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What genere do The Moody Blues fit in?

Moodies were ahead of lots of the Progs - I think they started in symphonic/Prog rock
and drifted to pop/schlock as time went on. Remember, they came from a folkie era
(like the Association, etc) and had the vocal harmonies, tambourines and such many harder progies lacked.
I saw them twice in the early days (EGBDF tour and 7Soujourn tour) - then only once after Pinder left ...
The post-76 band had moments but the deeper magic was gone ...

My vote is original Prog!
 
enricosonic said:
When I was in college (mid '80s), they were definitely NOT progressive.
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Yeah, but in the late 60s, they were cosmic, man. Definitely on the edge of psychedelic (what did those lyrics really MEAN??). And kinda proto-New Age also. I lived in Vancouver, B.C. at the time, where one of the very early FM album-rock stations was king, and you couldn't get away from the Moodies -- along with Van Morrison, John Mayall, The Doors, Jefferson Airplane, etc., etc. The Moodies were considered to be "thoughtful" and literate (they were British, after all).

They were the kinder, gentler King Crimson -- or maybe King Crimson (whose music was once famously labelled "death-of-the-universe" rock) was a reaction to the Moodies. And the Moodies weren't influenced by any of the Vietnam-related "kick out the jams," "we want a revolution" protest stuff that was coming out of the States. In a way, they were the ultimate peach and love hippie band, except way more studied and self-conscious.

By the mid-70s, though, the Moodies were passe. And then, even later, they were generally dismissed as "wimpy," which was even worse.
 
Good heavens! Lots of replies and some interesting thought out answers too. It's just something I was wondering about. I file them in with late 60s early 70's rock, but their sound is so different from the rest of it. Definitely not hard prog rock like Yes, Rush and the rest. Perhaps they are Crossover-Prog or Psych or the beginning of Prog. Hell, I don't know.
Funny, I never considered Jethro Tull Prog rock, I usually just leave them in classic rock. I'm a big JT fan.:yes:
 
Back before cds, we were trying to figure out what category to put an album. So many artists were overlapping categories that we pulled all of them off the shelves and re shelved them into 4 categories, Jazz, blues, classical, world and all the rest. All pop, rock, soul, r&b, hip hop, funk, folk, country, bluegrass etc were simply sorted a, b, c, d etc...

That's right, 4,000 LPs on the floor and back up.
 
Rowrbazzle said:
Yeah, but in the late 60s, they were cosmic, man. Definitely on the edge of psychedelic (what did those lyrics really MEAN??). And kinda proto-New Age also. I lived in Vancouver, B.C. at the time, where one of the very early FM album-rock stations was king, and you couldn't get away from the Moodies -- along with Van Morrison, John Mayall, The Doors, Jefferson Airplane, etc., etc. The Moodies were considered to be "thoughtful" and literate (they were British, after all).

They were the kinder, gentler King Crimson -- or maybe King Crimson (whose music was once famously labelled "death-of-the-universe" rock) was a reaction to the Moodies. And the Moodies weren't influenced by any of the Vietnam-related "kick out the jams," "we want a revolution" protest stuff that was coming out of the States. In a way, they were the ultimate peach and love hippie band, except way more studied and self-conscious.

By the mid-70s, though, the Moodies were passe. And then, even later, they were generally dismissed as "wimpy," which was even worse.
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I like this! :thmbsp:
 
For me an first time listener, instant fan. First LP bought by me was after hearing NIWS in 68 maybe? Tough to do on an income from mowing lawns. Got spun alot in a dark room with incense burning.....

I always liked psychedelic music then and now. So for me they are "classical psychedelic mix".




Barney
 
Rowrbazzle said:
Yeah, but in the late 60s, they were cosmic, man. Definitely on the edge of psychedelic (what did those lyrics really MEAN??). And kinda proto-New Age also. I lived in Vancouver, B.C. at the time, where one of the very early FM album-rock stations was king, and you couldn't get away from the Moodies -- along with Van Morrison, John Mayall, The Doors, Jefferson Airplane, etc., etc. The Moodies were considered to be "thoughtful" and literate (they were British, after all).

They were the kinder, gentler King Crimson -- or maybe King Crimson (whose music was once famously labelled "death-of-the-universe" rock) was a reaction to the Moodies. And the Moodies weren't influenced by any of the Vietnam-related "kick out the jams," "we want a revolution" protest stuff that was coming out of the States. In a way, they were the ultimate peach and love hippie band, except way more studied and self-conscious.

By the mid-70s, though, the Moodies were passe. And then, even later, they were generally dismissed as "wimpy," which was even worse.
Click to expand...

Cactus Bob said:
I like this! :thmbsp:
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Me too. A respectful write-up with the weight of experience over the long haul. :yes:
 
Well, I enjoyed the album called "This Is The Moody Blues" I just digitized in spite of the naysayers. So far I have not heard any song I did not like except one if memory serves. I just picked up 3 more of their albums. I might like them or I might hate them, but I want to listen rather than go with someone else's opinion without hearing for myself. All music is not meant for all people. Everyone resonates with different music, let it be. For instance, I'm not about to listen to a single note from that beaver drug addict kid whatever it's name is, but if somebody likes him, then it's none of my business trying to convince them otherwise.
 
It is difficult to pigeon hole the many albums of the Moody Bluues. The music has evolved over the years like many other popular rock groups.

Justin Hayward does not get enough respect as a lead guitarist.

The later albums of the group are very high quality recordings.

The Strange Times and Keys of the Kingdom studio recordings sound like live music. The Hall of Fame recording performed live at the Royal Albert Hall will reveal the accuracy and limitations of ones audio system.

Most of the groups later music is seldom heard on the airwaves.
 
sm19422 said:
It is difficult to pigeon hole the many albums of the Moody Bluues. The music has evolved over the years like many other popular rock groups.

Justin Hayward does not get enough respect as a lead guitarist.

The later albums of the group are very high quality recordings.

The Strange Times and Keys of the Kingdom studio recordings sound like live music. The Hall of Fame recording performed live at the Royal Albert Hall will reveal the accuracy and limitations of ones audio system.

Most of the groups later music is seldom heard on the airwaves.
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Popular taste is very fickle. When a band falls out of favour and is no longer the "flavour of the month," it doesn't necessarily mean that they've stopped making quality music. The popular media likes young, fresh faces, e.g., Justin Bieber. With a few rare exceptions, it doesn't champion wrinkled old geezers, even though they may be making better music.
 
I dunno how to categorize without going berserk so I lump all Rock together as I do with Jazz. So much hair splitting gets in the way of my just enjoying the music. If there was a "Thoughtful, Life-Affirming Prog For Headphones" sub-genre then that's where I'd put them, but rowrbazzle said it very well.

What I do know is that these words from Threshold have served me well over the years in surviving the corporate jungle:

There you go man, keep as cool as you can.
Face piles
And piles
Of trials
With smiles.
It riles them to believe
that you perceive
the web they weave
And keep on thinking free.
 
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