Graeme Edge died last week. He was the sole surviving member of the original line up of The Moody Blues. Long ago I was monikered by Alison Taylor as the “Rock and Roll Compliance Blogger” and I still am that same fan. Moreover, as readers of this blog know, I am a huge Moodies fan, so I have spent most of the last three days listening and relistening to Moody Blues albums, Graeme Edge solo efforts released in The Graeme Edge Group CDs, listening to interviews of Edge and listening and reading his poetry. Edge was not the flashiest or the most technically proficient rock and roll drummer. He was a self-proclaimed ‘lead grunt’ for the band and performed the journeyman work in a rock group of laying down the beat, dialoguing with the bass (John Lodge) and setting up the lead (Justin Hayward’s incredible licks and riffs).
The Moody Blues were Birmingham lads, and the band began life with a Merseyside/R&B musical edge. Their first album, The Magnificent Moodies, had the hit single Go Now (with Denny Laine of Wings fame as lead singer). Graeme Edge was the linchpin of the group as, after this first album, John Lodge and Justin Haywood all joined the group and the classic Moody Blues lineup was formed. They released seven of the greatest prog rock albums, in a five-year period from 1967 to 1972, Days of Future Passed (1967); In Search of the Lost Chord (1968); On the Threshold of a Dream (1969); To Our Children’s Children’s Children (1969); A Question of Balance (1970); Every Good Boy Deserves Favour (1971); and Seventh Sojourn (1972).
The thing that made Edge so unique was his poetry. Not songwriting but poetry was which incorporated in their songs, both on the albums and in their live performances. He contributed Morning Glory and Late Lament to Days of Future Passed. He opened the album In Search of the Lost Chord with Departure, and The Word poem later on that set. On the Threshold of a Dream were poems In the Beginning and The Dream. In To Our Children’s Children’s Children, Edge contributed Higher and Higher which was a spoken lyric over music with a dramatic rocket blast off opening. On A Question of Balance, he contributed The Balance.
My favorite Edge poem opened Threshold of a Dream and reads:
When the white eagle of the North is flying overhead,
And the browns, reds and golds of autumn lye in the gutter dead,
Remember then the summer birds with wings of fire flame,
Come to witness springs new hope, born of leaves decaying,
And as new life will come from death.
Love will come at leisure,
Love of love, love of life and giving without measure,
Gives in return a wondrous yearn for promise almost seen,
Live hand in hand and together we’ll stand,
On the threshold of a dream.
So, farewell to Graeme Edge, the self-proclaimed ‘lead-grunt’ of the Moody Blues. I know he and fellow Moody co-founder Ray Thomas are together coming up with some great songs in Rock and Roll Heaven. And for me, I hope you are writing some more of that heavenly poetry.
So, what is the compliance message in Graeme Edge’s life? It seems pretty straight forward for all Chief Compliance Officers (CCOs) and compliance professionals. Not only are there going to be a variety of talents and skills in your compliance function but using those talents and skills in a variety of ways can enhance your overall compliance program. Edge’s poetry certainly enhanced the Moody Blues entire oeuvre. His poetry readings onstage during shows enhanced those live performances. Even his dancing and prancing on Higher and Higher was a highlight of each live performance.
Edge also demonstrated how using a multi-media approach can enhance any performance. The same is true for your compliance program. Just as Ronnie Feldman continually reminds us to use humor and storytelling in your compliance communications and training; Edge’s poetry reminds us that other forms of communications can augment the message you are trying to get across. If your primary form of compliance communications is the written word, try some visuals. If it is visuals, try a podcast or other audio format. All can be valuable contributions to your overall compliance messaging.
Tom’s Top 5 Graeme Edge cuts (All on YouTube)
Question – Graeme playing off Justin’s acoustic guitar lead, the perfect match of the sublime and backbeat. And of course, the ‘question’ is still relevant today.
You Are Just a Singer in a Rock and Roll Band – Great drum solo intro and because, as Graeme said, “I can go full hooligan on the drums”. You want rock and roll drumming at its finest, here it is.
Higher and Higher – Not so much for his drumming but his poetry reading and his dancing and prancing in lives shows. If you want to see Graeme’s personality come through, check out this clip.
Lovely to See You Again – I have always thought the Hi Hat sound was one of the coolest sounds in drumming. Check out the Hi Hat work and indeed all cymbal work by Graeme on this song.
The Dream – My favorite example of Graeme’s poetry in all the Moody’s song. His poem introduces the entire album, Threshold of a Dream.
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