to be performed as part of the song with session-musician Bias Boshell playing the keyboard. A full live recording of the song can be found on the deluxe edition of their live album A Night at Red Rocks with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra.

"Legend of a Mind" was not performed live by the Moody Blues after Thomas had retired from the band in 2002, although it has been performed, in 2019, by John Lodge's solo band.^[6]

The original promotional black-and-white film for the song was filmed on location at Groot-Bijgaarden Castle near Brussels in Belgium.^{[citation needed]}

Personnel

Ray Thomas ― lead vocals, flute
Justin Hayward ― 6-string and 12-string acoustic guitars, electric guitars, backing vocals
John Lodge ― bass, backing vocals
Mike Pinder ― Mellotron, piano, backing vocals
Graeme Edge ― drums, percussion, tabla

References

^ ""Legend of a Mind"". Retrieved 29 October 2022.
^ Unterberger, Richie. "Legend of a Mind". Allmusic. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c The Moody Blues, In Search of the Lost Chord. Deram, 1968. SML 711.
^ Timothy Leary, et al, The Psychedelic Experience: A Manual Based on the Tibetan Book of the Dead. New York: University Press, 1964
^ "Official Ray Thomas Biography". Archived from the original on 19 December 2008. Retrieved 21 July 2008.
^ "John Lodge Setlist at Walmart AMP, Rogers". Setlist.fm. Retrieved 30 November 2021.

External links

The Moody Blues - Legend of a Mind on YouTube

[1] ""Legend of a Mind"". Retrieved 29 October 2022.

[allmusic-2] Unterberger, Richie. "Legend of a Mind". Allmusic. Retrieved 2 February 2023.

[auto-3] The Moody Blues, In Search of the Lost Chord. Deram, 1968. SML 711.

[4] Timothy Leary, et al, The Psychedelic Experience: A Manual Based on the Tibetan Book of the Dead. New York: University Press, 1964

[5] "Official Ray Thomas Biography". Archived from the original on 19 December 2008. Retrieved 21 July 2008.

[6] "John Lodge Setlist at Walmart AMP, Rogers". Setlist.fm. Retrieved 30 November 2021.

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@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 }}
-"'''Legend of a Mind'''" is a song by the British [[progressive rock]] band [[the Moody Blues]], and was written by the band's flautist [[Ray Thomas]], who provides the lead vocals. "Legend of a Mind" was recorded in January 1968 and was first released on the Moody Blues' album ''[[In Search of the Lost Chord]]''. It was the first song recorded for the album.
+"'''Legend of a Mind'''" is a song by the British [[progressive rock]] band [[the Moody Blues]], and was written by the band's flautist [[Ray Thomas]], who provides the lead vocals. "Legend of a Mind" was recorded in January 1968 and was first released on the Moody Blues' album ''[[In Search of the Lost Chord]]''. Prominently featuring the [[Mellotron]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.songfacts.com/facts/the-moody-blues/legend-of-a-mind |title="Legend of a Mind" |access-date=29 October 2022}}</ref> it was the first song recorded for the album.
+==Background and content ==
-The original promotional black-and-white film for the song was filmed on location at [[Groot-Bijgaarden Castle]] near [[Brussels]] in [[Belgium]].
+The song's lyrics are about 1960s [[LSD]] icon [[Timothy Leary]].<ref name=allmusic>{{cite web|title=Legend of a Mind|author=Unterberger, Richie|publisher=Allmusic|accessdate=2023-02-02|url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/legend-of-a-mind-mt0028209297}}</ref>  Leary was an advocate for the use of the drug, enjoying its spiritual benefits, with one of his catchphrases being "[[Turn on, tune in, drop out]]." A re-recorded version of the song, with different lyrics, "Legend of a Mind (Timothy Leary Lives)" appears on the 1996 album ''[[Works by Timothy Leary#Discography|Beyond Life With Timothy Leary]]''.
+The song is perhaps best known for its opening lines: "Timothy Leary's dead / No, n-n-no he's outside looking in",<ref name="auto">The Moody Blues, In Search of the Lost Chord. Deram, 1968. SML 711.</ref> which allude to Leary's use of eastern mysticism (most notably ''[[The Tibetan Book of the Dead]]'') to frame the psychedelic experience.<ref>Timothy Leary, et al, ''The Psychedelic Experience: A Manual Based on the Tibetan Book of the Dead''.  New York: University Press, 1964</ref>
-The song's lyrics are about 1960s LSD icon [[Timothy Leary]].  Leary was an advocate for the use of [[LSD]], enjoying its spiritual benefits, with one of his catchphrases being "[[Turn on, tune in, drop out]]."
-The song is perhaps best known for its opening lines: "Timothy Leary's dead / No, n-n-no he's outside looking in",<ref>The Moody Blues, In Search of the Lost Chord. Deram, 1968. SML 711.</ref> which allude to Leary's use of eastern mysticism (most notably the [[Tibetan Book of the Dead]]) to frame the psychedelic experience.<ref>Timothy Leary, et al, ''The Psychedelic Experience: A Manual Based on the Tibetan Book of the Dead''.  New York: University Press, 1964</ref>
 The song's lyrics describe both Leary and the effects of LSD, such as:
 <blockquote><poem>
 He'll fly his astral plane
 Takes you trips around the bay
-Brings you back the same day<ref>The Moody Blues, In Search of the Lost Chord. Deram, 1968. SML 711.</ref>
+Brings you back the same day<ref name="auto"/>
 </poem></blockquote>
 as well as:
 <blockquote><poem>
 He'll take you up,
@@ Line 41: / Line 37: @@
 He flies so high,
 He swoops so low.
-He knows exactly which way he's gonna go.<ref>The Moody Blues, In Search of the Lost Chord. Deram, 1968. SML 711.</ref>
+He knows exactly which way he's gonna go.<ref name="auto"/>
 </poem></blockquote>
-"Legend of a Mind" is one of the Moody Blues' longer songs, lasting about six and a half minutes.  The song also features a flute solo by Ray Thomas, lasting about two minutes in the middle.
+"Legend of a Mind" is one of the Moody Blues' longer songs, lasting about six and a half minutes, with a two-minute flute solo by [[Ray Thomas]], in the middle.
 During the 1980s, Thomas and keyboardist [[Patrick Moraz]] (who joined the band in 1978, replacing [[Mike Pinder]]) modified the live performance of the song by composing a flute and keyboard duet as part of the flute solo.  The flute and keyboard duet on "Legend of a Mind" was sometimes the most popular part of The Moody Blues concerts, and Ray Thomas often received a standing ovation at the end of the flute solo for his performance.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.moodyblues.co.uk/2002web/band/mid_ray.swf |title=Official Ray Thomas Biography |access-date=21 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219051908/http://www.moodyblues.co.uk/2002web/band/mid_ray.swf |archive-date=19 December 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>  Even after Moraz left the band in 1991, the flute and keyboard duet continued to be performed as part of the song with session-musician [[Bias Boshell]] playing the keyboard.  A full live recording of the song can be found on the deluxe edition of their live album ''[[A Night at Red Rocks with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra]]''.
-"Legend of a Mind" was not performed live by The Moody Blues after [[Ray Thomas]] retired from the band in 2002, although it was performed in 2019 by John Lodge's solo band.<ref>https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/john-lodge/2019/walmart-amp-rogers-ar-139e39c9.html</ref>
+"Legend of a Mind" was not performed live by the Moody Blues after Thomas had retired from the band in 2002, although it has been performed, in 2019, by [[John Lodge (musician)|John Lodge's]] solo band.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/john-lodge/2019/walmart-amp-rogers-ar-139e39c9.html|title=John Lodge Setlist at Walmart AMP, Rogers|website=Setlist.fm|access-date=30 November 2021}}</ref>
+The original promotional black-and-white film for the song was filmed on location at [[Groot-Bijgaarden Castle]] near [[Brussels]] in [[Belgium]].{{cn|date=March 2022}}
-A re-recorded version of the song with different lyrics, "Legend of a Mind (Timothy Leary Lives)" appears on [[Timothy Leary]]'s 1996 album ''[[Works by Timothy Leary#Discography|Beyond Life With Timothy Leary]]''.
 ==Personnel==
@@ Line 79: / Line 75: @@
 [[Category:Timothy Leary]]
 [[Category:Songs about drugs]]
+[[Category:British psychedelic rock songs]]
 [[Category:Lysergic acid diethylamide]]
+[[Category:Song recordings produced by Tony Clarke]]

v t e The Moody Blues
Graeme Edge Mike Pinder Ray Thomas Justin Hayward John Lodge Denny Laine Clint Warwick Rod Clark Patrick Moraz
Studio albums	The Magnificent Moodies Days of Future Passed In Search of the Lost Chord On the Threshold of a Dream To Our Children's Children's Children A Question of Balance Every Good Boy Deserves Favour Seventh Sojourn Octave Long Distance Voyager The Present The Other Side of Life Sur la Mer Keys of the Kingdom Strange Times December
Live albums	Caught Live + 5 A Night at Red Rocks with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra Hall of Fame Lovely to See You: Live Live at the BBC: 1967-1970 Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970 Days of Future Passed Live
Compilations	This Is The Moody Blues Voices in the Sky: The Best of The Moody Blues Prelude Greatest Hits Time Traveller The Best of The Moody Blues Anthology Gold An Introduction to The Moody Blues
Singles	"Go Now" "I Don't Want to Go On Without You" "Life's Not Life" "Nights in White Satin" "Tuesday Afternoon" "Voices in the Sky" "Ride My See-Saw" "Never Comes the Day" "Watching and Waiting" "Question" "Melancholy Man" "The Story in Your Eyes" "Isn't Life Strange" "I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)" "Steppin' in a Slide Zone" "Driftwood" "Gemini Dream" "The Voice" "Talking Out of Turn" "Blue World" "Sitting at the Wheel" "Running Water "Your Wildest Dreams" "The Other Side of Life" "I Know You're Out There Somewhere" "Here Comes the Weekend" "No More Lies" "Say It with Love" "English Sunset"
Related articles	Band members Discography Threshold Records Justin Hayward and Friends Sing the Moody Blues Classic Hits Moody Bluegrass Blue Jays

v t e Timothy Leary
Bibliography
Books	The Psychedelic Experience: A Manual Based on the Tibetan Book of the Dead (1964) High Priest (1968) Neurologic (1973) Flashbacks (1983)
Theories	Reality tunnel
Philosophy	Eight-circuit model of consciousness
Models	Interpersonal circumplex
Research	Harvard Psilocybin Project Concord Prison Experiment Marsh Chapel Experiment League for Spiritual Discovery
Communities	Zihuatanejo Project Millbrook
Music	Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out (1967 album) "Give Peace a Chance" (1969, vocals) You Can Be Anyone This Time Around (1970 album)
Collaborators	Ram Dass Ralph Metzner Robert Anton Wilson
Related	Set and setting Turn on, tune in, drop out Question authority Ego death Leary–Lettvin debate Leary v. United States "Tomorrow Never Knows" (1966 song) "Legend of a Mind" (1968 song) "Come Together" (1969 song) Return Engagement (1983 documentary) The Sekhmet Hypothesis (1995 book) Dying to Know: Ram Dass & Timothy Leary (2014 documentary) Joanna Harcourt-Smith Winona Ryder (goddaughter)