Search - Justin Hayward :: Songwriter

Justin's First Truly Solo Foray Is Respectable

Professor Wilbur Hamilton | 06/22/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Justin, doing all the writing, stretched himself on this one. Some of the tracks show signs of that stretch. "Tightrope" and "Songwriter" are wonderful, but others ("Raised On Love", "One Lonely Room") are too predictable. Some great thematic material with "Stage Door" and "Nostradmus". Nice treatment and homage paid to the Buddy Holly standard, "Learning the Game". One to have for your Moodies collection."

I love this stuff

Professor Wilbur Hamilton | 04/07/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first heard this LP (back then that is what it was) about 12 yrs ago. I loved it, I love One lonely room, and want to cry everytime I hear it. Songwriter is a great tune also. I feel that the break from the Band did all members good and they produced some really tasty stuff."

Good guitar work, melodic tracks

Professor Wilbur Hamilton | 02/14/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

""Songwriter" marked Justin Hayward's first solo album. During the mid-70s, the Moody Blues took a break and during that time all of them released at least one solo album. While "Songwriter" isn't as good as the Justin Hayward/John Lodge collaboration "Blue Jays" (but then, only a handful of albums by any group or individual would be), this collection does contain some excellent work by the lead guitarist & vocalist of the Moodies.
The CD opens with "Tightrope" -- a song about a travelling circus performer who gives it up for a more sane life; easily interpretable as Hayward looking back on the late 60s/early 70s when the Moodies hit it big. Then into the title track, which is split into two parts (though placed back-to-back), a good though not remarkable song (1st part is decent melodic rock, the second part forgettable). The following two songs, "Country Girl" and "One Lonely Room," are a couple of gems, showing Hayward's ability to create well-structured, well-paced melodies. "Country Girl" is a bit of an uptempo tune, while "One Lonely Room" is a more plaintive, slower song of regret with a great instrumental break in the middle, some good guitar work. The other gems on the CD include "Raised on Love" -- a simple tribute, with a percussive acoustic guitar strumming, to Justin's parents and his appreciation for the love they gave him -- and "Doin' Time," a rocker which features some of the better good lead guitar work on the album. The other songs on the CD written by Justin are decent but not outstanding. There is one song on the CD that is not a Hayward creation -- "Learning the Game" by Buddy Holly (both it and the Hayward-penned ballad "Marie" were songs not on the original album release from the 70s), which Justin added as a tribute to a perfomer he considers one of his idols. A decent song, pretty well arranged and played.
Bottom line on this CD -- on this album the arrangements and material show a departure from a lot of what he'd done with the Moodies to that point, but are still definitely Hayward material. Moodies and Hayward fans should get this one."