THE LOST PERFORMANCE: LIVE IN PARIS '70

'Quite a bit of overdubbed music' says a review here. I would be glad if there was just 'quite a bit' of overdubbed music. The entire DVD consists of a well-filmed TV recording by the Moody Blues in Paris 1970, divided into two pieces - the first and the second set. But the music that we hear when watching this DVD are just the studio recordings with the Moodies lip-synching to it. Justin Hayward's electric guitar emits acoustic guitar sounds, Ray Thomas breathes in and breathes out at the same time in the blues harp solo in 'Lazy Day' and Graeme Edge's drums sound before he starts beating his drum sticks on them in 'Ride my See Saw'. But (at least) most of the songs where you can see Justin playing the acoustic guitar feature his live vocals although I believe that the instrumental backing tracks all come from the studio.

Ironically, the sham is revealed when you see that Mike Pinder's only keyboard on stage is a Hammond organ B-3 (complete with drawbars and two manuals) while you hear his string sounds of the Mellotron. Pinder rarely played Hammond organ, and this time it's the only instrument on stage. For sure, a mellotron could sample the sounds of a Hammond organ, but the other way round - no way! I would have loved to hear a concert of the Moodies where Mike only plays the Hammond organ and no Mellotron, but this played-back DVD is useless.

As the order of the featured tracks is absolutely untypical for the Moodies in 1970 the DVD doesn't have any documentary character either - and even as a best-of-DVD with film material put underneath the studio material wouldn't get a good rating because essential songs and albums are missing here, and because the sound is by far worse than the production of the studio versions.

All in all, I have to admit that the DVD is totally useless. It would be nice to see the band performing live, but as they only play to their studio versions I prefer enjoying the genuinely live 'Caught Live' instead, a really fine live recording. 1 point, very poor - only recommendable for fans who want to see the band playing.

Update (April 28th 2012): Since 2009 a DVD from the Moody Blues gig at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970 is available both on CD and on DVD. Better spend your money on that release!

Share this THE MOODY BLUES review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to Einsetumadur
• Report this review (#186289)
• Buy THE MOODY BLUES music online with PA partners
• Show all THE MOODY BLUES MP3/Stream
• Go to THE MOODY BLUES page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to The Lost Performance: Live in Paris '70 page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for THE MOODY BLUES related discussions