The Moody Blues everyone seems to know is, for good reason, the "Nights In White Satin" Moody Blues. Prog, man, HELLA PROG, well like most English prog/rock groups of the late '60s early '70s, the Moody's had a beat music past.

The group were from Birmingham, brummies they were, and formed in mid '64 playing R&B and beat music. The core members were Ray Thomas and Michael Pinder with Denny Laine, Graeme Edge, and Clint Warwick rounding out the first, beat era, line up. In terms of pop stardom, they were relatively successful. After they hooked up with a management team they were singed to Decca and made some TV show appearances, recorded several 45s, including a number one hit, a version of Bessie Banks' "Go Now," and were afford an LP. That album, The Magnificent Moodies, is good, full of VERY young English kids working hard to make serious R&B. Oh, The Magnificent Moodies didn't come out in the US rather Go Now – The Moody Blues #1 was issued on London, with a different running order/track listing than the The Magnificent Moodies. Buyer/listener beware, if you do snag a copy of Go Now – The Moody Blues #1 the re-channeled for shit-tastic sound "stereo" copies are most plentiful, so try to find a mono copy as true stereo copies don't exist. Anyways, it was in late '66 when Denny Laine quit with Justin Hayward and John Lodge then joining, it was with this line up the HELLA PROG soon followed. Lodge, BTW, had been in groups with Thomas and Pinder prior to the Moody's formation.

Their most stiking beat era song and second single was indeed their number hit, their version of Ms. Bessie Banks' "Go Now." I hafta say it kinda rivals the orignal...that's Pinder playing piano and Laine on vox.

Sidebar: This post has been brought to you by the Value Village "pop" radio after hearing Simply Red's gag-inducing version of the Bessie Banks jam. Tho' if you listen to Simply Red's version @ :48 the SWAT theme is inserted as a horn fill, now THAT did make me smile.