Long Distance Voyager is the tenth album by the Moody Blues, first released in May 1981[1] on the group's Threshold record label.

It was the group's first album featuring keyboardist Patrick Moraz (who previously had worked with bands such as Refugee and Yes) in place of co-founder Mike Pinder, who left after Octave in 1978.

Upon release in 1981, Long Distance Voyager became the Moody Blues' second American number one album, and was also the source of the US Top 20 singles "Gemini Dream" (No.

[6][7] It also continued the Moody Blues' winning streak in their native United Kingdom, reaching No.

According to Ray Thomas, "Most people think that Long Distance Voyager was named after the cosmic themes that dominate our music.

"[9] The final three tracks comprise a mini-suite that combines themes of carnival jesters and the chaos experienced backstage at a rock show.

Guitarist Justin Hayward recalls writing "The Voice": "It was the first thing that we recorded for Long Distance Voyager.

"[12] "Veteran Cosmic Rocker" was inspired by a phrase an interviewer used to describe author Ray Thomas.

Supplementing the Moody Blues—Justin Hayward, John Lodge, Ray Thomas, Graeme Edge, and Patrick Moraz—was a string section performed by the New World Philharmonic, which Pip Williams arranged.

[14] John Lodge remembers the sessions: "Long Distance Voyager changed everything again, because that album went to number one in America.

"[15] The cover for the album was based on a painting entitled "Punch" (1840) by Thomas Webster printed for the Art Union of Glasgow,[16] while the sleeve was based on a concept by the Moody Blues which was designed by Cream, who were in charge of the album's cover artwork.

Billboard said that "the group is in prime form here with a knockout collection of gorgeous melodies, harmonies and poetic lyrics".

[17] Billboard contributor Ed Harrison said that "'Long Distance Voyager,' though bending somewhat to commercial pop trends, still manages to recreate the group's lushly textured, classical /rock symphonic sound epitomized by classics like 'Nights In White Satin,' 'Ride My See-Saw,' 'Question' and others.."[18] 'Cash Box called it "a nice return to vinyl" for the Moody Blues, commenting on the "luxurious, symphonic rock setting on songs like 'In My World,' 'Talking Out of Turn' and '22,000 Days.'

and noting that "the patented Moody Blues group vocal is also in fine form and, surprisingly, sounds perfectly contemporary.