PRELUDE

Here's the first review for poor old Prelude. Or not so poor as it looks, after all. It collects on one disc some early songs, singles' B-sides and the five studio tracks from Caught Live +5, only 'Late Lament' being an album track (Days Of Future Passed). The first songs date before that album and are sort of a bridge between the old r&b Moodies and the classic MB. 'I Really Haven't Got The Time' is Pinder at his most rock'n'rolling, and Hayward's 'Fly Me High' is one of his first songs - rocking and simple but not bad. B-side songs are from 1968. Pinder's powerful 'Simple Game' deserves a classic status. MB albums of the time were made conceptually and therefore even some fine songs were left out (but in my opinion Simple Game would have only improved Threshold of a Dream, my least fave of the seven).

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.

Well, here is a bunch of some old and/or forgotten MB songs. all average and all hearable. Some also precedes the famed "Days Of Future Passed" production. Die-hard Moodie fans will love it, closed-mind progheads will probably disdain it, but take in account that even when they sound R&B, they sound different - their signature is indelible.

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.

I was quite reluctant to listen to this album. Can you imagine? A Moodies album made of B-sides as well as "5" forgotten songs (already available on their live album "Caught Live + 5"). What a programme! Actually, it should be considered more as a compilation album (it is not considered as a true studio album on their official site).

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.