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PRELUDEThe Moody BluesCrossover Prog |
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The "+5" songs I like too, except some high-pitched harmony vocals in couple of them. 'What Am I Doing Here?' is very beautiful and melancholic Hayward number. Prelude has a good sound quality and is well worth having if you want to hear what Moodies were into before their Days album, and especially if you don't have Caught Live +5 (which I don't rate high as a live recording). New listeners should choose the main albums between '67-'72.

Noticeable tracks are: 'Fly me high', a strong opener, dated 1966 or something like it, has an impressive intro with fine guitar action and that typical mid-60s drum beat which is truly catchy.'I really haven't got the time' is pure rock 'n' roll flavored with blues spices and nice piano working.'Leave this man alone' resembles some contemporary HOLLIES' song and the result is very interesting.'Simple game' could be dubbed a proto-prog ballad and shows certain similarities with 'My song' from "Every Good Boy Deserves Favour" album although it's apparently older. Flute and vocals in 'Gimme a little something' are worthy to be heard.'Long Summer days' brings back the bluesy smell joined with some psychedelic interludes and another great piano work.
Other songs aren't bad but add few to the album and 'Late lament', the final part of 'Nights in white satin', is unable to shine when left alone.
A good album indeed but capable only to please MOODY BLUES aficionados. Total: 2.

What oen gets here are some pleasant psychedelia ("Fly Me High", "Leave This Man Alone", "Cities") combined with old fashioned songs which haven't aged very well ("Love & Beauty").
This work is intended to die-hard Moodies fans. A fine way for them to get some rarities on a single album. Some songs are more than honorable like "A Simple Game". More upbeat, it features good vocal harmonies and a nice melody. My preferred song of the whole.
Then come the "five" songs in a row of which "Gimme A Little Somethin'" is above average. The worse really being "Please Think About It" (they should have done so) as well as "Long Summer Days". The best one is probably "King & Queen" : another enjoyable melody with a good chorus and some fine keyboards.
And the last one is not bad either. Good mellotron work during What Am I Doing Here. The Moodies were really one of the first well-known bands to use this great instrument and should be granted therefore.
Still, I wonder why "Late Lament" (which is an excerpts from "Nights") closes this album. Nothing to do here IMO. If I could, I would rate this compilation with three out of ten. Since I have been quite harsh with the band ultimately, I will round it up to two stars.
THE MOODY BLUES Prelude ratings only
chronological order | showing rating only
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ZBY147 (ZBYSZEK)
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MichelNeurophile
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motoprog (Pascal Demarez)
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fifek (Rafal Bigda)
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Enigmaticus Rex
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rclevesque (Roger)
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sergeyluk (sergey)
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Justamops
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Floydoid (Mike)
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Kingsnake (ACCOUNT DELETED)
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ab30
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marzach
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