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Track
Composer
1. English Sunset Hayward 2. Haunted Hayward 3. Sooner or Later (Walkin' on Air) Hayward/Lodge 4. Wherever You Are Lodge 5. Foolish Love Hayward 6. Love Don't Come Easy Lodge 7. All That Is Real Is You Hayward 8. Strange Times Hayward/Lodge 9. Words You Say Lodge 10. My Little Lovely Thomas 11. Forever Now Lodge 12. The One Hayward/Lodge 13. The Swallow Hayward 14. Nothing Changes Edge |
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I remember seeing an interview with the Moodies back in...ohh...about 1994. Justin was talking about the direction they were going to take for their new album. He said they were at a crossroads...and they hadn't decided which way to go. I remember being excited that a new album was on the horizon. Little did I know I would have to wait another five years.
Over the next few years, there were promises of a new album. Then, a couple summers ago, we were given a sneak preview of what was to come, when "Strange Times" (the song) was played for the very first time in concert. What a delight! It was well received by the fans and whet our appetite for the long-awaited album.
Finally, on August 17, 1999 "Strange Times" (the album) was released in
the US. After eight long years between studio albums and endless
hype from the Moody camp, could this one ever possibly live up to our expectations?
A first listen proved, beyond a shadow of a doubt, the answer was a resounding
"YES!" The Moody Blues had delivered the goods one more time, and
proven that, like fine wine, they only improve with age. Maybe times aren't
so strange afterall. J
"English
Sunset"
The first reported
single on the album. (I say "reported" cause I haven't seen it anywhere
and don't know anyone who has.) Justin Hayward describes this song
as having a "techno groove". I knew upon first listen that this one
would really ROCK in concert! I wasn't disappointed. J
Lots of synths and a good dance beat. I'm not a big fan of programmed
drums, but they seem to work here. Love the live version, with Graeme
and Gordon giving it their all. Many people thought this was to be
the Moodies' swan song, but a line in the last verse dispels those fears
for me..."And I've decided they can wait for the requiem..." Okay...I'll
wait. J
"Haunted"
A beautiful ballad
of a lost love. Justin does such a wonderful job lyrically with this
song. I'm a sucker for sad songs that are delivered with so much
feeling. It's so moving in concert that it has become my favorite
concert tune. This is reminiscent of Broken Dream from Justin's
latest solo album The View From The Hill. Haunted is
hauntingly beautiful.
"Sooner
or Later (Walkin' on Air)"
The Moodies are
back!!! Lest you think, after hearing the first two songs, that this
was going to be another Justin Hayward solo album. This song is the
first on the album that shows off the Moodies' trademark harmonies and
features "that sound" that the Moodies have become known for. It's
a great upbeat tune and is what I would call a "feel good" song.
You can't help but smile. J
John, Ray and Justin alternate lines for each verse, so all are featured
prominently in this tune. Definitely one of my faves! J
"Wherever
You Are"
John Lodge's first
solo contribution, and my favorite Johnsong on the album. This one
seems to set the tone for most of the Johnsongs. It's a song full
of hope for renewing a seemingly lost love. The theme of these songs
is kind of reminiscent of Justin's Moving Mountains.
But all is not lost, and Wherever You Are leaves you with a good
feeling. I'm still not quite sure what "let your shadow show" means,
but I like it. J
"Foolish
Love"
Oooo...there are
so many potential Adult Contemporary hits on this album, and this is definitely
one of them! The morning after I bought Strange Times, I woke
up with this song in my head. I used that as a gauge and deemed this
my very first favorite on the album. An upbeat love song, with more
distinct Moody harmonies. I love John's backing vocals on this one,
and usually end up singing along with those, rather than the lead.
Graeme's drums are featured prominently. (Yay!) Another "feel
good" song! J
"Love
Don't Come Easy"
Hmm...this one's
another "struggle song". The "I don't want to lose you" theme continues.
And very nicely done, I might add! The song also features the orchestral
sound that we've come to know and love in association with the Moody Blues.
Real drums on this one, too! J
"All
That Is Real Is You"
Justin's gone country
again. ;-) Some people think this song has Celtic influences,
but sorry...I don't hear them. Others have suggested that this is
a spiritual song. Sorry...I don't hear that either. What I
hear is a beautiful love song in 3/4 time. Justin sings down in his
lower range for the verses, which is very sexy in the context of the song.
(Sorry...had to throw that in. ;-)) Real drums on this one, too!
Yeee-haw! J
"Strange
Times"
When I first got
this CD, I was kind of afraid to listen to this song. I'd been hearing
it for a year or so in concert, and was afraid I really wouldn't like the
album version. When will I ever learn? ;-) Instead of
hating it, it became another fave! I think I even like the album
version better than the concert version, which I dearly love! More
orchestral sounds in this one and trademark Hayward guitar leads.
It'll make you go, "Doot do do doot do do dooo..." J
"Words
You Say"
This is the Johnsong
that he picked to sing in concert on the Strange Times Tour. This
song is so beautifully orchestra-heavy, I don't know if I could fully appreciate
it live without a symphony. I know there were a handful of shows
on the tour that didn't include an orchestra, but I didn't get to see any
of those. Actually, though...I'm sure they didn't use an orchestra
in the studio when they recorded the song, so I guess it really wouldn't
matter. Ya gotta love modern technology. ;-) John does
a great job with moving vocals and creating a mood. To be honest,
I really wasn't crazy about this song when I first heard it. But
I'm glad I kept at it, cause it really is beautiful! J
"My
Little Lovely"
Ray Thomas' only
writing contribution to the album. Ahhh...that glorious voice!
Ray wrote this for his grandson, Robbie. A whimsical little tune,
along the lines of Another Morning and Nice To Be Here.
It features "fairy dust and pixie glue" and those beautiful Moody harmonies.
The guys came together to make this song soar! The only complaint
I have about this song is that IT'S TOO SHORT!!! L
Clocks in at about 1:40. C'mon Ray...don't tease us like this!
WE WANT MORE! J
"Forever
Now"
I'm not quite sure
what John's struggling with here. Another beautifully orchestrated
song, but I can't quite get a clear picture on this one. (Not that
my other impressions are correct. ;-)) There are some really cool
lyrical wanderings, Ray's flute and more real drums. If I had to
give my take on this, I guess I'd have to say it's about the band.
Where they are, where they've been and where they're going. Only
problem is, I can't really tell where they're going from this song, cause
it's a little ambiguous. Of course it is! It's a Moody Blues
song! J
"The
One"
It's "that sound"!!!
J
This is *definitely* a Moody song! Don't ask me why, it just is!
There was a lot of speculation as to who "The One" is. I never could
figure it out, but there were a few ideas being kicked around by some people
who were convinced they knew. I don't want to go there, but Justin
says it's about "people who sell their stories." Still don't know
whether that's people in general, or specific people. I'm sure they'll
never tell. ;-) Regardless of WHO, it's a great song, with
a feel for the old and a
flair for the new.
It just grabbed me from the git go. J
"The
Swallow"
This song was widely
considered a love song. I don't know why, but some time back I got
the wild idea that Justin wrote this song about the band. I even
posted as much on the CompuServe Moody board. I thought it was a
real stretch, but still possible. In a later interview, Justin actually
*said* it was about the band. What? I was right?! I'm
*never* right! ;-) It features some nice acoustic guitar work
from Justin, as well as a soaring lead vocal and more lovely harmonies.
Another one I woke up with in my head that first week the album came out.
J
"Nothing
Changes"
We haven't had
a Graeme Edge poem to close out a Moody album in quite some time!
WAY too long, in fact! Billed by Graeme in concert as "A rapper...Moody
Blues style," Nothing Changes is obviously Graeme's millennium message.
I really don't know why people are struggling over its true meaning.
I think this is the most straight forward song on the album. Except for
that little code thingy at the end, which eluded me. Probably because
it was obvious. ;-) Listen for more lovely guitar work from
Justin, both electric and acoustic, and a little twist at the end.
J
In the description of English Sunset, I kind of gave a little shot to the record company regarding the so-called single. The main reason for this page and the Banner Campaign is to get the word out that the Moody Blues have a new album...something Universal seems to have no intention of doing. They have done little to promote this wonderful album and haven't even sent copies to most radio stations. It's a safe bet that Strange Times (the album) will just fade into oblivion if there is no exposure. To have that happen to this truly inspired collection of music is nothing short of criminal.
The only promotion I've seen for Strange Times so far is what the Moodies have been doing themselves. This is their very first self-produced album. They so obviously love this album, they've been promoting their little butts off. They really believe in this collection of music and want to present it to the public. It's their gift to us. They have every right to be proud of what they have accomplished.
I have no idea why Universal is opposed to making money. Perhaps they were just looking for a write-off. I suspect that, in the right hands, this album could go places. It probably wouldn't put the Moodies in a position to rival the Backstreet Boys (strange times indeed!) or put them in the top slot for recording and touring bands. It probably wouldn't even yield a #1 song, though that's not impossible. But it could certainly add a few hits to the airwaves and generate a little money for Universal...if only it could get some airplay.
The purpose of this page is NOT to make money for Universal, however. Personally, I wouldn't care if Universal went belly-up, after the way they've treated the Moodies. I'm really sorry now that Universal didn't drop them after Polygram was bought out. I think the Moodies interests would have been better served by CMC, who I'm sure would have been delighted to pick them up!
The fans are as frustrated as the Moodies. We know this album deserves
more than it is getting. It certainly deserves the right to be heard.
If you have come this far and haven't heard the album yet, check out the
links above for a sampling of audio clips and information on how to order
your very own copy. You won't be disappointed! J