The Moody Blues are known for lush, orchestral arrangements on classic songs like “Nights in White Satin” and “Tuesday Afternoon.” But that’s not how those songs were conceived, explains Justin Hayward, singer and guitarist from the band’s classic lineup.

He’ll be sharing Moodies classics, along with material from solo records like “Spirits of the Western Sky,” on Friday at the Concert Hall at the New York Society for Ethical Culture, “playing the songs as the original demos were made and some of the stories behind them.” That means more delicate instruments, like acoustic guitar and flute, will be prominent — unlike during the British rockers’ full-throated shows.

“It’s one of those dilemmas where the Moodies became almost two groups,” says Hayward. “There was the recording group who had a particular sound, and there was a touring group, with huge amplifiers and two drummers and sometimes there was so much material that just didn’t work in that loud situation.”

Joining Hayward for the acoustic show Friday will be guitarist Mike Dawes, Julie Ragins on keyboard and vocals and flute player Karmen Gould.

Hayward calls Dawes, who also will perform an opening set, “a star in his own right” and a “guitar virtuoso.” Ragins, he says, “has been with me quite a long time, she was with the Moodies and sang all the harmony parts.” The addition of Gould allows Hayward to include the distinctive flute parts originally played by Moodies flautist Ray Thomas, who died last year.

The New York show will be filmed, but “nothing is set in stone” as far as what will become of the footage, Hayward says.

The Moody Blues formed in England in 1964 and became one of the original progressive rock acts when Hayward joined to record the 1967 album “Days of Future Passed,” which includes the dramatic “Nights in White Satin.” They continued to release successful albums in the ‘70s and had two major hits in the mid-1980s, “Your Wildest Dreams” and “I Know You’re Out There Somewhere.”

“The best time for me as a songwriter was the ‘80s,” Hayward says, somewhat of a surprise considering the band’s connection to the ‘60s and ‘70s. “If I could just have one decade it would be the ‘80s. I was awake and aware and paying attention, and it was a great gift to have that popularity with ‘Wildest Dreams’ and ‘I Know You’re Out There Somewhere.’”

Hayward, who lives in a French town on the Mediterranean coast near the Italian border, will host the “On The Blue” cruise in April, with stops in Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St. Thomas; and Great Stirrup Cay, Norweigan Cruise Line’s private island. Art Garfunkel, The Zombies and Alan Parsons are among the artists that will join him. Hayward says he’s known the members of The Zombies “since they were boys” and he’s looking forward to meeting Garfunkel for the first time.

“And Moodies fans are kind of gentle people,” he says with a laugh. “The whole voyage is really quite lovely and very enjoyable.”

The Moody Blues were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.

“I think that was a lovely tribute to us and maybe that was the moment to let it rest,” Hayward says when asked if the band has plans for the future. Saying “you can’t bring people out of retirement 14 or 15 years after they’ve stopped working,” he adds the “spirit is willing” for more Moodies tours while he doesn’t see it happening. “But I’m never saying never.”