Octave (album)

Octave
Studio album by The Moody Blues
Released	June 1978
Recorded	1978
Genre	Progressive rock
Length	46:41
Label	Threshold/Polydor
Producer	Tony Clarke
The Moody Blues chronology
Caught Live + 5 (1977) Octave (1978) Long Distance Voyager (1981)

The Moody Blues reformed in 1978 after a six-year hiatus to record Octave, the group's eighth studio album with the Hayward/Lodge lineup. However, the album was the last for the group with keyboardist Mike Pinder, who departed after the album's sessions, declining an offer to tour with the group. As a result, the Moody Blues replaced Pinder with former Yes keyboardist Patrick Moraz in time for their 1979 tour.

Octave was considered a departure from previous Moody Blues albums, mainly because the group used synthesizers in place of a Mellotron or Chamberlain (Pinder's song "One Step Into the Light" referenced the Mellotron). Real strings were used on two songs (both by Ray Thomas), "Under Moonshine" and "I'm Your Man." The album produced the hit single "Steppin' In a Slide Zone," which hit #39 in the United States.

Track listing

1. "Steppin' In a Slide Zone" (John Lodge) – 5:28
2. "Under Moonshine" (Ray Thomas) – 5:00
3. "Had to Fall in Love" (Justin Hayward) – 3:38
4. "I'll Be Level With You" (Graeme Edge) – 3:47
5. "Driftwood" (Hayward) – 5:02
6. "Top Rank Suite" (Hayward) – 3:40
7. "I'm Your Man" (Thomas) – 4:20
8. "Survival" (Lodge) – 4:09
9. "One Step Into the Light" (Mike Pinder) – 4:28
10. "The Day We Meet Again" (Hayward) – 6:18