The Moody Blues – Go Now - Moody Blues #1 (LP)
The Moody Blues debut long-player -- known alternately as Go Now! or Moody Blues #1 -- was essentially a repository for various singles. The lineup included Ray Thomas (harmonica/vocals), Mike Pinder (keyboards/vocals), Denny Laine (vocals/guitar), Graeme Edge (drums), and Clint Warwick (bass/vocals). Yet despite their formidable penchant for potent R&B covers -- such as their worldwide smash remake of Bessie Banks' "Go Now" -- the band received little notice during this seminal period. The compact and rousing overhaul of James Brown's "I'll Go Crazy" that kickstarts the album, likewise indicates the Moodies' blue-eyed soul aspirations.
They go even deeper into Chicago-style blues with a spirited remake of Willie Dixon's "Bye Bye Burd" (sic) that could give the Yardbirds' concurrent reading some competition. By contrast however, "I've Got a Dream" is unimpressive, sounding much like what it ultimately is, a Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich Brill Building leftover. The mod interpretation of George Gershwin's "It Ain't Necessarily So" from Porgy & Bess similarly suffers as the Moodies simply can't pull off the sentiment. All is far from lost as they make up for it with several outstanding originals. Primary among them is the Bo Diddley-rhythm inspired "True Story," the driving "And My Baby's Gone," and best of all, the dark, temperamental "From the Bottom of My Heart (I Love You)."
Label: London Records – PS 428
Country: US
Media Condition: Very Good Plus (VG+)
Sleeve Condition: Very Good Plus (VG+)
Plays great but has some superficial marks
Matrix / Runout (Side A Runout): A-1 ᐉ PS 428 ZAL 6787 STERLING
Matrix / Runout (Side B Runout): A-1 ᐉ PS 428 ZAL 6788 STERLING