When The Moody Blues took the BBC2 Colour Me Pop stage on 14 September 1968, they didn’t just play a song—they invoked an otherworldly mantra as Mike Pinder’s mellotron shimmered like cosmic stardust, Ray Thomas’s flute spiraled heavenward, Justin Hayward’s sitar wove Eastern mysticism, John Lodge’s cello anchored the soul, and Graeme Edge’s tabla beat summoned ancient rhythms in a hypnotic chant of “Om” that felt less like music and more like a meditation you could see.

Introduction

Colour Me Pop was a BBC2 music programme broadcast from June 1968 to August 1969 and directed by Steve Turner, designed to showcase emerging pop and rock acts in full colour; The Moody Blues appeared on the 14 September 1968 episode, delivering this unique performance of “Om” amidst the languid psychedelia of late-1960s Britain

Song Background and Instrumentation

“Om,” composed by Mike Pinder and released as the final track on In Search of the Lost Chord, is steeped in Hindu mantra and raga rock influences. The studio version features chanting of the sacred syllable “Om” by Pinder and Ray Thomas, and a rich tapestry of instrumentation—including mellotron and tambura by Pinder, flute by Thomas, sitar by Hayward, cello and backing vocals by Lodge, and tabla by Edge—all of which are vividly recreated in this live rendition

Critical Reception and Legacy

Over the decades, “Om” has been celebrated by critics and fans for its meditative power and bold cross-cultural synthesis; modern reviews praise the track’s hypnotic chant and lush harmonies, underscoring its status as a groundbreaking fusion of Eastern spirituality and Western rock aesthetics that still resonates with listeners today.

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