Nights in White Satin: Collection

Much like the rare "Universal Masters Collection," in The Moody Blues catalog, this compilation features an interesting AND excellent grouping of Moody Blues hits and memorable tracks ... First off, upon careful listening, the live version of "Nights in White Satin" is indeed from the "Caught Live +5" album, so this is nothing new ... Interesting to find a live version of "Nights" rather than the different original studio versions with/without the orchestra for the first time on a Moody Blues compilation though. :)Both "Here Comes The Weekend" and "Rock 'N' Roll Over You" are among my favorite John Lodge rockers, and it is interesting to find both tracks representing the albums "Sur La Mer" and "The Other Side of Life," respectively, instead of the usual hits, "I Know You're Out There Somewhere" and "Your Wildest Dreams!" Along with "Lean On Me (Tonight)," this compilation closes out with a terrific trilogy of John Lodge offerings. :)Another major bonus for me was the inclusion of one of the greatest Mike Pinder songs of all time, "A Simple Game" ... When the track had previously appeared on compilations like "This Is The Moody Blues," "Universal Masters Collection," and "Collected," the song was given an early fadeout, and sometimes a fade-in, as heard on the "Prelude" CD, but this collection uses the full stereo mix that was originally featured as a bonus track from the re-mastered rerelease of "In Search Of The Lost Chord" from 2006 ... An interesting observation is that the notes within the CD booklet to this release credits "Simple Game" as being taken from the "Lost Chord" album, when it actually was a single released during that time period, with "Ride My See-Saw" as the flip side.Probably this product's only low point for me had to do with the edited versions of some of the songs, but this was most likely on account of the full versions not being able to fit the time-span of the overall CD ... The edits include "Tuesday Afternoon" repeated from "The Very Best Of The Moody Blues," when the song faded out at the point where the orchestra kicks in. Also, the single edits of both "The Voice" and "Blue World" are featured. However, there is another bonus for those who enjoy full versions of the songs ... The "Nights In White Satin" release features the full version of "Driftwood," as opposed to the compilations from the 1980's and 1990's that featured the track fading out about 1/2 minute early.For those who are curious as to which mixes were chosen for the tracks from the "Classic 7" period, the original album versions of tracks like "Question," "The Story In Your Eyes," "Lovely To See You," "Never Comes The Day," and "Watching And Waiting" are included, although I would have preferred the slightly longer single version of "Story" (Originally featured on "Very Best" and "Playlist Plus") the clean intro to "Lovely To See You" (Originally featured on "Gold" and "Playlist Plus"), and the rare alternate stereo mix of "Never Comes The Day" (Originally featured on the "Voices In The Sky" and "Ballads" compilations). Glad that the original mix of "Watching," from the "To Our Children's Children's Children" album, was included, as opposed to the remix found on "This Is The Moody Blues," which always sounded a bit "off" to me. :/ The single version of "I'm Just A Singer (In A Rock And Roll Band)" is featured (Clean intro with the loud, crashing drums, originally featured on the "Time Traveller" set and various "best of" compilations). Nice to also be treated with the two lovely ballads, "New Horizons" and "For My Lady," from the "Seventh Sojourn" album, but strange how this release did not keep the two tracks together as featured on the original release and on the "Say It With Love" compilation ... Would have been easier for the manufacturers of the CD to present it that way, I think.Finally, this CD release features another plus to the overall quality ... It includes a fine CD booklet that contains a very well detailed biography of The Moody Blues and features various photos of the band from around 1968/1969 ... Yet again the famous group photo of the Moodies from "On The Threshold Of A Dream" is featured as one of the many photos! Also, the back of the CD booklet and the sleeve under the CD case, combined, features a list of all of the album covers up to "Keys Of The Kingdom," but the "Threshold Of A Dream" album cover is oddly missing. :/On the whole, "Nights In White Satin" is a very well-balanced collection of some of the Moody Blues greats, and a pretty good place to start if you're just getting into the band and want to discover their music ... However, "Very Best of The Moody Blues" may be a slightly better choice on account of that release including the gems "Your Wildest Dreams" and "I Know You're Out There Somewhere." In closing, I wonder if one of the record companies will ever pull off releasing a "Nights In White Satin" compilation that would include all versions of the title track, each taken from the various studio and live CD's released? ;) Thank you and great job to "Universal"/"Spectrum" for this magnificent Moody Blues collection, and thanks to all for reading! Happy New Year and God Bless... ~Best wishes from "KevyGuy" :)

This disc opens with a version of Nights In White Satin recorded at Wembley Arena in 1970 (according to the album notes) which hasn't been released before. The rest are all released versions but some of the edits are a little choppy. For example, rather than the "count in" version of See-Saw, they use the album version and you can hear the laughing from Departure. All in all an interesting collection with Rock 'N' Roll Over You and Here Comes The Weekend making their first appearance on a comp cd. Still, I'd rather have the whole set from Wembley here rather than another comp where I already have everything.Nights In White Satin (Live at Wembley 1970)QuestionTuesday AfternoonThe Story In Your EyesI'm Just A Singer (In A Rock And Roll Band)Ride My See-SawLovely To See YouFor My LadyThe VoiceNever Comes The DayBlue WorldNew HorizonsWatching And WaitingDriftwoodA Simple GameHere Comes The WeekendLean On Me (Tonight)Rock 'N' Roll Over You

The Moody Blues had a unique sound. They were recording when the Beatles and the Stones were hot, but had a much different sound. The seventies was populated with bands that had diversity in their approach and this band was different. They employed string sections and a very "full" sound to their music. The price is right and the quality is very good. Try this and see if you like something a bit different, but very highly produced.

I really like the Moody Blues and their songs.

Dislike not even in my vocabulary with the Moody Blues. I miss Mike Pinder, and Ray was not as lively, but always, an original—voice and flute were just perfect.

Allot of rewritten music, but good to listen too.

the song selection

wife loved it

If you know you like Moody Blues, there'd normally be no need to read reviews of this CD. BUT, what the product description does not reveal is that the first track is not the studio version of "Nights in white satin" but a pretty poor live version.

Believe it or not, at 50 yrs of age this was my first purchase of Moody Blues material, and bought to get a better taste of their range...other than simply the big hits. Overall happy with my selection and the fact I continue to listen to it speaks volumes.Recommended for entry level, and to give the opportunity to delve into the back catalogue if so desired.

I really enjoyed "Nights in white satin". Songs like the title track, Tuesday Afternoon, Lovely to see you,Watching and Waiting I knew well and enjoyed. Many of the other tracks which I had never heard are equally good and nearly every track is a winner. For lovers of the Moody Blues this CD is a worthy addition to the collection.

This is a good complilation of the band, covering the period 1967-1991; nevertheless, I only liked the songs until 1981. 'Nights In White Satin', 'I'm Just A Singer (In A Rock And Roll Band)' and 'The Voice' are (or should be) classics. Recommended to all rock fans (if you can stand the worst cover art in musical history).

Did not get the chance to read back cover before purchase. Had I seen that it was a live recording then my money would have stayed in my pocket. Would advise any lover of The Moody Blues music to stick to the studio versions. This one is not worth the money!