The View from the Hill


The View from the Hill is a solo album released in 1996 by Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues.

Background

In a 1996 interview, Hayward discusses making the album and how it was his first time recording an album from start to finish as a single batch of songs. He explains, "My other albums were collections of random bits of recording that I would finally put out once I had an album's worth of material. This is the first time I've ever done this, made an album from start to finish. It means a lot to me, and I know that it's good. At the very least, will make your hi-fi sound good... It's a trippy, dreamy, romantic kind of thing. I came to the Moody Blues as a singer-songwriter, and that's always what I felt I was and am. If I'm writing for the Moodies, then I'm speaking for the rest of the band as well as myself. But when I write for myself, I feel it's much freer. It's probably a lot more from my heart and more revealing, more honest. Being a solo artist is more of a priority than it used to be. But I love doing both and selfishly want to have it both ways."

Track listing

All songs written by Justin Hayward unless noted.
  1. "I Heard It" - 5:37
  2. "Broken Dream" - 5:52
  3. "The Promised Land" - 7:26
  4. "It's Not Too Late" - 5:02
  5. "Something to Believe In" - 4:22
  6. "The Way of the World" - 5:08
  7. "Sometimes Less Is More" - 4:08
  8. "Troubadour" - 6:34
  9. "Shame" - 4:35
  10. "Billy" - 7:00
  11. "Children of Paradise" - 3:15

Personnel

  • Justin Hayward - Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals
  • Elio Rivagli - Drums, Percussion
  • Mickey Feat - Bass, Vocals
  • Paul Bliss - Keyboards, Pre-Production
  • Phil Palmer - Guitar, Vocals
  • Geoffrey Richardson - Voila, Mandolin, Various Pipes
  • Helen Liebmann - Cello
  • Tessa Niles - Background Vocals
  • Lynda Taylor - Background Vocals
  • Billy Nichols - Background Vocals