EVERY GOOD BOY DESERVES FAVOUR

I was never really impressed by this album, even though I've had it in my collection for almost a decade now. But after spinning it pretty much non-stop for the last couple of days it's safe to say that my opinion of this material is beginning to change!

I've never bothered too much with the opening track Procession, dismissing it simply as another shaky album opener on the Moody Blues' part. Surprisingly enough there was a lot of symbolism embedded into this nearly 5 minute long opening track and after exploring the composition's own Wikipedia website (see Procession (The Moody Blues song)) I really have to hand it to the Moodies for their ambition. Unfortunately it doesn't manifest itself well as a song, which is why I still can't enjoy listening to it all that much.

The Story In Your Eyes has always been an obvious favorite of mine, but now I'm not really sure if it's actually the best song of the bunch. The way Mike Pinder uses Mellotron on this relatively simple rock & roll number is simply amazing, plus we also have completely breathtaking lyrics to back it up. "But I'm frightened for your children that the live that we are living is in vain and the sunshine we've been waiting for will turn to rain" gives me goosebumps almost every time I hear it.

Our Guessing Game and Emily's Song takes the music, once again, into a mellow mode and work well as a break right before the next upbeat number After You Came. One More Time To Live is one track that I definitely managed to overlook in the past but am unlikely to do so again. This composition really becomes truly great when the harmonies kick in towards the second minute with repeat of the lyrical themes from Procession, great stuff to say the least!

Nice To Be Here is another one of those quirky childlike tunes that reminds me a lot of Morning: Another Morning off Days Of Future Passed and works well as a part of the loose setting that the rest of the album has been going for up to this point. The two final tracks turn the album to towards a grander sound that has so far been absent from the album's repertoire. You Can Never Go Home does manage to strike a solid balance between low-key ballad and the epic-like direction towards it's chorus sections while My Song goes all the way in the latter category.

Every Good Boy Deserves Favour, or simply EGBDF, was a big surprise revisit for me and I will definitely continue listening more to this album in the future! The fact that this was the last album by the Moody Blues where Mike Pinder predominately used Mellotron in his arrangements does make me sad, but it definitely makes a worthy ending to the wonderful streak of Proto-Prog albums of the late '60s/early '70s period.

***** star songs: The Story In Your Eyes (2:57) One More Time To Live (5:42)

**** star songs: Our Guessing Game (3:34) Emily's Song (3:42) After You Came (4:38) Nice To Be Here (4:24) You Can Never Go Home (4:15) My Song (6:25)

*** star songs: Procession (4:41)