Review: Moody Bluegrass TWO…Much Love: A Nashville Celebration of the Moody Blues

by Jim Blum, FolkAlley.com

Moody Blugrass TWO…Much Love:
A Nashville Celebration of The Moody Blues
(Bunny Rae Records)

You may not know the name David Harvey as well as you know The Moody Blues. They became stars during the 60’s and into the 70’s at a time when radio embraced groups who took chances. The Moody Blues came before Emerson, Lake, & Palmer and Yes in the nicknamed categories of “art-rock” or “symphonic-rock.” Like many of us who grew up on this English group of heroes, David was also a fan. Today he is a producer and session player, mostly on mandolin. He puts both talents to work once again on a follow up to the first Moody Bluegrass release in 2004.

“TWO…Much Love” features a parade of Nashville’s best acoustic players, plus the members of the Moody Blues themselves, who make cameo performances. John Lodge is back, for example, reviving “Send Me No Wine.” Backing him are: Andy Hall, dobro (Infamous Stringdusters), Tim May on guitar, Barry Crabtree on banjo, and the fiddler is Stuart Duncan. The best songs however, feature the Nashville stars singing the leads. Ricky Skaggs shines on “You and Me.” Joining him on this number are Alison Brown on banjo and Aubrey Haynie on fiddle. Ronnie Bowman sings “The Story in Your Eyes; ” John Cowan takes honors on “Tuesday Afternoon;” and wait till you hear Tim O’Brien’s bluegrass diary entry following “Dear Diary,” a tongue in cheek follow up to the original. Highlights on this version feature Moody Blues players Ray Thomas on flutes and Mike Pinder on mellotron. (Remember?)

The album kicks off with Vince Gill powerfully delivering “I Know You’re Out There.” This song is for all the lonely-hearts, then and now, inspiring them to hold on until their soul mate arrives. Chances are you’ll be singing along instantly, especially if you are a baby boomer. This album features one of the last recordings Harley Allen ever made, and it is sweet to hear his widow, Debbie Nims, harmonizing with him once again.

Harvey has once again sparked conversation with these arrangements, but pulls them off with such class that any suggestion of novelty instantly disappears once you listen. He adds vocal harmony (The Settles Connection) and strings at the right moments, but mostly lets his cast of stars deliver. And they do.