BOULEVARD DE LA MADELAINE

I don't remember which one I have heard first, the Moody Blues original of 'Boulevard de la Madeleine' or Finnish rock artist Pate Mustajärvi's strong, translated cover version from the 80's. Anyway, having never been very interested in pre-'67 Moody Blues in general, I have "always" liked this song. It has an intriguing sense of drama, about love, and the arrangement is sophisticated. Definitely among the best pop songs of 1966, together with several Simon & Garfunkel songs.

On the B side, 'This Is My Hose (But Nobody Calls)' keeps rolling in a sharp tempo. By and large I don't quite like the thumping performance, but the composition -- by Michael Pinder, I presume -- in itself has a lot of potential. Interesting enough not to drag down my rating for this single.