The Moody Boys
The Moody Boys or Moody Boyz are Tony Thorpe's UK-based record production and remix outfit, active since 1988.
The Moody Boys / Moody Boyz | |
|---|---|
| Origin | UK |
| Genres | House, techno, drum and bass, dubstep |
| Years active | since 1988 |
| Labels | XL Recordings, Guerilla, SSR |
| Members | Tony Thorpe |
| Past members | Jimmy Cauty [according to some sources; probably a collaborator] |
| Website | www.themoodyboyz.com |
The Moody Boys were closely linked with The KLF - and in particular with KLF member Jimmy Cauty - until the KLF's retirement in 1992, but it is not known whether Cauty was ever officially a member of the Moody Boys or merely a close collaborator.
History
According to AllMusic, "Moody Boyz" is the "nom de plume of producer Tony Thorpe (both solo and with occasional collaborators)".[1]
Beginning in 1988 with the single "Acid Rappin'", the Moody Boys produced dance music that incorporated elements of techno, dub, acid house, hip hop, drum and bass and African music.[1] Their 1991 single "Funky Zulu" is considered a house classic.[1] The Moody Boys' original releases were complemented by duties as the "in-house" remixers of The KLF's hit singles "3 a.m. Eternal", "What Time Is Love?" and "Last Train to Trancentral".[1] In each case, The Moody Boys' mixes were released on separate 12"s to the charting singles, in 1990 and 1991.[2] The KLF co-produced the Moody Boys' "First National Rapper" in 1988 (as "The JAMs")[3][2] and remixed "What Is Dub?" in 1991.[4][2] Thorpe is also a credited as an "additional performer" on the KLF's The White Room album.[5]
Vice[6] and DJ Mag[7] claim that Jimmy Cauty was actually a member of the Moody Boys, whereas AllMusic attributes the project to Thorpe and "occasional collaborators".[1] Tracks produced by "Tony Thorpe and Jimmy Cauty" were credited separately to tracks produced by "The Moody Boys" on the 1991 single "Lion Dance",[8] and a 1994 interview with Thorpe and a companion discography state that "Journey Into Dubland" was made with Jimmy Cauty, suggesting Cauty was just a collaborator.[9] The Moody Boys recorded a Peel Session in 1991 without Cauty; programming duties were handled by Thorpe and another close associate of the KLF, Nick Coler.[10]
Cauty and his KLF-partner Bill Drummond retired from the music industry in 1992, but Thorpe continued under the revised "Moody Boyz" moniker until 1994,[1] producing in this time what is considered to be the Moody name's best work, including another "classic",[1] "Destination Africa", and the album, Product of the Environment.[11] A remixed version, Recycled for the Environment, was also released to acclaim. featuring contributions from many remixers, including Andrew Weatherall and Dave Hedger.[12]
Reviews
Allmusic awarded Product of the Environment 4 stars (out of 5), dubbing the album "a visionary collection of subtly innovative techno and tribal house, with heaps of African and Caribbean influences".[11]
In awarding Recycled for the Environment 4 stars (again, out of 5), Allmusic said, "styles range from lush tribal techno to murky ambient and spacy electro, each offering an inspired extrapolation of Thorpe's originals.".[12]
Selected discography
Singles
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Acid Rappin'/Acid Heaven[13]
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First National Rapper[3][2]
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King Of The Funky Zulus[14]
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Journey Into Dubland[15][2]
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Funky Zulu (You're So Fresh)[16][2]
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What Is Dub?[17]
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What Is Dub? (The KLF And Apollo 440 Remixes)[4][2]
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Lion Dance (Remix)[8][2]
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Centre Of The World[18][2]
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Shango[19]
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Recycled EP[20]
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Destination Africa[21]
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Albums
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Product of the Environment[11]
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Recycled for the Environment[12]
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Remixes
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What Time Is Love? (Remodelled & Remixed)[2]
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3 a.m. Eternal (The Moody Boys Selection)[2]
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Last Train to Trancentral (The KLF Meets The Moody Boys Uptown)[2]
| |
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The Right Decision[2]
|
References
- Cooper, Sean. Moody Boyz at AllMusic. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
- Longmire, Ernie; et al. (2020) [1998]. "Discography: The KLF (including The JAMS, The Timelords, 2K etc.)". Archived from the original on 29 February 2020.
- First National Rapper (Media notes). The Moody Boys. City Beat. 1988. CBE 1239.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - What Is Dub? (The KLF And Apollo 440 Remixes) (Media notes). The Moody Boys introduce Screamer. Love Records. 1991. EVOLR 3.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - The White Room (Media notes). The KLF. KLF Communications. 1991. JAMS LP006.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - "The Moody Boyz Were Making Dubstep in the early 90s, They Just Didn't Know it". Vice. 28 November 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
- Whitehurst, Andrew (11 December 2012). "Striding The Globe". DJ Mag. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
- Lion Dance (Remix) (Media notes). The Moody Boys. Fourth Floor Records. 1991. FF 1123.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - Ward, Phil (May 1994). "Mood Music". Music Technology. Music Maker Publications. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
- "BBC - Radio 1 - Keeping It Peel - 02/07/1991 Moody Boyz". BBC Radio 1. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
- Cooper, Sean. Product of the Environment - Moody Boyz at AllMusic. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
- Cooper, Sean. Recycled for the Environment - Moody Boyz at AllMusic. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
- Acid Rappin/Acid Heaven (Media notes). The Moody Boys. City Beat. 1988. CBE 1230.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - King Of The Funky Zulus (Media notes). Moody Boyz. United We Conquer. 1990. Zulu 1.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - Journey Into Dubland (Media notes). The Moody Boys. XL Recordings. 1990. XLEP-107.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - Funky Zulu (You're So Fresh) (Media notes). The Moody Boys. XL Recordings. 1990. XLT-11.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - What Is Dub? (Media notes). The Moody Boys introduce Screamer. Love Records/Polydor. 1991. EVOLX 03.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - Centre Of The World (Media notes). The Moody Boys. Love Records/Polydor. 1992. EVOLX 15.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - Shango (Media notes). The Moody Boyz. Guerilla Records. 1994. GRRR 65.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - Recycled EP (Media notes). Moody Boyz. Guerilla Records. 1994. GREP 006.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - Destination Africa (Media notes). The Moody Boys. SSR Records. 1994. SSR 141.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)