Magnificent Moodys or Brilliant Barclays?

This post is aimed at settling a 50 year+ old argument.... well to my mind anyways; everybody else (get it?) probably thinks it was settled years ago and falls into one of 3 camps (i.e. yes they are, no they aren't and who gives a...)

OK so what argument?  Basically were Barclay James Harvest really the poor person's Moody Blues i.e. were the Moody Blues the thinking person's BJH or what?

Well before entering the arena I must point out that the phrase 'Poor person's (formerly man's) anything' is somewhat suspect - what do we mean by 'poor'?  Is it lack of funds, in which it really doesn't make sense, or is it poor in intellect?  In which case it is extremely insulting or is it just another example of laziness of speech (probably).

Anyway, basically BJH have unjustifiably born the critique of being essentially a kind of Moody Blues but not as good..... absolute bloody rubbish!   But get this, I don't now or ever have compared the two groups;  I think they are different, very in many cases.

I have to say that I have been a big Moodys fan since 'Go Now' and of all the bands I have seen live I think I've seen the Moodys the most.  Not quite prog and certainly not 'rock'; 'psychedelic'? possibly, art rock? possibly again, except I don't know what it means.  Just plain great music, certainly; particulary 'Days of the future past', 'Threshold of a dream', 'To our children's children's children' (why they couldn't just say To our great grandchildren...), 'A Question of balance', 'EGBDF' and, I now think, 'Seventh Sojourn'.

Now then, BJH?  I was slightly later into Barclay James Harvest; it was the release of Mockingbird that did it and ever since I have been a big fan of theirs as well; particularly 'Other Short Stories', 'Once Again', 'Everyone is everybody else' and Baby James Harvest'.  But nowadays I do tend to play BJH far more than the Moodys - says it all? Not really, just changing tastes over the years, or forgetfulness, or maybe Moodys sound slightly more 'dated'?  Who knows?  Who the hell really cares?  I don't and neither should you :-)