The Moody Blues – The Magnificent Moodies (50th Anniversary Remaster Edition)

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A fascinating insight into their fledgling period…

Review by Dean Pedley

Cherry Red

Release Date: 8 December 2014

What better way to mark half a century of The Moody Blues than with this re-mastered and expanded double disc version of their debut album that stretches to more than 50 songs. It is fifty years this month since ‘Go Now’ entered the UK singles charts, eventually climbing to the summit early in 1965 and also reaching the Top 10 across the Atlantic. This, of course, is the Moodies mark one era that featured Denny Laine (guitar, vocals, and harmonica), Ray Thomas (vocals, harmonica, and flute), Mike Pinder (keyboards, vocals), Clint Warwick (bass, vocals) and, the only member still with the band to this day, drummer Graeme Edge.

The Moody Blues 2014Coming together from various Birmingham bands of the early 60’s the Moodies styled themselves The Moody Blues Five (M&B 5) in an attempt to win sponsorship from the local M&B brewing company. By 1964 they were regulars at Erdington’s Carlton Ballroom (later to be known as Mothers) and signed to Decca for first single ‘Steal Your Heart Away’. Along with the majority of other UK bands of the time they were heavily influenced by American rhythm and blues and for the second single they chose an obscure song by soul singer Bessie Banks. Re-arranged to incorporate the harmony vocals that would become a Moodies staple, ‘Go Now’ did the trick and the band were recognised as one of the most important to emerge from the whole Brumbeat era. A support tour with The Beatles soon followed along with the release of their debut album and a package tour Stateside.

Although they had several attempts (including turning down ‘Those Were The Days’ ) a follow up hit eluded this version of the Moodies and by 1966 they were tagged as one hit wonders and back on the club and cabaret circuit. Sessions for the aborted second album with this line-up are included here along with BBC sessions, non-album A & B Sides and four versions of ‘Go Now’. Detailed sleeve notes including interviews and press cuttings really does help to make this an essential package for anyone with a passion for the mid-60’s pop scene.

The Moody Blues would ultimately embark on an alternative musical journey that still finds them on a timeless flight and appearing in Birmingham again next summer. Nevertheless, The Magnificent Moodies offers a fascinating insight into their fledgling period.

9 out of 10

Track Listing:

Disc One

  1. I’ll Go Crazy
  2. Something You Got
  3. Go Now
  4. Can’t Nobody Love You
  5. I Don’t Mind
  6. I’ve Got a Dream
  7. Let Me Go
  8. Stop
  9. Thank You Baby
  10. It Ain’t Necessarily So
  11. True Story
  12. Bye Bye Bird

Bonus tracks: 

  1. Lose Your Money (But Don’t Lose Your Mind) (Laine / Pinder)
  2. Steal Your Heart Away (Parker) A & B-side of single – Released in September 1964
  3. Go Now! (first version) Recorded at Olympic Studios on 24th July 1964 – Previously unreleased
  4. It’s Easy Child (Sandler / Bennett / Redd) B-side of single – Released as November 1964
  5. I Don’t Want to Go On Without You (Berns / Wexler)
  6. Time is on My Side (Meade / Norman) A & B-side of single – Released as in February 1965
  7. From the Bottom of My Heart (I Love You) (Laine / Pinder)
  8. And My Baby’s Gone (Laine / Pinder) A & B-side of single – Released as in May 1965
  9. Everyday (Laine / Pinder)
  10. You Don’t (All the Time) (Laine / Pinder) A & B-side of single – Released in October 1965
  11. Boulevard de Madeleine (Laine / Pinder)
  12. This is My House (But Nobody Calls) (Laine / Pinder) A & B-side of single – Released in October 1966
  13. People Gotta Go (Laine / Pinder) Taken from the “Boulevard de Madeleine” EP Released in France in October 1966
  14. Life’s Not Life (Laine / Pinder)
  15. He Can Win (Laine / Pinder) A & B-side of single – Released in January 1967
Disc Two: Previously unreleased Studio Sessions & BBC Radio Sessions:

  1. Go Now! (second version)
  2. Lose Your Money (But Don’t Lose Your Mind) (early version)
  3. Steal Your Heart Away (first version)
  4. I’ll Go Crazy (first version)
  5. You Better Move On
  6. Can’t Nobody Love You (first version)
  7. 23rd Psalm Recorded and mixed at Olympic Studios on 24th July 1964 Produced by Alex Murray
  8. Go Now
  9. I Don’t Want to Go On Without You
  10. I’ll Go Crazy “Saturday Club” session – BBC Light Programme Recorded 12th April 1965
  11. From the Bottom of My Heart (I Love You)
  12. Jump Back “Saturday Club” session – BBC Light Programme Recorded 3rd May 1965
  13. I’ve Got a Dream
  14. And My Baby’s Gone “Saturday Club” session – BBC Light Programme Recorded 1st June 1965
  15. It’s Easy Child
  16. Stop
  17. Everyday “Saturday Club” session – BBC Light Programme Recorded 21st September 1965
  18. Interview with Ray Thomas and Graeme Edge /You Don’t (All the Time)
  19. I Want You to Know “Saturday Club” session – BBC Light Programme Recorded 9th November 1965
  20. Coca Cola Radio Commercial 1965

The 1966 Denny Cordell sessions – Previously unreleased: 

  1. Sad Song
  2. This is My House (But Nobody Calls) (first version) Recorded at Advision studios – 5th April 1966
  3. How Can We Hang on to a Dream (first version) Recorded at Advision studios – 5th July 1966
  4. How Can We Hang on to a Dream (remake) Recorded at Decca studio No. 2, West Hampstead – 15th July 1966
  5. Jago & Jilly Recorded at Decca studio No. 2, West Hampstead – 18th August 1966
  6. We’re Broken Recorded at Decca studio No. 2, West Hampstead – 19th August 1966
  7. I Really Haven’t Got the Time (September 1966 version)
  8. Red Wine
  9. This is My House (But Nobody Calls) (stereo mix) Recorded at Decca studio No. 2, West Hampstead – 8th September 1966