Mellotronists

Greetings all.

I received my DVD copy of the "Moody Blues - The Lost Performance-Live in 
Paris '70" earlier today.  Thought I would go home after work, sit down and enjoy 
a pleasant musical and visual experience, take a few notes, and share my 
thoughts and observations in posting a review.  I did not expect to have to write 
the following, especially being such a huge, Classic-7 Moodies' fan:

For all you bottom-line people, in short, save your money.  Live, my ass.  If 
anyone was expecting a warts-and-all, bona fide live performance, you will be 
TERRIBLY disappointed.  All backing tracks are the studio tracks.  Hayward's 
tunes appear to feature live vocals, but John's and (thankfully) Ray's tunes 
are also the studio tracks, incuding vocals.  And all in 5.1 Surround Sound!

THERE'S NOT A MARK II IN SIGHT!!!  Mike is seated behind a Hammond C3, 
unattached to a Leslie or any other amplification.  What's funny is that you can see 
him adjusting drawbars during and between songs, as if that's making a 
difference (?!).  What's also funny (and pathetic) is Ray, the incomparable master 
of intonation, playing flute in unison with the prerecorded track in "Are You 
Sitting Comfortably".  Either be prepared to split your sides laughing or have 
a barf bag handy.

I can't believe that Mike could sanction such a piece of garbage such as 
this, such a rip-off.  You would be much better off finding a copy of the bootleg 
live performance from Dutch TV.  Not high-quality video, but DEFINITELY live.  
Or hearing the live Tokyo concert from '72-'73, which is so much better than 
the "Caught Live + 5" CD.

Cancel your Amazon pre-orders if you can.

The only thing good was the note Mike wrote, "Take care of Bertha 134".

Frank Samagaio
San Diego CA
MkII #134 / M400 #908
author, The Mellotron Book