I have "The Promise" on vinyl. Pinder/Moodies fans would like it. Very "astral" with some nice melodies and flourishes. The recording is nice as well.
Also have both Ray THomas albums on vinyl (From Mighty Oaks and Hopes, Wishes and Dreams). THey lie somewhere between older and newer Moodies albums in nature. There are a lot of very good songs performed and produced immaculately with Ray' voice in prime vibrato form. These songs are very MOR in design overall but will make you feel good if you listen carefully. There is a piece with calliope on HWAD that is very interesting from an audiophile perspective.
I also like Graeme Edge's solo works, "Kick Off Your Muddy Boots" and "Paradise Ballroom" very much each. These have a more rock/blues orientation than the typical Moodies solo album. He teamed with guitarist Adrian Gurvitz on these. Gurvitz is a very talented guitarist and there are many very excellent guitar riffs on these albums that few have ever heard. The albums suffer a bit with Gurvitz's vocals perhaps but the playing is so good you may not care.
Lodge's "Natural Avenue" is a very nice listen from start to end. Lodge never had the best voice for leads, but he does the job here and most every song is quite good. ALso excellent sound and production on this one.
I'm familiar with Hayward's "Songwriter" and "Night Flight" solo works. These are OK but, a bit too poppish and MOR overall. I tend to miss more in Justin's solo works I've heard compared to his work with the Moodies. Many like "View From A Hill" and consider that his best, but I have not heard it (its on my "buy" list though).
Of course then there is Hayward and Lodge's solo effort "Blue Jays" which many consider to be on par with the best of the Moodies works, and holds a very distinctive place in the adult-oriented, classic pop/rock archives. It is a most wonderful artistic work with immaculate production and sound with orchestral and vocal harmony flourishes that help round out the sound nicely on a good system. Highly recommended.
Also have both Ray THomas albums on vinyl (From Mighty Oaks and Hopes, Wishes and Dreams). THey lie somewhere between older and newer Moodies albums in nature. There are a lot of very good songs performed and produced immaculately with Ray' voice in prime vibrato form. These songs are very MOR in design overall but will make you feel good if you listen carefully. There is a piece with calliope on HWAD that is very interesting from an audiophile perspective.
I also like Graeme Edge's solo works, "Kick Off Your Muddy Boots" and "Paradise Ballroom" very much each. These have a more rock/blues orientation than the typical Moodies solo album. He teamed with guitarist Adrian Gurvitz on these. Gurvitz is a very talented guitarist and there are many very excellent guitar riffs on these albums that few have ever heard. The albums suffer a bit with Gurvitz's vocals perhaps but the playing is so good you may not care.
Lodge's "Natural Avenue" is a very nice listen from start to end. Lodge never had the best voice for leads, but he does the job here and most every song is quite good. ALso excellent sound and production on this one.
I'm familiar with Hayward's "Songwriter" and "Night Flight" solo works. These are OK but, a bit too poppish and MOR overall. I tend to miss more in Justin's solo works I've heard compared to his work with the Moodies. Many like "View From A Hill" and consider that his best, but I have not heard it (its on my "buy" list though).
Of course then there is Hayward and Lodge's solo effort "Blue Jays" which many consider to be on par with the best of the Moodies works, and holds a very distinctive place in the adult-oriented, classic pop/rock archives. It is a most wonderful artistic work with immaculate production and sound with orchestral and vocal harmony flourishes that help round out the sound nicely on a good system. Highly recommended.