The Moody Blues
Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970
Review by Gary Hill
The Isle of Wight Festival in 1970 saw the Moody Blues play in front of half a million people. I’m sure many people then (as today, even) thought of the Moody Blues as a strictly studio band. Well, they came out and showed the crowd that they were definitely capable of being a vital and powerful live presence. Much of the music here is rawer than the lush studio arrangements, but that brings its own charm with it. I like this disc a lot. The recording technology in 1970 left a lot to be desired for live recordings, but this really sounds pretty good. Don’t get me wrong, it’s nothing like modern standards, but it’s not a bad sounding recording. You can hear some issues here and there with the stage amplification, though. If you are a fan of the studio productions on the group’s music, you might want to steer clear of this. However, if you like hearing alternate performances of your favorite tracks, then this is one to pick up for sure.
This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2008 Volume 5 at lulu.com/strangesound.
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