Rating: Summary: More rehearsal Review: I always liked The Moody Blues but I think they needed more time playing together before performing live Very disappointing
Rating: Summary: Class Performance in a Classy Venue Review: I have watched "all" of the Moody Blues videos and they are all good. This one, Live From The Royal Albert Hall, is worth owning if you are a fan of this group that were responsible for so many wonderful songs that periodically I find myself running through my head. All of their big hits except for the very early Moody Blues songs are on this well done video. They are backed up by The World Festival Orchestra that really add an air of class and dignity to all of the memorable Moody Blues songs. I am pleased to have this video concert in my collection.
Rating: Summary: Great performance!!! :) Review: This is the way that The Moody Blues were meant to be heard-- live with a full orchestra! I just saw this performace on PBS, and now I definitely want to get either the DVD or the VHS, and probably the CD as well. The Moodies have been around for a long time, and are clearly energized here. They even move around a bit here and there, which is something that they never used to do before. They even pose for the cameras sometimes while they play! They definitely had a lot of fun doing this, and it shows.The "Overture" that begins the show is a five-minute, orchestra-only medley of parts of some of their best-known songs, including "Nights In White Satin." Then the Moodies take the stage, and commence with "Tuesday Afternoon." Although lead singer and guitarist Justin Hayward's voice sounds a bit rusty at the beginning (he doesn't quite have the voice he used to have, but that's understandable), he does warm up nicely during the song, and is able to hold the two crucial long notes. With the orchestral accompaniment, one fondly remembers the wonderful original version from their breakthrough album DAYS OF FUTURE PASSED. The band then effortlessly glides thrity years into the future with a recent song called "English Sunset." This song is a bouncy, uptempo homage to the Moodies' homeland, and shows that they can still write good songs that bear their distinctive mark while sounding new and fresh at the same time. It is a very good song indeed. Next, co-lead singer and bass guitarist John Lodge gets his turn on a nice ballad called "Words You Say." His voice has apparently held up VERY well over the years, with not much sign of wear and tear at all. Then, they do a good version of their hard-rock classic "The Story In Your Eyes." Next comes the upbeat late-80's hit "I Know You're Out ThereSomewhere" which deserves its place as a Moody Blues classic. They do this song just as bouncily as they did back in 1988. I could go on and on through every track here, but I want to conclude now by singling out their live version of "Isn't Life Strange" for praise. Originally recorded in 1972 for the non-orchestral SEVENTH SOJOURN album, they and the World Festival Orchestra inject new life into it, and make me wonder why this song hadn't been originally recorded this way in the first place. The drummer, Graeme Edge, has a great time with this song, as his arms go flying, pounding out extra drumbeats in the harder parts. Very last note: when they finally do their all-time classic "Nights In White Satin," they skip over Graeme Edge's spoken poetry section, which kind of disappointed me a little. However, they still do a wonderful version of this song anyway. Overall, if you love The Moody Blues like I do (and I've been listening to them for 25 years now), this is a tape you should get. Otherwise, get the DVD. Either way, don't miss out on this incredible peformance. The Moody Blues are back, and they are still great!!
Rating: Summary: I Love every second of this DVD!! Review: The Moody Blues have aged magnificently in the past 30+ years. I first caught part of this show on PBS while channel surfing. I immediately searched Amazon.com to check its availabilty. I most highly recommend this to any MB fan. The sound quality is excellent. Other reviews have been critical of the sound and mixing. I say, "Upgrade your equipment!" As far as the performance goes, all I can say is "Wow!"
Rating: Summary: distant voices Review: The problem with this DVD is the center channel. The voices are distant, like in another room. The Moodys have never had a good recording engineer in my modest opinion; like Steely Dan for example. Great songs but can't separate the instruments for a crisp sound.Only "Forever Autumn" in "Time Traveler" collection sounds well recorded. I still enjoyed this DVD. To their credit I have to say that I've listened to three DVDs recorded at Royal Albert Hall and they all sound with the same problem. If anybody can explain, please do so.
Rating: Summary: AWFUL SOUND TECHNOLOGY Review: Among my top 5 bands of the past 50 years, The Moody Blues concert is performed in a beautiful enchanting concert hall. Having seen the band live three times I know what can be. However on this DVD, the sound audio is horrible. It seems distantly mixed or faint. What is Dolby 5.0 anyway? If I were the Moodies I never would have allowed this to be released! It's hard to believe they even listened to it in Dolby 5.0 and allowed it to be released. Only buy this DVD if you have DTS capability. What a disappointment. I returned my copy, came home and listened to an older laser disc concert to restore my mind with the true Moodies.
Rating: Summary: Good news, Bad news! Review: DTS? Buy it!! No DTS? Save your money. Dolby Digital sound track is very poor, but the DTS is a 7 out of 10. Center channel needs to be turned louder, otherwise DTS recording is pretty good. DVD is 80 minutes long with only 15 songs, not a complete concert. Ends too soon, you want more. Why do DVD producers do this?
Rating: Summary: No comparison Review: I just got the Moodies' "Night at Red Rocks VHS " . There is no comparison. Justin Hayward looks like a corpse at Red Rocks. Ten years later at Albert Hall he looks so alive I could jump him and eat him up! Damned sexy for over 50! Whew!
Rating: Summary: A shortened but still great effort! Review: Although a bit shorter than it could have been, with some great songs left out, this is a very solid performance by the Moody Blues of today. It mixes many of the classic hits with good newer material and is very well edited. It documents well the current band, including the backup musicians and singers, and shows that the Moody Blues are very much alive and well entering the 21st century.
Rating: Summary: DTS problem Review: In general, I agree with the general tenor of the reviews here,ie., great concert, good recording. To my ears the sound of the DTS is better than the Dolby Digital soundtrack; however there is an annoying "pumping" distortion in the left rear channel in the DTS soundtrack which makes it unlistenable. I hope enough people complain that the publisher corrects this problem and replaces already sold DVDs.
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