The Other Side of Life
Studio album by
the Moody Blues
Released21 April 1986[1]
Recorded1985–1986
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
AllMusic[2]

The Other Side of Life is the twelfth studio album by English progressive rock band the Moody Blues, released in April 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".[3]

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


(1) Note: After Patrick Moraz was fired from the band, the Moody Blues claimed that he was never a member of the Moody Blues, and simply a sideman/contract player, a mere hired musician. Moraz sued the band for breach of contract and royalties owed to him as a full member of the band, and in 1992 the court ruled in his favor.

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
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[4] 34
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[5] 46
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[6] 65
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[7] 56
UK Albums (OCC)[8] 24
US Billboard 200[9] 9

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[10] Platinum 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[11] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ↑ "RIAA".
  2. ↑ Eder, Bruce. The Moody Blues: The Other Side of Life > Review at AllMusic. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  3. ↑ 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.
  4. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  5. ↑ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0675". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  6. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – The Moody Blues – The Other Side of Life" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  7. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – The Moody Blues – The Other Side of Life" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  8. ↑ "The Moody Blues | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  9. ↑ "The Moody Blues Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  10. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Moody Blues – The Other Side of Life". Music Canada.
  11. ↑ "American album certifications – The Moody Blues – The Other Side of Life". Recording Industry Association of America.
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