This album comes in two versions, the gatefold cover, and the non-gatefold, which omits the following pictures:
ON THE THRESHOLD OF A DREAM
The first real gatefold for the Moody Blues; the picture wraps around the album front to back. Philip Travers (his website) brilliantly brings the album to life, rich with symbolism and still displaying its contents. Look closely to find the "galleons on a crystal sea", Merlin casting his spell, the White Eagle of the North, and Camelot.
The first Moody Blues album with lyrics included, this is a 16 page album sized booklet. Shown here are the front and back.
TO OUR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN'S CHILDREN
The lyrics are found on an insert sheet that comes with the album
A QUESTION OF BALANCE
To be different, this album cover opens on the top and bottom instead of left and right. Philip Travers (his website) again paints vivid pictures, rich with symbolism. With the ordinary folk on the shore for a day at the beach, they seem oblivious to the storm on the horizon, and everything else in the air.
This is the CD cover
Lyrics sheet is a separate insert in the vinyl edition
There are several pictures that have caused some controversy as told in H&H #33 (Higher & Higher - The Moody Blues Magazine). The man with the gun is based on a real person; he was not happy with his likeness gracing this cover. His image was given a pith helmet and changed, but he showed up again without helmet on the CD cover.
Inner gatefold shows pictures of The Moody Blues
EVERY GOOD BOY DESERVES FAVOUR
SEVENTH SOJOURN
Inner sleeve has album lyrics and pictures of the band
OCTAVE
LONG DISTANCE VOYAGER
Look very carefully - Voyager is in the picture at the top, but there are hidden pictures all over this painting...
The inside gatefold has the lyrics to all the songs.
THE PRESENT
"The Present" continues the fascination for space and time; "Voyager" is present at the top on the left hand side. The title of the album has a double meaning, in light of the gift that one character on the cover is bestowing upon the other. The "X" can also stand for "10" (their 10th album).
'The Present' also adds the third element of time to 'Days of Future Passed'.
Compare the painting "DAYBREAK" (below) by Maxfield Parrish.
The inside of this gatefold cover has the lyrics and shows "Voyager" once again travelling through space.
THE OTHER SIDE OF LIFE
It is not Voyager, but look carefully, and you'll see the Concorde circling the logo for The Moody Blues.
The inner sleeve of this non-gatefold album contains the album lyrics and a current (1986) picture of the Moody Blues. From left to right: John Lodge, Graeme Edge (seated), Ray Thomas, Justin Hayward and Patrick Moraz.
SUR LA MER
Like many titles, this album also has a double meaning. "Sur La Mer" is "On the Sea" in French; and, according to Hayward, all songs on the album are written in the key of "C" ("On the C").
The album cover is credited to "Le Fort d'Antibes" (1955) by Nicolas De Staël, but the correct title "Le Fort Carré d'Antibes"
The innersleeve for this non-gatefold album contains the album lyrics and other pictures of the lads when they were young.
KEYS OF THE KINGDOM
The first album released in the US only in CD format; the vinyl version was released in the UK.
The innersleeve for the vinyl album has the album lyrics and pictures of the four Moody Blues: The Kings of Classic Rock
