Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Complete Colection Plus More!, June 10, 2001
Spanning from 1966 to 1992, this compilation is exhaustive. All the highlights the Moody Blues recordings are here with a gratefully remastered sound. The first CD contains three pre-"Days Of Future Passed" songs and the rest contains several cuts from all their albums. Highlights also include selections from Hayward/Lodges wonderful "Bluejays" albim as well as Hayward solo works. Disc four is where keyboardist extroadinaire stopped working with the Moody Blues, marking a significant loss in the groups etheral and spiritual sound, however, the magic still continues.If you are lucky enough to find the five-disc set, you'll be treated to a nine song LIVE set from the "Red Rocks" concert. Unfortunately, several of the Box Sets exclude this CD, but it is worth hunting for. The container is durable and attractive, containing a great narrative of the groups' history and some splendid photographs. Unfortunately, a complete discography and song list is missing, but this collection is so complete, that is easily forgiven.
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25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Moody Blues First Twenty-Five Years, March 9, 2005
This sprawling 71-track, 4-disc set is all the Moody Blues most fans will ever need. First released in 1994, the first two-and-a-half discs focus on the Moodies classic period (1967-1972) with the lineup of Justin Hayward, John Lodge, Mike Pinder, Ray Thomas and Graeme Edge. During that time they released seven albums:
DAYS OF FUTURE PASSED (disc-1, tracks 4-5)
IN SEARCH OF THE LOST CHORD (disc-1, tracks 6-11)
ON THE THRESHOLD OF A DREAM (disc-1, tracks 12-20)
TO OUR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN'S CHILDREN (disc-2, tracks 1-9)
A QUESTION OF BALANCE (disc-2, tracks 10-15)
EVERY GOOD BOY DESERVES FAVOUR (disc-2, tracks 16-20)
SEVENTH SOJOURN (disc-3, tracks 1-6)
It's no surprise that this box set leans heavier on these seven albums as they form the foundation of this band that has continued to sporadically record even ten years after this set was first issued. [Their most recent recording is 2003's holiday album DECEMBER.] The rest of disc-3 and disc-4 cherry pick highlights from the band's next twenty years culminating with three tracks from their then latest album, 1991's KEYS OF THE KINGDOM. There are also a few tracks from Hayward and Lodge's Bluejays project (disc-3, tracks 7-12) and two Hayward singles, "Blue Guitar" and "Forever Autumn," the latter from JEFF WAYNE'S THE WAR OF THE WORLDS.
There are few bonus or rare tracks. Disc-1 starts with two non-album singles, "Fly Me High" and "Love and Beauty," both released in 1967 and failed to dent the UK charts. [Missing is their 1966 UK single "Boulevard De La Madelaine."] "Cities" is the non-album B-side of "Nights in White Satin." The only other bonus track is "Highway," an outtake from the KEYS OF THE KINGDOM sessions that closes disc-4. [Note: The original pressings of this box set had a fifth disc which included a new recording "This Is the Moment" and eight songs recorded live at Red Rocks with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra in 1992.]
This box fills a nice niche for fans who want more than a greatest hits package, but don't have the deep pockets to purchase all of their studio albums. While there are those that would argue that their albums need to be heard in their entirety, this is a very satisfying look at the first twenty-five years of an amazing band. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
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19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Comprehensive through 1991, November 24, 2004
There are a few drawbacks to this otherwise incredible collection of Moody Blues music. The first is that the group continued to produce albums after release of this set. Another is that the Moody Blues first seven albums were all concept albums, and purists will decry the missing music. However, the music captures much of the essence of the Moody Blues from their creation of the first true rock concept album, "Days of Future Passed," their contributions to progressive rock, climaxing in their most unusual album, "Every Good Boy Deserves Favour," and their steady transition to a pop ballad group.
Yet another drawback is that hardcore fans will already have most or all of the music in this collection, as I do. However, I still liked the collection as a different way of listening to the Moodies' music. Some rarities or alternative recordings would have been nice. Also, the original release had a live fifth disk that is difficult to find, which also reminds me to warn you that all the music on the four disks are the studio versions, not live.
Most Moodies fans date back to the "Classic 7" released in the 60s, "Days of Future Passed," "In Search of the Lost Chord," "On the Threshold of a Dream," "To Our Children's Children's Children," "A Question of Balance," "Every Good Boy Deserves Favour," and "Seventh Sojourn," each of which is amply represented in this collection. Each of these albums had a different concept. Each member of the five member band, Justin Hayward, John Lodge, Graeme Edge, Mike Pinder, and Ray Thomas, provided at least one song or, in the case of Graeme Edge, a poem, for each album. The music was marvelously bombastic with wonderful crescendos of percussion and pealing guitars and Mike Pinder's soulfully melodious mellotron, later chamberlain. Moodies fans continue to maintain that the contribution of the first seven albums to rock should be the Moodies entry into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, justifiably so.
The Moodies went on hiatus in 1974. John Lodge and Justin Hayward recorded an album, "Blue Jays," with a style so like the Moodies that six songs from that album are included. Justin Hayward also released the single "Blue Guitar," supported by members of 10cc, and that song is included.
The Moodies gathered in 1978 to record "Octave," the last album to feature the keyboard talents of Mike Pinder. Three songs from this album are represented. Also in 1978, Justin Hayward contributed the haunting and melancholy "Forever Autumn" to Jeff Wayne's "War of the Worlds" album, a hard to find song included here.
The Moodies released the final album that still retained a strong flavor of their early years in 1981, "Long Distance Voyager," with three songs represented.
"The Present," "The Other Side of Life," "Sur La Mer" and "Keys of the Kingdom" are represented by ten songs. Excluding "The Other Side of Life," these CDs are generally mellower with the exception of the occasional nod to contemporary music. "The Other Side of Life" is perhaps the weakest of all Moodies albums with frequently overwhelming keyboards and the two songs from that album are the best two from the CD.
Since this boxed set was released the Moodies have released more albums, including 1999s "Strange Times" and the 2003 Christmas album "December." While both albums have their strengths and weaknesses, the better tracks would be valuable in a future edition of this boxed set.
The Moody Blues have been releasing albums since 1967. The group has gone through several transitions, including the departure of Mike Pinder in 1978 to be replaced for a while by former Yes keyboardist Patrick Moraz, and more recently the retirement of Ray Thomas. Graeme Edge is backed by a second drummer in concert. Their most influential years were in the 60s, and yet, the skill and the talent are still there. This collection remains the most comprehensive retrospective of the group and their incredible history. Regardless of whether you love the Moodies or despise them, they should not be ignored because of their contributions to the evolution of rock. Listen to this collection and look forward to the day the Moody Blues finally take their place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
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