"Driftwood" is a 1978 single by the English progressive rock band the Moody Blues. It was the second single released from the album Octave, after "Steppin' in a Slide Zone". Written by Justin Hayward, "Driftwood" is a slow love ballad, in a similar manner to "Nights in White Satin" and "Never Comes the Day."
| "Driftwood" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by The Moody Blues | ||||
| from the album Octave | ||||
| B-side | "I'm Your Man" | |||
| Released | 6 October 1978 | |||
| Recorded | January – April 1978 | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Length | 5:02 (Album version) 4:31 (Single version) 3:56 (Promo Version) | |||
| Label | Decca | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Justin Hayward | |||
| Producer(s) | Tony Clarke | |||
| The Moody Blues singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Background
editBillboard described "Driftwood" as a "lush romantic ballad."[1] Cash Box called it "a smooth and spacy ballad about beaching on the shore of life" and also praised the vocal performance.[2]
"Driftwood" was also the final single to feature keyboardist Mike Pinder, who left the band shortly before the completion of Octave for personal reasons. He would later be replaced by former Yes keyboardist Patrick Moraz.
Shortly after release, a promotional video was recorded for "Driftwood." The video features Patrick Moraz on the keyboards, although Mike Pinder is playing the keyboards in the actual recording. The song also includes an alto saxophone which is played by session musician R.A. Martin, although Ray Thomas is depicted playing the alto saxophone in the video.
Personnel
edit- Justin Hayward: vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar
- John Lodge: bass guitar
- Mike Pinder: keyboards
- Ray Thomas: tambourine
- Graeme Edge: drums, percussion
Additional personnel
edit- R.A. Martin: horns, alto saxophone
Chart success
editThe record spent seven weeks on the U.S. Billboard charts and peaked at No. 59.[3] It also reached No. 38 on the Adult Contemporary charts.[4][5] In Canada it reached No. 60.[6]
References
edit- ^ "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. September 30, 1978. p. 90. Retrieved 2020-07-09.
- ^ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. September 23, 1978. p. 22. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
- ^ "Chart History The Moody Blues". www.billboard.com. Retrieved April 8, 2017.[title missing]
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 167.
- ^ "The Moody Blues: Adult Contemporary". Billboard. Retrieved 2023-01-31.
- ^ "RPM Top 100 Singles - December 23, 1978" (PDF).