Hall of Fame: Live at the Royal Albert Hall 2000 [Live]

The Moody Blues | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 8, 2000)
• Original Release Date: August 8, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Ark 21
• ASIN: B00004WF3G
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (52 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #20,684 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good performance, but BAD editing!, August 27, 2000

By 

Jeffery K. Matheus (Indianapolis, IN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hall of Fame: Live at the Royal Albert Hall 2000 (Audio CD)

I have followed The Moody Blues since 1981, and have them live several times. When I listened to this CD I was impressed by the overall sound quality and performances, which are far superiour to their last live recording, the somewhat sloppy and rushed "Red Rocks". This time The Moodies are much more coordinated and comfortable with the orchestra, and it really shows. However, thre are some downsides to this album. Firstly, two of the tracks are heavily edited (butchered!) "Isn't Life Strange" is missing the entire second verse, in an obvious, glarring edit job! And worse yet, the only Ray Thomas song featured on the entire album, "Legend of a Mind" is literally chopped in half! "Legend" is missing Ray's great extended flute solo that has been a highlight of all of those Moody Blues shows that I have seen over the years! It was this "solo" section that really made the live version of "Legend" different and more exciting that its 1968 studio version, now this great concert moment is completely lost! Another downside to this album is the song selection. Not that there are any BAD songs here, but this is almost the exact same track listing as the "Red Rocks" album from several years ago, and even the "Greatest Hits" album! At the show from which this CD is taken, The Moodies played John Lodge's classic "Steppin' In a Slide Zone", the energetic "Strange Times", and Graeme Edge's new "spoken word" piece "Nothing Changes" Why were these songs not included in place of songs that have already been featured on BOTH of The Moodies official live albums? ("Caught Live" being the other) Wouldn't this be a better "value for the money" for those who collect every Moodies release? I'm glad to see that at least three of the new songs from 1999's "Strange Times" HAVE been included here, "English Sunset", "Haunted", and Lodges beautiful "Words You Say", which really makes good use of the orchestra. But why were the other new tracks not included? I believe that some of the famous "oldies" should have been set aside to make room for some tracks that we haven't heard live before. Also, room needed to be made for the COMPLETE version of Ray's "Legend Of a Mind", which was NOT featured on the "Red Rocks" CD in ANY version. All in all, this could have been an excellent album, and is one up to a point, but I will always feel let-down and dissapointed when I hear those incomplete versions of "Legend" and "Isn't Life Strange".

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best things come in small packages, August 18, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Hall of Fame: Live at the Royal Albert Hall 2000 (Audio CD)

Moody Blues performances have always been about the music - no gimmicks, no fake emotions - and this is fine a collection from their recent tour when, once again, they were in fine form. For a foursome of some 35 years, unlike many other 'troopers' peddling muscial nostalgia, the Moodies' new songs stand up to the old favourites, especially 'Haunted" and 'Words You Say' - indeed few other bands would risk playing 25% new songs and dropping some of their back catalogue from their act. Sure, there are numbers we wanted to hear and it's sad that the solos in 'Singer in a Rock and Roll Band' and 'Legend of a Mind' had to be cut to fit on the CD, but this is a great performance and, while some may think the reaction of the English audience quiet, at least it was genuine and from the heart. The recording is crystal clear and a rich, bassy sound unlike the more lacklustre, thin and muffled sound of 'Red Rocks'. The Moodies still have much to offer, both in terms of recording new material and touring - long may they keep us on the threshold of our dreams.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars JUSTIN & CO. GET BETTER WITH THE RAWNESS ON HOF!, January 5, 2001

By 

Jay Siekierski (STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hall of Fame: Live at the Royal Albert Hall 2000 (Audio CD)

The Moody Blues Hall Of Fame (ARK 21)

After an 8 year dry spell with no new studio Moody Blues albums (excluding Best Of/Hits packages which seemed to grow & release themselves from inside they're former label offices and the excellent Live At Red Rocks) this is the 2nd new release since the latter in 2 years. The first was Strange Times the MB's first new studio album in 8 years (read my review) and now from the MB's new label ARK 21 we have Hall Of Fame. Yes this is another live album recorded at the Royal Albert Hall on May 1st, 2000 on the MB's U.K. 2000 tour. This album is another live greatest hits package with the MB's backed by The World Festival Orchestra this time around. Additional musicians on board as the Mb's band are Paul Bliss & Bias Bushel (keyboards), Gordon Marshall (drums/percussion), Susan Shattock & Tracy Graham (backing vocals). Well, why do I find this new live album interesting even though it contains 99% of the same old' same? First off it includes a killer version of "Legend Of A Mind" from the MB's ancient pyschedelic days of past. Thankfully they resurrected this gem and Ray Thomas who don't get to sing lead that much is magnificent and the band still plays it with the old pyschedelia (minus the substances at work now). "Haunted" & English Sunset" both from the Strange Times album excel and work perfect into the MB's new live set. Let's hope they stay. Second, they are much looser and a tad rawer as opposed to doing the usual polished, monkey suits play em' and leave em', take the money and run routine. Something, which they have been accused of over the years since they started doing the oldies but goodies, hits shows. Justin Hayward's voice is a bit scratchier and rawer (whether he had a cold or he developed a new style), he still sings like a prince and pulled it off. The same goes for his guitar work. His solos still buzz with a sting but sadly he still sounds as though he wants to stretch and rock out more but is restricted. The angst comes through and I love it! This attitude gives the songs a new approach and new life. This album will appeal to every MB fan and should be of interest to the younger new fans just discovering the band. Why? Because of Justin's voice & guitar work. Another fine album added to the MB's canon of brilliant work. A+.