>> MOODY BLUES : SUR LA MER

Patrick, Tony and Justin working on IKYOTS.

This album opens with "I Know You're Out There Somewhere", part two of the story Justin began in "Your Wildest Dreams". Justin said part three was in the making, but I never heard it. This song was another joy to produce -- it just grew -- and it was another big hit single for the band. Patrick's work was particularly good on the dreamy breakdown in the middle.

I always thought "Want To Be With You", written by Justin and John, was a potential hit single. I even lobbied for it myself with a phone call to Polygram, but the Moodies were regarded almost as an embarrassment, even after two hit singles on the recent charts. We were being ignored at this point.

I generally thought that the songs were more consistent on this album than the previous one. There was more depth to all of them. I particularly like "No More Lies", "Vintage Wine", "Breaking Point" -- and then there is "Deep".

I have gotten more email about "Deep" than any other Moodies song. Sure, it's about sex, and even the other Moodies were dubious about Justin including it on this album. But what a sensual trip it is! It made some new fans -- and made some old fans squirm a lot, for the right reasons. It was a challenging departure from the Moodies' usual style, and it was even rewritten after the first day of recording. This is one of my all-time favorite tracks I've ever been involved with. So what does Justin actually say at 3:23?

On the inside sleeve there are baby pictures. I'm the kid standing in the snow. On the vinyl sleeve I'm the kid on the far right.