The Moody Boys

The Moody Boys / Moody Boyz
Origin	UK
Genres	House, techno, drum and bass, dubstep
Years active	1988–present
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 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. Cooper, Sean. Moody Boyz at AllMusic. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
2. 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. First National Rapper (Media notes). The Moody Boys. City Beat. 1988. CBE 1239.
4. What Is Dub? (The KLF And Apollo 440 Remixes) (Media notes). The Moody Boys introduce Screamer. Love Records. 1991. EVOLR 3.
5. The White Room (Media notes). The KLF. KLF Communications. 1991. JAMS LP006.
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. Lion Dance (Remix) (Media notes). The Moody Boys. Fourth Floor Records. 1991. FF 1123.
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. Cooper, Sean. Product of the Environment - Moody Boyz at AllMusic. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
12. 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.
14. King Of The Funky Zulus (Media notes). Moody Boyz. United We Conquer. 1990. Zulu 1.
15. Journey Into Dubland (Media notes). The Moody Boys. XL Recordings. 1990. XLEP-107.
16. Funky Zulu (You're So Fresh) (Media notes). The Moody Boys. XL Recordings. 1990. XLT-11.
17. What Is Dub? (Media notes). The Moody Boys introduce Screamer. Love Records/Polydor. 1991. EVOLX 03.
18. Centre Of The World (Media notes). The Moody Boys. Love Records/Polydor. 1992. EVOLX 15.
19. Shango (Media notes). The Moody Boyz. Guerilla Records. 1994. GRRR 65.
20. Recycled EP (Media notes). Moody Boyz. Guerilla Records. 1994. GREP 006.
21. Destination Africa (Media notes). The Moody Boys. SSR Records. 1994. SSR 141.

External links

• The Moody Boys discography at Discogs