| Spirits of the Western Sky | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Justin Hayward |
| Cover: | Spirits of the Western Sky.jpg |
| Released: | 26 February 2013 |
| Recorded: | 2012 Genoa, Italy Nashville, USA |
| Label: | Eagle Records |
| Producer: | Justin Hayward Albert Parodi |
| Prev Title: | Live in San Juan Capistrano |
| Prev Year: | 1998 |
| Next Title: | Spirits... Live |
| Next Year: | 2014 |
Spirits of the Western Sky is a solo album by Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues. It was Hayward's first solo album since his 1996 album The View from the Hill.[1]
The album was recorded in Genoa in Italy and in Nashville. On it, Hayward explores new areas – country and bluegrass on tracks like "What You Resist Persists", "Broken Dream" from The View from the Hill and "It’s Cold Outside of Your Heart" from The Moody Blues' 1983 album The Present.
Orchestration on the album is by Anne Dudley, an English composer and pop musician who has worked in both classical and pop genres. She is particularly known as a core member of the synthpop band Art of Noise, and as a film composer.
Hayward co-wrote the song "On the Road to Love" with Kenny Loggins. The two artists were both on the road at that time and they were staying at the same hotel. Loggins also plays and sings on the track.[2]
The bluegrass cover track of "It's Cold Outside of Your Heart" was originally recorded for and released on the 2011 bluegrass tribute album Moody Bluegrass TWO...Much Love.[3] [4]
All songs written by Justin Hayward unless otherwise noted.