House of Four Doors

Infobox Song
Name = House of Four Doors


Artist = The Moody Blues
Album = In Search of the Lost Chord
Released = July 1968
B-side =
Recorded = January-June 1968
Length = 4:13 (Part 1)
1:47 (Part 2)
Label = Deram Records
Writer = John Lodge
Producer = Tony Clarke
Last single =
This single =
Next single =
Misc =Extra tracklisting
Album = In Search of the Lost Chord
Type = studio
Tracks = ;Side one
#"Departure"
#"Ride My See-Saw"
#"Dr. Livingstone, I Presume"
#"House of Four Doors"
#"Legend of a Mind"
#"House of Four Doors (Part 2)";Side two
#

"Voices in the Sky"
#"The Best Way to Travel"
#"Visions of Paradise"
#"The Actor"
#"The Word"
#"Om"

"House of Four Doors" is a 1968 song by the British progressive rock band The Moody Blues. Written by the band's bassist John Lodge, it was first released on the Moody Blues 1968 album "In Search of the Lost Chord". The song features John Lodge on lead vocals.

"House of Four Doors" is a two-part song that describes a group of people wandering through a forest, and finding "through the leaves" a lost path that leads to the House of Four Doors. The lyrics continue to describe the house and all its beauty. The first part of the song is track four on the album. The second part of the song, which is track six, describes the group leaving the House of Four Doors, and exclaim "You'll be lost now forever." The two parts of the song are separated by "Legend of a Mind" on the album.

"House of Four Doors" is one of the Moody Blues more complex recordings. The opening features each band member on their regular instruments, which includes Justin Hayward on acoustic guitar, John Lodge on bass guitar, Mike Pinder on the mellotron, Ray Thomas on flute, and Graeme Edge on drums. As the song progresses, more obscure instruments are used in addition to the regular instruments. The sections of the song are separated by the sound of a creaking door, which is provided by John Lodge on a cello. There is also a short harpsichord and cello duet towards the end of the song, which are played by Mike Pinder and John Lodge, respectiely. The penultimate section of the song also features Mike Pinder on piano.

"House of Four Doors" has been included on some of the Moody Blues compilation albums. When it is featured, both parts of the song put together and are included on one continuous track.

Personnel

* Justin Hayward: acoustic guitar, backing vocals
* John Lodge: bass guitar, cello, vocals
* Mike Pinder: mellotron, harpsichord, piano, vocals
* Ray Thomas: flute, backing vocals
* Graeme Edge: drums, percussion

External links

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Dp29XacCe8 "House of Four Doors" (Parts 1 and 2) being performed on "Colour Me Pop" in 1968 (YouTube)]