The Universal Masters Collection: Classic Moody Blues [IMPORT]

The Moody Blues

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 3, 2000)
• Original Release Date: December 27, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Polygram Int'l
• ASIN: B00004OCPC
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #68,943 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
17 Great Digitally Remastered Classics from One of the Greatest Classic Rock Outfits in Rock N Roll History. This Disc Showcases Some of their Absolute Best as Well as Choice Album Tracks that Don't Normally Get Compiled for a More Vivid Portrait of this Outstanding Group of Musicians. It was They who First Had the Notion to Perform with a Symphony Orchestra and Record the Proceedings, a Tool Used by Many Other Rock Bands in their Wake.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars From the prople at Universal Music Company, March 4, 2001

By	eveoflove (North York, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

Made in EU in 1999, Serial# 541-088-2, Playing Time 77:43

Yes, the people at that record company give us yet another compilation of the MB. This time, the content is identical to the 1998 "Master Series" CD, with a few tracks re-organized.

As a MB completist, I am a bit surprised that some of the alternate versions presented here are not credited as such; so here's a quick rundown of the content:

There is 1 song taken from each of the MB albums between "Days Of Future Passed" and "Time Traveller", but some have received a "special treatment": track 3, originally released on ISOTLC, has been remixed for their 1989 "Greatest Hits" album; track 5, originally on "Sur La Mer", is here in its 7-inch single version; track 6 is from the "Blue Jays" album; track 7, from "The Present", has been remixed to 7:31 by Steven Greenberg; track 8 is one of the 5 extra tracks included on the CD release of "Caught Live"; track 9 is an orchestral remix of the song originally on KOTK; track 10 is a shorter version of the song on "Octave"; track 12 is also a shorter version, originally on LDV; track 16 is from a 1968 single, and finally, track 17 is the single version of the classic track from DOFP.

To the MB uninitiated, the content of the disc gives a broad perspective of their career; for the completist, it includes versions unavailable on CD elsewhere.

It is however somewhat difficult to try and review 30 years of music on a single disc.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another side of ..., January 21, 2001

By	Arne Marco Kirsebom - See all my reviews

Since about 25 years I am a fan of the music of The Moody Blues, and of course I have all the albums of the group. Normally I am rather sceptic to compilations because many times the elections of songs differs from my taste and normally many compilations and livealbums have more or less the same songs leaving many good ones on the side.

The compilation of this album is rather different and I am quite happy with it. It is also interesting that The Moody Blues is one group of many in this series of CDs. There is no cronological election, neither are all songs from the normal series of MB albums.

The versions of "Question" and "Sitting At The Wheel" are not from the albums, but are different. Especially the second is a very remarkable different mix from the version of the album "The Present" and actually I enjoyed this mix very much. I was stunned that the MB had made such a different mix of it and I think it is important in the collection of every MB-fan.

Personally I am very happy that "Driftwood" is one of the presented songs, in my opinion one of the best songs of Justin Hayward ever. Furthermore the rather good "Highway" and "Gimme A Little Somethin'", the latter a song I do not understand why it did not get a place in one of the albums of MB. From the hand of Mike Pinder the album has only got "A Simple Game", a song that did not find its way to a MB-album either.

I was very satisfied with the election of songs for this compilation and I am happy that the person who made this, had the guts to make a rather different combination of songs that most of this kind of albums. It is rather boring to get more or less alwas the same songs.

It also important to say that the songs are digitally remastered.

In the innersleve are some words of Daryl Easlea (the person who elected the songs?): "... this collection serves as an exellent overview to the Moody Blues career ... The music has a timeless quality that enables The Moody Blues to sound fresh today and make them ripe for revaluation, proving that songcraft and respect for your fans is more important than critical acceptance".

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Classic Moody Blues Mixture... :), June 16, 2007

By	Kevin Martinell KevyGuy (Dunmore, PA USA) - See all my reviews

Here is a Moody Blues collection, similar to their other Best Of releases, featuring tracks taken from nearly all of their original albums.

This CD features the mix of "Your Wildest Dreams," from the original CD version of "The Best Of The Moody Blues," where the song goes from stereo into mono for a brief second (At 1:42 in the song).

We also get the 1989 orchestral remake of "Question," which originally appeared on "Greatest Hits"/"Legend Of A Band" ... A shame that this collection didn't feature the orchestral version of "Isn't Life Strange" as well, for something a little different.

The "Classic 7" era, on this compilation, is represented by "Voices In The Sky," the original version of "Isn't Life Strange," "Gimme A Little Somethin'," "After You Came," "Watching And Waiting," "Dear Diary," "A Simple Game," and the non-orchestral version of "Nights In White Satin." Many of these tracks feature the marvelous sound of Mike Pinder's mellotron. :)

There are short versions of some of the tracks (Possibly single mixes), including "No More Lies," which leaves out the extended instrumental ending from the original version, "Driftwood," and "Talking Out Of Turn" (The shorter mixes that were featured on many Best Of collections).

On this occasion, Justin Hayward and John Lodge's "Blue Jays" is represented by "I Dreamed Last Night," one of the major highlights of the album, and an outstanding orchestral track.

Possibly the biggest bonus you get on this release is an extended, remixed version of "Sitting At The Wheel," which I've never heard before until I purchased this CD ... It's over 7 minutes long, and is every bit as energetic and enjoyable as the original mix, from "The Present." This track alone is the main reason to buy this disc!

Two entries from "The Moody Blues Anthology" reappear here, the 4 minute orchestral mix of "Bless The Wings (That Bring You Back)" and "Highway" (Also featured on "Time Traveller").

The only fault I've found, concerning this CD, is that many of the tracks (Most notably "Watching And Waiting," "Highway," and "A Simple Game") fade out a few seconds earlier than on their original releases and appearances on other compilation albums. Maybe this was done in order to fit more tracks on the disc? I would rather a shorter song list with the full length of each track.

On the up side, and to wrap up, this is a fine Moody Blues collection that breaks away (a little bit) from the usual track list of greatest hits ("The Best Of The Moody Blues"/"Gold"). You get some hits mixed with other fantastic tracks not included on many Best Of releases ... A wonderful assortment of classic Moody Blues songs that range from "Days Of Future Passed" to the "Keys Of The Kingdom" era. Thanks for reading. God Bless... :)