| "The Spirit" | |||
| 11 August 1986 | |||
| 1985 | |||
| Synth-pop | |||
| 6:50 (album) 4:49 (single) | |||
| Polydor | |||
| Justin Hayward | |||
| Tony Visconti | |||
| |||
| "The Other Side of Life" on YouTube |
"The Other Side of Life" is a 1986 single by The Moody Blues. It was first released in May 1986 as the title track on the album The Other Side of Life. It was released as a single in August 1986, the second single released from the album, the first being "Your Wildest Dreams". After its release, it became a major success in the United States, making #11 and #18 on the adult contemporary and mainstream rock charts respectively. It also reached #58 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[1]
Reception[edit]
Billboard said it is a "bluesy shuffle with a light, lyrical texture."[2] Cash Box praised the music and poetry and said the tune is helped by "bright synthesizers."[3]
Chart history[edit]
| 1986 | US Billboard Adult Contemporary | 18 |
| US Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | 11 | |
| US Billboard Hot 100[4] | 58 | |
| Australian Kent Music Report | 80 |
Personnel[edit]
- Justin Hayward: acoustic guitar, electric guitar, vocals
- John Lodge: bass guitar
- Patrick Moraz: keyboards
- Graeme Edge: drums, percussion
References[edit]
- ^ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
- ^ "Reviews". Billboard. August 9, 1986. p. 73. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
- ^ "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. August 9, 1986. p. 9. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
- ^ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
External links[edit]
- "The Other Side of Life" official music video (YouTube)
| 9 April 1986 | |||
| Good Earth, London | |||
| |||
| 42:10 | |||
| Polydor | |||
| Tony Visconti | |||
| |||
|
| AllMusic |
The Other Side of Life is the twelfth studio album by English progressive rock band the Moody Blues, released in 1986 by Polydor Records.
This was the first Moody Blues album since 1978's Octave, and only the second since 1969's On the Threshold of a Dream, not to be released by the Moodies' custom label, Threshold Records. Beginning with this album, and continuing through 1999's Strange Times, albums would be branded "in association with Threshold Records".
Production[edit]
The Other Side of Life was the third recording with Swiss keyboardist Patrick Moraz and the first for flutist and vocalist Ray Thomas not to play a major role. The main songwriters were vocalist/guitarist Justin Hayward and bassist John Lodge, with only one song, "The Spirit", composed by Moraz (his only songwriting credit with the band) and drummer Graeme Edge. The music on the album is characterized by the heavy use of synthesizers, sequencers and drum machines, to the point that it could be classified as synth-pop, a sharp change in style for a band that had stood at the origins of symphonic rock.
The album was recorded at Good Earth Studios in London and produced by Tony Visconti.
Reception[edit]
Anthony DeCurtis in his review for Rolling Stone suggested that the album for the most part "plays to the Moodys' longstanding musical strengths: luscious symphonic textures, rich, stately melodies and densely overlaid vocal arrangements" and praised the band for successfully avoiding pompous lyrics, which he felt were present only on "The Spirit".[2]
Track listing[edit]
Side one
| "Your Wildest Dreams" | Justin Hayward | 4:52 |
| "Talkin' Talkin'" | Hayward, John Lodge | 3:56 |
| "Rock 'n' Roll Over You" | Lodge | 4:51 |
| "I Just Don't Care" | Hayward | 3:29 |
| "Running Out of Love" | Hayward, Lodge | 4:25 |
Personnel[edit]
The Moody Blues[edit]
- Justin Hayward – vocals, guitar
- John Lodge – vocals, bass
- Ray Thomas – tambourine, backing vocals, flute
- Graeme Edge – drums, percussion
- Patrick Moraz – keyboards, synthesizers
Technical personnel[edit]
- Tony Visconti – producer, engineer
- Alwyn Clayden – art direction, design
- Bruce Gill – design
- Michael Hoppen – photography
- Karl Lloyd – illustration
Charts[edit]
Certifications[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Eder, Bruce. The Moody Blues: The Other Side of Life > Review at AllMusic. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
- ^ DeCurtis, Anthony (17 July 1986). "The Moody Blues: The Other Side of Life : Music Review". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 9 February 2009. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0675". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – The Moody Blues – The Other Side of Life" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – The Moody Blues – The Other Side of Life" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
- ^ "The Moody Blues | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
- ^ "The Moody Blues Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
- ^ "Canadian album certifications – Moody Blues – The Other Side of Life". Music Canada.
- ^ "American album certifications – The Moody Blues – The Other Side of Life". Recording Industry Association of America.