The Other Side of Life

The Moody Blues | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Polydor / Umgd
• ASIN: B000001FJP
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #30,856 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pop Goes The Moodies, August 28, 2003

By 

Alan Caylow (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Other Side of Life (Audio CD)

The Moody Blues' 1986 album, "The Other Side Of Life," is easily the most polished, radio-friendly offering in their whole catalog, but it's still a very good Moodies album, and I remain pleased to this day that it was a big hit for them, too, their last US Top Ten album. "The Other Side Of Life" has an 80's gloss of keyboards and synth drums, and yet, the music is still great fun, and the Moodies' knack for tuneful singing, songwriting and performing remains intact. Guitarist Justin Hayward's "Your Wildest Dreams" was the big hit song from the album, and it's a nice little number, but my favorite tracks on the disc are other songs that come from Justin's pen, including the excellent title song, which is a marvelously spooky 7 1/2 minute pop-rocker, the sweet "I Just Don't Care," and the catchy pop of "Running Out Of Love," co-written with bassist John Lodge. Also worth mentioning are "The Spirit," co-written by keyboardist Patrick Moraz & drummer Graeme Edge, and Lodge's fine power ballad finale, "It May Be A Fire." Excellent pop from beginning to end, "The Other Side Of Life" is a charming Moody Blues album.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Still better than today's "music", June 18, 2007

By 

D. Berryman (Georgia, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Other Side of Life (Audio CD)

TOSOL is not my favorite of the Moodies and it certainly is not their best work by far. Still, it's the Moody Blues, and even at their worst, they are better than 99% of the "stuff" being peddled today and labeled music.

I enjoyed Justin Hayward's Your Wildest Dreams, I just Don't Care, and The other Side of Life. Hayward and Lodge collaborated on Running out of Love and I love the song on all levels, especially their sweet harmony.
John Lodge's It May Be a Fire isn't my fave of his but it was a pleasant surprise as was Rock n Roll Over You.

This CD is for die-hard MB's completists or those who love 80's sounding music. The "core 7 MB only" folks probably hate this one. I love The Moodies and am willing to stick by them thru thick and thin. This CD isn't vintage Moody Blues, but hey it WAS the 1980's.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pop Perfection, April 20, 2010

By 

Lone Wolf (Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Other Side of Life (Audio CD)

This seems to be the album that everyone either loves or hates. I, for one, love it. Maybe that's becuz I am a child of the 70's/80's, love good pop/rock music & am not afraid of synthesizers which are used quite proficiently by new keyboardist Patrick Moraz to full effect to enhance the songs. Or it also may be becuz I know a good song when I hear one & don't have that closed minded attitude that most older Moody fans have which is... if it's got synthesizers in it or it's radio friendly, it must mean the band sold-out to appeal to a wider audience & to appease their record companies. Therefore no matter how good the song is, it must be crap. I don't subscribe to that snobbish attitude. As far as i'm concerned a good song is a good song, no matter who wrote it or why.

Well this album from 1986 has plenty of good songs & it is not only one of the Moody's finest albums but it is one of the best of the 80's as well & it is absolute pop bliss. It starts off very strong with "Your Wildest Dreams" which is a very catchy melodic number & it deservedly was an overdue #1 hit for the band. The title track is also a great mid-tempo track with lots of bass, heavy drum beat & mystical sounding synth. The simple but gorgeous ballad "I Just Don't Care" written/sung by Justin Hayward is a very pleasant romantic song & one of the best i've ever heard. "Running Out of Love" is another highlight of the album & is a really catchy, melodic, mid-tempo track that John & Justin both wrote. It also has a great guitar solo 3/4 of the way through & really great synth. I think it would've even been a hit single if given the chance. Same goes for my fav non-hit: "Slings and Arrows" which is the fastest song on the album & it has kind of a bluesy sound to it. Again very catchy & terrific harmony vocals by John & Justin. The album wraps up with "It May Be a Fire" which is another fine ballad (sung by John Lodge)& it is a perfect closer for the album.

Anyway, you can't go wrong with this album. It is pop perfection & a joy to listen to from beginning to end.