The Other Side of Life

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The Other Side of Life
The Moody Blues - The Other Side of Life (1986) front cover.png
Studio album by
the Moody Blues
Released9 April 1986
StudioGood Earth, London
Genre
Length42:10
LabelPolydor
ProducerTony Visconti
The Moody Blues chronology
Voices in the Sky: The Best of The Moody Blues
(1984) 		The Other Side of Life
(1986) 		Prelude
(1987)
Singles from The Other Side of Life
  1. "Your Wildest Dreams"
    Released: April 1986
  2. "The Other Side of Life"
    Released: August 1986
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic3/5 stars[1]

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[]

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[]

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[]

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Your Wildest Dreams"Justin Hayward4:52
2."Talkin' Talkin'"Hayward, John Lodge3:56
3."Rock 'n' Roll Over You"Lodge4:51
4."I Just Don't Care"Hayward3:29
5."Running Out of Love"Hayward, Lodge4:25
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."The Other Side of Life"Hayward6:53
7."The Spirit"Graeme Edge, Patrick Moraz4:19
8."Slings and Arrows"Hayward, Lodge4:29
9."It May Be a Fire"Lodge4:57
Total length:42:10

Personnel[]

The Moody Blues[]

Technical personnel[]

  • Tony Visconti – producer, engineer
  • Alwyn Clayden – art direction, design
  • Bruce Gill – design
  • Michael Hoppen – photography
  • Karl Lloyd – illustration

Charts[]

Chart (1986) Peak
position
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[3] 46
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[4] 65
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[5] 56
UK Albums (OCC)[6] 24
US Billboard 200[7] 9

Certifications[]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[8] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References[]

  1. ^ Eder, Bruce. The Moody Blues: The Other Side of Life > Review at AllMusic. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0675". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  4. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – The Moody Blues – The Other Side of Life" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  5. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – The Moody Blues – The Other Side of Life" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  6. ^ "The Moody Blues | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  7. ^ "The Moody Blues Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  8. ^ "American album certifications – The Moody Blues – The Other Side of Life". Recording Industry Association of America.
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