Isn't Life Strange

"Isn't Life Strange"
"Isn't Life Strange"
Single by The Moody Blues
from the album Seventh Sojourn
B-side	"After You Came"
Released	21 April 1972; 21 November 1989 (Greatest Hits version);
Recorded	14 February 1972; 1988 (Greatest Hits version)
Genre	Progressive rock
Length	6:10 (Album/main version); 4:25 (Promo version); 5:32 (Compilation edited version); 6:41 (Greatest Hits version); 8:10 (2007 SACD/2008 remastered versions);
Label	Threshold
Songwriter	John Lodge
Producers	Tony Clarke (Original version); Anne Dudley,; Justin Hayward; John Lodge (Greatest Hits version);
The Moody Blues singles chronology
Official audio"Isn't Life Strange" on YouTube

"Isn't Life Strange" is a 1972 single by the English progressive rock band the Moody Blues. Written by bassist John Lodge, it was the first of two singles released from their 1972 album Seventh Sojourn, with the other being "I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)", also written by Lodge.

Music and lyrics

"Isn't Life Strange" is one of the Moody Blues' longer songs, lasting for over six minutes. Its melody was based on Pachelbel's Canon In D.^[3] The song begins with instrumentation on flute and harmonium, a combination that Classic Rock critic Malcolm Dome described as "haunting".^[3] Dome described the lyrics as being about "how life seems a habit of throwing up surprises."^[3]

Reception

Cash Box described it as "symphonic rock extraordinaire", and also said that it had a "strangely intriguing, euphoric production that stands out in any crowd."^[4] Record World said that "lush orchestration and Bee Gees-like harmonies are the notable features" of the song, which also has a "pretty melody and production."^[5] Writing for Rock Cellar magazine, Frank Mastropolo rated the song as number 1 in a list of "Top 11 Question Songs".^[6] Dome rated it as the Moody Blues' 4th greatest song.^[3] PopMatters critic Sean Murphy rated "Isn't Life Strange" as the 67th best progressive rock song of all time.^[1]

Long version

The 2007 SACD expanded edition and 2008 remaster of Seventh Sojourn both include an 8:10 version of the song as a bonus track. This is the original version of the song that the shorter album version was edited down from. The longer version has an instrumental midsection featuring flute and keyboards, as well as a brief piano lead-in and a longer fadeout.

Personnel

Original version

John Lodge – bass guitar, possible acoustic guitar, vocals
Justin Hayward – electric guitar, vocals
Mike Pinder – Chamberlin, harmonium, backing vocals
Ray Thomas – flute, backing vocals
Graeme Edge – drums, percussion

Chart positions

Chart performance for "Isn't Life Strange"
Chart (1972)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[7]	39
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[8]	9
UK Singles (OCC)^[9]	13
US Billboard Hot 100^[10]	29

References

^ ^a ^b Murphy, Sean (March 28, 2017). "The 100 Best Classic Progressive Rock Songs: Part 2, 80-61". PopMatters. Retrieved 2023-02-04.
^ Greatest Hits / Legend of a Band liner notes, 1989, 1990
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Dome, Malcolm (August 8, 2016). "The top 10 best Moody Blues songs". Classic Rock. Louder Sound. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. April 22, 1972. p. 18. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. April 22, 1972. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
^ Mastropolo, Frank (January 14, 2019). "Top 11 Question Songs". Rock Cellar Magazine. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992: 23 years of hit singles & albums from the top 100 charts. St Ives, N.S.W, Australia: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 7649." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
^ "The Moody Blues Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 February 2023.

This 1970s single–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[pop-1] Murphy, Sean (March 28, 2017). "The 100 Best Classic Progressive Rock Songs: Part 2, 80-61". PopMatters. Retrieved 2023-02-04.

[2] Greatest Hits / Legend of a Band liner notes, 1989, 1990

[dome-3] Dome, Malcolm (August 8, 2016). "The top 10 best Moody Blues songs". Classic Rock. Louder Sound. Retrieved 2023-02-02.

[4] "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. April 22, 1972. p. 18. Retrieved 2021-12-11.

[rw-5] "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. April 22, 1972. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-04-01.

[6] Mastropolo, Frank (January 14, 2019). "Top 11 Question Songs". Rock Cellar Magazine. Retrieved November 3, 2020.

[7] Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992: 23 years of hit singles & albums from the top 100 charts. St Ives, N.S.W, Australia: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.

[sc_Canadatopsingles_-8] "Top RPM Singles: Issue 7649." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 8 February 2023.

[sc_UK_-9] "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 February 2023.

[sc_Billboardhot100_The_Moody_Blues-10] "The Moody Blues Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 February 2023.

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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" "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

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