| "Legend of a Mind" | |
|---|---|
| Song byThe Moody Blues | |
| from the albumIn 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 | Ray Thomas |
| Producer | Tony Clarke |
| Music video | |
| "Legend of a Mind" onYouTube | |
"Legend of a Mind" is a song by the Britishprogressive rock bandthe Moody Blues, and was written by the band's flautistRay Thomas, who provides the lead vocals. "Legend of a Mind" was recorded in January 1968 and was first released on the Moody Blues' albumIn Search of the Lost Chord. Prominently featuring theMellotron,[1] it was the first song recorded for the album.
The song's lyrics are about 1960sLSD iconTimothy 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 albumBeyond 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 notablyThe 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 byRay Thomas, in the middle.
During the 1980s, Thomas and keyboardistPatrick Moraz (who joined the band in 1978, replacingMike 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-musicianBias Boshell playing the keyboard. A full live recording of the song can be found on the deluxe edition of their live albumA 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, byJohn Lodge's solo band.[6]
The original promotional black-and-white film for the song was filmed on location atGroot-Bijgaarden Castle nearBrussels inBelgium.[citation needed]
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