Songwriter [Import]

Justin Hayward | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 27, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Decca/ Deram
• ASIN: B000003P4A
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #945,844 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Tightrope

2. Songwriter, Pt. 1

3. Songwriter, Pt. 2

4. Country Girl

5. One Lonely Room

6. Lay It One Me

7. Stage Door

8. Raised on Love

9. Doin' Time

10. Nostradamus

11. Maire [*]

12. Learning the Game [*]

Editorial Reviews

Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues true first solo release in 1977. Justin had one other release outside the Moody Blues prior to this one with John Lodge of the Moody Blues entitled Blue Jays.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Justin's First Solo Work is Still Wonderful, May 10, 1999

By 

Professor Wilbur Hamilton "The Wilbur" (Hamilton, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Songwriter (Audio CD)

Back in 1977, Justin recorded his first solo album. All the Moodies were working on solo projects during their "break" from around 1972 through 1978. This is a really good album, better than 1980s "Nightflight". The tracks SONGWRITER (pt. 1&2), MARIE (a bonus cut), and TIGHTROPE are especially good pieces to be enjoyed for years. This sounds like early Hayward, and if you've never heard it and would like to hear new songs that sound like "Every Good Boy..." and "Seventh Sojourn", then this album will be a real treat.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Justin's First Truly Solo Foray Is Respectable, June 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Songwriter (Audio CD)

Justin, doing all the writing, stretched himself on this one. Some of the tracks show signs of that stretch. "Tightrope" and "Songwriter" are wonderful, but others ("Raised On Love", "One Lonely Room") are too predictable. Some great thematic material with "Stage Door" and "Nostradmus". Nice treatment and homage paid to the Buddy Holly standard, "Learning the Game". One to have for your Moodies collection.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good guitar work, melodic tracks, February 14, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Songwriter (Audio CD)

"Songwriter" marked Justin Hayward's first solo album. During the mid-70s, the Moody Blues took a break and during that time all of them released at least one solo album. While "Songwriter" isn't as good as the Justin Hayward/John Lodge collaboration "Blue Jays" (but then, only a handful of albums by any group or individual would be), this collection does contain some excellent work by the lead guitarist & vocalist of the Moodies.
The CD opens with "Tightrope" -- a song about a travelling circus performer who gives it up for a more sane life; easily interpretable as Hayward looking back on the late 60s/early 70s when the Moodies hit it big. Then into the title track, which is split into two parts (though placed back-to-back), a good though not remarkable song (1st part is decent melodic rock, the second part forgettable). The following two songs, "Country Girl" and "One Lonely Room," are a couple of gems, showing Hayward's ability to create well-structured, well-paced melodies. "Country Girl" is a bit of an uptempo tune, while "One Lonely Room" is a more plaintive, slower song of regret with a great instrumental break in the middle, some good guitar work. The other gems on the CD include "Raised on Love" -- a simple tribute, with a percussive acoustic guitar strumming, to Justin's parents and his appreciation for the love they gave him -- and "Doin' Time," a rocker which features some of the better good lead guitar work on the album. The other songs on the CD written by Justin are decent but not outstanding. There is one song on the CD that is not a Hayward creation -- "Learning the Game" by Buddy Holly (both it and the Hayward-penned ballad "Marie" were songs not on the original album release from the 70s), which Justin added as a tribute to a perfomer he considers one of his idols. A decent song, pretty well arranged and played.
Bottom line on this CD -- on this album the arrangements and material show a departure from a lot of what he'd done with the Moodies to that point, but are still definitely Hayward material. Moodies and Hayward fans should get this one.