Customer Reviews

Moody Blues: Classic Artists

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have the British inport DVD which has already been released. The DVD has interviews with Founding Members Mike Pinder, Denny Laine (later with Paul McCartney and Wings) and Graeme Edge (who is still with the band). Also current members Justin Hayward and John Lodge who both joined the band in the mid 60's. Many other interviews as well. Lots of rare vintage video. Traces history to the present.

Minor Disappointments: Unfortunately Ray Thomas who retired in 2003 is only shown in previously available interviews and Patrick Moraz chose not to participate. The last portion of the video would have been better if long time backing musicians Paul Bliss and Gordon Marshall would have been interviewed instead of the recently added Flautist Norda.

All and all it is the ultimate recorded history of the band.

This documentary traces the history of The Moody Blues from their begining to the present day. It has interviews with current members Justin Hayward, John Lodge, and Grahame Edge. Former members Mike Pinder and Denny Laine (later of Paul McCartney Wings)also are interviewed. People who had a hand in their history, Eric Burdon, Marty Wilde, Tony Clarke, etc, also are featured. It begins with the bands orgins in Birmingham England, thru their breakthrough Album, Days of Future passed, through their late sixites and early seventies success, their mid seventies break, their comeback in the eighties, their famous Red Rocks show, and their work in recent years. Disc 2 features extended interviews, and six Moody Blues videos which are Go Now, Steppin in a Slide Zone, No more lies, Your wildest dreams, I know youre out there somewhere, and their comeback party in 1978. This set is a must for Moody Blues fans young and old.
After watching this, you might ask: WHY ARENT THE MOODY BLUES IN THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME??!!??

This video consists mostly of contemporary interviews of band members and friends. There is not one complete preformance on the dvd. There is hardly any archive footage. They fly through the classic 7 period of 1967 to 1972 with barely a mention of each album. Besides "Days of Future Past" they hardly talk about the music and songs from the other 6 albums. The bonus dvd features 6 complete videos. Not one of them is from 1967 to 1972. This documentary seems like it was put together without trying to get rights to archive footage. A few seconds of the 1970 "Isle of Wight" preformance here. 20 seconds of a promo film of "Legend of a Mind" there. Weren't these guys ever interviewed in the '60's and early '70's? If they were no footage is shown. How can you have a 153 minute film with NO complete preformances? Save your money and rent this.

There is no official 'biography' of the band, but there are many filmed bits and pieces floating around that are familiar to Moody fandom. This dvd, however, brings together a plethora of fresh material that not only provides a rich sense of the band's history and the sources of its success, but also answers questions concerning the departures from the band of Denny Laine, Mike Pinder, and Ray Thomas. It is exceptionally candid. Things are said that one does not expect to hear said in a day of rabid, unending litigation. There are some omissions--no interviews with Gordon Marshall or Paul Bliss (nor from Patrick Moraz, though no one would expect him to make himself available) and the odd overlooking of the Keys to the Kingdom album and some other later work. It is especially nice to see the members of the band in their native habitats--Justin in Monaco, Graeme in Florida, etc.

The focus is exclusively on the music; there is nothing, e.g., on John's love of golf and Rhone wines or on any of the band's philanthropic work. There is also next to nothing on their families, except for some asides on key divorces. The subsidiary material on the second disc (fulsome video of the garden party launch for Octave, e.g.) is also worthwhile. This dvd does not tell you everything but it tells you much more than you might expect and the production values are very high. Moody fans will also recognize some of their number in the audience and actually hear a few of them interviewed.

Highly recommended; don't miss it.

As a first generation, ardent fan of the Moody Blues, I was very happy to finally see a comprehensive, quality treatment of this classic band. But be warned, this is not the type of thing you pop in the DVD player and watch repeatedly. The history is all there and so are all the players that have been a part of the Moody's dynasty. (With the exception of Patrick Moraz, and Ray Thomas who's contributions are from old footage) I mean, let's be honest...How many times will anyone really sit through the Disc I docummentary? ..and the video's on Disc II are all readily available on other compilations with the exception of the historical footage from the bands "Octave" coming-out party. Certainly the rare songs are Disc III are nice, but over-all it really is a product for the die-hards. For the casual fan there are better things out there for you in relation to the Moodies.

There's a lot of Moodies stuff out there. This 3-disc set doesn't offer a lot of their music, though. Disc 3 is a cd of early, mostly unreleased tunes, some not too clear. Disc 2 is added interviews not included on dics 1 with additional music videos - OK, but not great. Disc 1, however, is loaded with interviews and a breakdown of all that went into EACH album. (excluding most recent releases, issued after this DVD). My favorite section? The long lost (forgotten ?) Mike Pinder who can't say a bad thing about his time with the group, including his departure during the making of "Octave". Knowing the history of his melotron (he made his own)was facinating. Don't get this DVD set thinking you'll hear lots of them performing. There are better discs out there. BUT if you want to know all about the group members and their origins with a story behind each album,this is the thing.

This is a definitive DVD that goes back to the Original Moodies to the current line up. All founding members are interviewed, including Denny Laine & Mike Pinder, which is a real treat. The DVD will take you back to 1964 when the band first started & each member has their own recollections & memories. You'll even see the drummer, Greame Edge appearing to be a bit ticked off at Mike Pinder for something that happened years ago. Mike seems to have his own version of the situation. It's quite interesting. Some interviews can be quite a drag, but not this one. The package also includes a bonus DVD with additional interviews that were not included in the first DVD and a CD with recordings from the band members prior to the Moodie days. This is a must have for any Moodies fan!

I've been a huge Moody Blues fan for 40 years now. I was fortunate enough to see them in the Fillmore East when they first came to the US. I saw them recently on their latest tour 3/08. They've been a mainstay in my life and very important to me.

The two disks have some great interviews, but I can never get enough of them anyway. Even if you have a passing interest in the group, the interviews are entertaining and interesting. Remember, these guys were part of the British Invasion and really changed the face of music in the 60's.

In my opinion, the fact that the Moody Blues are NOT in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame causes it to have very little credibility with me. I mean, they were the first group to release a record using the mellotron for gosh sakes!

This, especially for the price paid, is a very good documentary that gets deep into the roots of the Moody Blues. While other works tend to forget the Moodies existed before "Days of Future Passed", this one explores the days of the Birmingham Beat with interviews from those who were involved and rare and unseen photos. This leads you into the group's "Go Now" period through to their super stardom. One of the things this doc has is Mike Pinder's and Denny Laine's involvement which is very enjoyable. The CD that comes with the documentary has very early tracks that include recordings made by the group at the Marquee Club plus other recordings made by the members in previous bands. The historical significance of the tracks is very valuable to true Moody Blues fans. This story also includes Mike Pinder's leaving the band, something that was often glossed over in the past by the other members of the band. It's discussed and light is shed on the situation as it stood. The end of all this brings you to today's band with interviews of new members and footage of the Moodies in concert. The one downfall of the 245 minute footage is that it's in Dolby Digital Mono. But don't let that stop you. This 2 DVD, 1 CD (22 minutes) set also comes with a 20 page booklet and is everything "Legend of a Band" is not. As said in the title, very thorough and very enjoyable.

While the totality of the 3 discs could have been put
on one disc in today's modern age, I thorougly enjoyed
the over 2 1/2 hours of disc one and the 92mins. of
disc 2. I have been a fan since 1972 and enjoyed getting
to know the Moodies a little better, as well as their history.
The Mike Pinder "confession" is priceless as are the nu-
merous anecdotes that are included.
The third disc is an audio cd of approx. 22mins that includes
early Moodies at the Marquee Club, circa 1964 and various
bands that spawned the Moodies. Not very impressive, but
undoubtedly will please Moody completists.
Fans of Denny Laine will revel at the many snippets of Denny
reminiscing about the old days.