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The Moody Boys / Moody Boyz
OriginUK
GenresHouse, techno, drum and bass, dubstep
Years active1988–present
LabelsXL Recordings, Guerilla, SSR
MembersTony Thorpe
Past membersJimmy Cauty [according to some sources; probably a collaborator]
Websitewww.themoodyboyz.com

The Moody Boys or Moody Boyz are Tony Thorpe's UK-based record production and remix outfit, active since 1988.

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,[citation needed] 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,[citation needed] 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

Albums

  • Product of the Environment (1994)[11] (as Moody Boyz)
  • Recycled for the Environment (1994)[12] (as Moody Boyz)

Singles

Acid Rappin'/Acid Heaven[13]
Artist: The Moody Boys (Tony Thorpe). A-side features Rhyme & Reason.
Year: 1988
Label (Catalogue Number): City Beat (CBE 1230)
Produced & mixed by the House Addicts

First National Rapper[3][2]
Artist: The Moody Boys
Year: 1988
Label (Catalogue Number): City Beat (CBE 1239)
Produced by the Moody Boys and the JAMs (KLF)

King Of The Funky Zulus[14]
Artist: Moody Boys/Moody Boyz
Year: 1990
Label (Catalogue Number): United We Conquer (Zulu 1) (as Moody Boyz); other catalogue numbers as Moody Boys

Journey Into Dubland[15][2]
Artist: The Moody Boys
Year: 1990
Label (Catalogue Number): XL Recordings (XLEP-107)
Produced, recorded and mixed: Live at Trancentral by Tony Thorpe and Jimmy Cauty

Funky Zulu (You're So Fresh)[16][2]
Artist: The Moody Boys
Year: 1990
Label (Catalogue Number): XL Recordings (XLT-11)
Produced by the Moody Boys

What Is Dub?[17]
Artist: The Moody Boys introduce Screamer
Year: 1991
Label (Catalogue Number): Love Records/Polydor (EVOLX 03)
Produced by the Moody Boys

What Is Dub? (The KLF And Apollo 440 Remixes)[4][2]
Artist: The Moody Boys introduce Screamer
Year: 1991
Label (Catalogue Number): Love Records (EVOLR 3)
Produced by the Moody Boys
Remixes by The KLF, including a "Kings Of Low Frequency Dub Version", and Apollo 440

Lion Dance (Remix)[8][2]
Artist: The Moody Boys
Year: 1991
Label (Catalogue Number): Fourth Floor Records (FF 1123)
Produced by the Moody Boys (some tracks); other tracks produced by Tony Thorpe and Jimmy Cauty

Centre Of The World[18][2]
Artist: The Moody Boys
Year: 1992
Label (Catalogue Number): Love Records/Polydor (EVOLX 15)
Produced by the Moody Boys

Shango[19]
Artist: The Moody Boyz
Year: 1994
Label (Catalogue Number): Guerilla Records (GRRR 65)
Produced by Moody Dog Productions (Handley/Turner/Downie/Thorpe) at Black Dog Towers

Recycled EP[20]
Artist: Moody Boyz
Year: 1994
Label (Catalogue Number): Guerilla Records (GREP 006)

Destination Africa[21]
Artist: The Moody Boys
Year: 1994
Label (Catalogue Number): SSR Records (SSR 141)

Remixes

What Time Is Love? (Remodelled & Remixed)[2]
Artist: The KLF
Year: 1990
Catalogue Number: KLF Communications KLF 004Y
Featuring "What Time Is Love? (The Moody Boys vs The KLF)"

3 a.m. Eternal (The Moody Boys Selection)[2]
Artist: The KLF
Year: 1991
Catalogue Number: KLF Communications KLF 005Y

Last Train to Trancentral (The KLF Meets The Moody Boys Uptown)[2]
Artist: The KLF
Year: 1991
Catalogue Number: KLF Communications KLF 008Y

The Right Decision[2]
Artist: Jesus Jones
Year: 1993
Catalogue Number: Food CDPERV 2
Featuring "The Right Decision (Moody Reconstruction Mix)"

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Cooper, Sean. Moody Boyz at AllMusic. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Longmire, Ernie; et al. (2020) [1998]. "Discography: The KLF (including The JAMS, The Timelords, 2K etc.)". Archived from the original on 29 February 2020.
  3. ^ a b 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)
  4. ^ a b 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)
  5. ^ 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)
  6. ^ "The Moody Boyz Were Making Dubstep in the early 90s, They Just Didn't Know it". Vice. 28 November 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  7. ^ Whitehurst, Andrew (11 December 2012). "Striding The Globe". DJ Mag. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  8. ^ a b 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)
  9. ^ Ward, Phil (May 1994). "Mood Music". Music Technology. Music Maker Publications. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  10. ^ "BBC - Radio 1 - Keeping It Peel - 02/07/1991 Moody Boyz". BBC Radio 1. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  11. ^ a b c Cooper, Sean. Product of the Environment - Moody Boyz at AllMusic. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  12. ^ a b c Cooper, Sean. Recycled for the Environment - Moody Boyz at AllMusic. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  13. ^ 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)
  14. ^ 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)
  15. ^ 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)
  16. ^ 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)
  17. ^ 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)
  18. ^ 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)
  19. ^ Shango (Media notes). The Moody Boyz. Guerilla Records. 1994. GRRR 65.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  20. ^ Recycled EP (Media notes). Moody Boyz. Guerilla Records. 1994. GREP 006.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  21. ^ 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)
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