"The Other Side of Life" by The Moody Blues

Song#:  2833
Date:  08/16/1986
Debut:  86
Peak:  58
Weeks:  9
Genre:  Rock, Pop



Pop Bits:  The Moodies returned to the Pop Top 10 after fourteen years with "Your Wildest Dreams" (#9), the first single from their twelfth studio album The Other Side of Life. It was also a major hit at AC reaching the #1 spot. For a follow-up, this title track was issued out as a single. It would do well at Rock getting to #11 while making it to #18 at AC. However, it couldn't do as well at Pop and the song fizzled before reaching the halfway point. Still, the strength of the first single was enough to push the album to #9 and it would go on to become a platinum seller.

ReduxReview:  This mid-tempo shuffle wasn't too bad of a choice for a follow-up. Rock and AC were on board with it, but I don't think it was the right tune for Pop. One thing that helped "Your Wildest Dreams" was its sentimental video. The one for this song certainly wasn't in the same league. It was a bizarre concept thing about a guy finding some kind of odd underworld where everyone starts to look like him. It was weird. The main thing I remember is Moody member Ray Thomas in some kind of cop S&M outfit bangin' a tambourine. The video certainly didn't help sell the song. It's a good tune, but one that just wasn't a fit for Pop radio.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  While The Other Side of Life would end up being The Moodies' final studio album to be certified either gold or platinum, three future non-studio releases would reach gold level sales. Two compilations, 1990's The Story of the Moody Blues - Legend of a Band and the 1994 box set Time Traveller would both go gold. Neither collection hit the Album chart, but the enduring legacy of the band allowed for sales to continue years after the sets were originally release. A concert album, 1993's A Night at Red Rocks with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra would get to #93 on initial release, but like the compilation albums it continued to sell and was eventually certified gold. As associated VHS tape of the performance would also reach gold level sales.

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