"The Present" is indeed the eleventh studio album by The Moody Blues, released in 1983. This album marked the end of their time with Threshold Records, their custom label. The album features a blend of the band's signature symphonic rock and more contemporary 1980s sounds. It includes tracks like "Blue World," "Sitting at the Wheel," and "Running Water." While it didn't achieve the same level of commercial success as some of their earlier works, it remains a notable part of their discography, reflecting both their evolving sound and the era's musical trends.
The Present is the second album from the Moody Blues featuring keyboardist Patrick Moraz, following his debut with the band on Long Distance Voyager. The album's track sequence, with Justin Hayward's songs at the start and Ray Thomas's at the end, aligns with the structure of their previous successful album.
The singles "Blue World," "Sitting at the Wheel," and "Running Water" did achieve modest success on the U.S. charts, though they didn't match the chart-topping hits of earlier albums.
The cover art is a homage to Maxfield Parrish's Daybreak, capturing the album's ethereal and dreamy quality. The 2008 remastered CD edition's inclusion of extra tracks provided fans with additional content and further appreciation for the album.
