Search - Moody Blues :: Prelude

Well worth it for the serious Moodies fan

Matt Walsh | Pepperell, MA United States | 02/15/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."

Incredible Early Moodies Tracks!!

Professor Wilbur Hamilton | Hamilton, CA | 05/10/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."

Musical rarities from a GEM of a band!

Deborah Fisher | Wenatchee, WA | 07/04/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"PRELUDE offers the die-hard "Moody maniacs", like me, a musical "prelude", if you will, of the lads in their early years. Rare, unreleased songs, B-sides, and their early singles are part & parcel of this collection. I found this CD just as much a treat to listen to as every one of their albums. With songs like "Fly Me High", "I Really Haven't Got the Time", or "Gimme a Little Something" to start you dancing, or the melancholy tones of "Cities", how can a few million Moodies' fans be wrong?"