Driftwood (Moody Blues song)
{{Infobox song
| name = Driftwood
| cover = Driftwood Moody Blues.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = The Moody Blues
| album = Octave
| B-side = I'm Your Man
| released = 6 October 1978
| format =
| recorded = January – April 1978
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Rock
| length = 5:02 (Album version)
4:31 (Single version)
3:56 (Promo Version)
| label = Decca
| writer = Justin Hayward
| producer = Tony Clarke
| prev_title = Steppin' in a Slide Zone
| prev_year = 1978
| next_title = Gemini Dream
| next_year = 1981
}}
"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."
Background
Billboard described "Driftwood" as a "lush romantic ballad."{{cite news|newspaper=Billboard|title=Top Single Picks|access-date=2020-07-09|page=90|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/70s/1978/Billboard%201978-09-30.pdf|date=September 30, 1978}} Cash Box called it "a smooth and spacy ballad about beaching on the shore of life" and also praised the vocal performance.{{cite news|title=CashBox Singles Reviews|date=September 23, 1978|page=22|newspaper=Cash Box|accessdate=2022-01-01|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1978/CB-1978-09-23.pdf}}
"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
- Justin Hayward: vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar
- John Lodge: bass guitar
- Mike Pinder: keyboards
- Ray Thomas: tambourine
- Graeme Edge: drums, percussion
=Additional personnel=
- R.A. Martin: horns, alto saxophone
Chart success
The record spent seven weeks on the U.S. Billboard charts and peaked at No. 59.{{cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/the-moody-blues/chart-history/hsi/|title= Chart History The Moody Blues |website=www.billboard.com |access-date=April 8, 2017}}{{title missing|date=May 2022}} It also reached No. 38 on the Adult Contemporary charts.{{cite book|first= Joel |last= Whitburn |author-link= Joel Whitburn |year= 1993 |title= Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993 |publisher= Record Research |page=167}}{{cite web|title=The Moody Blues: Adult Contemporary|publisher=Billboard|accessdate=2023-01-31|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/the-moody-blues/chart-history/hsi/}} In Canada it reached No. 60.{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.0064b.pdf| title=RPM Top 100 Singles - December 23, 1978}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Moody Blues}}
{{authority control}}
Category:The Moody Blues songs
Category:Songs written by Justin Hayward