The Story In Your Eyes

Greetings, Zoo Freaks! Your hippie DJs at THE ZOO are spinning the vibrant track The Story In Your Eyes by The Moody Blues from their 1971 album Every Good Boy Deserves Favour. This song, penned by guitarist Justin Hayward, is a gem with a story as lively as our airwaves. Hayward shared in a 2024 Guitar Player interview that the song sprang from his Martin D-28 acoustic guitar while at home, starting with the middle-eight section before the rest flowed naturally. He played both acoustic and a Cherry Red 1963 Gibson ES-335 electric guitar, with the opening riff featuring feedback tuned to an A note, cranked through a Vox AC30 amp. The track’s energetic vibe, described by Cashbox as a “scorching rocker,” marked a shift to a more straightforward rock sound for the band, yet Hayward revealed it’s also a confession about the band’s tensions, with lyrics like “We’re part of the fire that is burning, and from the ashes we can build another day” hinting at an awkward phase they were entering.

Here’s a wild tidbit for you Zoo Freaks: this was the last Moody Blues single to feature the Mellotron, that iconic keyboard sound, before they switched to the Chamberlin for their next album, Seventh Sojourn. The SACD release of Every Good Boy Deserves Favour includes a version where the Mellotron takes center stage, giving it an even dreamier edge. Classic Rock History ranks it as the band’s second greatest song, praising its unforgettable opening guitar lick and stellar vocals. Fun fact: the song’s riff bears a resemblance to a section of MacArthur Park by Jimmy Webb, which Hayward later covered on his 1989 solo album Classic Blue. On X, @haywardmusic celebrated the song’s 53rd anniversary in August 2024, inviting fans to stream it, while @JeffPanzer2 noted the album’s chart-topping success in the UK.

Now, let’s rewind to how The Moody Blues got their groove. Formed in Birmingham, England, in 1964, the band started as a rhythm and blues outfit, with Denny Laine on vocals and guitar, Graeme Edge on drums, Clint Warwick on bass, Mike Pinder on keyboards, and Ray Thomas on flute and vocals. They scored an early hit with a cover of Go Now, which soared to No. 1 in the UK and cracked the Top 10 in the US. By 1967, after Laine and Warwick left, Justin Hayward and John Lodge joined, steering the band toward a groundbreaking fusion of rock and classical music. Their 1967 album Days of Future Passed, featuring the hit Nights in White Satin, blended orchestral arrangements with rock, earning them a pioneering spot in progressive rock. Known for their lush melodies and introspective lyrics, the band became a staple of the psychedelic and prog scenes, with albums like Every Good Boy Deserves Favour showcasing their knack for catchy yet thoughtful tunes.

Zoo Freaks, you can keep up with The Moody Blues on their official website, where you’ll find tour dates and news. Connect with them on Facebook, Instagram, and X for updates and throwbacks. Fans are grooving in communities like the Moody Blues Fan Group on Facebook, where you can share your love for tracks like The Story In Your Eyes. For more fan vibes, check out Moody Blues Attitude, a fan-run site packed with discussions and nostalgia. Keep it tuned to THE ZOO, where we’re always spinning the sounds that make your soul dance!