The Moody Blues - Timeless Flight (2013) [Limited Super Deluxe Edition BoxSet, 11CD+6DVD] Re-up

Career spanning 17 disc (11 CD + six DVD) box set from the British Rock icons. Timeless Flight is a definitive career-spanning Moody Blues box set. The Moody Blues have released 24 albums in a career spanning nearly five decades. They have sold over 50 million albums, earning them eighteen platinum discs and all manner of awards. This set contains 11 remastered CDs featuring key album tracks, previously unreleased mixes, out-takes and complete live concerts, three DVDs of rare television performances from around the world, promotional videos and the previously unreleased live concert from Olympia, Paris in 1970, three DVD audio discs containing the long-deleted 5:1 surround sound mixes, a 120-page hard-back book including a new essay by Moody Blues researcher Mark Powell plus rare and previously unseen photos on heavy weight paper, replica full color tour poster and discography, replica Threshold press pack containing photos and memorabilia and an exclusive Timeless Flight fabric patch.

~ amazon

So how is this new Moody Blues box set? On it's own merits, it rates a 5. Very well packaged, very extensive in content, good sound, decent video and another surround format to add to the collection.

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The Moody Blues - Timeless Flight (2013) [Limited Super Deluxe Edition BoxSet, 11CD+6DVD] Re-up

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But is this the end-all Holy Grail of Moody Blues lost treasures? No.

In fact, strictly looking at the studio work (discs 1-5). There is NOTHING that is really new. A better overall collection was Time Traveller. Released back around 1998, the Moodies have only released 2 additional studio works (Strange Time & December), represented by only 5 tracks in this collection.

There are several tracks marked as "previously unreleased on CD," and this is could be kind of misleading. There are really no "significant" alternate versions. Here is a quick breakdown of the studio tracks:
"Tuesday Afternoon" and "Nights in White Satin" (original 67 stereo mix) WERE released on Time Traveller, although these tracks do sound a tiny bit cleaner.
"Dawn is a Feeling" and "Peak Hour" (original 67 stereo mix) are truly NEW to this collection (Yeah!)
Eternity Road: NEW version; clean intro (not segue fade-in); very (very) minute differences in the mix; quicker fade (4:04 vs. 4:19 TOCCC)
"It's Up To You" NEW version; again very (very) minute differences in the mix (re-mix of the double tracked vocal are more centered; quicker fade (3:05 vs. 3:12 QOB / 3:23 QOB-bonus track)
"When You're A Free Man": NEW "edited"version; clean intro (not segue fade-in); 30 seconds of 3rd verse cut-out (why?); quicker fade (5:04 vs. 6:05 SS)
Several of the other studio tracks from discs 1-5 are have been "slightly" edited (altered track length) to deal with the fact that most of the original Moody tracks would segue to the next. On this collection those tracks that were originally joined (i.e. Dawning is the Day - Melancholy Man) the segue remains. Those tracks that they decided not to include either the prior and/or original following track was edited to fade in or out as needed. Most of the edits are acceptable. I do cringe at the "new" into to "Are You Sitting Comfortably" which leads off Disc 2. There is the distracting (to me) edit from the proceeding track (Lazy Day) from the original masters.
The big let down for me is not including the entire 67 stereo mix of DOFP, as it was alluded to in the Prog Magazine article.

All the other "rarities" were for the most part were included in the 2007 Deluxe re-issues. These were fantastic collections and included both a hi-resolution stereo and surround version of the album as a SACD. Apparently these are now out of print, but I've still seen them in local record stores and available here on Amazon. The original digi-packs have been replaced with standard jewel cases. but they DO include most of the bonus material, but not the high-rez SACD copy.

The 5.1 surround disc here are the same 70's quad mixes, but now on lower-resolution DVD video discs using Dolby 5.1 and DTS 5.1. There is video that accompanies the audio. Looks reminiscence of a late 60's psychedelia light show.

Big draw with this set has to be for those wanting the live material. Some very good (Blue Jays concert). To the,… well it's been said that the band had trouble trying to reproduced the heavily overdubbed studio recordings live (Albert Hall 1969). Includes some additional Red Rocks live tracks that were originally only available on the initial 5-disc copies of Time Traveller, and then later as part of the deluxe 2 disc edition of Red Rocks. Truly new is the 2 disc live show from the LA Forum. This is special to me as I was at that particular concert.

The video clips are pretty standard, most have been available here and there over the years. The performance clips (Beat Club, Colour Me Pop, Lulu) are fun to see the group in their early days. But these are generally lip synced or added live lead vocal to the recorded backing track.

I'm sure that anyone truly interested in getting this set has already seen the You-Tube un-boxing video so I won't add much about it's contents except for the following:
My copy is missing the "rare 67 tour program; Not one of my seventeen discs were scratched (amazing); and the box came packaged in a spongy foam "outer box" all sealed in an form fitting cardboard box (which was then packaged in an oversized Amazon box. Very impressive.

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The Moody Blues - Timeless Flight (2013) [Limited Super Deluxe Edition BoxSet, 11CD+6DVD] Re-up

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Also as stated by others, the 120 page book is very impressive. A lot of PR photos and alternate/unused album art. But there are several photo glitches when they scanned in album art for Threshold Of A Dream, To Our Children's Children…, Question of Balance, Seventh Sojourn, and the wrong disc info for Long Distance Voyager.

So who is this collection for? For the must have everything, in every form Moody Blues fan. To which I'm a victim. A fan like me already has collections like: This Is the Moody Blues, and Time Traveller. Even a few of the lesser titles (Voices in the Sky, Anthology) just to get that slightly different song edit. The various live albums/videos. And of coarse they already have the deluxe editions of the classic 7, So this collection does not give me anything I do not already have in the way of studio recordings. It does however provide some live material no longer available (Albert Hall: "Caught Live + 5"), unreleased material (Forum concert and Blue Jays concert - crown gem of this collection actually).

So what is missing? For my holy grail, this should have included all the material from the Deluxe Editions (the complete classic 7 albums), plus the 67 original stereo mix of DOFP, the inclusion of "Gimme A Little Something" the last of the "+5" not included in the deluxe editions (but was available on out-of-print "Prelude" CD. And a book that was proof-read.

By Steven G Bogdanoff, amazon

Tracklist CD1:

01. Fly Me High - 2:56
02. Love And Beauty - 2:25
03. Leave This Man Alone - 3:00
04. Cities - 2:26
05. Dawn is a Feeling (Original 1967 stereo mix) - 2:36
06. Peak Hour (Original 1967 stereo mix) - 3:37
07. Tuesday Afternoon (Original 1967 stereo mix) - 4:50
08. The Night: Nights In White Satin (Original 1967 stereo mix) - 7:40
09. Departure - 0:45
10. Ride My See Saw - 3:42
11. The Actor - 4:41
12. Legend of a Mind - 6:39
13. Voices in the Sky - 3:29
14. The Best Way to Travel - 3:17
15. What Am I Doing Here? - 3:55
16. King and Queen - 3:55
17. A Simple Game - 3:46
18. In the Begining - 2:08
19. Lovely to See You - 2:35
20. Dear Diary - 3:59
21. Never Comes the Day - 4:44




Tracklist CD2:

01. Are You Sitting Comfortably - 3:30
02. The Dream - 0:58
03. Have You Heard - Part One - 1:29
04. The Voyage - 4:11
05. Have You Heard - Part Two - 2:27
06. Higher and Higher - 4:05
07. Gypsy - 3:35
08. Eternity Road - 4:04
09. Beyond - 3:01
10. Watching and Waiting - 4:16
11. Question - 5:46
12. And The Tide Rushes In - 2:58
13. Don't You Feel Small - 3:02
14. Dawning is the Day - 4:22
15. Melancholy Man - 5:48
16. It's Up to You - 3:05
17. Mike's Number One - 3:36
18. Procession - 4:40
19. The Story In Your Eyes - 2:59
20. After You Came - 4:38
21. One More Time to Live - 5:43




Tracklist CD3:

01. I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band) - 4:15
02. New Horizons - 5:11
03. For My Lady - 4:00
04. You and Me - 4:22
05. When You're a Free Man - 5:04
06. Isn't Life Strange (original extended version) - 8:13
07. Island - 4:33
08. Blue Jays / This Morning - 5:57
09. Blue Jays / Remember Me My Friend - 5:28
10. Blue Jays / My Brother - 3:30
11. Blue Jays / I Dreamed Last Night - 4:31
12. Justin Hayward / Blue Guitar - 3:39
13. Ray Thomas / From Mighty Oaks - 3:45
14. Ray Thomas / I Wish We Could Fly - 5:28
15. The Graeme Edge Band / The Tunnel - 2:09
16. Mike Pinder / Message - 2:49
17. Mike Pinder / The Promise - 6:04




Tracklist CD4:

01. Driftwood - 5:05
02. Steppin' in a Slide Zone - 5:31
03. One Step into the Light - 4:29
04. The Day We Meet Again - 6:20
05. Justin Hayward / Forever Autumn - 4:33
06. The Voice - 5:16
07. Gemini Dream - 4:08
08. Reflective Smile - 0:39
09. Veteran Cosmic Rocker - 3:14
10. Blue World - 5:20
11. Running Water - 3:24
12. Sitting at the Wheel (German 12-inch version) - 7:33
13. The Other Side of Life - 6:52
14. Slings and Arrows - 4:28
15. Your Wildest Dreams - 4:53
16. River of Endless Love - 4:46




Tracklist CD5:

01. I Know You're Out There Somewhere - 6:39
02. No More Lies - 5:16
03. Isn't Life Strange ('Greatest Hits' version) - 6:40
04. Question ('Greatest Hits' version) - 5:46
05. Lean on Me (Tonight) - 4:59
06. Say it With Love - 3:59
07. Bless the Wings (That Bring You Back) - 5:11
08. Say What You Mean - 5:37
09. Highway - 4:38
10. This is the Moment - 4:41
11. English Sunset - 5:07
12. Sooner or later (Walkin' on Air) - 3:51
13. Strange Times - 4:31
14. The Swallow - 5:00
15. December Snow - 5:11




Tracklist CD6:
Live at The Royal Albert Hall, 1969

01. Gypsy - 4:09
02. The Sunset - 4:40
03. Dr. Livingston I Presume - 3:46
04. Never Comes the Day - 5:01
05. Peak Hour - 5:09
06. Tuesday Afternoon - 5:09
07. Are You Sitting Comfortably? - 4:04
08. The Dream - 0:53
09. Have You Heard - Part One - 1:23
10. The Voyage - 3:37
11. Have You Heard - Part Two - 2:34
12. Nights in White Satin - 6:14
13. Legend of a Mind - 6:53
14. Ride My See Saw - 4:16




Tracklist CD7:
Live at Lancaster University, 1975

01. Tuesday Afternoon - 5:13
02. You and Me - 4:12
03. My Brother - 4:31
04. Isn't Life Strange - 6:25
05. Who Are You Now - 2:49
06. New Horizons - 6:14
07. Emily's Song - 4:01
08. I Dreamed Last Night - 4:13
09. Nights in White Satin - 6:44
10. I'm Just a Singer (in a Rock and Roll Band) - 4:46
11. Blue Guitar - 4:13
12. When You Wake Up - 6:00
13. Question - 6:53




Tracklist CD8:
Live at The Coliseum, Seattle, 1979

01. Steppin' in a Slide Zone - 4:58
02. Twilight Time - 3:41
03. The Day We Meet Again - 7:03
04. The Story In Your Eyes - 3:40
05. I'm Your Man - 4:45
06. Driftwood - 5:19
07. I'll Be Level With You - 4:25
08. Gypsy - 3:42
09. Survival - 5:16
10. The Balance - 3:52
11. Nights in White Satin - 6:06
12. Legend of a Mind - 12:40
13. Question - 6:50
14. Ride My See Saw - 4:11




Tracklist CD9:
Live at The Forum, Inglewood, California, 1983

01. Sitting at the Wheel - 5:59
02. Gemini Dream - 4:58
03. Tuesday Afternoon - 4:42
04. The Voice - 5:41
05. Steppin' in a Slide Zone - 4:36
06. The Story in Your Eyes - 3:58
07. Hole in the World-Under My Feet - 7:23
08. Painted Smile-Reflective Smile - 3:30
09. Veteran Cosmic Rocker - 6:48
10. Driftwood - 4:38




Tracklist CD10:
Live at The Forum, Ingelwood, California, 1983

01. Talking Out of Turn - 5:58
02. Running Water - 3:53
03. Gypsy - 3:45
04. Isn't Life Strange - 6:56
05. Blue World - 5:15
06. I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band) - 5:12
07. Nights in White Satin - 5:36
08. Legend of a Mind - 10:19
09. Question - 6:23
10. Ride My See Saw - 4:45




Tracklist CD11:

01. The Story in Your Eyes (Live at Red Rocks Ampitheatre, Colorado, 1992) - 3:46
02. New Horizons (Live at Red Rocks Ampitheatre, Colorado, 1992) - 6:15
03. Emily's Song (Live at Red Rocks Ampitheatre, Colorado, 1992) - 4:13
04. Legend of a Mind (Live at Red Rocks Ampitheatre, Colorado, 1992) - 9:05
05. Gemini Dream (Live at the NEC, Birmingham, 1997) - 4:09
06. Tuesday Afternoon (Live at the NEC, Birmingham, 1997) - 4:55
07. Eternity Road (Live at the NEC, Birmingham, 1997) - 4:42
08. Talking Out of Turn (Live at the NEC, Birmingham, 1997) - 6:31
09. I Know You're Out There Somewhere (Live at the NEC, Birmingham, 1997) - 5:24
10. Lean On Me (Tonight) (Live at the NEC, Birmingham, 1997) - 4:45
11. I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band) (Live at the NEC, Birmingham, 1997) - 7:00
12. Nights in White Satin (Live at the NEC, Birmingham, 1997) - 6:56
13. Question (Live at the NEC, Birmingham, 1997) - 6:33
14. Ride My See Saw (Live at the NEC, Birmingham, 1997) - 5:35




Tracklist DVD1:

In Search of The Lost Chord - 00:25:30:
(Recorded for the BBC 2 TV “Colour Me Pop” 14th September 1968)
1. Departure / Ride My See Saw
2. Dr. Livingston I Presume
3. House Of Four Doors
4. Voices In The Sky
5. The Best Way To Travel
6. Visions Of Paradise / The Actor
7. Om

TV appearance & Promo Films (1968-1978) - 00:24:26:
8. Nights In White Satin
9. Question
10. I'm Just A Singer (In A Rock And Roll Band)
11. Steppin' In A Slide Zone
12. Had To Fall In Love
13. Driftwood

Nationwide Short Films - 00:12:16:
14. Nationwide Short Films











Tracklist DVD2:

La Taverne de Olympia - 14th April 1970- 00:57:57:
1. Lovely To See You
2. Never Comes The Day
3. Tortoise And The Hare
4. Are You Sitting Comfortably
5. Legend Of A Mind
6. Nights In White Satin
7. Ride My See Saw
8. Lazy Day
9. Gypsy
10. Candle Of Life
11. Tuesday Afternoon
12. Don't You Feel Small
13. Question









Tracklist DVD3:

Promo video & TV Show, 1981-1991 - 00:56:58:
1. Gemini Dream (Promo video, 1981)
2. The Voice (Promo video, 1981)
3. Sitting at the Wheel (Promo video, 1983)
4. Blue World (Promo video, 1983)
5. Running Water ('The Leo Sayer Show', 1984)
6. Your Wildest Dreams (Promo video, 1986)
7. The Other Side of Life (Promo video, 1986)
8. Running Out of Love (Promo video, 1986)
9. I Know You're Out There Somewhere (Promo video, 1988)
10. No More Lies (Promo video, 1988)
11. Question (With the London Symphony Orchestra, promo video, 1989)
12. Say It with Love (Promo video, 1991)
13. Bless the Wings (That Bring You Back) ("Garden Party' TV appearance, 1991)











Tracklist DVD4:

1967 - Days of Future Passed - 00:40:57:

1. The Day Begins
2. Dawn: Dawn Is A Feeling
3. The Morning: Another Morning
4. Lunch Break: Peak Hour
5. The Afternoon
6. Evening
7. Nights In White Satin

1969 - On the Threshold of a Dream - 00:38:37:

1. In the Beginning
2. Lovely to See You
3. Dear Diary
4. Send Me No Wine
5. To Share Our Love
6. So Deep Within You
7. Never Comes the Day
8. Lazy Day
9. Are You Sitting Comfortably
10. The Dream
11. Have You Heard (Part 1)
12. The Voyage
13. Have You Heard (Part 2)







Tracklist DVD5:

1966 - To Our Children's Children's Children - 00:40:57:

1. Higher and Higher
2. Eyes of a Child I
3. Floating
4. Eyes of a Child II
5. I Never Thought I'd Live to be a Hundred
6. Beyond
7. Out and In
8. Gypsy
9. Eternity Road
10. Candle of Life
11. Sun Is Still Shining
12. I Never Thought I'd Live to be a Million
13. Watching and Waiting

1970 - A Question of Balance - 00:38:37:

1. Question
2. How Is It (We Are Here)
3. And the Tide Rushes In
4. Don't You Feel Small
5. Tortoise and the Hare
6. It's Up to You
7. Minstrel's Song
8. Dawning is the Day
9. Melancholy Man
10. The Balance







Tracklist DVD6:

1971 - Every Good Boy Deserves Favour - 00:39:49:

1. Procession
2. The Story in Your Eyes
3. Our Guessing Game
4. Emily's Song
5. After You Came
6. One More Time to Live
7. Nice to Be Here
8. You Can Never Go Home
9. My Song

1972 - Seventh Sojourn - 00:39:12:

1. Lost in a Lost World
2. New Horizons
3. For My Lady
4. Isn't Life Strange
5. You and Me
6. The Land of Make Believe
7. When You're a Free Man
8. I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)






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