Really MOODY BLUES sub genre
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Forum Name: Proto-Prog and Prog-Related Lounge
Forum Description: Discuss bands and albums classified as Proto-Prog and Prog-Related
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=25052
Printed Date: November 28 2024 at 13:18
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Topic: Really MOODY BLUES sub genre
Posted By: Mandrakeroot
Subject: Really MOODY BLUES sub genre
Date Posted: June 20 2006 at 13:38
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1964/1966: Beat Band
1967 to split: for me is a sort of Beat Prog but Symphonic
80's and today: AOR
But in these Prog period which is really sub genre of this band? ------------- 
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Replies:
Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: June 20 2006 at 14:14
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Symphonic proto prog IMO..
I'm quite a big fan of the Moodies. Their symphonic elements on the 'big seven' albums were strong and gave them a true prog sound, but their repetoire was always very accessable, and quite chart freindly. In spite of this I think they always cunningly avoided being cheesy. I think 'Days..' 'To our Childrens..' and 'Seventh Sojourn' are their best albums. Very uplifting music! ------------- Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy! |
Posted By: bhikkhu
Date Posted: June 20 2006 at 14:18
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I've always considered them straight prog (perhaps symphonic). Just because some of their tunes were catchy, and chart -friendly, it shouldn't mean exclusion. ------------- a.k.a. H.T. http://riekels.wordpress.com" rel="nofollow - http://riekels.wordpress.com |
Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: June 20 2006 at 14:29
I dont think they had the complexity that was synonomous with other prog bands of the early 70's. I'm happy they're in the archives, though. A great 'symphonic art rock' band?? 
------------- Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy! |
bhikkhu wrote:Posted By: dralan
Date Posted: June 20 2006 at 14:36
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I love the Moodies also but to me they've always been a commercial pop band with proggy tendencies. Yes alot of people claim Days of Future Past was the first prog album which may be true, but they have always displayed their love of Beatle-esque melody inspired pop tunes first and foremost. By the way Im not sure I really understand the poll question. |
Posted By: bhikkhu
Date Posted: June 20 2006 at 14:50
Yeah, I guess the exact classification isn't really important. I never considered them to be at the same level, but in the same realm of music. I was thinking more of the way I classified them way back when. To me, they were in the same club as Yes, Genesis, etc. I think it is interesting that you used the term 'art rock band.' In the old days, that was the only term I heard applied to those bands, in order to set them apart. ------------- a.k.a. H.T. http://riekels.wordpress.com" rel="nofollow - http://riekels.wordpress.com |
Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: June 20 2006 at 14:53
When did the term 'Prog Rock' come into being? I was only 3 years old when the Moodies first split..  ------------- Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy! |
Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: June 20 2006 at 15:00
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Of those choices i would say symphonic proto-prog. Though i have no problems with where they are now. ------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: bhikkhu
Date Posted: June 20 2006 at 15:24
You got me Blacksword. I'm not that much older. I remember 'art-rock" being used up to the '80's. It was especially chafing when I heard it applied to Asia. I only recall the term progressive being applied to avant-garde artists like Bowie, Gabriel, and even Jack Bruce. ------------- a.k.a. H.T. http://riekels.wordpress.com" rel="nofollow - http://riekels.wordpress.com |
Posted By: video vertigo
Date Posted: June 21 2006 at 03:36
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art rock or symphonic prog. Just because they came before KC doesn't mean they were proto, definitely a full prog band. ------------- "The rock and roll business is pretty absurd, but the world of serious music is much worse." - Zappa |
Posted By: moodyxadi
Date Posted: June 22 2006 at 13:32
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Agree with the guy above. ------------- Bach, Ma, Bros, Déia, Dante. |
Posted By: BilboBaggins
Date Posted: June 25 2006 at 01:04
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Voted for 'Other' as there is no such category as 'Symphonic Proto Prog'! This is over categorising! We cannot lump the Moody Blues in with the Beatles or Gabriel, Parsons, and Saga, in with Kate Bush! All these artists are Progressive Rock artists to the core but do not fit any of the existing Prog Archives defined genres...except arguably Art Rock. Rather than going mad with loads of extra more specific categories, lets just have a 'General Prog' category which is self explanetory and does not confuse. Moody Blues may have been Proto Kaw in the 60s but they produced a lot of out and out prog in the 70s and 80s so that is where they should go..Progressive Rock! ------------- Thoughtfullness |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: July 06 2006 at 21:34
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moodies... symphonic?... no... other... Art-Rock is where I'd put them.. ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: akin
Date Posted: July 10 2006 at 09:12
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Art- Rock or Symphonic I hate proto-prog because it means that proto-prog is not progressive. I think the problem is that some people that judge themselves specialists in progressive rock want to change the definition of the genre. What was considered progressive in the seventies must be considered progressive today. |
Posted By: Teaflax
Date Posted: July 10 2006 at 12:49
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Vaguely Prog-related Regular Pop/Rock.
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Posted By: Teaflax
Date Posted: July 10 2006 at 12:51
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Posted By: Certif1ed
Date Posted: July 10 2006 at 15:15
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A pop/rock band that got an orchestra to fill in the silences on their first LP and liked the effect, so kept doing it.
None of the songs I've heard of theirs are remotely Proggy in themselves - it's the orchestral atmosphere that conjours up "l'essence du Prog" - but the music itself doesn't develop or feel spontaneous in character. It feels like a bunch of rather good songs strung together. 
------------- The important thing is not to stop questioning. |
Posted By: akin
Date Posted: July 10 2006 at 16:31
| Listen to House of Four Doors pt1 and pt2, Legend of a Mind, Om, Have You Heard pt 1 - the voyage - Have you Heard pt2, Beyond, Procession, My Song. They are even prog in the "new definition" that is only valid in this website. |
Posted By: Teaflax
Date Posted: July 10 2006 at 20:29
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^If any of those tracks are on any of Children's Children, Lost Chord,
Days of Future Passed, Seventh Sojourn or Threshold of a Dream, I have
heard them more times than I want to think about. It's Pop/Rock, repetitive to a fault and spectacularly unadventurous in phrasing, melodic interval, structural elements and in harmony. Sorry - I honestly can't be bothered to sit down and analyze it in acute detail, because if you listen to one of those songs even once through, much less a few times in order to find its essence, it's stuck in your bloody head for days. In fact, just thinking about them I now have I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock n Roll Band) going through my head over and over. Thanks... (I do quite like Nights in White Satin, actually - but consider it a Pop/Rock song nonetheless) -------------
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Posted By: bhikkhu
Date Posted: July 10 2006 at 20:40
It could be worse. You could have something from the current top 40 stuck there.  ------------- a.k.a. H.T. http://riekels.wordpress.com" rel="nofollow - http://riekels.wordpress.com |
Posted By: Teaflax
Date Posted: July 10 2006 at 20:46
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^Honestly, the difference is quite minimal (and that's my point). Looking through the UK Top 40 Singles chart there are songs on there I would much prefer like #17, Muse - Supermassive Black Hole or #29, Jose Gonzales - Hand on Your Heart. -------------
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Posted By: bhikkhu
Date Posted: July 10 2006 at 20:55
Just as I always suspected. Europe has better taste.  ------------- a.k.a. H.T. http://riekels.wordpress.com" rel="nofollow - http://riekels.wordpress.com |
Posted By: akin
Date Posted: July 13 2006 at 18:02
| Talking about the structure, some of the most acclaimed prog songs are poor in structure, for example, 21th schizoid man which is like Doors' Light My Fire (an extensive experimental solo in the middle of the song). Genesis' Firth of Fifth is very similar to Moody Blues' Legend of a Mind, for example. The main difference is that the first have a long intro, but it has the same two or three different structures during the verses and different solos in the middle. Take the whole Selling England by the Pound Album, the only song that stands out is Dancing With the Moonlit Knight. The others would be as pop/rock as the moody blues compositions (though both excellent). Take some Moody Blues albuns like In Search of the Lost Chord, Every Good Boy Deserves Favour. Along with the pop/rock, they have songs that stand out like House of Four Doors, Procession, My Song: they are as prog as Selling England, only the length of the songs is reduced. |
Posted By: Teaflax
Date Posted: July 13 2006 at 18:36
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^You're completely ignoring melodic and harmonic components in your
reasoning above, thus rendering it pretty much useless. The Moody Blues
rarely if ever stray from very common harmonic/melodic tropes (or
phrasing, for that matter), which is what makes them so spectacularly
un-Prog. -------------
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Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: July 19 2006 at 00:01
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Honestly Prog Related until Long Distance Voyager, that was a great Prog release.
Iván ------------- 
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Posted By: BigBrownBear
Date Posted: July 19 2006 at 05:31
Teaflax and I are having a little bit of a tussle with regards to what constitues 'Prog' or not, and once again Teaflax, I have no problem with what you consider to be Prog, it's what you consider not to be Prog that is my problem. You just arn't considering the simpler material...which is where I would place Moody Blues...but I am kind of happy with Proto Prog for them due to their early stuff in the sixties....at least their pioneering material is recognised....
But...Akin!!!!!!! what are you going on about?...arguably one of the three best Prog Albums ever written and you say it is 'pop rock'!!! That has superceded anything I have heard this year as the funniest statement anyone has made!!...lol
You have reduced Cinama Show, Firth Of Fifth, and the incredibly unstructured Battle Of Epping Forest, to the realms of pop rock!!!....hhahahahahaahahaha very funny!
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Posted By: Teaflax
Date Posted: July 19 2006 at 07:15
Not that simple is automatically mainstream, but when it comes to the Moodys, that's certainly the case. -------------
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Posted By: Sean Trane
Date Posted: July 19 2006 at 08:14
Both TF and Cert are right in their assertions here, even if they are also a bit harsh on them too.
For me, Moody Blues does not represent full-blown progressive rock, BUT they do belong in the proto-prog and before that were in Symphonic and it was fine with me also.
Moody Blues represent for me the essence of conceptual albums (which is one of the constituants of prog) , because they made 7 successive concept albums (from Days to arguably Seventh Sojourn >> not that sure that one is a real concept album), something completely unheard of until the late 90's. The artworks are also definitely proggy (including to the sickening Long Distant Voyager and the Present).
But there are moments in those "classic Moody albums" that come to the divine. Just like Floyd, TMB were never about tricky time sigs and incredible virtuosity: it just was not their thing.
but there is always something going on in their music, and the ambiances are always adventurous and the production was usually excellent. These guys went as far as simulating a rocket launch at the start of their album, because the recording of the Nasa was not what they wanted/had hoped for.
At least they were prog in their attitude. Too bad they decided to regroup and destroy their legend. ------------- let's just stay above the moral melee prefer the sink to the gutter keep our sand-castle virtues content to be a doer as well as a thinker, prefer lifting our pen rather than un-sheath our sword |
Posted By: akin
Date Posted: July 19 2006 at 11:10
You didn 't get the point. These songs are as pop/rock as the moody blues compositions. It is a comparison. For me they are at the same level of progressiveness. |
Posted By: akin
Date Posted: July 19 2006 at 11:15
I don't think they are right since Moody Blues were considered prog before bands like Yes or Genesis were considered prog too. What some people do in this site is like reclassifying 50's rock as other genre, because 90's definition of rock is different from 50's definition of rock. |
Posted By: Teaflax
Date Posted: July 20 2006 at 01:54
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Posted By: akin
Date Posted: July 20 2006 at 10:22
In your own humble opinion. |
Posted By: The Wizard
Date Posted: July 20 2006 at 10:22
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For me the Moody Blues are pop with a mellotron. -------------  
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Posted By: Teaflax
Date Posted: July 20 2006 at 17:19
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Posted By: DallasBryan
Date Posted: January 06 2007 at 07:52
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here we go, reconstructing the past again.
the Moody Blues were the first PROGRESSIVE ROCK band.
call it English Symphonic or whatever, but they were pre-Yes, KC, VDGG, ELP, Tull, Pink Floyd, Genesis in breaking into psychedelic symphonic music, also known as PROG!
Everyone followed after there lead........
http://www.webwriter.f2s.com/moody/lyrics/ottoad.htm#info - ALBUM INFORMATION | http://www.webwriter.f2s.com/moody/lyrics/albumart.htm#ottoad - ALBUM ART
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Posted By: DallasBryan
Date Posted: January 06 2007 at 07:54
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what most metal fatigued youngstas miss, is their first seven albums play almost like a religious experience, but I dont think we have the attention span for that these days. this was brand new territory in 1967.
they sat upon the fence when it split!
Are You Sitting Comfortably
Ray Thomas and Justin Hayward Take another sip my love And see what you will see A fleet of golden galleons On a crystal sea Are you sitting comfortably? Let Merlin cast his spell... Ride along the winds of time And see where we have been The glorious age of Camelot When Guinevere was Queen It all unfolds before your eyes As Merlin casts his spell... The Seven Wonders of the World He'll lay before your feet In far-off lands, on distant shores So many friends to meet Are you sitting comfortably? Let Merlin cast his spell... |
Posted By: Atkingani
Date Posted: January 06 2007 at 08:03
Check the genre they are now, DB... The Archives consider them as being plain & genuine Prog!  ------------- Guigo ~~~~~~ |
Posted By: akin
Date Posted: January 06 2007 at 09:37
| I have already seen and I am very satisfied to see bands like Moody Blues and The Nice in categories rather than proto-prog since they are for sure progressive rock bands (they were always considered like that) and this destroys that prejudicial clichè that nothing can considered progressive before In the Court of Crimson King (which would be highly controvertial since most of it resembles very much Moody Blues) which is a great album without a doubt, but in 69 there were many progressive albums being done. |
Posted By: tuxon
Date Posted: January 06 2007 at 18:12
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The first symphonic rock band. love the Moodies, they weren't complex, but that is not a requirement for prog IMO anyway. ------------- I'm always almost unlucky _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Id5ZcnjXSZaSMFMC Id5LM2q2jfqz3YxT |
Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: January 07 2007 at 12:11
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And psychedelia of Nights In White Satin, Tuesday Afternoon, Legend Of A Mind???????????????
------------- The best eclectic music on the Web,8-11pm BST/GMT THURS. CLICK ON: http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php - http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php Host by PA's Dick Heath. |
Posted By: tuxon
Date Posted: January 07 2007 at 19:06
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j ------------- I'm always almost unlucky _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Id5ZcnjXSZaSMFMC Id5LM2q2jfqz3YxT |
Posted By: Eetu Pellonpaa
Date Posted: January 14 2007 at 12:55
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I think proto would be a good place for them, but I understand in a way the symphonic selection too.
I must admit that I personally like more of their mid 60's stuff than their symphonic phase. (!) "The" hit song is great, but the album itself containing it was a small disappointment, maybe too tame for my taste? I gave it to my father who likes it much more, so the bargain wasn't luckily futile.
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Posted By: stonebeard
Date Posted: January 14 2007 at 12:58
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Neo-Prog. We're adding them as I type. ------------- http://soundcloud.com/drewagler" rel="nofollow - My soundcloud. Please give feedback if you want! |