The View from the Hill - Justin Hayward

Frisk's personal observations - October, 1996

Donna M. Forosisky's Review

Preface :

I'm not a professional writer. If you want to read what a professional has written about "The View from the Hill" check out the highly recommended Randy Salas' review from the upcoming issue of "Higher & Higher - The Moody Blues Magazine" (tm) at Bob Snyder's site.

I am a programmer, system administrator, Mom, wife and music lover. I especially love the music of the Moody Blues. That being said, I want to assure you that although much of the joy I'm deriving from "The View from the Hill" can be attributed to my personal interest in the personnel of the Moody Blues, this joy is magnified several times over by the simple fact that "The View from the Hill" is a triumphant reentry into the solo world for Justin Hayward. The album is just plain good. No. It is fantastic!

For fans of Hayward, it can be seen that this album is a result of what in retrospect seems to have been an almost experimental phase - that being his prior solo offerings. But indeed, he has learned well from his experiments and has presented a uniformly sound, likable and contemporary album. (Please forgive me if this sounds like faint praise as it isn't... I just probably don't have the right language to express myself.)

Likable... How many albums have you eventually grown to love after several listens? Love at first listen can happen and Hayward proves it here! This album is an instant love affair.

For non-Moody Blues/Hayward fans - trust me. When it comes out on October 15th, on my recommendation, buy it. Seal fans - buy it. Mary-Chapin Carpenter fans - buy it. Bruce Hornsby fans - buy it. October Project fans - buy it. If you like good music : BUY IT!

This album shows off Justin Hayward's vocal range, his ability to be forceful, subtle, sincere and forever hopeful. Musically, it is as likable as any Mary-Chapin Carpenter album I've ever heard, and lyrically as interesting. Socially, this album is relevant as well. It doesn't pussy foot around the issues plaguing our society, but it also doesn't stoop to some of the shock methods that are so prevalent in music and the media today. It is everything you've ever dreamed of from a mature artist... and maturity and class are words which I think describe much of the content of this album.

Concepts to think about while listening to the album :

• Personal responsibility
  
• You are the master of your fate
  
• We are our brother's keepers
  
• Live with compassion
  
• Peace
  
• Maintain hope...and maybe even, "Follow your bliss!" ;-)
  

I'm not going to do a real review of each of the songs. I'm just going to give you my impressions and my thoughts after several listens. I'd enjoy discussing this with the Lost Chords (lost-chords-request@shore.net) and anyone else who stumbles across this...

I Heard It - Justin Hayward

As Randy Salas indicated, a very "Long Distance Voyager" intro, but I think it sets the tone for the departure from the constraints of being a Moody Blue. Nothing against being a Moody Blue, it is just that perhaps psychologically, a fear of being anything but a Moody may have hampered Hayward's success in the past. Lyrically, Hayward shows us that he's ever the poet with lines like "The passions that we feel like lovers wild and free are footprints on the sand holding back the mighty sea..." (Very much indicating as we later see, that "Sometimes Less Is More.") This song deals with the "Voice" which calls the writer to do what he does, the spirit which moves through us if only we'd stop to listen, the cycles of life, and how our words come back to us in the end.

By the way - this album has great fades between songs. A lot of time and effort must have been put into the order and the overall feel that these individual songs would present as a unit.

Broken Dream - Justin Hayward

The word subtle comes to mind. There's a keyboard ?synth? background that harkens to the mellotron sound, not haunting, but still creating an atmosphere much the way the mellotron did in early Moody Blues records. Still, this song does not bring to mind nostalgia or a looking back musically. Hayward's voice is plaintive. Subtle guitar (or is that mandolin?) accents. Talks of growing older, and losing resilience after the loss of a love. Still, with this pain and loss, Hayward is able to force a "brave and strong" ending, with "I turn and I close the door with one last goodbye. I will return no more. I'll take my heart and let it fly..." Honestly, I need to listen to this song a few more times before I could say any more...

The Promised Land - Phil Palmer/Paul Bliss

The first non-Hayward penned song on the album is an upbeat, catchy song which deals with emmigration and the things which motivate people to search out a new life in a new land. Randy Salas was certainly on the money again when he described this song as somewhat anthemic. But I don't think it suffers from this characterization as the song is more than an anthem. It is a history lesson as well as a subtle commentary on today's world. While in some ways it reminds me of "Dawn of a New Day" from the Mandala Band album, it has a realness that goes beyond the almost fantasy qualities of "Dawn." There is an interesting piano (Lord help me I'm out of my element...) bit which is combined with news clips which discuss refugees and though it creates a kind of haunting darkness, if you listen very carefully you'll hear the announcer talk about "children singing their cares away" despite their plight. In this album, it is clear that Music's Power is very key to some of what defines beauty, truth and hope for Hayward and his team. At the very least, Music is a vehicle to help one through the tough times.

It's Not Too Late - Justin Hayward

Beginning with a Peter Gabriel-like percussion intro, this gentle yet powerful song reminds us that there's still time - to recapture love, to think about our lives as they are and what we'd do to change them if we could (and to perhaps even suggest that we can make those changes.) This song looks at life from a middle-aged man's eyes (ouch!) while questioning how life will feel as "we grow old." This song even sports a classic Hayward middle-eight in "As we look to the horizon, way out on the sea, we see the sun still rising, just for you and me." Coupled with "Broken Dream" I see a pattern of mature reflection forming coupled with a call for the strength to face the future.

Also, quick note - some of this album reminds me of Octave lyrically and acoustically.

Something to Believe In - Phil Palmer/Paul Bliss

This song dealing with contemporary problems - drugs, sex and the breakdown of the family as Randy Salas stated in his review, does not offer the answer to our problems, but in my view, it certainly points out a place to start looking... "Nobody's guilty. It's a sign of the times. But we won't see the future till we open our eyes." Perhaps in this "no one's to blame, or at least it isn't me" society, we can understand how everyone is searching for "something to believe in" and being met with a lot of false gods. I think the lines certainly call into question one of the flaws in contemporary thinking, even if they don't provide the solution to our problems.

Think Simon & Garfunkel's "Sound of Silence" updated and perhaps less preachy. I could fill several paragraphs with parallels between these songs. But I won't, lucky you! :-)

The Way of the World - Justin Hayward

The guitar intro reminds me of the Smithereens guitar work... This song talks about the choices we face... The crossroads that a young man might face "I took a walk down by the prison wall, I didn't know, I couldn't see the side of the wall I needed to be..." And the problems that someone like Hayward who is somewhat more privileged might face "I took a ride over the ocean wide, I didn't know I couldn't see who I trusted or who trusted me. I traveled the earth trying to find the good and the kind. I had to choose if I should win or if I should lose." We all have choices he opines, and though we may come from different backgrounds and our choices may be different "we're all the same under the sun." And though the different realities in which these people live poses a large degree of contrast, it certainly reflects Hayward's overall philosophy that we all have a right to love, happiness and freedom...however, we are also responsible for making the proper choices to lead us to those things. The social commentary I see from this song is perhaps the lack of direction and proper guidance a lot of people experience when they're at the point of deciding between good and bad, right and wrong.

... Really nice piano outro, by the way.

Sometimes Less is More - Dennis Lambert/Justin Hayward

This song is everything I've ever dreamed of in a mature Haywardian tune. I remember when we were discussing the things we'd like to hear the Moody Blues cover which relate to their chronological stage in life (meaning, over 40 and now, in October, when Justin Hayward reaches his 50th birthday, that will change to "over 50") we mostly wanted them to discuss the things they've learned with maturity. Well, "Sometimes Less is More" really hits the mark. This is a superbly done song with excellent lyrics. This song discusses personal strength, patience and faith - all marks of maturity. (And all the things which I admire in the best managers at work...If you ever read this GH, I mean you.)

"Sometimes Less is More" is a mature look at love. It is level-headed without being dull or dogmatic. In other words, it doesn't come across like a parent giving a lecture, but instead like someone who has come to terms with their own failings in previous relationships, and has honestly examined what lessons were learned. "This time I'm not going to stoke the fire. I'm not gonna walk the wire. Oh heart you've learned your lesson. Love is not obsession."

This might be the best song on the album, but honestly, there isn't a throw-away among them...

Classically Hayward. But amazingly here and now. Whoa...Big time.

Troubadour - Justin Hayward

Country hip might describe this song. This sort of song is what makes Mary-Chapin Carpenter fit into the country genre while allowing her appeal to reach beyond that narrow characterization. (Call your country stations and ask for this one!)

Again, as Randy Salas said, this song is another look at "Vintage Wine" from Sur La Mer, but it isn't a remake in any sense. I get the feeling from this song that it really sums up how Justin feels about his life as a musician, and about the joys that it has brought him. How music has allowed him to shed a little light into the darkness by sharing his songs, how music is an expression of love and hope and freedom.

"Hold my hand, let me take you there..Let love bring to us our freedom and we will sing of the heroes and fly on the breeze. Love with the lovers of the world oh oh oh...we'll be free."

To me, singing of the heroes means celebrating in Mike Pinder's words "all the good men we have known."

Great steel guitar? outro.

Shame - Justin Hayward

This is an interesting song... It discusses society's wearing of its shame and pain on its sleeves and the media's role in feeding it back to us (could this be a shot at daytime talk?) "Everywhere I go I hear the sound crying in my head, it goes round and round. I hear it on the airwaves. It's coming down the wire. It's starting to consume us like a fire." (Billy Joel's "We didn't start the fire"?)

The counter to this is what appears to be some more things Justin Hayward has found in his own life, thanks again to music. "Everywhere I go I feel the love washing over me. I just can't get enough. I hear it in the music that's coming down through me. I know there's love between us, if we only set it free." (Boy there's a love song to the fans if I've ever heard one!)

And in the next lines "Everywhere I go I feel the joy. Hold it in your heart, don't let it be destroyed. 'Cos all we need is freedom and all we ask is peace. All we ask is no-one on their knees." we get the crux of the song..."But I'm only dreaming as you can see...I don't expect that you should follow me. The road is lonely, I don't complain. It's such a shame."

It is a shame that the road is as lonely as it is - not being "on the road" in a touring sense, but in a more metaphorical sense... That more people haven't found what he has found in his outlook on life.

I've got to say that this song further indicates a mature Hayward...one who's come to terms with the choices he's made in his life (to follow music), who is now allowing himself to really enjoy the fruits of his music, and is grateful for the love and light that his music has presented, not only to his fans, but to himself. Think Mike Pinder kind of peace and integrity here.

Billy - Justin Hayward

Cobain? I don't know. Certainly descriptive of a lot of events especially in American history...

Another subtle song with that haunting keyboard background and very nice guitar accents. This song could couple nicely with "Something to Believe In" in that it deals with loneliness, isolation and the sad, sad results. We're introduced to Billy, a depressed young man who takes out his inner pain on others in a sniper attack, and then turns the gun on himself. "'Cos it's a sad world, where there's no one who can reach out to the source of your pain. Yes it's a sad world, such a sad, sad world when only peace comes at the end of a gun."

This song to me, is an updated, all-too-real but equally compassionate Eleanor Rigby in that when Billy finally succumbs to the demons who are pulling him down, nobody knows he's gone and nobody cares. Indeed, it is a sad, sad world.

Please note that although the marketing literature suggests this song is about a sniper, nowhere in the lyrics does it say that Billy took a shot -- only that he aimed. Perhaps Billy isn't such a bad guy afterall...

This song has a nice guitar exit not unlike some of the Hayward work from Octave again... It is intricate instrumentally... And there is a long fade between Billy and the next song, "Children of Paradise" as if to give us time to think upon the scene we've just witnessed.

Children of Paradise - Justin Hayward & Mickey Feat

Well, he leaves us on an up-note... In the context of the whole album, this song which we had a preview of thanks to a radio appearance Justin made over the summer takes on a summary role...While the world is full of violence, sadness, and despair, "We can be children of paradise..." and right the wrongs and still the storms which are raging in this world...Again, it harkens to a Pinder line from "One Step Into the Light" "we just have to choose."

Summary - And its about time, right?!

This album is wholly wonderful. It tackles issues in a way that exudes class. Musically, it is right on the money for contemporary radio. And thank somebody, it has a lot of messages that are missing from music today - we can make a difference, we can make it better and we are the masters of our fate...but it does so with compassion and an understanding of the harsh issues which face many people today.

This album deserves top 10 status and quite frankly, should make Justin Hayward a household name. If it doesn't, it is more a testament to the closed-mindedness of the music industry than a reflection of the quality of this album. This is hit material. Simply great stuff all the way around, from the word go... I can't say that enough.

One thing is clear from the overall feel of this album...Hayward and crew enjoyed the music they were making and paused long enough to appreciate what they were experiencing in its production.

Thanks for reading... Now please go out and buy the album! ;-)

Donna M. Forosisky
frisk@enter.net

All Lyrics copyright their respective authors - Justin Hayward/WB Music Corp, Phil Palmer/Rondor Music (London Ltd), Paul Bliss(Paul Bliss Music/EMI Songs)
Dennis Lambert(Tuneworks Music), Mickey Feat, Copyright control



Review copyright 1996, Donna M. Forosisky

Copyrights held by their respective authors. Original text/graphics copyright 1996, Donna M. Forosisky

Last modified on Tuesday, October 15, 1996

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