The album title says it all . A Planet With One Mind is a collection of seven children's stories. Background music is suited to the mood and origin of each tale. An unlikely candidate for the local cd store? True enough. This one will be found in the children's section of the bookstore, but what makes it interesting to music buffs is the artist behind its production. That person is Mike Pinder, one of the original Moody Blues.
In fact, Pinder helped form that legendary rock band in 1964 in Birmingham, England. They started out on the fast track opening for the Beatles on The Fab Four's last tour. Later that year they released the hit "Go Now" followed by the megahit "Nights In White Satin" in 1967. Mike Pinder's Mellotron keyboard gave the band its unique symphonic pop sound. For 14 years he produced the sound that took the Moodies from Days of Future Passed through Octave, and his was the voice reading most of the poetry on their albums in the 70s. By 1978, the Moody Blues had sold 50 million albums worldwide, and Pinder had met his future wife, walked away from the rock world, and never looked back. He now says that he felt he had raised a band, and now he wanted to raise a family. With his youngest now 16, Mike is taking a cautious step back toward the recording industry with the founding of One Step Records. Last year he released Among The Stars which has the old Moody Blues' sound with a classical jazz flavor. A Planet With One Mind is the label's second offering.
This is a terrific children's collection focusing on legends and myths around the world. The stories are exceptional, by high-quality authors. Award-winning children's author Tomie dePaola is represented with The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush which Pinder reads to the accompaniment of Peyote ceremonial music. An Indian tale has sitar and tambour sound while a Chinese selection includes Chinese temple flute and a koto harp. One of Mike's goals was to have his story collection be a multicultural musical education that would enhance the positive story messages, and he has succeeded. The stories make the album appropriate for children of all ages, but grade school children will best appreciate the music, message and story. Pinder plans a trilogy of these albums with the others expected to be released in late spring and summer and a box set by the end of the year.
So if you were expecting the Moody Blues or (from the title) some New Age sounds, this isn't it. This is something better. Moody Blues completists need a copy as does anyone with a child; you won't go wrong with this as a gift for someone else's child, either. And, if you like to sit and listen to a storyteller with some very special music, pick up A Planet With One Mind, a gentle album Mike Pinder can be very proud of.
