Justin Hayward Discography
The man most responsible for the success of The Moody Blues and its most timeless music.
As legend has it, Justin Hayward’s name was picked out of a hat to replace Denny Laine. There must have been some magic in that old black hat they found, because Hayward was born for the role. As the band’s lone guitarist and its most conventionally handsome member, Hayward likely would have been thrust into the spotlight regardless of his abilities as a singer and songwriter. But here’s where fate was doubly kind to The Moody Blues: Hayward was hands-down the band’s best singer and songwriter. In fact, a solid 75% of the band’s hits came from the mind and mouth of Justin Hayward including “Nights in White Satin,” “Tuesday Afternoon,” “Question” and “The Story In Your Eyes.” In the mid 70s, tired of the band’s constant touring, Hayward and the band went on hiatus, which in their case meant making solo records in their newly built studio. Justin and John Lodge (the two J’s in the band) recorded an album together, Blue Jays, that came very close to approximating the sound and quality of a Moodies record. Justin then released Songwriter on his own before re-uniting with the band for one last album together, Octave. An appearance on Jeff Wayne’s War of The Worlds project yielded two UK Top 40 hits for Hayward, but his own Night Flight failed to produce even one, and the following year he was back with the reconstituted Moodies (and back on top of the charts) with Long Distance Voyager. Since then, Justin’s solo records have been occasional and, by most critical accounts, unexceptional. His primary focus remains The Moody Blues, and as of this writing he’s in the middle of a world tour both with the band and as a solo artist.
The Discography
BLUE JAYS (1975)
This Morning / Remember Me (My Friend) / My Brother / You / Nights, Winters, Years // Saved By The Music / I Dreamed Last Night / Who Are You Now / Maybe / When You Wake Up. Co-credited to John Lodge and released on elpee and 8-track on March 14, 1975 in the UK (Threshold, THS-12), US (Threshold, THS/THS08-14), Japan (Threshold, GP-147) and the Netherlands and New Zealand (Threshold, 6376 600) with gatefold cover and lyrics insert; reached #4 on the UK charts and #16 on the US charts. Re-released on elpee in November 1984 in the UK. Re-released on expanded CD with one bonus track (“Blue Guitar”) in 1987 in the UK and US (Threshold, 820 491-2) and in 2004 in the UK (Decca, 882 882-2).
Remember Me (My Friend) / I Dreamed Last Night (1975)
Co-credited to John Lodge and released on 7-inch in May 1975 in the US (Threshold, 5N-67019), Canada (Threshold, TH-67019), Italy (Threshold, TH-19) and the Netherlands (Threshold, 6101 604); reached #47 on the US charts (charted on May 17, 1975 for 7 weeks). Also released on 7-inch in May 1975 in the UK (Threshold, TH-19), France (Threshold, 86.071), Germany (Threshold, 6.11616) and Spain (Threshold, MO-1495) with A and B sides switched. Some regional releases of both versions feature picture sleeve.
Blue Guitar (1975)
b/w When You Wake Up. Co-credited to John Lodge and released on 7-inch in September 1975 in the UK (Threshold, TH-21), US (Threshold, 5N-67021), Belgium (Threshold, 26.477), the Netherlands (Threshold, 6106 606) and Spain (Threshold, MO-1527); reached #8 on the UK charts and #94 on the US charts. Regional versions feature unique picture sleeves. Also released as a promotional 7-inch in 1975 in the US (Threshold, 5N-67021) with the mono version of “Blue Guitar” on the B side. Re-released on 7-inch in 1989 in the UK (Old Gold).
Lay It On Me (1977)
b/w Songwriter (Part 2). Released on 7-inch in January 1977 in the US (Deram). Also released as a one-track promotional 7-inch in 1977 in the US (Deram, 5N-7541).
SONGWRITER (1977)
Tightrope / Songwriter (Parts 1 & 2) / Country Girl / One Lonely Room / Lay It On Me / Stage Door / Raised On Love / Doin’ Time / Nostradamus. Released on elpee in February 1977 in the UK (Deram, SDL-15), US (Deram, DES-18073) and Japan (London, GP-1078) with gatefold cover; reached #28 on the UK charts and #37 on the US charts. Re-released on expanded CD with two bonus tracks (“Music,” “Learning The Game”) in December 1987 in the UK (Deram, 820 492-2). Re-released on expanded CD with 4 bonus tracks (“Wrong Time, Wrong Place,” “Marie,” “Heart of Steel,” “Learning The Game”) in 2004 in the UK (Universal, 882 283-2).
Country Girl (1977)
b/w Doin’ Time. Released on 7-inch in April 1977 in the UK (Deram). Released on 7-inch in April 1977 in the US (Deram, 5N-7542) and Canada (Deram, DM-7541) with a different B side, “Songwriter (Part 2).” Also released as a promotional 7-inch in 1977 in the US (Deram, 5N-7542) with mono version of “Country Girl” on the B side.
One Lonely Room (1977)
b/w Songwriter (Part 2). Released on 7-inch in 1977 in the UK and Italy (Deram, DM-428) and Spain (Deram, MO 1681) with picture sleeve.
Tightrope (1977)
b/w Country Girl. Released on 7-inch in 1977 in Spain (Deram, MO 1735) with picture sleeve.
Forever Autumn (1978)
b/w The Fighting Machine. B side credited to Jeff Wayne and released on 7-inch in June 1978 in the UK, Germany and the Netherlands (CBS, CBS 6368) and the US and Canada (Columbia, 3-10799); reached #5 on the UK charts. Also released as a promotional 7-inch in 1978 in the US (Columbia, 3-10799) with the mono version of “Forever Autumn” on the B side and as a one-track promotional 12-inch single in 1978 in the US (Columbia, AS-478). Re-released on 7-inch in October 1984 in the UK (Old Gold, OG-9401) and in January 1987 in the UK (Old Gold). Re-released on 7-inch with “Thunder Child” as B side in 1989 in the Netherlands (CBS, 6549 737). Some re-releases feature a picture sleeve.
Eve of The War (1978)
b/w The Red Weed. Released on 7-inch in August 1978 in the UK (CBS) and Canada (Columbia, C4-8287); reached #36 on the UK charts. Also released on 12-inch and 12-inch picture disc featuring “Horsell Common And The Heat Ray” as the B side in 1978 in the UK (CBS, 11-7731) and the US (Columbia, 43-11148).
Marie (1979)
b/w Heart of Steel. Released on 7-inch in April 1979 in the UK (Decca, F.13834).
NIGHT FLIGHT (1980)
Night Flight / Maybe It’s Just Love / Crazy Lovers / Penumbra Moon / Nearer To You / A Face In The Crowd / Suitcase / It’s Not On / Bedtime Stories. Released on elpee in July 1980 in the UK (Decca, TXS-138), the US (Deram, 14801), Japan (London, K28P-42) and Spain (Decca, MO-1963); reached #41 on the UK charts. Original elpee features lyrics innersleeve. Regional releases have different album covers. Also released as a promotional elpee in 1980 in Spain (Decca, TXS-3186). Re-released on CD (with bonus track?) in January 1989 in the US and Germany (Threshold, 820 555-2). Re-released on expanded CD with two bonus tracks [“Bedtime Stories (single vesion),” “Forever Autumn (live)”] in 2004 in the UK (Universal, 882 282-2).
Night Flight (1980)
b/w Suitcase. Released on 7-inch in 1980 in the UK (Decca, F.13888) with picture sleeve. Also released as promotional 7-inch in 1980 in the US (Deram, DR-401-DJ).
Nearer To You (1980)
b/w It’s Not On. Released on 7-inch in 1980 in the UK (Decca, F.13895) with picture sleeve.
A Face In The Crowd (1980)
Released as one-track promotional 7-inch in 1980 in the US (Deram, DR 402 DJ).
Unexpected Song (1981)
b/w Angry And Sore. Co-credited to Marti Webb and released on 7-inch in 1981 in the UK (Polydor, POSP-235) with picture sleeve.
MOVING MOUNTAINS (1985)
Take Your Chance / Is It Just A Game / One Again / Moving Mountains / Silverbird / Lost And Found / Goodbye / Who Knows / The Best Is Yet To Come. Released on elpee in 1985 in the UK (Towerbell, TOWLP-15), France (Towerbell, 540128) and Japan (CBS/Sony, 28AP-3217) with lyrics innersleeve. Re-released on expanded CD with one bonus track (“The Lights Are Low”) in 1899 in the US (Anchor, ANZ-701).
Silverbird (1985)
b/w Take Your Chances + Silverbird (12-inch version). Released on 7-inch and three-track 12-inch in 1985 in the UK and Portugal (Towerbell, TOW/TOWT-71). Original 7-inch features gatefold picture sleeve. Also released as promotional 7-inch in 1985 in the UK (Towerbell, TOWP-971) featuring Radio Edit and Full Length versions of “Silverbird.”
The Best Is Yet To Come (1985)
b/w Marie. Released on 7-inch in 1985 in the UK (Towerbell, TOW-79) with picture sleeve.
It Won’t Be Easy (1987)
b/w Outer Space + It Won’t Be Easy (extended vesion). Released on 7-inch and three-track 12-inch in 1987 in the UK (BBC, RESL/12RSL-208). “It Won’t Be Easy” was the theme to the BBC Series, Star Cops. Original 7-inch single features picture sleeve.
Let It Begin (1989)
b/w Oleanders + Let It Begin (extended version). Co-credited to Sally Oldfield and released on three-track CD single in 1989 in the Netherlands (CBS, CBS 6545983).
CLASSIC BLUE (1989)
Tracks of My Tears / MacArthur Park / Black Bird / Vincent / God Only Knows / Bright Eyes / A Whiter Shade of Pale / Scarborough Fair / Railway Hotel / Man of The World / Forever Autumn / As Long As The Moon Can Shine / Stairway To Heaven. Released on elpee in 1989 in the UK (Trax, MODEM-1040). Re-released on CD in 2005 in the UK (Castle, CMRCD-1238).
The Tracks of My Tears (1989)
b/w Railway Hotel. Released on 7-inch in 1989 in the UK (Trax, 7TX-11) with picture sleeve.
JUSTIN HAYWARD & FRIENDS SING THE MOODY BLUES CLASSIC HITS (1996)
Nights In White Satin / Question / Forever Autumn / I Know You’re Out There / Running Water / New Horizons / Blue World / Isn’t Life Strange / The Voice / Blue Guitar / I’m Just A Singer (In A Rock ‘N’ Roll Band) / Voices In The Sky / Your Wildest Dreams / In My World. Released on CD on June 19, 1996 (Koch Int’l).
THE VIEW FROM THE HILL (1996)
I Heard It / Broken Dream / The Promised Land / It’s Not Too Late / Something To Believe In / The Way of The World / Sometimes Less Is More / Troubadour / Shame / Billy / Children of Paradise. Released on CD on October 15, 1996 in the US (CMC, 86202) and Japan (CMC, BVCP-997).
The Way of The World (1996)
b/w The Promised Land. Released as a three-track CD single in 1996 in the US (CMC, DJ-87201) featuring the Single Edit and Album versions of “The Way of The World.”
Broken Dream (1996)
Released as a promotional CD single featuring two edited versions of “Broken Dream” (3:54 and 4:59) in 1996 in the US (CMC, CMCDJ87206-2).
LIVE IN SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO (1998)
Live tracks: Your Wildest Dreams / Lost And Found / Land of Make-Believe / Blue Guitar / Children of Paradise / Troubadour / The Way of The World / Forever Autumn / The Actor / Watching And Waiting / Something To Believe In / Broken Dream / The Story In Your Eyes / Billy / It’s Not Too Late / Tuesday Afternoon / Nights In White Satin / Raised On Love. Released on CD in 1998 by mail order (Nightswood, 305829).
