EVERY GOOD BOY DESERVES FAVOUR

An album filled with a childlike spirit, as each member takes a turn trying to sort out the world around them. The album starts with another portentous opening, "Procession," that sums up human history in three words: desolation, creation, communication. Fortunately, this heavy-handed opening is the exception, and JUSTIN HAYWARD quickly dispels the foreboding gloom with a terrific bit of post-BEATLES pop, "The Story In Your Eyes." That song, wisely chosen as the album's single, is easily the most memorable track on here. The remaining cuts on Every Good Boy Deserves Favour are warm and well-done, though few would have fared well if served alone as an entrée to the album. GRAEME EDGE's "After You Came" (which sounds uncannily like THE WHO at times) and RAY THOMAS' "Nice To Be Here" (possibly the 38 to Queen's 39?) are two of those members' better contributions to THE MOODIES canon, while JOHN LODGE adds a pair of very pretty tracks ("Emily's Song," "One More Time To Live") and MIKE PINDER closes the album on a high note with the ambitious "My Song." The tone here is generally soft and acoustic: flutes and guitars intermingle lazily, sleepy vocals gently prod our curiosity, pretty sounds abound. While there are obvious idiosyncracies unique to each author, it's THE MOODIES shared musical ideal that has the final say here.

Because this is a mellow album even by THE MOODIES' standards, it may take some time for the songs to sink in. For that effort, you'll be rewarded with a good album but not a great one. At the time, listeners were more in tune with this sort of casual introspection, making it another hugely popular record for the band, but listeners today may wonder what the fuss was all about.