Customer Reviews

The Moody Blues - The Lost Performance: Live In Paris '70

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(14)

 

 

Okay, so the Moody Blues' 60-minute performance at La Taverne de L `Olympia Paris in 1970 was overdubbed for French television. Apparently this was a common practice back then. Mike Pinder and Tony Clarke (the Moodies' producer and the man who oversaw the overdubbing) confirmed this at Pinder's web site, One Step, shortly after it was released in 2004. It's obvious too; I mean you can't hide the fact that keyboardist Pinder was playing a Hammond organ as opposed to a mellotron here.

Nevertheless, it's immensely pleasurable to see a twenty-something Hayward, Lodge, Pinder, Thomas and Edge performing "Lovely To See You", "Tuesday Afternoon", "Nights In White Satin". "Ride My See-Saw", "Legend Of A Mind", "Lazy Day", "Never Comes The Day", "Are You Sitting Comfortably", "Gypsy", "Candle Of Life", Tortoise & The Hare", "Don't You Feel Small" and "Question". Although some of the tracks are definitely a direct lift from their albums, the DVD is worth owning.

The guys appear laid back, talking, smoking and drinking between tracks on and off stage. And they do certainly look at ease and enjoying themselves, more so than they seemed in their 1992 Red Rocks concert. You get the feeling this is how it all really started out for them, playing before a small audience in a tavern.

For die-hard fans of the Moody Blues, "The Lost Performance Live in Paris 1970" is a must-have collectible, especially since it's probably the only film footage showing the 1966-1978 Moodies line-up at their peak. However, should one want to hear a raw performance of the Moodies from this period, listen to the Albert Hall concert from the album Caught Live + 5.

I also got this DVD a little early through Mike Pinder's web site and watched it last night. A few things you need to be aware of: this is video of a concert staged in a smoky Parisian bar and filmed for French TV in two 30-min. segments, so the total running time is only 58 minutes, and there are no other "bonus" features on the DVD. Also, as was fairly common back in the late 60's, early 70's, TV "concerts" were either partially or totally lip-synched (remember American Bandstand--what, not that old?). At least here, it appears that the guys were allowed to actually sing with functioning microphones while the background vocals and music were prerecorded. So that's why you see discrepancies where, for instance, Ray Thomas' flute starts playing before he does, and Mellotron sounds appear to mysteriously come out of a Hammond B-3 organ! But don't let any of that stop you! It's still a very good performance and is a solid record of how the band looked and sounded in 1970 when they were near their peak. Just don't expect and apply modern-day standards, and realize this was not a full-fledged live concert. I'm happy with my purchase and I think that with the proper context, you will be too. This is a must for avid Moody Blues fans. Check out Mike Pinder's site for his comments on this performance.

I hastily bought this on pre-order thinking Alive Plus 5 Moody Blues quality on video, well what a let down. If you like looking at the Moody Blues, this is a fine and fairly clear picture of them. For that it is fun, as for the performances, ugghh. I adore the Moody Blues and this is pale and lifeless. With a few exceptions these are just the Moodies mouthing over the studio versions of the songs and it is painful. If you sit there wondering if it's live, it is not a good sign. It is a nice memento of them in pictures and that is all. If that is enough for you, then buy it, if like it does for me, the music comes first, then save your money.

Lord have mercy! This video is THIRTY - FOUR - YEARS - OLD!! There are inevitably problems of sound and visual in something this antique. But it's priceless viewing from the band's prime. The next oldest available Moody DVD is from 1984, a totally different era for the band. Some of this is lip-synched; typical of the time. It's still the Moodies up there on stage. And some of it is live. Plus the songs are all the best ones out there. In case you haven't noticed, not many performance music dvds are billed as "Live humans, Lip-synced Songs".

I love the Moody Blues, especially the older songs on this video.

Sadly, though, the quality of this video is poor, especially the sound.

Still, worth the price for a die-hard MB fan..

This is a raw piece of work. The cameras are in all the wrong places and the over-dubs are apparent everywhere. But, this is the only footage from that era that I have seen. It isn't a great show, but it is a piece of history.

As someone who "discovered " the Moody Blues as a teen in the early 80's, I never had the opportunity to see them during the Original 7 days with my favorite Moody, Mike Pinder in the line-up. This DVD gives me a glimpse of a different time and place, when the music industry was very different, and yes shows were very different. Yes, some of the songs are lip-synched, but I didn't buy it for the songs, I can listen to the CD's at any time. I wanted to see these guys in their prime, how they moved, talked, etc.
I have just seen the Moodies on their latest tour, and the contrast from 1970 to today is startling, and a bit sad as I watch my favorite band begin to show the signs of mortality.
This DVD gives me a picture of their youth-in perpetuity.

I ordered this DVD and waited in breathless anticipation only to be greatly disappointed. while one can excuse some faults (poor video production and camera work) this DVD cannot and should not be marketed as a "concert". It was a TV production and a poor one at that. the band is lip syncing or "guitar synching" or trying too and it is painfully obvious. its a wonder that the audience didn't stand up and walk out. during one song you can hear a tambourine playing, when no one is playing the tambourine on stage. I have seen the band in concert numerous times and this so-called concert comes nowhere near the quality of the live performances. one bright spot is Justin's treatment of Nights in White Satin with a stunning vocal "filagree" that demonstrated the power and flexibility of his then-young voice. and it was a treat to see the boys in their prime, all 5 of the "original" band, post Denny Laine. in short, only the most hardcore, dedicated, zealous fan should buy this. the rest should stick to the Red Rocks and Royal Albert Hall concerts.

I received this day five days before it comes out. I pre-ordered it through Mike Pinder's official website. Although I ended up paying a little more I got it autographed by him. Anyway, I really enjoyed the concert. It's in an intimate club setting in Paris. You actually get to see the band members walking up to the stage. This is kind of similar to the CAUGHT LIVE album in the sense that Mike and Ray introduce all the songs. As far as the songs they chose to play there are none sung by Mike Pinder and there are no poems by Grame Edge. They open up with "Lovely To See You" which is also the first song on ON THE THRESHOLD OF A DREAM. Mike announces that they are going to play "Question" which will be released as a single in 2 weeks. The audio doesn't really seem to be on the same track as the visual or there's some problem. There were a couple times where I'd hear the flute but Ray wasn't playing it yet. What's up with that? Whats great about the concert is that the band looks very enthusiastic and they're having a good time. It's interesting to see Pinder adjusting the nobs on his mellotron especially before the orchestral ta-da! on "Question." It does look like your typical video performance from that time where you can't really tell if they're actually playing or lip syncing. But overall its a great concert and a must-have for any Moody Blues fan!

Bought this DVD when it was released and was very excited at the prospect of hearing my fellow Brummies in concert again. I saw them frequently when living in England in the sixties and seventies.

After seeing this poor Moodies DVD for what it was I wrote to the music company that put it out, but they never replied. One can guess why.

Yes, the Moodies are miming - or the music company synced it with studio cuts - and it's a dull combination.

On top of everything the recording is in MONO!

Hold onto your hard earned money, and AVOID this rip-off at all costs as there are better recordings out there.