The Magnificent Moodies – THE MOODY BLUES***

I’ll Go Crazy/Something You Got/Go Now/Can’t Nobody Love You/I Don’t Mind/I’ve Got A Dream/Let Me Go/Stop/Thank You Baby/It Ain’t Necessarily So/True Story/Bye Bye Bird

Birmingham group The Moody Blues came to public attention in early 1965 with the UK No. 1 hit single Go Now which also reached No. 10 in the States. At this time they were a fairly orthodox blues influenced group showing no signs of the progressive psychedelic sound that was to become their hallmark. The Magnificent Moodies reached No. 5 on the NME album chart. "This is pretty much your standard mid-60s Brit-pop and nothing like what The Moodies did on Days Of Future Passed and beyond."

"Go Now, a cover of a nearly identical American single by R & B singer Bessie Banks, heavily featuring Laine's mournful lead vocal - fulfilled every expectation and more, reaching number one in England."

"The pre-psychedelic Moody Blues were represented in England by this album, which is steeped in American soul. The covers include songs by James Brown, Willie Dixon and Chris Kenner, plus the chart-busting Go Now, interspersed with a brace of originals by lead singer/guitarist Denny Laine and keyboardist Mike Pinder, and one Jeff Barry/Ellie Greenwich number."

"The group's sound is good and loud, and Laine was a phenomenal singer, though the band lacked the charisma and built-in excitement of such rivals as The Rolling Stones and The Animals."

"Most of the songs featured on this debut album are cover songs from the rhythm & blues repertoire."

"I have to admit that this first album has little to do with their later work and is not a great record. The only outstanding track is Go Now, a No.1 hit single in the UK. And frankly, if you except this one, there are hardly any other interesting songs featured."

"The style of music on The Magnificent Moodies differs greatly from what most people expect from a Moody Blues album. The style is R 'n' B influenced and rather naive and simple. The songs are all single length and nothing sticks out as being innovative or progressive in any way."