Disco de The Moody Blues: “Prelude”

I give this 5 stars not because all the songs are extraordinary, but because it's such a wonderful thing to get all the non-album tracks from a great band's classic period on one little cd, without having to buy countless box sets and compilations.

The first four tracks consist of two unsuccessful singles and their b-sides from before this group's first album, the celebrated "Days of Future Passed." This was after an earlier incarnation of the Moodies, a fairly forgettable R&B group with one hit ("Go Now") whose complete works (more or less) are captured on the "Magnificent Moodies" cd. These four songs featured the lineup that became famous, with newcomers Justin Hayward and John Lodge, but the songs still lean toward typical British pop. The next two tracks are fantastic. They are the great b-sides of "Nights in White Satin" and "Ride My See-saw": "Cities" and "A Simple Game" (respectively), the second of which was latered covered (with backing vocals from the Moodies themselves) by the Four Tops.

The next five tracks are out-takes from the late 60's, which are also available on "Caught Live +5," an early live album with those five rarities as bonuses. They are quite good; two of them: (Hayward's "King and Queen" and "What Am I Doing Here") are so good that it's a wonder they never made it onto an album. My guess is that the democratic division of songwriting contributions from the five band members prevented Hayward from contributing as many songs as he maybe could have.

The final track is a head-scratcher. It's "Late Lament," drummer Graeme Edge's poem, which is featured at the end of the complete version of "Nights in White Satin." On that album, "Late Lament" (and "Morning Glory," another Edge poem earlier in the album) are placed at the end of the first and last songs without being credited on the sleeve or (later) being presented as separate cd tracks. Graeme Edge is given no credit for writing them, and the names of the poems are not revealed. This is the first time that this song (which so many people have enjoyed without knowing what it was) has been presented as a separate track, except the live recital on the "Red Rocks" album (though I think "Prelude" was released first.) I can understand the reasoning, though it still seems slightly out of place.

Oh well... anyway, this is your one cd for all of the Moodies out-takes and non-album tracks currently available, except the much later "Highway," which is available on both the Anthology and Box Set.

This is a fine collection of vintage Moody Blues. Recorded between 1967 (before "Days of Future Passed") and covering their early Seven albums, this collection has the songs they DIDN'T put on the studio albums. Some are funny (Justin's wild vocals on "Leave this man Alone" for instance). Still, this is all with the Hayward/Lodge set and desperately needed by all Moodies fans. There are the 5 from "Caught Live + 5" and the early tracks from "Time Traveller" but the ONLY way to EVER get the gem "Leave This Man Alone" is on this grand collection. Not to be missed. A classic collection.

This contains everything The Moody Blues did once Justin Hayward & John Lodge had joined the band that wasn't included on albums: "A" sides, "B" sides, the 5 songs that appeared on CAUGHT LIVE +5 and a remix of "Late Lament" from the THIS IS THE MOODY BLUES package. I love to play this back-to-back with my old copy of THE MAGNIFICENT MOODIES (the one with all 25 Denny Laine tracks) as you can really see the "evolution" of their sound over the course of singles, something I just didn't "get" when all I had was the US "GO NOW" album and DAYS OF FUTURE PASSED. So this is kinda like the "2nd album that never was". Highlights for me: "Fly Me High", "Leave This Man Alone", "Gimme A Little Somethin'", "King And Queen" and "What Am I Doing Here". This shows that record companies CAN do things "right" if they put their minds to it!

Personally I would give this CD 4 stars, but even though I like it a lot, I know it has flaws and to be truthful the 3 stars is deserved. However, if you are a Moodies fan, this CD is worth purchasing.

All but one song is traditional bluesy Moodies music with the exception of "I Really Haven't Got the Time," which is a jazzy tune by Mike Pinder. A little out of place on this CD, but very listenable.

Justin Hayward's lyrics reflect his relative immaturity at the time he wrote these songs. The music is good, the lyrics sound like something someone in their late teens/early 20's would have written (which he was for many of them!). In spite of that, "Cities," "Long Summer Days" and "King and Queen" are good, and "King and Queen" is one of my favorites from this CD.

Mike Pinder really shines on this CD, with songs like "Love and Beauty," "A Simple Game," and "Please Think About It."

Lodge and Edge are represented by one title each. "Gimme' a Little Somthin" by Lodge is an okay song. "Late Lament" by Edge and Knight is an earlier version of the one that ended "Nights in White Satin." Also a good melancholy ending to this album.

The 7th through 11th songs on this CD comprised the +5 on the "Caught Live +5" album released in about 1977. I remembered enjoying them when I bought the album when it was released, and they have survived the test of time well. Note that while they were released in 1977, they actually date from the 1967-68 time frame.

The CD is not the polished work of the group that was to release 7 incredible albums from 1967 to 1972, but the talent is there, and you can see traces of the group as it was rapidly becoming. This album is the Moodies' equivalent of Elton John's "Empty Sky" or The Beatles' "Meet the Beatles." You have to accept it with its flaws, knowing that the group was about to do great things.

This early alblum contains songs which I never knew existed! I recently discovered this import from England and wholeheartedly recommend it. If you like "On a Threshold of a Dream," then you'll love this alblum. I nickname it "On a Threshold of a Dream PART II."