The Moody Blues, live on 'Ce Soir On Danse', Paris, France July 13, 1968. This is an unusual concert, as you can hear the Moody Blues moving in a new direction. In July 1966, bassist Clint Warwick retired from the group. He was briefly replaced by Rod Clark until the beginning of October the same year. When Clark and Denny Laine both left the band the three remaining members of the Moody Blues, Pinder, Thomas and Edge, assembled a new line-up. The new members were bassist and vocalist John Lodge and guitarist, vocalist Justin Hayward. By 1968, Hayward had emerged as the Moody Blues main singer-songwriter and moved the band towards a different style of lush and radio friendly prog rock. At the time of this performance, they had just released their 1967 album 'Days of Future Passed', but had not released any subsequent new material.

This concert took place on French TV show 'Ce Soir On Danse' in Paris, France on July 13, 1968, broadcast by ORTF, where The Moody Blues were more popular as an R&B act at the time. It includes Bye Bye Bird, a cover of a song by blues legend Sonny Boy Williamson, which hit number one in France even though they no longer had their lead singer (Denny Laine) from their R&B era. You will notice they reprise Nights in White Satin as it was such huge hit. Beautiful Dream is a song by John Lodge that has never been officially released on an album, so it is a real bonus for Moody Blues fans.

Justin Hayward - guitar, vocals;
John Lodge - bass, vocals;
Ray Thomas - flute, vocals;
Graeme Edge - drums
Mike Pinder - Mellotron