Disco de The Moody Blues: “Live at Montreux, 1991”

I had no idea that The Moody Blues "Live in Montreux 1991" had even been released on DVD, when my wife and I stumbled upon it at a local bookstore. I saw the band three times in 91, so I had a pretty good idea of what to expect. I must sat the track list is pretty impressive copared to some of the heavily-edited Moody Blues concerts already available on DVD. This one, thankfully, includes all of the tracks that were played at the Montreux Jazz Fest that night (if only that were true of the excellent "Hall of Fame" DVD, which is far superior in terms of sound and picture quality.) And although it is great to see a Moodies show in all it's unedited, unretouched glory, more picky fans will find this show to be less than perfect.To put this concert in some historical perspective, it was one of the earliest dates on The Moody Blues 1991 "Keys of the Kingdom" tour. They had just fired long-time member Patrick Moraz (a keyboard genius who is underappreciated by far too many Moodies fans.) Joining them for the first time were four new (backing) players; keyboardist Paul Bliss, percussionist Gordon Marshall, and female back-up singers Sue Shattock and June Boyce (Ahhhh, the lovely Shattock is a sight to behold!) Also onstage, in Moraz's old spot, stage left, was Bias Boshell, who had previously backed up the Moodies as a secondary keyboardist on their 1986 and 1990 tours. (Boshell was also, interestingly enough, a veteran of Barclay James Harvest, a British progressive rock band who are often compared favorably to the Moodies)...Why is all this important, you ask? Because it explains a few of the flaws in the concert. There are a few missed vocal harmonies, some loose arrangements, and even one or two flubbed lyrics. It is also quite obvious that Boshell and Bliss had not quite nailed the intricate keyboard arrangements of "Your Wildest Dreams" and "The Other Side of Life" when this show took place...But in their defense, this was an early gig for a band who had just introduced four new players into the fold, and it is easy to forgive a great band like the Moodies for a few on-stage warts. All of these things would eventually be smoothed over with more rehearsals/shows, and by the time this Tour hit the US several weeks later, the new line-up were playing like a well-oiled machine...Hopefully this review is not sounding too critical, because aside from these few flaws, there is much to enjoy here. The show is presented in "Letterbox" format, with gives some good views of the whole stage. Justin Hayward, Ray Thomas, and John Lodge are all in great voice throughout (with Ray's harmonies loud and clear in the mix), and they blend well with the female backing vocals. It may also be notable to guitar fans that Justin's guitar is cranked up a little louder than usual here, giving a chance to really appreciate how underrated he is as a soloist. Some standouts tracks are the (then) newer fare like "Bless the Wings (That Bring You Back)" and "Say It With Love", and the classic "Legend Of a Mind". Ray Thomas fans will be happy to note that the full extended flute/keyboard duet between Thomas & Boshell is left intact here (it was unfortunetly edited-down on the otherwise excellent "Hall of Fame" DVD). Even the old concert warhorse "I'm Just A Singer" (played at every Moodies show since 1971!) manages to thunder with some palpable fun and energy. All in all, if you are a Moody Blues fan who can forgive some techical & performance imperfections, then you can buy this one today with no further hesitation. If you are an audiophile looking for perfect picture and sound quality, then you may be better off with the "Hall of Fame" DVD.

For any Moody Blues fan, there is no bad DVD. For the casual fan, you would still be charmed by this live performance. Void of the sometimes overbearing orchestration, the Moody Blues prove they are truly a rock band that can perform on their own. Remember that this is 1991 and 5.1 DTS was not available, so the sound quality is not perfect, but is more than adequate. The visual quality is not up to the par of the "Albert Hall" performance, but it is in letterbox format, which makes a world of difference. Ray Thomas gives a truly standout performance with a great version of his "Legend Of A Mind" and "Tuesday Afternoon" never sounded so true to the original. This concert was to promote the "Keys To The Kingdom " album, which, I must admit, is not their strongest album. However, "Bless The Wings (That Bring You Back)" is a great song. This DVD set is great in that it doesn't seem to have been heavily reedited nor have the sound distorted, other than a very crisp and loud Hayward guitar. Granted, these are the big standout hits, unlike the more recent "Lovely To See You", but it is a grand performance. It feels and sounds raw and real!

The Moody Blues have been two bands during their career; a polished studio band, and a much rawer band onstage, at least until they starting playing with orchestras... While not perfect, this DVD captures them playing with an energy and conviction that is quite different than you see on Red Rocks or Hall of Fame.. This is the Moodies as they once were, and this DVD should be a part of your collection if you enjoy their music... Now, if they'd release one from the Mike era.... One can only hope!

I recently purchased this DVD and I have to say I am a bit puzzled at some of the negative comments that I have read here. I have to wonder do I have the same DVD as these folks do? I thought it was great!! Yes there seemed to be some sort of technical stuff going on with the mics on a couple of the early songs, but it straightened itself out and sounded fine the rest of the show. But overall I thought it was a wonderful concert. I especially loved seeing John "show-off" his incredible rhythm while dancing about the stage before & during the encore of RMSS. IMO, this version of 'Ride My See-saw' is the best "modern" live rendition I have yet to see/hear. Justin was his usual great self throughout the show and it was so nice to see dear Ray still enjoying himself on stage.

I would definitely recommend this DVD!

Always nice to see the Moodies. Would have been nice to see more of Ray Thomas playing tamborine,bored. Memories are great. To see and hear them is always a treat. Not too crazy about the back-up girls,though. If you are a fan,then you will get a kick out of this video.