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Moody is a studio album by American singer Della Reese. It was released in January 1965 by RCA Victor and was the eleventh studio album in her career. The final studio LP Reese recorded for RCA, Moody contained 12 tracks of songs about heartbreak and loss. It received mostly positive reception from critics following its release.
Background, recording and content
Before becoming a television actress (notably on the TV series Touched by an Angel), Della Reese was an established singer and recording artist. She first was signed with Jubilee Records where she had a million-selling single with 1957's "And That Reminds Me". She then moved to RCA Victor where she had her greatest commercial success with 1959's "Don't You Know?". She recorded a series of studio albums with RCA between 1959 and 1965, among them was Moody. It was recorded at RCA Studio A, located in New York City. It was produced by the Hugo & Luigi recording team and featured arrangements by Glenn Osser. Moody consisted of 12 tracks all of which were story lines centered on heartbreak and loss. The album's liner notes argue that while the songs are about despair, Reese's "rocking groove" changes listener's minds.
Release and critical reception
Moody was released by the RCA Victor label in January 1965 and was the eleventh studio album in her music career. It was issued as a vinyl LP, offered in both mono and stereo formats. Six tracks were featured on each side of the LP. Moody would prove to be the final studio LP released by the RCA Victor label before Reese signed with ABC–Paramount. The album was given mostly positive reviews by critics following its release. Billboard magazine wrote that, "Della tempers each love song with a touch of the blues for added effect and feeling". They further commented the album felt "warm, romantic and sophisticated". Cue magazine believed Reese had "a voice to spare" but found her performances to be too dramatic. Meanwhile, Walt Friedwald of the book A Biographical Guide to the Great Jazz and Pop Singers praised it as a set "of exceptionally well-sung slow love songs".
