The Moody Blues - Long Distance Voyager

Long Distance Voyager is the tenth studio album by British progressive rock band The Moody Blues, originally released in May 1981 via Threshold Records.

The Moody Blues first came to prominence playing rhythm and blues music, but their second album, Days of Future Passed, which was released in 1967, was a fusion of rock with classical music and established them as pioneers in the development of art rock and progressive rock. It has been described as a "landmark" and "one of the first successful concept albums". They became known internationally with singles including “Go Now”, “Nights in White Satin”, “Tuesday Afternoon” and “Question”. They have been awarded 18 platinum and gold discs. Their album sales total 70 million.

The classic band line-up settled in late 1966 with Justin Hayward (vocals, guitars), John Lodge (vocals, bass), Graeme Edge (drums, vocals), Ray Thomas (flute, harmonica, percussion, vocals) and Mike Pinder (vocals, keyboards).

Long Distance Voyager was the group's first album featuring keyboardist Patrick Moraz (who previously had worked with bands such as Refugee and Yes) in place of co-founder Mike Pinder, who left after Octave in 1978.

Upon release in 1981, Long Distance Voyager became the Moody Blues' second American #1 album, and was also the source of the Top 20 singles "Gemini Dream" (#12) and "The Voice" (#15). It also continued their winning streak in their native United Kingdom, reaching #7 there.

The songs on Long Distance Voyager were recorded at the band's own Threshold Studios. The songs were recorded and mixed by Greg Jackman, while Pip Williams was the album's producer. Supplementing the Moody Blues—Justin Hayward, John Lodge, Ray Thomas, Graeme Edge, and Patrick Moraz—was a string section performed by the New World Philharmonic, which Pip Williams arranged.

Long Distance Voyager is only partially a concept album, as only half of the songs relate to the "voyager" referred to in the album's title. The final three tracks comprise a mini-suite that combines themes of carnival jesters and the chaos experienced backstage at a rock show.

The cover for the album was a painting from the Arts Union Glasgow, while the sleeve was based on a concept by the Moody Blues which was designed by Cream, who were in charge of the album's artwork.  NASA's Voyager spacecraft is at the top of the front side of the album cover. Both Voyager 1 and Voyager 2's flybys of Saturn were in the news in 1980-81.

This album is a 2018 reissue on 180 gram black vinyl housed in a gatefold sleeve with download code, pressed in Europe via Threshold Records.