Moody Blues - Gold [Original recording remastered]

The Moody Blues | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 1, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Polydor / Umgd
• ASIN: B0007OY46K
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #14,238 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Japanese only 2 x SHM-CD (Super High Material CD - playable on all CD players) pressing. Universal. 2008. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid Introduction for the Novice Moody Blues Fan, March 9, 2005

By 

Steve Vrana (Aurora, NE) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Moody Blues - Gold (Audio CD)

The real question that needs to be asked is "Does the record-buying public really need another Moody Blues anthology?" An ever-increasing number of bands from the sixties through the eighties now have more compilations in their catalog than they have studio albums. In the last decade the Moodies have released two studio albums, but no fewer than six anthologies--plus the 4-disc box set TIME TRAVELLER.

If you're a casual fan and don't already own their 1994 box set or 1998's well chosen ANTHOLOGY, you certainly can't go wrong with this 34-track collection. The collection begins with "Tuesday Afternoon" from the classic lineup's 1968 debut DAYS OF FUTURE PAST and continues through "December Snow" from their 2003 holiday album DECEMBER. [As the previous reviewers have noted, "Go Now" is not included, but that 1965 hit came from a lineup that did not include the Moodies' principal songwriters, Justin Hayward and John Lodge.] What you do get is all of their top 40 hits, key album tracks, and a handful of side projects like the Blue Jays' "Remember Me My Friend" and "Blue Guitar," and Justin Hayward's "Forever Autumn" from Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of "War of the Worlds." All told this is a very satisfying collection if you're looking for a solid introduction to the Moody Blues. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

29 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Great music in search of great mastering, June 26, 2005

By 

monoblocks (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Moody Blues - Gold (Audio CD)

While I doubt I'll EVER get used to the edited (single?) version of 'Nights In White Satin' presented here, I have to agree that the song selection in general is excellent for a compilation of this seminal band. That said, The Moody Blues (or more likely, their record label) haven't exactly been shy about releasing such anthologies and hits collections on CD, either. While 'Gold' represents an affordable means of buying some of the best known and loved music from The Moody Blues, it also is for me one of the most trying listening experiences as well.

If I had to guess, I'd say much of the music contained on 'Gold' comes from different masters than the songs currently found on other collections, and on the band's original CD albums. There are definite issues with the sonic quality of these songs as presented on this disc. For instance, the music track of 'Nights' is horrendously compressed in comparison to earlier CD versions of this song; perhaps the record label was working with an unremastered single release master of the song (my guess), but the audible discrepancies between this version and earlier examples (albeit, in the full album form including The Late Lament and the full orchestral intro) are hard for this listener to stomach. I can point to any of the earlier music included here and say pretty much the same thing. Whatever the reason, the original source material used for this CD could've seriously benefitted from earnest remastering work. While I suspect that would've raised the asking price of 'Gold', I also would contend that great music DESERVES such caring treatment.

As it is, too much of 'Gold' as issued is indeed quite tarnished, which in the real world given the metal that goes by periodic symbol of Au would've been impossible to do. But evidently in realm of the corporate music world, when selling music on the cheap and banging out sloppily compiled CDs it's very easy to take the most precious and thoroughly muck it up.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best are getting better!, March 29, 2005

By 

Roger Levesque (Quebec, Canada) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Moody Blues - Gold (Audio CD)

Some of you may feel submerged by all these golden, anthologia and best of CDs. In superb quality and contrast, The Moody Blues Gold from Polydor, I feel, is a must have. The package contains 2 full CDs with some of their better known songs (34 of them) and some very elegant surprises such as Bless the Wings, Driftwood, Lost in a Lost World, Forever Autumn, Strange Times, December and many more. For me, Mr Justin Hayward is one of the best songwriter and a master craftsman with words and chords in rock music. One of the most inspired and touching song from him is New Horizons; a prime example of unique classy music representing one of the greatest rock songs of all time. All of this is at an excellent price with great recording quality (in contrast to some others). Also, I was genuinely surprised by the 19 page booklet containing good photographs and a very nice writing style. All in all, I would recommend this to any young or old beginner with The Moody Blues and all those fans. Superbly done for a very good price and adequate representation and recording. Oh! and if you have a chance to see them live (they still tour extensively in the USA and in Canada by the way) they play most of these songs down to the last note. One of the best professional acts in rock music that deserves to be seen.