Live At The Isle Of Wight Festival 1970 is the full concert performed by The Moody Blues at the third Isle of Wight Festival in August of 1970, in front of roughly 600,00 people. Sharing the stage that day with the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Jethro Tull, ELP, The Who, and The Doors, the Moodies were in good company, and thanks to their playing the festival the year prior as well, had that extra bit of experience under their belts. Riding high with the success of albums like On the Threshold of a Dream, To Our Children's Childen's Children, A Question of Balance, and of course Days of Future Passes, the band had plenty of songs to choose from for this show and played a good selection of strong cuts from their career at that point.
Love the Mellotron? Well, Mile Pinder and his trusty keyboard is all over this live recording, adding that orchestral/reed/horn/choral element to classic songs like the rocking opener "Gypsy", the symphonic "Sunset", and the haunting "Tuesday Afternoon". Between The Moody Blues and King Crimson, the Mellotron was put to heavy use and became somewhat of a symbol of the progressive rock movement. Listen to Pinder's ominous 'tron waves on the folky"Never Comes the Day", providing the orchestral element on the upbeat rocker "Tortoise And The Hare", and just laying down a creepy landscape on the chilling "The Dream". Of course, the Moodies were not just about the Mellotron. Check out the staple "Question", one of their all time best songs, complete with great vocals and guitar work by Justin Hayward, the dramatic proto-prog of "Have You Heard (Parts 1 And 2) " (ok, more cool Mellotron here!), the mix of prog, folk, and pop on "Legend Of a Mind", and the legendary cut "Nights In White Satin". For the harder rocking side of the band, the group ends the set with "Ride My See Saw", another classic that remained a live staple for many years to come.
Though the sound on some of the songs is somewhat muddy, and there are a few vocal flubs , overall this is just a great show with a killer set list. Hayward, Pinder, drummer Graeme Edge, bassist John Lodge, and flute player Ray Thomas were on top of their game, recreating their unique studio sound quite well in front of over a half-million people. Eagle Rock has included a charming booklet with commentary on the event and photos, making for an excellent package. And...be on the lookout for the DVD sometime in 2009!
Track Listing
1. Gypsy
2. Sunset
3. Tuesday Afternoon
4. Minstrel's Song
5. Never Comes The Day
6. Tortoise And The Hare
7. Question
8. Melancholy Man
9. Are You Sitting Comfortably?
10. Dream, The
11. Have You Heard (Parts 1 And 2)
12. Nights In White Satin
13. Legend Of A Mind
14. Ride My See Saw
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