Album review: JUSTIN HAYWARD – Spirits of the Western Sky
Share the post "Album review: JUSTIN HAYWARD – Spirits of the Western Sky"
Eagle Records (Released 25th February)
The Moody Blues main man Justin Hayward returns with his first solo album since 1996. The album was recorded in Nashville and Genoa and features a few musical adventures with a couple of bluegrass/country tunes and two dance remixes!
As the voice of the Moody Blues as you’d expect much of the album reminds you of the band, especially ‘On The Road To Love’ which sounds like a long lost Moody Blues song from the late 80′s/early 90′s era – a great song. Also Kenny Loggins co-wrote the song and appears as guest vocalist. There is a lot of West Coast AOR flavoured songs including ‘Lazy Afternoon’ and ‘One Day, Someday’, the latter enriched by Anne Dudley’s string arrangements. There is also an extended version of ‘One Day, Someday’.
The bluegrass/country of ‘It’s Cold Outside Of Your Heart’ and ‘What You Resit Persists’ (a nice backwards looking lyric that name checks a few historical moments of the Moody Blues) really suits Justin Hayward’s voice and based on these two songs an album of similar tunes could well be a future offering from him.
Now for the two songs that I am sure will have some fans choking on their tea and biscuits…a dance version of the Moody Blues classic ‘Out There Somewhere’, which I actually like and a six minutes plus Raul Rincon remix which pushes my limits it has to be said. But if it exposes the Moody Blues wonderful music to a whole new audience then it’s job done.
Lovely album, wonderfully lush musical arrangements and of course the timeless vocals of Justin Hayward, who has lost none of his vocal prowess. If you’re a fan you will enjoy this album, well at least until you hit the two dance tunes…
****
Jason Ritchie
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.
Next session: Sunday 1 December
Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio
David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 November 2024.
UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 29 October 2024.
How to Listen Live?
Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)
Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”
Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.
More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com
Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024
ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)
Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)
Popular (last 10 days)
Share the post "Album review: JUSTIN HAYWARD – Spirits of the Western Sky"
Blanche:
February 3rd, 2013 at 04:45
Working girl so have heard only a few tracks but wholeheartedly agree, Jason, that Spirits of the Western Sky seems to be a lovely production on all burners and beautifully arranged. Anne Dudley and Alberto Parodi are in step and share a synchronicity with Justin’s ethereal but deliberate creative process. Despite an impatient and wild curiosity … hello, it has been 17 years since The View From the Hill … am managing to temper the wicked impulses and will wait until the CD arrives in the mailbox. I expect the canvas will be richly layered and prefer to hear the whole of it in one lush sweep. How adventurous to add a touch of bluegrass and techno. We 60-somethings have always had pluck and style. Bravo.