Moody Blues - Live at the BBC: 1967-1970 CD

Live at the BBC: 1967-1970 buy CD music Though this 1971 release was issued at a time of enormous commercial success for the Moody Blues, EVERY GOOD BOY DESERVES FAVOUR contains some of the band's most adventurous music. The band had recently discovered the Moog synthesizer, and its presence is felt on much of the album. The opening "Procession" instantly sets this collection's experimental course, landing like a spacecraft among reams of cascading synthesizer before evolving into a soundscape of cricket chirps, thunderclaps, and tribal chanting. The next three minutes contain one of the most cathartic sonic explorations the band has ever put forth. Other standout tracks include "After You Came," which features tessellated vocal layering and bluesy guitar work; "Emily," a song that John Lodge wrote for his daughter; and the rapturously symphonic "You Can Never Go Home." Rich, complex, powerful, and beautifully produced, EVERY GOOD BOY DESERVES FAVOUR brings together all of the Moody Blues' best qualities in one album, standing as the culmination of their fine '60s work, and the standard-bearer for the music to come. Import-only SACD/Hybrid pressing. 2007 digitally remastered digipack edition of this 1971 classic featuring the original stereo mix and the 5.1 Surround Sound mix plus added tracks along with an expansive booklet containing sleeve notes and rare photographs. Features two previously unreleased tracks: 'The Story In Your Eyes' (Original Version) and 'The Dreamer'. 11 tracks total. Decca. Contains 2 Bonus Tracks. The Moody Blues: Mike Pinder (keyboards); John Lodge (bass instrument); Graeme Edge (percussion); Justin Hayward , Ray Thomas. Personnel: Justin Hayward (vocals, guitar); Ray Thomas (vocals, flute, harmonica, percussion); Michael Pinder (vocals, keyboards); John Lodge (vocals); Graeme Edge (drums). Audio Mixer: Paschal Byrne. Audio Remasterers: Justin Hayward ; Paschal Byrne; Alberto Parodi. Recording information: Tollington Park Studios, London, England (11/04/1970-11/09/1970); Wessex Studios (11/04/1970-11/09/1970). Photographer: Barry Plummer.

Live at the BBC: 1967-1970 CD music This is a DTS CD, which features DTS 5.1 Surround Sound technology and is playable on a DTS-capable 5.1 Surround Sound system. While the Moodies were never exactly a rocker's delight, SEVENTH SOJOURN, the seventh recording with the post-Denny Laine lineup, is perhaps their most ballad-heavy album. Ironically, the album's biggest hit, which would become one of the group's signature songs, was the uncharacteristically uptempo "I'm Just a Singer in a Rock and Roll Band." Elsewhere, appearances are equally deceiving; interpersonal tensions had developed in the band to the point where there wouldn't be another Moody Blues album for six years, but the album is full of slow, romantic musings, not signs of strife. As usual, it's Justin Hayward, he of the silky voice and heart-on-a-sleeve lyricism, who excels at all this romantic balladry, his contributions being the most melodic and affecting. John Lodge's aforementioned "I'm Just a Singer" is far and away the most energetic tune, but it closes the album and doesn't disturb the contemplative mood. Ironically, though the band was coming apart, they were also reaching new heights. Keyboardist Mike Pinder had traded in his Mellotron for its more sophisticated cousin, the Chamberlain, which provided an improved overall sound on SEVENTH SOJOURN. Import-only SACD/Hybrid pressing. 2007 digitally remastered digipack edition of this 1972 classic featuring the original stereo mix and the 5.1 Surround Sound mix plus added tracks along with an expansive booklet containing sleeve notes and rare photographs. Features four previously unreleased tracks: 'Isn't Life Strange' (Original Version), 'You And Me' (Beckthorn's Backing Track), 'Lost In A Lost World' (Instrumental Demo) and 'Island'. 12 tracks total. Decca. Digitally remastered by Steve Fallone (Polygram Studios). All tracks have been digitally remastered. Contains 4 Bonus Tracks. Recorded at Tollington Park Studios, London, England. Recorded at Tollington Park Studios, London, England. Originally released on Threshold (7). Includes liner notes by John Reed. Audio Remasterers: Justin Hayward ; Paschal Byrne; Alberto Parodi. Recording information: Beckthorns (01/??/1972-02/14/1973); Decca Studios Tollington Park (01/??/1972-02/14/1973); Decca Studios, Tollington Park, London, England (01/??/1972-02/14/1973); Tollington Park Studios, London, England (01/??/1972-02/14/1973). Photographer: Barry Plummer. The Moody Blues: Mike Pinder, Justin Hayward, Ray Thomas, John Lodge, Graeme Edge.

Live at the BBC: 1967-1970 songs The beautifully remastered version of the Moody Blues's 1970 back-to-basics album (translation: they cut way back on the overdubs) strips away the original aural murk at last, and includes informative liner-note interviews with the band about the recording process. Standout tracks include the classic sort-of protest song "Question" and "It's Up to You," one of singer/guitarist Justin Hayward's most authoritatively wistful riff-rockers. There is a clear attempt to pare back the lush excesses of their earlier work in favor of a leaner rock sound, as heard on cuts like John Lodge's pell-mell "The Tortoise and the Hare." Still, one of the album's standouts is Ray Thomas's "And the Tide Rushes In," a lovely psychedelic ballad of the sort that moved the Who's Pete Townshend to remark that the Moody Blues' albums were so gorgeously produced that listening to them was like "being in church." A QUESTION OF BALANCE is a fine album, and a clear preparation for its successor EVERY GOOD BOY DESERVES FAVOUR, one of the band's finest moments. Import only SACD/Hybrid pressing. Digitally remastered digi-pack edition with the the original stereo mix with added tracks along with an expansive booklet containing sleeve notes are rare photographs. 'A Question of Balance' features 6 bonus tracks. Universal. 2006. Includes liner notes by John Reed. All tracks have been digitally remastered. The Moody Blues: Justin Hayward (vocals, guitar); John Lodge (vocals, bass instrument); Ray Thomas (flute, harmonica); Mike Pinder (keyboards); Graeme Edge (drums, percussion). The Moody Blues: Justin Hayward, Graeme Edge, John Lodge, Mike Pinder, Ray Thomas. Engineers: Derek Varnals, Adrian Martins, Robin Thompson.

Live at the BBC: 1967-1970 album for sale The Moodies were a prolific lot in the late '60s. This, the post-Denny Laine lineup's fourth album, was the second to be released in 1969. It was the group's most mature, fully realized effort to date, arguably surpassing even the milestone DAYS OF FUTURE PASSED in its elegance and vision. The Moodies were always capable of both songcraft and experimentalism, but this was the first time they combined them both successfully. Mike Pinder's dramatically arcing mellotron is the perfectly complement to the group's lush vocal harmonies, which are colored by rich acoustic guitar textures. Things open on a mind-bendingly psychedelic note with the electrical storm of "Higher and Higher," but soon the waters calm. Justin Hayward's brief acoustic ballad "I Never Thought I'd Live to be a Hundred" is among the band's loveliest tunes, and it leads into "Beyond," an ambitious instrumental that is the Moodies at their most progressive. Throughout the album, the mixture of winningly melodic balladry, poignant folk-rock and ambitious prog-rock leanings combine for what is one of the Moody Blues' most satisfying albums. Additional Tracks; Deluxe Edition All tracks have been digitally remastered. The Moody Blues: Graeme Edge, John Lodge, Ray Thomas, Justin Hayward, Mike Pinder. Engineers: Derek Varnals, Adrian Martins, Robin Thompson. The Moody Blues: Justin Hayward , Graeme Edge, John Lodge, Mike Pinder, Ray Thomas. Audio Mixer: Derek Varnals. Audio Remasterers: Justin Hayward ; Alberto Parodi. Recording information: BBC Paris Theatre (07/??/1969-12/17/1969); Decca Studio One, West Hampstead, England (07/??/1969-12/17/1969). Photographers: Derek Varnals; Barry Plummer. The Moody Blues: Justin Hayward, Mike Pinder, John Lodge, Ray Thomas, Graeme Edge.

Live at the BBC: 1967-1970 CD music After helping lay the groundwork for concept albums and progressive rock with 1967's orchestra-enhanced suite DAYS OF FUTURE PASSED, the Moodies retrenched for the follow-up. They abandoned the orchestra but kept their sound as rich as before by playing a multitude of instruments themselves, including everything from sitar to cello to oboe. At the time, it was remarkable enough for these instruments to appear on a rock record, much less to be played by the band itself. The string-laden conceptual pieces of DAYS were replaced by shorter, more concise songs that leaned more toward Beatlesque pop and displayed a pronounced Eastern influence. Graham Edge's short spoken-word pieces provide a properly arty framework for the Moodies' blend of swooping mellotron, haunting flute, and rich, multi-tracked harmonies. The slightly Hollies-ish "Ride my Seesaw," one of the band's strongest rockers, is a highlight. Flutist/vocalist Ray Thomas provides the quirky Britishness so essential to '60s UK pop-rock with his music-hall-on-acid number "Dr. Livingstone I Presume." The soaring harmonies of "Legend of a Mind" work in praise of Timothy Leary and his "trips to astral planes." IN SEARCH OF THE LOST CHORD is the most exotic, trippy album in the Moodies' catalog. Includes liner notes by John Reed. Includes liner notes by Tony Clarke. Additional Tracks; Deluxe Edition Originally released on Deram (711). The Moody Blues: Justin Hayward , Graeme Edge, John Lodge, Mike Pinder, Ray Thomas. Personnel: Justin Hayward (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, 12-string guitar, sitar, piano, harpsichord, Mellotron, bass guitar, tabla, percussion); Michael Pinder (vocals, acoustic guitar, autoharp, cello, piano, harpsichord, Mellotron, bass guitar); John Lodge (vocals, acoustic guitar, cello, bass guitar, snare drum, tambourine); Ray Thomas (vocals, flute, alto flute, soprano saxophone); Graeme Edge (vocals, piano, drums, tabla, tambourine, timpani). Audio Remasterers: Justin Hayward ; Paschal Byrne; Alberto Parodi. Recording information: Decca Studio Number One, West Hampstead, England (01/13/1968-10/12/1968); Decca Studios, West Hampstead, London, England (01/13/1968-10/12/1968). Moody Blues: Justin Hayward (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, 12-string guitar, sitar, harpsichord, piano, Mellotron, bass, percussion, tablas); Mike Pinder (acoustic guitar, cello, autoharp, harpsichord, Mellotron, piano, bass); John Lodge (acoustic guitar, cello, bass, tambourine, snare drum, background vocals); Ray Thomas (C flute, alto flute, soprano saxophone, background vocals); Graeme Edge (piano, drums, timpani, tambourine, tablas).

Live at the BBC: 1967-1970 buy CD music British art-rock pioneers the Moody Blues are captured in concert at their peak here, in a performance from the momentous Isle of Wight festival. Proving that there was a powerful live unit beneath those big orchestral arrangements, the album displays several sides of the band's musical personality. From the psychedelic pop of "Legend of a Mind" to the proto-prog epic "Nights in White Satin" and the concise rocker "Question," this is a multifaceted sound in full flight, buoyed by keysman Mike Pinder's distinctive Mellotron work. Liner Note Author: Michael Heatley. The Moody Blues: Justin Hayward (vocals, guitar); Ray Thomas (vocals, flute); Mike Pinder (Mellotron); John Lodge (bass instrument); Graeme Edge (drums). Audio Mixers: Justin Hayward ; Danilo Madonia; Alberto Parodi.