Disco de The Moody Blues: “Night at Red Rocks with the Colorado...”

Like their American cousins, the Beach Boys (with whom they shared a manager, Tom Hulett), Britain's Moody Blues became a group maintaining its fan base through rehashing classic material in concert and on disc. From 1989-99, the group recorded two CDs of new material (not counting solo efforts) while releasing two one-disc best-ofs, a 2CD anthology, 4CD box set, and this live LP, each with the same core group songs. "Senior citizens wish they were young," indeed.

But fortunately, this concert caught the band at its most energetic before PBS cameras, an enthusiastic crowd and the 100-piece Colorado Symphony Orchestra. Larry Baird's symphonic arrangements are spacious and tasteful, relieving the band of having to match the originals' classical blast. "For My Lady," "Tuesday Afternoon," and the standard "Nights In White Satin" receive harmonic depth, while Graeme Edge's drumming is more pronounced against the orchestra's swing on "The Other Side of Life," and "I'm Just A Singer." Many of these versions trump the trippier renditions on "Caught Live + 5" from professionalism alone.

The group subsequently became a prized concert attraction, touring with symphonic backdrop and becoming as much a summer ampitheatre regular as Steve Miller, CSN, James Taylor or, until recently, the Beach Boys. The CD and video (which still turns up on PBS around pledge time) are a feature-length infomercial for a Moodies' concert tour. And isn't that all they wanted, anyway? Recommended.

Every time I've seen the Moody Blues Justin Hayward was playing acoustic guitar madly through the intro to "Question" but was completely drown out by the grandiose pseudo-orchestral synthesizer doing the melotron part from the album. I always wondered what he was playing in that part, but I never expected to hear it at Red Rocks with the Colorado Symphony.

Imagine my surprise when I went to the concert and the mix with the orchestra was done to feature the incredibly complex guitar work he had always been playing. When the CD came out, I wondered if it would still be audible in the mix. If you like "Question," this adds immeasurably to a brilliant song.

The concert was divided into three sets, as is the recording: a first set with the CSO; a strictly Moody Blues middle set; and the final set. The first features some interesting journeywork arrangements, but nothing spectacular. After the orchestra left, I thought that was going to be it: interesting as an exercise, but not outstanding, especially when the second set was uninspired.

But the third set showed how much the conductor was into the project and really became everything you ever wanted in a Moodies concert. The CD reproduces the music, but the video does a better job with the third set.

I remember being enchanted by the music on this live album when my dad brought both the video and audio cassette tapes of it when I was only in the eighth grade. I later bought the CD when I got my first CD player for my 15th birthday! Red Rocks is the first CD I ever owned and its still one of my all time favorites! Now, I am younger so I have to admit I'm more accustomed to their more contemporary releases ("The Other Side Of Life", "Sur La Mer", and "Keys of the Kingdom" are my favorite studio albums by them, which I know would get me excommunicated by many fans of the core 7). But really, this collection has it all. Overall, a compilatoin of many of their greatest hits from 1967 to 1991, featuring a full, powerful enchanting sound backed up by an 88-piece orchestra. Songs like "Your Wildest Dreams", "I Know You're Out There Somewhere," and "The Voice" are superior work to almost anything being produced, whether live or in studio, today. Still, I'm also a fan of many of their older works too and I've recently begun exploring the core 7 albums more intricately. "Tuesday Afternoon", "I'm Just a Singer In a Rockn'Roll Band", "Question", and "Ride My Seasaw" are certainly outstanding hits also and not to be missed. "Nights In White Satin" has never sounded so beautiful and sensuous and the ever haunting "The Other Side of Life" is at its most perfect form here. Whether you're a long time MB's fan or just interested in getting into on e of the most awesome classic rock groups of all time, I highly recommend this CD. For more contemporary fans I also recommend the three albums I mentioned above and for older fans "Seventh Sojourn" and "Every Good Boy Deserves Favoure" are just awesome. (Like you didn't know that already, I'm sure you're thinking you should tell me this) Anyways, rock on, Moodies! I'll always love you and your inspirational music!

Recorded live at Denver's famed outdoor venue, Red Rocks on September 9, 1992. As far as the Moodies performing with an(y) orchestra, I could take it either way. Sound quality here is pretty good and all - with their gems present like the timeless "Tuesday Afternoon", the '80's Mtv hit "I Know You're Out There Somewhere", "The Other Side Of Life", "I'm Just A Singer (In A Rock And Roll Band)", the FM radio favorite "Question" and my personal Moody Blues favorite "Ride My See Saw". Only pet peeve I have about this CD is that there's a brief gab of silence between each song. Who do record labels do that when an ENTIRE show as such comes from the same gig? Other than that, 'A Night At Red Rocks' is fine.

I have gone to see the Moody's three times in the last ten years, the first time with the full blown orchestra ala Red Rocks. I've always enjoyed their music and was excited to see the concert come out on CD. Then I listened to the CD and scratched my head, granted they never were a "heavy" group but John Lodge's bass lines were a foundation for their songs and it is missing in action. I tried cranking up the bass control but there's nothing there! What a disappointment! Did I just get a bad copy or is everybody else reviewing this album listening on a 2 inch speaker. I didn't think it would bother me too much at first, but I don't listen to it anymore because I find such pansy sonic quality irritating. Tiny Tim on the mixing board!