The pre-psychedelic
Moody Blues were represented in England by this album, which is steeped in American soul. The covers include songs by
James Brown,
Willie Dixon, and
Chris Kenner, plus the chart-busting "Go Now" (originally recorded by
Bessie Banks), interspersed with a brace of originals by lead singer/guitarist
Denny Laine and keyboardist
Mike Pinder, and one
Jeff Barry/
Ellie Greenwich number, "I've Got a Dream." The shouters, like "I'll Go Crazy" and "Bye Bye Bird," will be the big surprises, showcasing the rawest sound by the group, but "I've Got a Dream" shows a lyrical, harmony-based sound that is vaguely reminiscent of
the Four Tops (which is ironic, as that group later cut a single of the latter-day
Moody Blues original "So Deep Within You"), while "Thank You Baby," a
Laine/
Pinder original, offers them doing a smooth, dance-oriented number with some catchy hooks. The group's sound is good and loud, and
Laine was a phenomenal singer, though the band lacked the charisma and built-in excitement of such rivals as
the Rolling Stones and
the Animals. This album is more interesting than its American equivalent, but also not as good, since it leaves off such single sides as "Steal Your Heart Away" and the
Pinder/
Laine "From the Bottom of My Heart," the latter being the best side this version of the group ever recorded. ~ Bruce Eder