BLUE JAYS

Recorded during a six year long hiatus between Moody Blues albums, Hayward and Lodge out Moody their own band. Each and every song is filled with lush orchestrations, plaintive vocals, heartfelt lyrics, and haunting melodies. Indeed, it seems there was very little chance of the Moodies reconvening during those years. Symphonic orchestrations are more apparent than on any Moodies album since Days of Future Past, even more so, and more grandiose, for in that iconic album there was much a trade off between orchestral and band tracks, while here the orchestra is fully integrated into the songs. We can separate the tracks on Days and get a bunch of good songs, but we cannot do that here and still have the same music. All of the songs are either slow ballads, where the orchestrations really make their mark or mid-tempo rockers, Saved by the Music being the liveliest of the bunch, which are enhanced by the orchestrations. The chanting vocals of the closer, When You Wake Up, brings the album to a satisfying climax. I do not have the more recent CD release where a song Hayward recorded with 10cc, Blue Guitar is featured. To be honest, I am not sure if I want it, the album closes off so well in its original form (but then again, the cassette tape I have this on will eventually wear out). If the lusher, more romantic side of the Moody Blues interests you then you have to get this album. If not, then avoid at all costs. Myself, I enjoy it a great deal. There is really nothing like it that is better; in other words, it is the best of its genre, as long as we don't confuse it with a Moodies album, and even then it stands up well.

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