"The Story in Your Eyes" is a 1971 hit single by the English rock band the Moody Blues. Written by the band's guitarist Justin Hayward, it was first released as a single with "My Song" on the B-side, and then on the 1971 album Every Good Boy Deserves Favour shortly after.
| "The Story in Your Eyes" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by The Moody Blues | ||||
| from the album Every Good Boy Deserves Favour | ||||
| B-side |
| |||
| Released | 27 August 1971 | |||
| Recorded | 4 November 1970 | |||
| Genre | Progressive rock, blues rock, hard rock | |||
| Length |
| |||
| Label | Threshold | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Justin Hayward | |||
| Producer(s) | Tony Clarke | |||
| The Moody Blues singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Official audio "The Story In Your Eyes" (2008 Remaster) on YouTube | ||||
Background
edit"The Story in Your Eyes" was the Moody Blues' last single to feature the Mellotron as it would be supplanted by the Chamberlin, a similar instrument, in time for their next album, Seventh Sojourn. The SACD release of the album Every Good Boy Deserves Favour contains a version of "The Story in Your Eyes" that has the Mellotron in a more dominant role.
Allmusic critic Lindsay Planer described it as "one of the Moody Blues’ edgier pieces" with "decidedly probing observational lyrics."[1] Cashbox described it as a "scorching rocker" that is "certain to make quite an impact in underground and pop markets."[2] Record World said it was a "top-notch" song "in [the band's] big production rock and roll tradition."[3]
Classic Rock History critic Brian Kachejian rated it as the Moody Blues' 2nd greatest song, saying that "The song’s classic opening guitar lick is easily one of the most recognizable in classic rock history" and praising the vocal performances, the lead guitar playing and the Mellotron playing.[4] Ultimate Classic Rock critic Nick DeRiso rated it as the Moody Blues' 3rd greatest song.[5]
The main riff of the song resembles the later section of "MacArthur Park," by Jimmy Webb, an international hit single for Richard Harris in 1968. Hayward covered "MacArthur Park" on his 1989 solo album, Classic Blue.[6]
Personnel
edit- Justin Hayward – double-tracked vocals, acoustic and electric guitar
- John Lodge – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Mike Pinder – Mellotron, piano, backing vocals
- Ray Thomas – tambourine, backing vocals
- Graeme Edge – drums, percussion
Chart positions
edit| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Canada RPM[7] | 7 |
| 1971 | Billboard Hot 100[8] | 23 |
Cover versions
edit- Stiv Bators released the song as a single in 1987 on Bomp! Records, backed with "Have Love, Will Travel". It is included on Bators' retrospective CD L.A. L.A..[9]
- Fountains of Wayne recorded a cover version of the song for their 2011 album Sky Full of Holes. It was available only as an Amazon.com MP3 bonus track.[10]
References
edit- ^ Planer, Lindsay. "The Story in Your Eyes". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
- ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 31 July 1971. p. 18. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
- ^ "Single Product" (PDF). Record World. 31 July 1971. p. 12. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
- ^ Kachejian, Brian (June 2022). "Top 10 Moody Blues songs". Classic Rock History. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
- ^ DeRiso, Nick (31 August 2013). "Top 10 Moody Blues songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
- ^ "MacArthur Park by Justin Hayward with Mike Batt and the London Philharmonic Orchestra". SecondHandSongs.
- ^ "RPM Top 100 Singles - October 2, 1971" (PDF).
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 588.
- ^ "L.A., L.A. - Stiv Bators". AllMusic.
- ^ "Release 'Sky Full of Holes' by Fountains of Wayne". MusicBrainz.