Sur la Mer
Sur la Mer | ||||
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Studio album by the Moody Blues | ||||
Released | 13 June 1988[1] | |||
Recorded | 12 October 1987 – April 1988 | |||
Studio | Good Earth Studios, Soho, London | |||
Genre | Pop rock, synthpop | |||
Length | 50:56 | |||
Label | Polydor[2] | |||
Producer | Tony Visconti | |||
the Moody Blues chronology | ||||
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Singles from Sur la Mer | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Sur la Mer is the thirteenth album by the Moody Blues. It was released in 1988.[4] It features the hit single "I Know You're Out There Somewhere", a sequel to their 1986 hit "Your Wildest Dreams".[5] Much of the music on the album would fit in the "synthpop" genre, though it does incorporate more rock and acoustic influences than its predecessor.
One other single was issued from the album in the U.S. "No More Lies" did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100 but did reach #15 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.[6] "Here Comes the Weekend" was released as a single in Australia only but reached #50 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart in the U.S.[6]
Flautist and vocalist Ray Thomas did not appear on the album, although he remained a member of the band at the time during which it was recorded.[7]
Writing
Guitarist Justin Hayward remembers writing "I Know You're Out There Somewhere" and working on the song with producer Tony Visconti: "The success of "Your Wildest Dreams", which really, I thought it was almost a throwaway song. Tony Visconti was a big part of that [success with] his sound and his style. It was only when it came out that I realized that emotionally, it was a common experience for a lot of people. It occurred to me that I had other things at home that had that exact same feel and continued that sentiment. So I dove back into my home tapes and then I realized that "I Know You're Out There Somewhere" was there too. So I was very conscious of continuing that feeling, because a lot of other people identified with it."[8] He continues, "A lot of people have had that experience where they want to know what happened to the first person they ever loved. My advice to them is to not find out. My thoughts are that you can never go home; you can never really go back. Even before it came out people were going nuts about that song; it struck a chord with people, emotionally. It turned out to be one of the most popular songs that we do with the Moodies. It is one of the most enjoyable songs for me to play when I am onstage."[9]
Album cover
Nicolas de Staël's 1955 painting Le Fort d'Antibes serves as the album's cover artwork.[10]
Reception
Justin Hayward remembers the album's positive commercial reception and the group's second wave of success in the 1980s fondly. He explains, "It was such a wonderful time in our career. We had a hit record and we were on MTV and all of that stuff. It was the second time around for our career. It was particularly nice because I wasn't quite as stoned as I was the first time. I could really appreciate it. I was forty years old and it was fantastic to have a record in the singles charts again."[9]
Track listing
Side one
- "I Know You're Out There Somewhere" (Justin Hayward) – 6:37
- "Want to Be with You" (Hayward, John Lodge) – 4:48
- "River of Endless Love" (Hayward, Lodge) – 4:45
- "No More Lies" (Hayward) – 5:13
- "Here Comes the Weekend" (Lodge) – 4:13
Side Two
- "Vintage Wine" (Hayward) – 3:38
- "Breaking Point" (Hayward, Lodge) – 4:56
- "Miracle" (Hayward, Lodge) – 4:56
- "Love Is on the Run" (Lodge) – 5:00
- "Deep" (Hayward) – 6:50
Personnel
Musicians
- Justin Hayward – vocals, guitars, keyboards, drum sequencing
- John Lodge – vocals, bass guitar, keyboards, drum sequencing
- Graeme Edge – drums, percussion
- Patrick Moraz – keyboards, synthesizers, arrangements
Production
- Produced by Tony Visconti
- Engineered and mixed by Tony Visconti, Paul Cartledge & Sam Smith
Charts
Chart (1988) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (ARIA)[11] | 35 |
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[12] | 35 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[13] | 26 |
UK Albums (OCC)[14] | 21 |
US Billboard 200[15] | 38 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Canada (Music Canada)[16] | Gold | 50,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
References
- ^ "Music Week" (PDF). p. 38.
- ^ Wilker, Deborah. "Moody Blues Surreal, Trendy". Sun-Sentinel.com.
- ^ Sur la Mer at AllMusic
- ^ "POP MUSIC REVIEW : Moody Blues Keep on Going . . . and Going . . . and Going". Los Angeles Times. 29 August 1988.
- ^ The Moody Blues (10 June 2021). The Moody Blues - Sur La Mer - Fact Video. One Live Media. Retrieved 26 March 2022 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b "Adult Contemporary". Billboard. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ "R.I.P. Ray Thomas, founding member of The Moody Blues dies at 76". Consequenceofsound.net. 8 January 2018.
- ^ Wardlaw, Matt (28 February 2013). "Justin Hayward on His New Solo Album and Possible New Music from the Moody Blues". Ultimate Classic Rock.
- ^ a b Martel, Andy (8 February 2013). "Always Looking West: An Interview with Justin Hayward". Moodybluestoday.com.
- ^ "THE MOODY BLUES FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS LIST". Otten.freeshell.org.
- ^ "Australiancharts.com – The Moody Blues – Sur la Mer". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 8550". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – The Moody Blues – Sur la Mer". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- ^ "The Moody Blues Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- ^ "Canadian album certifications – Moody Blues – Sur la Mer". Music Canada.
- v
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- Graeme Edge
- Mike Pinder
- Ray Thomas
- Justin Hayward
- John Lodge
- Denny Laine
- Clint Warwick
- Rod Clark
- Patrick Moraz
- The Magnificent Moodies
- Days of Future Passed
- In Search of the Lost Chord
- On the Threshold of a Dream
- To Our Children's Children's Children
- A Question of Balance
- Every Good Boy Deserves Favour
- Seventh Sojourn
- Octave
- Long Distance Voyager
- The Present
- The Other Side of Life
- Sur la Mer
- Keys of the Kingdom
- Strange Times
- December
- Caught Live + 5
- A Night at Red Rocks with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra
- Hall of Fame
- Lovely to See You: Live
- Live at the BBC: 1967-1970
- Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970
- Days of Future Passed Live
- This Is The Moody Blues
- Voices in the Sky: The Best of The Moody Blues
- Prelude
- Greatest Hits
- Time Traveller
- The Best of The Moody Blues
- Anthology
- Gold
- An Introduction to The Moody Blues
- "Go Now"
- "I Don't Want to Go On Without You"
- "Life's Not Life"
- "Nights in White Satin"
- "Tuesday Afternoon"
- "Voices in the Sky"
- "Ride My See-Saw"
- "Never Comes the Day"
- "Watching and Waiting"
- "Question"
- "Melancholy Man"
- "The Story in Your Eyes"
- "Isn't Life Strange"
- "I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)"
- "Steppin' in a Slide Zone"
- "Driftwood"
- "Gemini Dream"
- "The Voice"
- "Talking Out of Turn"
- "Blue World"
- "Sitting at the Wheel"
- "Running Water
- "Your Wildest Dreams"
- "The Other Side of Life"
- "I Know You're Out There Somewhere"
- "Here Comes the Weekend"
- "No More Lies"
- "Say It with Love"
- "Bless the Wings (That Bring You Back)"
- "English Sunset"