Editing The Moody Blues (section)

===''Octave'' and departure of Pinder===
In 1977, the group made a decision to record together again, with their record company Decca urging a reunion album. Decca in the UK and London in the US released ''[[Caught Live + 5]]'' in 1977, a double album with three sides of a December 1969 live recording from the [[Royal Albert Hall]] and one side of five leftover studio tracks from the late 1960s. Decca/London did this in an attempt to revive interest in the Moody Blues before their anticipated new album, although the band themselves were not pleased by the release of ''Caught Live + 5'', having already deemed it not good enough to be released when it was assembled several years earlier.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yi8S1j4TUHg|title=Moody Blues story on GRT with host Stu Jeffries|date=5 February 2012 |access-date=28 March 2023|via=YouTube}}</ref>

By this time, Pinder had remarried and started a family in California, so for their reunion recording, the band decamped stateside with producer Clarke. The sessions were marked by tension and division: first there was a fire at the studios they were using, then after quickly relocating to Pinder's home studio, a landslide following torrential rains effectively marooned them, inevitably causing tensions to rise.<ref name="A History of The Moody Blues"/>

Clarke had to leave for personal reasons before the album was completed, but by the spring of 1978 ''[[Octave (album)|Octave]]'' was ready for release. Pinder, citing his young family, excused himself from the touring commitments that were to follow. His decision caused acrimony within the band (particularly from Edge). Ray Thomas said Pinder was initially agreeable to touring. His opting out (with a major comeback tour already planned) was a blow to the band. Their management tried to downplay Pinder's absence, notably at a major UK music press party Decca organised, when the top Decca dignitary guest, while making a "welcome back" speech, openly referred to "Mike Pinder being currently absent over in the States", much to the band's dismay.<ref name="A History of The Moody Blues"/>