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Take a spin with Golden Graham's choice album reviews

 

 CD Cover Moody Bluegrass

A Nashville Tribute to the Moody Blues

Rounder 11661 0550-2

 

One of the leading pop bands of the 1960's The Moody Blues made their mark on the British pop charts with their #1 hits "Go Now" in 1964. Their next highest chart entry came in 1970 with "Question", but arguably the number best remembered (at least in my mind) from the Moody Blue was "Nights In White Satin". The song's first impression on the charts was in 1967…topping out at #19, but made a healthier #9 when re-released in 1972. A third release twelve years after it's original outing gave a more modest #14 in 1979, but still five points higher than its initial showing and now standing as a rock 'n' roll classic!

Record producer/mandolinist David Harvey was playing with the Harley Allen Band at Nashville's restaurant, come premier songwriter's platform the Bluebird when he was introduced to Radney Faulkner. A phone call the following day brought Harvey and Faulkner back together, as he told Harvey that he had been at a party and heard "Knights In White Satin" played on the mandolin. This had started Faulkner thinking "Moody Blues, Moody…. Bluegrass." And from this the project Moody Bluegrass was conceived!!!

Here we find a heart-gripping acoustic version of Justin Hayward's song featuring John Cowan on lead vocals, with Alison Krauss - tenor vocals and Sam Bush - baritone vocals, with searing solos from David Harvey on mandolin and Andrew Hall on Dobro.

Many of the top-flight musicians in Nashville both well-known names and lesser-known accompanists have come together for this project simply for the love of the music which translates well to a bluegrass style. You'll find 31 different names with each player projecting their own musical personality. Though we can't list every artists here, you will find on lead vocals Harley Allen, John Cowan, Jan Harvey, and Larry Cordle (who wrote the song "Murder On Music Row") plus Tim O'Brien (also on mandolin). Other vocalists not already mentioned include Jon Randall, David Harvey, Patty Mitchell, Jill Snider and Russell Smith. Just a small handful of the fine musicians to be found encompass Stuart Duncan (fiddle), Alison Brown and Barry Crabtree (banjo), Tim May (guitar) and Tim Shinness offers a gentle solo on harp guitar for the track "Late Lament".

There are twelve spellbinding tracks in all to be found on Moody Bluegrass. Layered with strongly delivered vocals, lighter than air harmonies, souring instrumental solos and guitars, fiddle, dobro and mandolins combining in sweet conversation to communicate well with the listener. Moody Bluegrass is an intoxicating and rich album that certainly sits one notch above the rest!!!