This has been around for awhile, but I thought it was time to visit it again. For any of you who appreciate the Moodies, this is a gem of a concert — the finest they’ve ever performed in my not-terribly-humble-at-all-opinion. They do a lot of extended riffing on songs they are well-known for.
For those of you who have no clue who they are, well, all I can say is sit back and enjoy this hour and twenty minutes of excellence:
Note: for some unknown reason, the concert is repeated without sound, such that the video is 2:41 long. Just stop watching when the credits roll, and blame whoever posted it on YouTube originally (there are several sources) for sloppy editing.
If anyone is sufficiently enamored, the DVD has much higher sound quality.
Here is a discussion of the main composer in the group, Justin Hayward (although John Lodge may disagree), stolen pretty verbatim from a press release by the Recording Academy Grammy Museum:
Justin Hayward is one of music’s most prolific songwriters. Hayward, along with The Moody Blues, has sold more than 70 million albums. The band’s chart-topping albums over the past five decades have included mega hits written by Hayward, including “Tuesday Afternoon,” “Nights In White Satin,” “Question,” “The Story In Your Eyes,” “I Know You’re Out There Somewhere,” “Your Wildest Dreams,” and many more. The Moody Blues’ No. 1, Top 5, Top 10, Top 20, Top 40, multi-platinum, platinum and gold albums and singles, have generated sold-out tours on a consistent basis over the course of several decades, making them one of the top-grossing album and touring bands of all time. In addition to his work with The Moody Blues, Hayward’s successful solo career includes his international hit “Forever Autumn” from The War of The Worlds, and his highly acclaimed 2013 album Spirits of the Western Sky. Following his most recent release, Hayward teamed with filmmaker/composer David Minasian for a series of DVD projects and television specials including Spirits Live (which hit No. 2 on the Billboard Video charts); the award-winning Story Behind Nights in White Satin and his latest DVD, Live in Concert At The Capitol Theatre. Most recently, Hayward co-wrote (with Minasian) the title theme for an upcoming feature motion picture titled The Wind of Heaven [released in 2016] currently in production by IM3 Global Entertainment.
BW member Carl Gansen says that Justin showed up at a Marty Wilde concert. I think this is the one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hk-u-7qNcE
UPDATE: Mr. Gansen found the video he was referencing. Here it is. It occurs to me, how must it feel to Justin Hayward that one of the oldest things he ever wrote turned out to be one of the most beloved, and most remembered?
16 replies on “The Moody Blues Live at the Royal Albert Hall”
Here is a taste of Justin Hayward when he was a member of the Wilde Three with Marty and Joyce Wilde. I suspect actual video footage of this era is rare or non-existant.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8rmVFGZz8s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2jE5DFbX7k
It would be fascinating to travel back in time and tell him over beers what he was going to accomplish over the next 50 years. Of course, that would probably foul up the timeline and he’d end up a garbage collector in some forgotten village.
Thanks for this.
Here is the Marty Wilde & Justin Hayward from the 50th anniversary Marty Wilde concert. Justin was part of Marty’s trio way back pre-Moodys.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EWa2O-FFmg
Incredible, Carl. I’m moving that up to the main post.
I got interested in the history side of Skiffle & Rock and Roll after George Harrison’s death. I had been unaware of many of the early musicians and I have been having fun. No expert, but having fun. This was a gem.
Another great post Steve, definitely will have this on today!
I have always been a fan of the Moody Blues, since “Go Now” was released. This was right about the time of my awakening to Pop and Rock music. I have followed them throughout their career. “Long Distance Voyager” was released while I was a DJ at a Pop radio station. I finally got to see them, not long before Ray Thomas retired.
I personally believe the Moody Blues were instrumental in inventing the sound of 70’s Rock. Before the Moody Blues changed both the style of music, and the relationship between musicians and studios, with “Days of Future Passed”. Pink Floyd sounded like an imitation, Beatles band (just listen to some of their music ca. 67 & 68). I find it amazing the Moody Blues were not inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame until just last year.
I agree with everything you said there. My wife and I saw them at the Hollywood Sportatorium, out in the swamp from Ft. Lauderdale, on April 8, 1972. Miserable traffic, terrible acoustics, and a great time (beyond standing room only, we were starting to be compressed). “Go Now” was a couple years before we discovered them.
I think the Hall of Fame is more political than anything else, and the Moody Blues never paid much attention to politics. All they ever wanted to do was play music.
I’ve been wondering how the death of Ray Thomas has altered any tours or appearances for the band.
I’m not sure. He had only a few songs he did as the focus vocal, so it hasn’t affected many. I do think he was the best singer. The loss of Mike Pinder in the earlier days certainly affected the overall sound of the band (the loss of the mellotron being the main reason). I always enjoyed the little poetry sections in the middles of albums.
I always enjoyed him in interviews. He was very talented but very humble.
I managed to get a copy of Marty Wilde’s 50th annivesary concert DVD and Justin Hayward showed up. He had been part of Marty Wilde’s trio before leaving for the Moody Blues. The DVD was a wonderful taste of pre-Beatles Rock & Roll in Great Britain.
I think this is the one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hk-u-7qNcE
I added it to my post (but we’re in the middle of a (likely cyber-attack-caused) “Error establishing a database connection” so this might be confused in showing up in the right order.
That’s the one…The closing number anyway. It’s well worth watching if you can get the DVD. It has *old* rockers like Jet Harris, Licorice Locking, Big Jim Sullivan, Hank Marvin and others. Big Jim and Jet Harris have since passed away. My only disappointment in the DVD is that he did not invite Joe Brown on. He worked with Joe on many occasions. Most people in the USA that know Joe Brown know him for the three numbers he did at the Concert For George Harrison.
Ray Thomas retired from the Band in 2002 with health issues. After his retirement, flautist, Norda Mullen was fully incorporated as a member of the band to replace him.
I do not think they are touring together anymore. According to the tour schedule on the Moody Blues website, it lists John Lodge and Justin Heyward with separate dates, and Graeme Edge, not at all. According to Wikipedia [sic] Graeme Edge is the only original member still touring with the band.
All of the of the original Moodies are well into their 70’s. I believe the oldest is Graeme Edge, who I think is 78. Yeah right, Graeme Edge is still pounding skins in concert, at 78 😉
I’m listening to the concert as I do stuff around the house. I’m really enjoying it. Thanks for posting, Steve!
Most certainly you are welcome, Cheryl Ann [sorry I got your name wrong earlier — your screen name confused me]. The Moody Blues was one of the first things my wife and I discovered we had in common. I actually snitched a couple of vinyls from a classmate in high school so I could copy them with a reel-to-reel tape recorder. They have remained one of my favorites all my life.
Leonard Bernstein was rumored to have called Justin Hayward the greatest living song writer, but I haven’t been able to verify that. I know he did call John Lennon and Paul McCartney the greatest composers of the 20th century, so it’s probably apocryphal or sarcastic.