The Moody Blues - Seventh Sojourn (1972)

"Seventh Sojourn", released in 1972, is the seventh studio album by The Moody Blues in their "classic" lineup and their eighth album overall.
On this album, The Moody Blues used, besides the Mellotron, a similar keyboard called the Chamberlin; both were created by Harry Chamberlin. The newer device simulated orchestral sounds more realistically and easily than the Mellotron. Several songs contain overt political references. Mike Pinder's "Lost in a Lost World" laments the brutality of revolution ("Revolution never won / It's just another form of gun") and racial tension ("In their eyes it's nation against nation against nation / With racial pride"). "You and Me," like "Question" from two years earlier, alludes to ongoing wars and conflicts, including Vietnam ("There's a leafless tree in Asia"), Africa ("Under the sun there's a homeless man"), and the Arab-Israeli conflict ("There's a forest fire in the valley / Where the story all began"). "The Moody Blues: Legend of a Band," Bassist John Lodge described "I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)" as a response to fans who mistakenly read guru-like wisdom into the Moodies' often philosophical lyrics. The song makes a clear statement that the band is just as worried by the crises of the modern world and has just as few answers as everyone else. In contrast, "The Land of Make-Believe" describes a utopian world where "heartaches can turn into joy." This highly melodic track employs a complex and counterpoint-filled accompaniment in which contrasting lines are introduced in succession: First by the acoustic guitar (played by Hayward), then bells (Edge), then bass (Lodge), flute (Thomas), and finally electric guitar (Hayward again). Each part is unique, but ultimately blends well with the others, in keeping with the theme of the song's lyrics ("Only love will see us through / You know what love can do to you").
Two hit singles came from this album: "Isn't Life Strange" and "I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)".

Tracklist
01.  "Lost in a Lost World"  (Mike Pinder)  - 4:42
02.  "New Horizons"  (Justin Hayward)  - 5:11
03.  "For My Lady"  (Ray Thomas)  - 3:58
04.  "Isn't Life Strange"  (John Lodge)  - 6:09
05.  "You and Me"  (Hayward, Graeme Edge)   - 4:21
06.  "The Land of Make-Believe"  (Hayward)  - 4:52
07.  "When You're a Free Man"  (Pinder)  - 6:06
08.  "I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)"  (Lodge)  - 4:18

Personnel
Justin Hayward - vocals, guitar
John Lodge - vocals, bass
Ray Thomas - vocals, flute, tambourine
Graeme Edge - drums, percussion, vocals
Mike Pinder - vocals, chamberlin, mellotron

Notes
Released:  17 October 1972
Recorded at:  Decca Tollington Park Studios, London
Genre:  Progressive Rock, Psychedelic Rock
Length:  39:29
Label:  Threshold Records
Producer:  Tony Clarke