Released 21 November 1969 Length 4:06 Writer(s) Graeme Edge | Recorded May–September 1969 Label Threshold Producer(s) Tony Clarke | |
"Higher and Higher" is the opening track of The Moody Blues 1969 album To Our Children's Children's Children, a concept album about space travel.
"Higher and Higher", which begins the album, describes space travel as one of man's greatest feats. The verses of the song are spoken by Mike Pinder, rather than sung. Sound effects of a rocket launching begin the song and last for the first minute. The band had asked NASA for a recording of a rocket launch to use but they were disappointed (it was described as "a damp squib") so they had to create their own.
"Higher and Higher" was also the Moody Blues' first full length song that was written by the band's drummer Graeme Edge. Edge was usually the writer of short spoken-word interludes that appeared at the beginning and end of previous albums. In the recordings, they were usually recited by Mike Pinder.
Graeme Edge has stated that his inspiration for the song came upon seeing the Apollo 11 crew members Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin first walk on the moon on 20 July 1969.
The Moody Blues continue to perform "Higher and Higher" live in concert. Graeme Edge now provides the lead spoken verses in concert since Mike Pinder is no longer with the band. Since this requires Edge to take center stage to recite the verse, the drums are performed by their back-up drummer Gordon Marshall. At the end of the verses, Edge then returns to the drum set and concludes the song on the drums.