Moody Bluegrass is a bluegrass music project that produced two

tribute album An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early 20th century as individual 78 rpm records c ...

s to the British

progressive rock Progressive rock (shortened as prog rock or simply prog; sometimes conflated with art rock) is a broad genre of rock music that developed in the United Kingdom and United States through the mid- to late 1960s, peaking in the early 1970s. In ...

band

the Moody Blues The Moody Blues were an English rock music, rock band formed in Birmingham in 1964, initially consisting of keyboardist Mike Pinder, multi-instrumentalist Ray Thomas, guitarist Denny Laine, drummer Graeme Edge and bassist Clint Warwick. The g ...

. The albums consist of bluegrass-style

cover version In popular music, a cover version, cover song, remake, revival, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording by a musician other than the original performer or composer of the song. Originally, it referred to a version of a song release ...

s of Moody Blues songs performed by a variety of noted bluegrass and

country music Country (also called country and western) is a genre of popular music that originated in the Southern and Southwestern United States in the early 1920s. It primarily derives from blues, church music such as Southern gospel and spirituals, ...

artists.

Albums

''Moody Bluegrass: A Nashville Tribute to the Moody Blues''

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 David W. Harvey (born 31 October 1935) is a British-born Marxist economic geographer, podcaster and Distinguished Professor of anthropology and geography at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York (CUNY). He received his P ...

. The album, released September 28, 2004 by Rounder Records, included performances by

Alison Krauss Alison Maria Krauss (born July 23, 1971) is an American bluegrass-country singer and musician. She entered the music industry at an early age, competing in local contests by the age of 8 and recording for the first time at 14. She signed with ...

Harley Allen Harley Lee Allen (January 23, 1956March 30, 2011) was an American bluegrass and country singer and songwriter. Early life Allen was born in Dayton, Ohio, the son of bluegrass performer Red Allen. Discography Studio albums Singles Musi ...

, John Cowan,

Sam Bush Charles Samuel Bush (born April 13, 1952) is an American mandolinist who is considered an originator of progressive bluegrass music. In 2020, he was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame as a member of New Grass Reviva ...

, Tim O'Brien, and Harvey himself, among others. A live concert based the album was performed at Nashville's

Ryman Auditorium Ryman Auditorium (also known as Grand Ole Opry House and Union Gospel Tabernacle) is a 2,362-seat live-performance venue located at 116 Rep. John Lewis Way North, in Nashville, Tennessee. It is best known as the home of the ''Grand Ole Opry'' fr ...

on October 23, 2005.

''Moody Bluegrass TWO...Much Love''

A follow-up album, ''Moody Bluegrass TWO… Much Love'', was released on June 21, 2011, by Bunny Rae Records. The second album includes performances by

Vince Gill Vincent Grant Gill (born April 12, 1957) is an American country music singer, songwriter and musician. He has achieved commercial success and fame both as frontman of the country rock band Pure Prairie League in the 1970s and as a solo artist ...

and

Ricky Skaggs Rickie Lee Skaggs (born July 18, 1954), known professionally as Ricky Skaggs, is an American neotraditional country and bluegrass singer, musician, producer, and composer. He primarily plays mandolin; however, he also plays fiddle, guitar, ...

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 David Justin Hayward (born 14 October 1946) is an English musician best known as the lead singer, songwriter and guitarist of the rock band the Moody Blues. Hayward became the group's principal lead guitarist and vocalist over the 1967–1974 ...

, John Lodge, and

Graeme Edge Graeme Charles Edge (30 March 1941 – 11 November 2021) was an English musician, songwriter and poet, best known as the co-founder and drummer of the English band the Moody Blues. In addition to his work with the Moody Blues, Edge worked as ...

providing lead vocals on one song each, as well as

Ray Thomas Raymond Thomas (29 December 1941 – 4 January 2018) was an English multi-instrumentalist, flautist, singer, founding member and composer in the English progressive rock band the Moody Blues. His flute solo on the band's 1967 hit single "Night ...

and

Mike Pinder Michael Thomas Pinder (born 27 December 1941) is an English rock musician, and is a founding member and original keyboard player of the British rock group the Moody Blues. He left the group following the recording of the band's ninth album '' ...

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 ''In Search of the Lost Chord'' is the third album by The Moody Blues, released in July 1968 on the Deram label. Content ''In Search of the Lost Chord'' is a concept album around a broad theme of quest and discovery, including world exploratio ...

. 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''.

Compilation album

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

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… oweverwhat was once an exercise in high camp turns into a lovingly crafted tribute that's as reverent as it is whimsical." 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.”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.

Track lists

The following listed tracks include lead singers / performers.

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

* 1) ''

Lovely to See You ''On the Threshold of a Dream'' is the fourth album by The Moody Blues, released in April 1969 on the Deram label. Content The album begins with a poem accompanied by electronic sounds, and these sounds also appear at the close of the album ...

'' –

* 2) ''Land Of Make Believe'' – Tim O'Brien /

* 3) ''

The Voice The Voice may refer to: Fictional entities * The Voice or Presence, a fictional representation of God in DC Comics * The Voice (''Dune''), a fictional ability in the ''Dune'' universe * The Voice, a character in the American TV series ''Cleo ...

'' – John Cowan * 4) '' The Other Side Of Life'' – Larry Cordle * 5) ''It's Up To You'' – Jan Harvey * 6) ''

Ride My See-Saw __NOTOC__ "Ride My See-Saw" is a 1968 single by the English progressive rock band the Moody Blues. It was written by the band's bassist John Lodge, and was first released on the Moody Blues' 1968 album '' In Search of the Lost Chord''. It was the ...

'' – Harley Allen * 7) ''

I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band) "I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)" is a 1973 hit single by the English progressive rock band the Moody Blues, written by the band's bassist, John Lodge. It was first released in 1972 as the final track on the album '' Seventh Sojourn' ...

'' – John Cowan * 8) ''

Legend of a Mind "Legend of a Mind" is a song by the British progressive rock band the Moody Blues, and was written by the band's flautist Ray Thomas, who provides the lead vocals. "Legend of a Mind" was recorded in January 1968 and was first released on the Mood ...

'' – Tim O'Brien * 9) ''

Your Wildest Dreams "Your Wildest Dreams" is a 1986 single by the progressive rock band the Moody Blues, written by Justin Hayward. The song was first released as a single, and later released on the Moody Blues' 1986 album '' The Other Side of Life''. Written by Ha ...

'' – Harley Allen * 10) '' Nights In White Satin'' – John Cowan * 11) '' Late Lament'' – Larry Cordle * 12) ''

Never Comes the Day "Never Comes the Day" is a 1969 single by the progressive rock band the Moody Blues. It was written by band member Justin Hayward, and was the only single released from their 1969 album '' On the Threshold of a Dream''. Background The song was ...

'' – John Cowan

Moody Bluegrass TWO… Much Love (2011)

* 1) ''

I Know You're Out There Somewhere "I Know You're Out There Somewhere" is a 1988 single by the English rock band the Moody Blues. It was written by guitarist Justin Hayward, and it is the sequel to the Moody Blues' 1986 single "Your Wildest Dreams", also written by Hayward. It ...

'' –

* 2) ''Nice to Be Here'' –

* 3) '' Dear Diary'' – Tim O'Brien, with

on Flute and

on Mellotron * 4) ''

Meanwhile Meanwhile may refer to: Music Albums * ''Meanwhile'' (Camouflage album), 1991 *'' ...Meanwhile'', a 1992 album by British pop band 10cc *'' Meanwhile...'', a 1995 album by world fusion ensemble Trance Mission * ''Meanwhile'' (Gorillaz EP), a 202 ...

'' –

* 5) ''Dawn Is a Feeling'' –

Peter Rowan Peter Rowan (born July 4, 1942) is an American bluegrass musician and composer. Rowan plays guitar and mandolin, yodels and sings. Biography Rowan was born in Wayland, Massachusetts to a musical family. From an early age, he had an interest ...

* 6) '' It's Cold Outside of Your Heart'' –

* 7) ''You and Me'' –

* 8) '' Say It With Love'' – Jan Harvey * 9) '' Send Me No Wine'' – John Lodge * 10) ''

The Story In Your Eyes "The Story in Your Eyes" is a 1971 hit single by the English rock band the Moody Blues. Written by the band's guitarist Justin Hayward, it was first released as a single with "My Song" on the B-side, and then on the 1971 album '' Every Good Boy ...

'' –

Ronnie Bowman Ronnie Bowman (born July 9, 1961) is an American singer and composer of bluegrass music. Besides his solo albums, he is known for his work with the Lonesome River Band. Biography Early years A native of Mount Airy, North Carolina, Bowman sang gos ...

* 11) '' Voices in the Sky'' – Emma Harvey * 12) '' Have You Heard'' – Larry Cordle * 13) '' Higher and Higher'' –

* 14) '' Tuesday Afternoon'' – John Cowan * 15) ''Highway'' –

Jon Randall Jon Randall Stewart (born February 17, 1969) is an American producer, songwriter, and musician. His career began as a guitarist for Emmylou Harris' Nash Ramblers with whom he won his first Grammy for their ''Live at the Ryman'' album in 1992. B ...

* 16) ''Lost Chord'' –

& Tim May

References

External links

Official website
{{Moody Blues Bluegrass albums Progressive rock albums The Moody Blues tribute albums