Justin Hayward – Songwriter (1977) Review | A Fledgling No More

Kronomyth 2: Carry on, Hayward-san.

Justin Hayward and John Lodge parted ways after Blue Jays, releasing solo albums in 1977. Songwriter and Natural Avenue were full of ideas, suggesting that both artists might have benefited from a wider canvas than that afforded to them in The Moody Blues. Not that Octave was a bad album, but it’s not demonstrably better than what Hayward and Lodge were able to do on their own. Songwriter sounds like the Moodies, The Beatles and 10cc, which is to say intelligent and inventive pop music that feels fresh with each song. Hayward plays much of the music himself; in fact, I’m pretty sure he plays everything—including the flute, cello and violin—on the closing Nostradamus. Though the album charted well, it didn’t produce a hit single. Lay It on Me and Tightrope were certainly catchy enough, but UK audiences were caught up with the burgeoning punk scene and neither Hayward nor Lodge got much promotion in the US. Those three tracks are highlights on Songwriter, but there isn’t a song on here that isn’t worth championing in the name of beauty. Raised on Love, featuring Justin’s daughter Doremi, is a lovely gesture; One Lonely Room is on par with Paul McCartney; the two-part Songwriter with its fever-dream ending is a clever portrait of the artist. The “gap” in the Moodies’ curriculum vitae is, in fact, a rich avenue of discovery for fans. They’re one of the rare acts where the sum may actually be smaller than the parts, since I wouldn’t know where to begin editing on Blue Jays, Natural Avenue or Songwriter, and I couldn’t imagine any Moodies album without the contributions of its other three members. Maybe they should have been making double albums all along…

The Product

A1. Tightrope (4:45)
A2. Songwriter (Part 1) (3:30)
A3. Songwriter (Part 2) (2:32)
A4. Country Girl (3:57)
A5. One Lonely Room (5:18)
B1. Lay It on Me (2:54)
B2. Stage Door (5:03)
B3. Raised on Love (3:12)
B4. Doin’ Time (4:20)
B5. Nostradamus (6:30)

All songs written by Justin Hayward.

CD reissue bonus tracks (1987)
11. Music
12. Learning the Game

CD reissue bonus tracks (2004)
11. Wrong Time, Wrong Place
12. Marie
13. Heart of Steel
14. Learning the Game

The Players

Justin Hayward (guitars, vocals, drums, bass, violin, cello, flute, tambourine) with Clem Cattini (drums), Jim Cockey (violin), Ken Freeman (keyboards), Mel Galley (bass), Doremi Hayward (backing vocals on B3), Dave Holland (drums), Peter Knight (strings on A5/B2), Terry Rowley (guitar), Tim Tompkins (cello), Tom Tompkins (viola). Produced by Tony Clarke.

The Plastic

Released on elpee, cassette and 8-track in February 1977 in the UK (Deram, SDL/KSCM-15), US (Deram, DES/DES5/DES8-18073) and Japan (London, GP-1078) with gatefold cover. Reached #28 on the UK charts and #37 on the US charts. (First appeared on 2/26/77 issue of Billboard.)

1. Re-released on expanded compact disc in December 1987 in the UK (Deram, 820 492-2) with 2 bonus tracks.
2. Re-issued on expanded compact disc in 2004 in the UK (Universal, 882 283-2) with 4 bonus tracks.