Customer Reviews

Moody Bluegrass: Nashville Tribute to Moody Blues

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

i must admit that i was skeptical when i heard this cd was coming out. how in the world could moody blues music be translated into the NASHVILLE bluegrass sound??! i am a big moody fan, but only a casual fan of bluegrass music (i must be in the mood - no pun intended - to enjoy it). i was amazed to find how easily and how masterfully moody tunes could become acousticly oriented bluegrass. bluegrass, like most other genres of music, can come in a wide spectrum of forms - from purist to pop. not being an expert, i would have to say that the style would fit more into the "popular" bluegrass genre which would make it more palatable to the casual listener. i was delighted to find examples of moody songs from most of their long career, and not just focusing on the hits. this is a great cd and the performers interpret the songs very well. if i was a moody, i'd be flattered.

This is an excellent tribute album. It is very interesting to listen to these classic Moody Blues songs performed in a bluegrass style. My favorite track is Nights in White Satin. This is one of the most romantic songs ever recorded, and this cover captures the spirit of the song perfectly. Another highlight on this CD for me is the song I'm Just a Singer in A Rock and Roll Band. This is a very lively track. I really liked this song, because I can hear the beauty of the instruments especially the banjo and fiddle. The Voice is another track that is nicely done. This cover sounds faster than the original, but I still felt it sounded fresh.
I've never heard the harp played in bluegrass music before. It is a lovely instrument that can be heard on the song Late Lament. I think that these Moody Blues songs performed bluegrass style sounds pretty good!

If you're a Moody Blues fan, get this album. If you're a bluegrass fan, get this album. If, like me you're both...well, I think you know the answer. This is a masterpiece. You would swear these songs were written for this style of playing, so good are the arrangements and performances. Great songs can take being stretched into new incarnations, and this album proves these are great tunes. The love and care these musicians show the music and the superb playing makes this an utter joy to listen to. The only misstep for me is including Late Lament...bad poetry is bad poetry, no matter what style of music surrounds it! Other than that, this reshaping of Moody Blues music is sheer perfection.

I have been a Moody Blues fan for 25 years, a fan club member, a regular attendee of Moody concerts, a consumer of all the CD's, and just generally a big fan of Justin and Co. Recently, I have become concerned about the Moodies, with the aging departure of Ray Thomas , and after having recently attended a rather poor MB concert overall, it just hit me that these guys are close to retirement. Obviously, we are all aging, and sometimes the passage of time just hits one in different ways. The aging of the Moody Blues as a band is how I am measuring the passage of life itself. Enter Moody Bluegrass. Wow-it's too good and totally awesome. It's a pleasantly new turn on an old friend, like your old buddy who reached out to check in with you after several years of the same ole' Christmas card. Or, it's like your parents who move to Florida and find new friends and new things to do. This CD is totally refreshing, it's timeless, and the format has re-invigorated my interest and love for the Moodies. This is not for a new listener or for a new fan of the Moodies. It's for us--their classic fans and the ageless lovers of our beloved band. ENJOY

I am a fan of the Moody Blues and of Bluegrass music, however, all the various Nashville tributes can be hit or miss. One thing I've noticed over the years, is that those country/bluegrass tribs work best if the original rock music has well-crafted melodies and lyrics. Rock that relies more on the rhythm and bluesy feel of the music rarely translates as well. On that score, I felt the Moodies' tunes had a better than average shot of coming out all right.

When I opened the CD and saw who the musicians and singers involved were, my hopes were raised even more. It seems this was a real and longtime labor of love for producer/mandolinist, David Harvey. Hey, with John Cowan singing lead on 4 songs and Tim O'Brien lead on 2 how bad could it be? Truthfully, this CD exceeded all my expectations. Alison Brown performs on banjo, Tim May on guitar, Andrew Hall on dobro, Duncan Stuart on fiddle and even Alison Krause and Sam Bush pop in for some backing vocals. And that's just the short list. Hearing "Nights In White Satin" played on THREE mandolins and sung by Cowan and "Land of Make Believe" sung by O'Brien is worth the price of admission. All in all, this CD is a very nice surprise and listening to it is a genuine pleasure.

The following is a quote from the liner notes.

In the end, that's what good art is: a cathartic experience, not only for those who make it, but for those who see or hear it. What strikes a listener about "Moody Bluegrass" is, ultimately, the way that these performances reveal what is universal about these songs. "These are great songs, because they stand the test of time, they stand the whole different approach and different genre and different style of singer," Harvey says. He's right, and if that surprises us, the fault is no one's but ours. - Jon Weisberger, Nashville, Tennessee, May, 2004
_

As a lifelong fan, and not much of a bluegrass follower to date, I was far from disappointed. The mandolin, banjo, fiddle and dobro sounds only reaffirm the genious appeal inherent in the music of the MB's in this natural crossover of music styles.... the talent here does the 12 classic songs great justice!...every bit as soulful as the originals

Let me first say I don't listen to bluegrass music but I am a big Moody Blues fan. So when I heard this CD was coming out I was not sure if I would like it. I listened to some of the songs samples here on Amazon and liked what I heard, so I bought the CD. It is very good!

I was especially impressed with the quality of the singing and the musicianship. These people can really play!

They very much get into the songs. The feeling on It's Up To You and Nights in White Satin is very moving. The rendition of Legend of a Mind would make Ray Thomas proud! They even did one of my favorite songs, Land of Make Believe.

I recommend this to any one who is a Moody Blues fan. The songs are presented in a way that makes you understand them in a whole new light.

I was pleasantly surpirsed with this CD. I don't know why because it has an excellent cast of bluegrass musicians and singers. They have managed to put their own interpretations to the songs while remaining true to the Moody Blues. I especially like the ballads but the uptempo tunes work very well with the mandolins, banjos and fiddles. The vocals are strong on all the cuts. Highly recommended.

As observed in the liner notes, the merging of rock and roll songs and bluegrass instrumentation is hardly a recent innovation. CMH Records began its "Pickin' On" series over a decade ago, which provide bluegrass treatments of artists from the Eagles to Joss Stone. Progressive bluegrass bands like The Seldom Scene and Country Gazette were adding bluegrass treatments of rock songs in the early Seventies.

Essentially a project of producer/mandolin player David Harvey, what sets this album apart from the "Pickin' On" series is that these recordings are in no way be seen as novelty songs. While the musicians are all first rate, it's the vocals that truly makes this a tribute.

The album kicks off with a romping version of "Lovely To See You Again" propelled by Stuart Duncan's fiddle playing and Harley Allen's high lonesome vocal. [Harley is the son of the legend Red Allen.] Allen also does the vocals on "Ride My See Saw" and "Your Wildest Dream."

New Grass Revival alum John Cowan handles lead vocals on four tracks, including "The Voice" and "Never Comes the Day." He's reunited with his former bandmate Sam Bush on "I'm Just a Singer in a Rock & Roll Band" and the gorgeous "Nights in White Satin," which also features Alison Krauss on tenor vocal.

My favorite tracks are Tim O'Brien's vocals on "Land of Make Believe," on which he also plays mandolin and Alison Krauss provides harmony vocals. O'Brien also does a stellar performance on "Legend of a Mind."

I've been a fan of bluegrass music almost as long as I have been a fan of the Moody Blues. This release will not disappoint fans of either. [Running Time - 48:35] RECOMMENDED

OK, I admit that I am one of the original Moody Blues fans. I even have an original 45 (remember "records"?) of "Go Now!" that I had signed in Paris in 1966. No... It is NOT for sale!

I also admit that I sort of have Bluegrass in my blood... I am a distant cousin to Lester Flatt... Close enough that Lester and Earl came to the big family reunion every year back home and would pick a few tunes.

Frankly, I avoided this album like the plauge for almost a year. I was afraid that I would have one of the few nightmare encounters found here and elsewhere about this recording. Check out the Moody Blues Usenet group if you want to see negative!

But last week, a friend had the CD in his car when I rode with him and I heard about 3/4 of "The Voice" ala Nashville... I was interested enough to borrow the disk for the weekend.

Now, for the down-side... I liked it so much that I had to stop at the 24 hour record shop on my way to work to get my own copy! Sorry, Amazon, but not even you could it here that fast! But let's see if we can sell a few copies to those with more patience than I have... :)

The only of the 12 tracks that is iffy is "Late Lament", but that particular "song" (?) has never made it on the Billboard charts.

The other 11 tracks are nothing short of fantastic! It may even be just posible that I like the Bluegrass versions of "The Voice" and "Nights In White Satin" _better_ than the originals! :gasp:

Taking the old Moody Blues standards and reorchestrating them to fit the bluegrass sounds of guitar, banjo, mandolin, and fiddle (as opposed to violin!) is refreashing and makes you want to jump up and dance as did the originals.

"Nights In White Satin" and "Your Wildest Dreams" make you want to slow dance or just cuddle, just like we did when we were young.

"Legend Of A Mind" presents a bit of a dychotomy, but who ever said that the Foggy Mountain Boys were not allowed to take a trip or two just like the rest of us?

"Lovely To See You" is another that not only survived the transition to bluegrass, but sounds nothing less than fantastic! The tune was arranged so well that it sounds like it was written for bluegrass.

Overall, I am very impressed, as both a bluegrass and Moody Blues fan. This recording does credit to two very different musical styles and lets them both maintain their identity while fusing them into one coherent album.

I would suggest to any music fan, bluegrass, Moody Blues, or otherwise to give this album a listen. It is more than worth your time and I believe it will become one of your favorites, just between "A Question Of Balance" and "On The Threshold Of A Dream"!

Now... When is "Moody Bluegrass, Volume II" coming out and what tracks will be "Question", "Veteran Cosmic Rocker", and "Tuesday Afternoon"?