The Moody Boys

{{Update|reason=Discogs shows record releases from 2007-2014. Also, Moody Boyz were [https://baltictriangle.co.uk/toxteth-day-of-the-dead-after-party-coming-to-district/ reported] to be appearing at the 2019 Toxteth Day of the Dead (see [[Welcome to the Dark Ages]]) so are likely still active|date=March 2020}} {{Infobox musical artist  | name = The Moody Boys / Moody Boyz | image = | caption = | image_size = | background = group_or_band | alias = | origin = UK | genre = [[House music|House]], [[techno]], [[drum and bass]], [[dubstep]] | years_active = 1988–present | label = [[XL Recordings]], [[Guerilla Records|Guerilla]], [[SSR Records|SSR]] | associated_acts = | website = [http://www.themoodyboyz.com www.themoodyboyz.com] | current_members = Tony Thorpe | past_members = [[Jimmy Cauty]] [according to some sources; probably a collaborator] }}

'''The Moody Boys''' or '''Moody Boyz''' are Tony Thorpe's [[United Kingdom|UK]]-based [[record producer|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)".<ref name="AMG-bio" />

Beginning in 1988 with the single "Acid Rappin'", the Moody Boys produced dance music that incorporated elements of [[techno]], [[dub music|dub]], [[acid house]], [[hip hop music|hip hop]], [[drum and bass]] and [[Music of Africa|African music]].<ref name="AMG-bio" /> Their 1991 single "Funky Zulu" is considered a house classic.<ref name="AMG-bio">{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p182896|last=Cooper|first=Sean|title=Moody Boyz|accessdate=17 March 2020}}</ref> 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]]".<ref name="AMG-bio" /> In each case, The Moody Boys' mixes were released on separate [[12-inch single|12"s]] to the charting singles, in 1990 and 1991.<ref name="klf-discog">{{KLFDiscography}}</ref> The KLF co-produced the Moody Boys' "First National Rapper" in 1988 (as "The JAMs")<ref name="national-rapper-credits"/><ref name="klf-discog"/> and remixed "What Is Dub?" in 1991.<ref name="klf-remix-notes"/><ref name="klf-discog"/> Thorpe is also a credited as an "additional performer" on the KLF's ''[[The White Room (KLF album)|The White Room]]'' album.<ref>{{Cite AV media notes|title=The White Room|others=[[The KLF]]|publisher=[[KLF Communications]]|id=JAMS LP006|year=1991}}</ref>

''[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/moody-boyz-were-making-dubstep-back-in-the-90s-now-theyre-making-a-comeback/|title=The Moody Boyz Were Making Dubstep in the early 90s, They Just Didn't Know it|work=[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]]|date=28 November 2014|access-date=18 March 2020}}</ref> and ''[[DJ Mag]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://djmag.com/content/striding-globe|title=Striding The Globe|first=Andrew|last=Whitehurst|work=[[DJ Mag]]|date=11 December 2012|access-date=18 March 2020}}</ref> claim that Jimmy Cauty was actually a member of the Moody Boys, whereas AllMusic attributes the project to Thorpe and "occasional collaborators".<ref name="AMG-bio"/> Tracks produced by "Tony Thorpe and Jimmy Cauty" were credited separately to tracks produced by "The Moody Boys" on the 1991 single "Lion Dance",<ref name="liondance-remix-notes"/> 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.<ref>{{Cite magazine|magazine=Music Technology|publisher=[[Music Maker Publications]]|date=May 1994|first=Phil|last=Ward|title=Mood Music|url=http://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/mood-music/7770|access-date=18 March 2020}}</ref> 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]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/sessions/1990s/1991/Jul02moodyboyz/|title=BBC - Radio 1 - Keeping It Peel - 02/07/1991 Moody Boyz|publisher=[[BBC Radio 1]]|access-date=18 March 2020}}</ref>

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,<ref name="AMG-bio" /> producing in this time what is considered to be the Moody name's best work,{{citation needed|date=March 2020}} including another "classic",<ref name="AMG-bio" /> "Destination Africa", and the album, ''Product of the Environment''.<ref name="AMG-Product"/> A [[remix album|remixed]] version, ''Recycled for the Environment'', was also released to acclaim,{{citation needed|date=March 2020}} featuring contributions from many remixers, including [[Andrew Weatherall]] and Dave Hedger.<ref name="AMG-recycled"/>

==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".<ref name="AMG-Product">{{AllMusic|id=mw0000761664|last=Cooper|first=Sean|title=Product of the Environment - Moody Boyz|accessdate=17 March 2020}}</ref>

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.".<ref name="AMG-recycled">{{AllMusic|id=mw0000177881|last=Cooper|first=Sean|title=Recycled for the Environment - Moody Boyz|accessdate=17 March 2020}}</ref>

==Selected discography== {{Cleanup|section|reason=Non-standard formatting|date=January 2020}} ===Albums=== *''Product of the Environment'' (1994)<ref name="AMG-Product"/> (as Moody Boyz) *''Recycled for the Environment'' (1994)<ref name="AMG-recycled"/> (as Moody Boyz)

===Singles=== {| | width="20px" | | valign="top" align="left" | '''Acid Rappin'/Acid Heaven'''<ref>{{Cite AV media notes|title=Acid Rappin/Acid Heaven|publisher=City Beat|id=CBE 1230|year=1988|others=The Moody Boys}}</ref> 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 |- | | valign="top" align="left" | '''First National Rapper'''<ref name="national-rapper-credits">{{Cite AV media notes|title=First National Rapper|publisher=City Beat|id=CBE 1239|year=1988|others=The Moody Boys}}</ref><ref name="klf-discog"/> Artist: '''The Moody Boys''' Year: 1988 Label (Catalogue Number): '''City Beat (CBE 1239)''' Produced by the Moody Boys and [[the JAMs]] (KLF) |- | | valign="top" align="left" | '''King Of The Funky Zulus'''<ref>{{Cite AV media notes|title=King Of The Funky Zulus|publisher=United We Conquer|id= Zulu 1|year=1990|others=Moody Boyz}}</ref> Artist: '''Moody Boys'''/'''Moody Boyz''' Year: 1990 Label (Catalogue Number): '''United We Conquer (Zulu 1)''' (as Moody Boyz); other catalogue numbers as Moody Boys |- | | valign="top" align="left" | '''Journey Into Dubland'''<ref name="dubland-credits">{{Cite AV media notes|title=Journey Into Dubland|publisher=[[XL Recordings]]|id=XLEP-107|year=1990|others=The Moody Boys}}</ref><ref name="klf-discog"/> 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 |- | | valign="top" align="left" | '''Funky Zulu (You're So Fresh)'''<ref>{{Cite AV media notes|title=Funky Zulu (You're So Fresh)|publisher=[[XL Recordings]]|id=XLT-11|year=1990|others=The Moody Boys}}</ref><ref name="klf-discog"/> Artist: '''The Moody Boys''' Year: 1990 Label (Catalogue Number): '''XL Recordings (XLT-11)''' Produced by the Moody Boys |- | | valign="top" align="left" | '''What Is Dub?'''<ref>{{Cite AV media notes|title=What Is Dub?|publisher=Love Records/[[Polydor]]|id=EVOLX 03|year=1991|others=The Moody Boys introduce Screamer}}</ref> Artist: '''The Moody Boys introduce Screamer''' Year: 1991 Label (Catalogue Number): '''Love Records/[[Polydor]] (EVOLX 03)''' Produced by the Moody Boys |- | | valign="top" align="left" | '''What Is Dub? (The KLF And Apollo 440 Remixes)'''<ref name="klf-remix-notes">{{Cite AV media notes|title=What Is Dub? (The KLF And Apollo 440 Remixes)|publisher=Love Records|id=EVOLR 3|year=1991|others=The Moody Boys introduce Screamer}}</ref><ref name="klf-discog"/> 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]] |- | | valign="top" align="left" | '''Lion Dance (Remix)'''<ref name="liondance-remix-notes">{{Cite AV media notes|title=Lion Dance (Remix)|publisher=Fourth Floor Records|id=FF 1123|year=1991|others=The Moody Boys}}</ref><ref name="klf-discog"/> 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 |- | | valign="top" align="left" | '''Centre Of The World'''<ref>{{Cite AV media notes|title=Centre Of The World|publisher=Love Records/[[Polydor]]|id=EVOLX 15|year=1992|others=The Moody Boys}}</ref><ref name="klf-discog"/> Artist: '''The Moody Boys''' Year: 1992 Label (Catalogue Number): '''Love Records/Polydor (EVOLX 15)''' Produced by the Moody Boys |- | | valign="top" align="left" | '''Shango'''<ref>{{Cite AV media notes|title=Shango|publisher=[[Guerilla Records]]|id=GRRR 65|year=1994|others=The Moody Boyz}}</ref> Artist: '''The Moody Boyz''' Year: 1994 Label (Catalogue Number): '''[[Guerilla Records]] (GRRR 65)''' Produced by Moody Dog Productions ([[The Black Dog (band)|Handley/Turner/Downie]]/Thorpe) at [[The Black Dog (band)|Black Dog Towers]] |- | | valign="top" align="left" | '''Recycled EP'''<ref>{{Cite AV media notes|title=Recycled EP|publisher=[[Guerilla Records]]|id=GREP 006|year=1994|others=Moody Boyz}}</ref> Artist: '''Moody Boyz''' Year: 1994 Label (Catalogue Number): '''[[Guerilla Records]] (GREP 006)''' |- | | valign="top" align="left" | '''Destination Africa'''<ref>{{Cite AV media notes|title=Destination Africa|publisher=[[SSR Records]]|id=SSR 141|year=1994|others=The Moody Boys}}</ref> Artist: '''The Moody Boys''' Year: 1994 Label (Catalogue Number): '''[[SSR Records]] (SSR 141)''' |}

===Remixes=== {| | width="20px" | | valign="top" align="left" | '''[[What Time Is Love?]] (Remodelled & Remixed)'''<ref name="klf-discog"/> Artist: '''The KLF''' Year: 1990 Catalogue Number: '''[[KLF Communications]] KLF 004Y''' ''Featuring "What Time Is Love? (The Moody Boys vs The KLF)"'' |- | | valign="top" align="left" | '''[[3 a.m. Eternal]] (The Moody Boys Selection)'''<ref name="klf-discog"/> Artist: '''The KLF''' Year: 1991 Catalogue Number: '''KLF Communications KLF 005Y''' |- | | valign="top" align="left" | '''[[Last Train to Trancentral]] (The KLF Meets The Moody Boys Uptown)'''<ref name="klf-discog"/> Artist: '''The KLF''' Year: 1991 Catalogue Number: '''KLF Communications KLF 008Y''' |- | | valign="top" align="left" | '''The Right Decision'''<ref name="klf-discog"/> Artist: '''[[Jesus Jones]]''' Year: 1993 Catalogue Number: '''[[Food Records|Food]] CDPERV 2''' ''Featuring "The Right Decision (Moody Reconstruction Mix)"'' |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links==  *[http://www.discogs.com/artist/5759-The-Moody-Boys The Moody Boys discography at Discogs]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Moody Boys, The}} [[Category:The KLF]] [[Category:English electronic musicians]] [[Category:English record producers]] [[Category:Remixers]] [[Category:XL Recordings artists]]