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Sur la Mer

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Sur la Mer is the thirteenth album by the Moody Blues. It was released in 1988.[4] It features the hit single "I Know You're Out There Somewhere", a sequel to their 1986 hit "Your Wildest Dreams".[5] Much of the music on the album would fit in the "synthpop" genre, though it does incorporate more rock and acoustic influences than its predecessor.

Sur la Mer
Studio album by
the Moody Blues
Released13 June 1988[1]
Recorded12 October 1987 – April 1988
StudioGood Earth Studios, Soho, London
GenrePop rock, synthpop
Length50:56
LabelPolydor[2]
ProducerTony Visconti
The Moody Blues chronology
Prelude
(1987) 		Sur la Mer
(1988) 		Greatest Hits
(1989)
Singles from Sur la Mer
  1. "I Know You're Out There Somewhere"
    Released: 23 May 1988
  2. "No More Lies"
    Released: 10 October 1988
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]

One other single was issued from the album in the U.S. "No More Lies" did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100 but did reach #15 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.[6] "Here Comes the Weekend" was released as a single in Australia only but reached #50 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart in the U.S.[6]

Flautist and vocalist Ray Thomas did not appear on the album, although he remained a member of the band at the time during which it was recorded.[7]

Writing

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Guitarist Justin Hayward remembers writing "I Know You're Out There Somewhere" and working on the song with producer Tony Visconti: "The success of "Your Wildest Dreams", which really, I thought it was almost a throwaway song. Tony Visconti was a big part of that [success with] his sound and his style. It was only when it came out that I realized that emotionally, it was a common experience for a lot of people. It occurred to me that I had other things at home that had that exact same feel and continued that sentiment. So I dove back into my home tapes and then I realized that "I Know You're Out There Somewhere" was there too. So I was very conscious of continuing that feeling, because a lot of other people identified with it."[8] He continues, "A lot of people have had that experience where they want to know what happened to the first person they ever loved. My advice to them is to not find out. My thoughts are that you can never go home; you can never really go back. Even before it came out people were going nuts about that song; it struck a chord with people, emotionally. It turned out to be one of the most popular songs that we do with the Moodies. It is one of the most enjoyable songs for me to play when I am onstage."[9]

Album cover

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Nicolas de Staël's 1955 painting Le Fort d'Antibes serves as the album's cover artwork.[10]

Reception

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Justin Hayward remembers the album's positive commercial reception and the group's second wave of success in the 1980s fondly. He explains, "It was such a wonderful time in our career. We had a hit record and we were on MTV and all of that stuff. It was the second time around for our career. It was particularly nice because I wasn't quite as stoned as I was the first time. I could really appreciate it. I was forty years old and it was fantastic to have a record in the singles charts again."[9]

Track listing

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Side one

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  1. "I Know You're Out There Somewhere" (Justin Hayward) – 6:37
  2. "Want to Be with You" (Hayward, John Lodge) – 4:48
  3. "River of Endless Love" (Hayward, Lodge) – 4:45
  4. "No More Lies" (Hayward) – 5:13
  5. "Here Comes the Weekend" (Lodge) – 4:13

Side Two

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  1. "Vintage Wine" (Hayward) – 3:38
  2. "Breaking Point" (Hayward, Lodge) – 4:56
  3. "Miracle" (Hayward, Lodge) – 4:56
  4. "Love Is on the Run" (Lodge) – 5:00
  5. "Deep" (Hayward) – 6:50

Personnel

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Musicians

Production

  • Produced by Tony Visconti
  • Engineered and mixed by Tony Visconti, Paul Cartledge & Sam Smith

Charts

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Chart performance for Sur la Mer
Chart (1988) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[11] 35
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[12] 35
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[13] 26
UK Albums (OCC)[14] 21
US Billboard 200[15] 38

Certifications

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Certifications for Sur la Mer
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[16] Gold 50,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ "Music Week" (PDF). p. 38.
  2. ^ Wilker, Deborah. "Moody Blues Surreal, Trendy". Sun-Sentinel.com.
  3. ^ Sur la Mer at AllMusic
  4. ^ "POP MUSIC REVIEW : Moody Blues Keep on Going . . . and Going . . . and Going". Los Angeles Times. 29 August 1988.
  5. ^ The Moody Blues (10 June 2021). The Moody Blues - Sur La Mer - Fact Video. One Live Media. Retrieved 26 March 2022 – via YouTube.
  6. ^ a b "Adult Contemporary". Billboard. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  7. ^ "R.I.P. Ray Thomas, founding member of The Moody Blues dies at 76". Consequenceofsound.net. 8 January 2018.
  8. ^ Wardlaw, Matt (28 February 2013). "Justin Hayward on His New Solo Album and Possible New Music from the Moody Blues". Ultimate Classic Rock.
  9. ^ a b Martel, Andy (8 February 2013). "Always Looking West: An Interview with Justin Hayward". Moodybluestoday.com.
  10. ^ "THE MOODY BLUES FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS LIST". Otten.freeshell.org.
  11. ^ "Australiancharts.com – The Moody Blues – Sur la Mer". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  12. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 8550". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  13. ^ "Swisscharts.com – The Moody Blues – Sur la Mer". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  14. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  15. ^ "The Moody Blues Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  16. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Moody Blues – Sur la Mer". Music Canada.
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