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Moody Bluegrass

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Moody Bluegrass: A Nashville Tribute to the Moody Blues
Studio album by
Moody Bluegrass
ReleasedSeptember 28, 2004 (2004-09-28)
RecordedNashville, Tennessee, US
GenreBluegrass
Length48:31
LabelRounder Records
ProducerDavid Harvey
Moody Bluegrass chronology
Moody Bluegrass: A Nashville Tribute to the Moody Blues
(2004)
Moody Bluegrass TWO...Much Love
(2011)
Moody Bluegrass TWO...Much Love
Studio album by
Moody Bluegrass
ReleasedJune 21, 2011 (2011-06-21)
RecordedNashville, USA
GenreBluegrass music
Length1:06:11
LabelBunny Rae Records
ProducerDavid Harvey
Moody Bluegrass chronology
Moody Bluegrass: A Nashville Tribute to the Moody Blues
(2004)
Moody Bluegrass TWO...Much Love
(2011)

Moody Bluegrass is a bluegrass music project that produced two tribute albums to the British progressive rock band the Moody Blues. The albums consist of bluegrass-style cover versions of Moody Blues songs performed by a variety of noted bluegrass and country music artists.

Albums

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Moody Bluegrass: A Nashville Tribute to the Moody Blues

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The first album, Moody Bluegrass: A Nashville Tribute to the Moody Blues, was conceived by Randey Faulkner and produced by bluegrass musician and luthier David Harvey.[1] The album, released September 28, 2004 by Rounder Records, included performances by Alison Krauss, Harley Allen, John Cowan, Sam Bush, Tim O'Brien, and Harvey himself, among others. A live concert based the album was performed at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium on October 23, 2005.[2][3]

Moody Bluegrass TWO...Much Love

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A follow-up album, Moody Bluegrass TWO… Much Love, was released on June 21, 2011,[4][5] by Bunny Rae Records. The second album includes performances by Vince Gill and Ricky Skaggs in addition to many of the performers of the original album. Members of the Moody Blues themselves contributed to some of the tracks, with Justin Hayward, John Lodge, and Graeme Edge providing lead vocals on one song each, as well as Ray Thomas and Mike Pinder providing some instrumentals. The album ends with an original instrumental composition, “Lost Chord”, which is a tribute to the album In Search of the Lost Chord.[6]

The track of the bluegrass cover of "It's Cold Outside Of Your Heart" from Moody Bluegrass TWO...Much Love was also released on Hayward's 2013 solo album, Spirits of the Western Sky.[7]

Compilation album

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A compilation of the two tribute albums, also titled Moody Bluegrass: A Nashville Tribute to the Moody Blues, was released October 29, 2013 by Red River Entertainment.

Reception

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Critics praised both releases for their craftsmanship and serious treatment of the material.

On AllMusic.com, James Christopher Monger provided this assessment of the first album: "With all of the other countless tongue-in-cheek bluegrass renderings of classic rock radio staples, it's hard not to toss off producer/mandolin player David Harvey's irony-free reimagining of the Moody Blues' greatest hits…[however] what was once an exercise in high camp turns into a lovingly crafted tribute that's as reverent as it is whimsical."[8]

For the second album, Jim Burn on folkalley.com wrote, “Harvey has once again sparked conversation with these arrangements, but pulls them off with such class that any suggestion of novelty instantly disappears once you listen. He adds vocal harmony (The Settles Connection) and strings at the right moments, but mostly lets his cast of stars deliver.”[9]

Track listings

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The following listed tracks include lead singers / performers.

Moody Bluegrass: A Nashville Tribute to Moody Blues (2004)

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  1. Lovely to See YouHarley Allen
  2. Land Of Make BelieveTim O'Brien / Alison Krauss
  3. The VoiceJohn Cowan
  4. The Other Side Of LifeLarry Cordle
  5. It's Up To You – Jan Harvey
  6. Ride My See-Saw – Harley Allen
  7. I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band) – John Cowan
  8. Legend of a Mind – Tim O'Brien
  9. Your Wildest Dreams – Harley Allen
  10. Nights In White Satin – John Cowan
  11. Late Lament – Larry Cordle
  12. Never Comes the Day – John Cowan

Moody Bluegrass TWO… Much Love (2011)

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  1. I Know You're Out There SomewhereVince Gill
  2. Nice to Be HereSam Bush
  3. Dear DiaryTim O'Brien, with Ray Thomas on Flute and Mike Pinder on Mellotron
  4. MeanwhileHarley Allen
  5. Dawn Is a FeelingPeter Rowan
  6. It's Cold Outside of Your HeartJustin Hayward
  7. You and MeRicky Skaggs
  8. Say It With Love – Jan Harvey
  9. Send Me No WineJohn Lodge
  10. The Story In Your EyesRonnie Bowman
  11. Voices in the Sky – Emma Harvey
  12. Have You HeardLarry Cordle
  13. Higher and HigherGraeme Edge
  14. Tuesday AfternoonJohn Cowan
  15. HighwayJon Randall
  16. Lost ChordDavid Harvey & Tim May

References

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  1. ^ Munro, Steve, "Moody Bluegrass: Rocking Through the Hills", National Public Radio, 30 December 2004. Retrieved on 25 August 2015.
  2. ^ "Moody Bluegrass at the Ryman", bluegrasstoday.com, 24 October 2005. Retrieved on 30 August 2015.
  3. ^ 'From Justin: Moody Bluegrass/Swindon BBC", justinhayward.com, 1 October 2005. Retrieved on 30 August 2015.
  4. ^ Lawless, John, "Moody Bluegrass Two…Much Love", Bluegrass Today, 7 June 2011. Retrieved on 25 August 2015.
  5. ^ Hackett, Vernell, "Moody Blues Have ‘Much Love’ for Bluegrass", theboot.com, 28 June 2011, Retrieved on 29 August 2015.
  6. ^ Ellis, Christine, "Moody Bluegrass Two…Much Love", goldminemag.com, 19 August 2011. Retrieved on 29 August 2015.
  7. ^ Mueller, Matt A conversation with Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues, justinhayward.com via onmilwaukee.com, 10 November 2014. Accessed 4 September 2015.
  8. ^ Monger, James Christopher "AllMusic Review: Moody Bluegrass: A Nashville Tribute to the Moody Blues”, AllMusic.com, review undated. Retrieved on 25 August 2015.
  9. ^ Blum, Jim, "Review: Moody Bluegrass TWO...Much Love: A Nashville Celebration of the Moody Blues”, Folk Alley Blog, 3 October 2011. Retrieved on 25 August 2015.
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