HAYWARD & LODGE: "Blue Jays"

Original released on LP Threshold THS 14

(US 1975, March 14)

The most romantic album to come out of the Moody Blues' orbit, and the biggest success of their five-year hiatus. Hayward has the more distinctive body of songs, but their strength as a unit lies in their vocal pairing, which is as strong here as it ever was with the group. The pair play the guitars and basses, backed by a group that includes members of the Threshold-signed band Providence. Hayward wrote or co-wrote seven of the original album's ten songs, and most of it is fairly impressive as soft romantic rock, although "Nights Winters Years" is a little bit too melodramatic. Lodge has one of the better rockers to come out of the group's orbit, however, in "Saved By the Music," which is also a surprisingly spiritual song. The production by Tony Clarke echoes the best Moody Blues sound. The bonus track, "Blue Guitar," is an added attraction to the CD. (Bruce Eder in AllMusic)

JUSTIN HAYWARD: "Classic Blue"

Original released on CD Trax MODEM 1040

(UK, 1989)

This album is a personal trip very few artists can afford to indulge in (only their solid reputation allows them to get away with it). It is made up of cover versions of the most varied and unthinkable sources: Richard Harris' "MacArthur Park" rubs shoulders with the Beach Boys' "God Only Knows" alongside Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven". Hayward pulls some off quite nicely: "Vincent", and particularly "Bright Eyes", are so touching they'll move you to tears, especially if you've ever seen the movie "Watership Down". It's a very relaxing listen. Orchestrations are fine all the way and somehow create very movie-like atmosphere. There are many personal favourites of mine, and Hayward, more or less, is doing alright job with them. "Stairway to Heaven" is suited very well in this kind of handling, I'm not missing guitars and drums one bit. "Man of the World" instead loses some of its reflective beauty here. (in RateYourMusic)