Very Best Of The Moody Blues, The - Moody Blues (The)

Advantages: Evergreen, ever popular, ever on tour, ever the Moody Blues
Disadvantages: None

...orchestra, the backing was supplemented by a synthesiser called a Mellotron. Each member of the group contributes songs and vocals although the most prodigious songwriter is Justin Hayward. The album ‘Keys of the Kingdom’ comes from their latter years and was produced in 1991. By this time the line up consisted of Justin Hayward (lead guitar), John Lodge (bass), Graeme Edge (Drums) and Ray Thomas (Flute). If you have never listened to them it is the ideal introduction to the Moody Blues – featuring every aspect of their art. If you are a fan and missed the album first time around there is a very large hole in your collection. The following is a play list with my personal star rating out of five: 1. Say It With Love ***** This is a demonstration of the Moodies wall of sound at its best. There is a driving beat from Graeme Edge... Read review

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Advantages: Original, psychedelic, distinctive Moodys sound, an extra hour of music
Disadvantages: The album without the extras is rather short

...Of A Mind. ***** This is a much more serious Ray Thomas opus and is a tribute to Professor Timothy Leary (the father of LSD). He has taken to using this as his 'solo spot' in the Moody Blues concert tours - usually achieving a standing ovation for it. The pace is upbeat and it is a pronounced acid sound ('He'll fly his astral plane, take you trips around the bay, bring you back the same day … '). There is a change of tempo for each of the verses where plucked guitars, tympani and flutes accompany the voices. As the track nears a climax there is further evidence of the sound engineering of the album with ethereal sounds of swaying Mellotrons changing channels. This builds up to an intense wall of sound before the verse is repeated once more and the song blends back into … 6. House Of Four Doors (Part 2) ***** The same themes... Read review

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Advantages: A couple of superb songs and my all time favourite track
Disadvantages: A filler album really

...This album comes from the middle period of the second phase of the Moody Blues history. The line up had consolidated following the loss of Mike Pinder and Patrick Moraz was established as the keyboard player. The last but one album (‘Long distance Voyager’) had been a huge success and the loyal fans continued to flock to the British and American tours. ‘The Other Side’ presents a heavier sound than most previous albums. There is still the presence of the driving beat and the ‘wall of sound’ that became the group’s hallmark. However the tracks themselves are somewhat repetitive in nature and apart from one ballad there is a lack of the distinctive and plaintive lyrics this time from Justin Hayward. It is relatively short at 42 minutes playing time. Released in May 1986, it reached a peak at No.9 in the US album charts and No.24... Read review

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