Guitar World Acoustic

[prairieblue]

I was in the bookstore before Christmas, looking for January's Classic Rock (still not there, sniff), when I spotted the word Moody Blues on the cover of another magazine. It was the February 2007 issue of Guitar World Acoustic and it has a nice interview with Justin about the SACD reissues, which segues into his various guitars, what he used them for, different tunings, and how he wrote Tues. Afternoon and Question. The interviewer ends by asking him why he thinks the first seven albums have stood the test of time. It's interesting that he questions if they have. He ends by saying, "Some of what we did was bad, some of it was embarrassing, and some of it was totally inspirational." I'd love to know which songs he would put into each category, especially the first two!
There's also a five-page guitar transcription for Nights.
If you look for it, the cover has a large picture of Tom Petty and his guitar.

[musicfan]

That's interesting info, thanks.

[JHFAN]

Originally Posted by prairieblue

He ends by saying, "Some of what we did was bad, some of it was embarrassing, and some of it was totally inspirational." I'd love to know which songs he would put into each category, especially the first two!

I'd like to know which ones he's referring to as well.
I know in the new Classic Rock Magazine interview he calls "The Present" rubbish! I had to disagree with him about that! I liked that album. It had some good songs on it!

[musicfan]

JH fan, Can you post a full size picture of your icon please?

[Greenhithe Girl]

Originally Posted by JHFAN

I'd like to know which ones he's referring to as well.
I know in the new Classic Rock Magazine interview he calls "The Present" rubbish! I had to disagree with him about that! I liked that album. It had some good songs on it!

I agree that not the entire content of their first seven albums have stood the test of time - no more and no less than a lot of their post-78 material. I wish the 'Core 7' albums (I can't begin to express how much I hate that saying) were not so revered by some fans because I don't think it does the band any favours in how they are perceived by non-fans, the indifferent and the media. Can anyone think of another band, particularly one with the Moodies' back-catalogue and longevity, that has a number of their albums referred to as 'Core #', whether it be by their fans, the media, the industry or anybody else?

I disagree with 'The Present' being rubbish. I would hesitate to call any of their albums rubbish but if I had to bestow that dubious honour on any of them, there are two of their albums that would beat 'The Present' to it by a mile, and they are both far more recent than 'The Present'.

[JHFAN]

Originally Posted by Greenhithe Girl

I wish the 'Core 7' albums (I can't begin to express how much I hate that saying) were not so revered by some fans because I don't think it does the band any favours in how they are perceived by non-fans, the indifferent and the media.

I feel the same way. It chains them to the sixties and makes it sound like nothing they've done since has been worth anything and I just don't believe that.

I don't really think I consider anything they've done "rubbish". Some albums may have been better than others but none were "rubbish".

[forevermoody]

Amen, y'all!

I also have to shake my head every time I read a post that states, "The Moody Blues ended when Mike Pinder left the band." If they feel that way, why are they spending so much time on Moody Blues message boards 29 years after his departure?

[hopeinthelight]

HA! Good one, Janet.

Ann

[prairieblue]

True! I like their post-1980 sound just as much, especially on a song like Your Wildest Dreams with its smooth flow and harmonies. I wouldn't call any of the albums rubbish either.
I do wonder what early songs embarrass Justin now. There are some that I could suggest, for ex. the one about aliens coming to earth to teach us how to live. I can't remember the title but it's one of Mike's. Some of his more spacey ones I wouldn't play to someone I was trying to get interested in the band. I wonder if any of Justin's own early songs he now sees as bad or embarrassing. I can't think of any offhand.

[JHFAN]

Originally Posted by prairieblue

There are some that I could suggest, for ex. the one about aliens coming to earth to teach us how to live. I can't remember the title but it's one of Mike's.

I can't remember which one that is as I usually skip most of his.
But it doesn't sound like one I'd play anybody either!

Originally Posted by prairieblue

I wonder if any of Justin's own early songs he now sees as bad or embarrassing. I can't think of any offhand.

I can't think of any of Justin's early songs that were not good either.
Even his earliest ones he wrote for the group like "Leave This Man Alone" and "Fly Me High" were good.

[Greenhithe Girl]

Originally Posted by forevermoody

Amen, y'all!

I also have to shake my head every time I read a post that states, "The Moody Blues ended when Mike Pinder left the band." If they feel that way, why are they spending so much time on Moody Blues message boards 29 years after his departure?

It's usually Pinder aficionados who say this.

The greatest irony is that the vast majority of people outside fan circles and/or not very familiar with the band cannot name or even identify any member beyond Justin or John.

Don't get me started on this because I could rant for a whole page

[JHFAN]

Originally Posted by forevermoody

If they feel that way, why are they spending so much time on Moody Blues message boards 29 years after his departure?

I've often wondered that myself.

[RetroLisa]

I agree, not all of the songs on the first 7 albums have stood the test of time. Many of them are timeless, but some of them strike me as being quite "dated." When I listen to "Voices In The Sky," it sounds like it could have been recorded yesterday. But when I hear "Om," it's quite a different story!

The "Core 7" label is a bit irritating, I do agree. I use the phrase because it's an easy way to refer to that period in their history, but I don't really like it. They could just as easily have called it something else (any ideas? ) "Core 7" implies more than the fact that those albums were recorded first. It also implies that everything they've done since then is based on them, revolves around them, and should be compared to them. In other words, that those albums are the center of everything. No way!

Every group has good songs and not-so-good songs. We've all heard rubbish, and I don't think the Moodies are capable of producing rubbish.

[forevermoody]

Lisa, I agree with all but your last statement -- not too much rubbish, though. LOL!

Actually, I like Om -- especially the extended version on the new SACD.

Originally Posted by Greenhithe Girl

It's usually Pinder aficionados who say this.

Yes, and the same people who are constantly calling for the guys to kiss and make up. It ain't gonna happen -- even Mike says so.

Originally Posted by Greenhithe Girl

The greatest irony is that the vast majority of people outside fan circles and/or not very familiar with the band cannot name or even identify any member beyond Justin or John.

And they're generally only familiar with Justin's and John's songs.

Originally Posted by Greenhithe Girl

Don't get me started on this because I could rant for a whole page

Only one page? I could beat you!

None of this is to understate Mike's contributions or talent at all. But Mike has moved on . . . too bad some of his fans seem unable to do that!

BTW, the song Jan is thinking of is "My Song" from EGBDF. Not one of my favorites either.

[moodylucy]

These people who are on "Moodies" boards that put down anything after the C7, and post Mike, need to appreciate what has been done since then. Ignoring and poo-pooing all of that is a slap in the face to the ARTISTS that are still sharing with us.