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Isn't life strange? So wrote John Lodge on a later album. This, though, was the one that started the ball rolling, creating a distinctive and unique sound that would become loved and followed for 40 years and three generations of fans. It is appropriate to look back at this album as a new remastering has been issued and the band are starting yet another UK tour in the autumn.
In 2003 Universal Music embarked on a project to re-master the first five of the Moody Blues albums from the original tapes using modern production techniques. They also decided to issue additional tracks, alternative takes and other versions which were not included on the final album.
This is the 2006 deluxe SACD edition.
INTRODUCING THE BAND
The Moody Blues were perhaps predestined for their eventual place in the realms of rock - after all the themes of many of their songs are of the cosmos, time, life and personal relationships. The beginnings were not favourable though. 'BRUM beat' was supposed to be the sound from Birmingham that would eclipse the early sixties happenings up the road in Liverpool. A coming together of elements of Gerry Levene and the Avengers and Johnny C. Storm (who?) eventually produced the one hit wonder 'Go Now'.
Beyond this there was a series of improbable events. After Denny Lane (the original Moodys singer) left the band, Graeme Edge tells the story of how the group reformed. He met Eric Burdon who gave him a sack of unwanted applications from an advert for the position of lead guitarist with the reformed Animals. The first letter out of the bag was from Justin Hayward.
The group hunted for an identity of their own and produced a stage act based on a day in the life of an ordinary person. The story of how they approached the Decca record company and were persuaded to produce a demonstration disc for the new DERAMIC (stereophonic) sound system is well known. It did produce one of the first concept albums merging rock group and classical orchestra. Decca themselves were unsure how to market the record - not quite pop, not quite classical. The sleeve notes declare 'Here, where emotion and creativity blend - where poetry, the beat group and the symphony orchestra feed on each other's inspiration - the Moodys have chosen to paint
their picture of everyman's day, which takes nothing from the nostalgia for the past - and adds nothing to the probabilities of the future'. The natural single (Nights in White Satin) was also 'a tad too long' by the 45 rpm standard of the day.
The album is the first by the full Moody Blues line up that stayed together for the next seven discs. Justin Hayward (lead guitar), John Lodge (bass guitar), Mike Pinder (keyboards), Ray Thomas (flute), Graeme Edge (drums). They are backed (some would say the Moodies were the backing) by the London Festival Orchestra conducted by Peter Knight.
On its first release the album reached number 27 in the album charts in the UK and remained in the charts for 16 weeks. It reached No.3 on the American album chart in April 1968.
Nights In White Satin was released as a single in November 1967 when it reached No.19 in the UK charts. Since then it has been re-released on six occasions reaching its peak at No.2 in July 1972.
DISC ONE
I owned the LP back then and bought the CD when I upgraded my collection. This is my own personal review of the play list.
1. The Day Begins. ****
A long crescendo gong roll lasting 38 seconds ushers in the overture played by the orchestra. This mirrors the classical perspective with refrains from all the tracks. The orchestral pieces are perhaps the most dated of the tracks and could easily have graced a 1960s film or television series score. It does however include Graeme's spoken introduction.
2. Dawn ***
The orchestral introduction merges into a slow rocker that sets the tone for the project: a plea to accept your lot and enjoy the present. 'Dawn is a feeling, a beautiful ceiling, the smell of grass makes you pass into a dream … this day will last a thousand years - if you want it to'
(%% - I wonder what smell was being referred to in the mid 1960s)
3. The Morning ***
An up tempo ballad from Ray Thomas which describes childhood pleasures in a quite childlike way. The orchestra takes up the theme of the later part of the track leading to
4. Lunch Break ***
The orchestral introduction again typifies the 60s film score writing but ushers in the rocker 'Peak Hour' from John Lodge accompanied by the other members of the band on descant vocals. Synthesisers, chiming guitars and driving drum refrains begin to hint at the Moodys 'Wall of Sound' of the future. There are also mystical overtones that foretell other albums.
5. The Afternoon *****
Two songs here led by Justin Hayward's 'Forever Afternoon (Tuesday?)' This has a plaintive verse with a haunting synthesiser accompaniment given a rhythmic up beat chorus. Again the tone is reflective of the human condition and taking pleasures and enjoyment as they are presented.
This leads to the John Lodge song 'Time To Get Away'; again a somewhat pensive, melancholic vision of daily existence. He sings it through a wide vocal range including a falsetto counterpoint.
6. Evening *****
The 'Sun Set' has an eastern tingle with bells, tightened drum beats and flutes. 'Twilight Time' has a somewhat mystical feeling with lyrical poetic references ('… a nightingale lays a dark mellow phrase of notes that are rich and true, an aerial display by the firefly brigade) with the driven beat and chanted chorus.
7. The Night *****
'Nights In White Satin' needs no introduction or comment. The group and the orchestra merge together with soaring strings and voices over Justin's words. Graeme completes the album with the second half of his soliloquy.
… And which is an illusion???
DISC TWO: THE EXTRAS
I do not intend to review the second disc in any detail but it consists of a number of alternative recordings, different mixes, radio sessions and previously unreleased material. The following is an overview:
1. Tuesday Afternoon 2. Dawn Is A Feeling 3. The Sun Set 4. Twilight Zone 5. Nights In White Satin 6. Fly Me High 7. I Really Haven't Got The Time 8. Love And Beauty 9. Leave This Man Alone 10. Cities 11. Long Summer Days 12. Please Think About It 13. Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood 14. Love And Beauty 15. Leave This Man Alone 16. Peak Hour 17. Nights In White Satin 18. Fly Me High 19. Twilight Zone
1, 2, 3 and 4 are alternative mixes of four of the tracks which appear on the finished album. The sleeve notes recount the primitive nature of multi-track recording back in 1967 and this album was recorded and mixed
Pictures
Cover and slip sleeve
down using two four-track tape machines. 3. is the track without the addition of orchestration.5, 10 Released as a single in November 1967 in mono, "Nights" is played without an orchestral backing.
6, 7, 8 and 9 The A- and B- sides of the Moody Blues first two singles with the reformed line up. Neither failed to reach the charts. 11 and 12 were recorded as material for a single which were never released.
13. A cover version recorded by the group for the BBC Radio programme "Saturday Club" in May 1967
14, 15, 16 Recorded for the BBC Radio programme "Easybeat" in September 1967, this co-incided with the release of "Love And Beauty" as a single.
17, 18, 19 A live recording (said to be one of the earliest surviving in the BBC archives) for "The David Symonds Show" - January 1st 1968.
COMMENTS
So, how does 'Days' sound now, 40 years later. It has to be admitted that much of it is programme music. It is perhaps fairer to listen to its contemporaries (The Beatles 'Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' sounds very dated and thin in comparison) rather than Moody's newer offerings. However individual songs still feature prominently in their sell-out concert tours. Who cannot help but feel the goose bumps and shivers down the spine when Graeme's voice echoes around a dark auditorium with the words 'Breathe deep the gathering gloom, watch lights fade in every room, bedsitter people look back and lament, another day's useless energy spent. Impassioned lovers wrestle as one, lonely man cries for love and has none …'
Ray Thomas has now hung up his carpet slippers (I'm sure that's what he was wearing when we saw them in concert in 2002!) but the remaining three members (Justin, John and Graeme) continue to tour the UK and America as The Moody Blues. They still have a devoted following and I for one have my tickets for their performance in Newcastle in October.
THE TECHNOLOGY
I now have copies of both versions of this album in my collection now. Bearing in mind the increasingly petrified state of my auditory apparatus could I hear any difference between the 1986 CD and this 2006 upstart? Disc I is a dual layer disc. The universally accessible layer contains the Stereo CD mix. Even this played into the inputs of a Dolby 5:1 capable amplifier there is a remarkable clarity of sound and a pleasing three dimensional ambiance to the performance.
Again I have to say that I was making the comparison using a Denon 2800 player which is not equipped with SACD circuitry. The SACD layer has the 1972 quadrophonic master tapes remixed into a full surround sound output. I have my SACD player on order!!
THE PRESENTATION
The two disc set is housed in a fold-out "Digipak" style enclosure. For additional protection there is a plastic sleeve printed with the mantra "Deluxe Edition". The front cover reproduces the pop art painting by David Anstey On the back and inside are photographs of the members of the band as well as the track listing of both discs.
The accompanying 20 page booklet contains a history of the band and the album along with more photographs from the time. There is no songbook. The second half gives an indication of the source of the tracks on the bonus disc.
If you haven't listened to the Moody Blues then this is an ideal place to start. Is the new version worth the extra money (the old CD is still available)? Yes it is. Funnily enough (having bought one anyway!!) I think there is enough new material and an excellently updated recording to make this a strong recommendation for the firm fan who already owns the album.
AVAILABILITY
There are several varieties of CDs of this album on offer now including a recently remastered Hybrid SACD deluxe edition which comes on two discs and has an additional eleven tracks of alternative arrangements, "B" sides and live performances. Many of these additional tracks can be found on the Moody's compilation album "Prelude" from 1987.
DAYS OF FUTURE PASSED - Initial vinyl release DECCA RECORDS 1967
Days of Future Passed [Deluxe Edition] [Sacd/CD Hybrid] Amazon.co.uk £8.65 (sourced from Amazon Jersey)
Days of Future Passed [Original recording remastered] Amazon.co.uk £ 5.97
Samples of six of the tracks are available at: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Days-Future-Passed/dp/B000007R19
[Chart information obtained from 'The Great Rock Discography' 6th Edition Martin C Strong (2002)]
POSTSCRIPT
There is an earlier album "The Magnificent Moodies" from 1965 which featured the single 'Go Now' and the original line up.
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Another great informative review here. I love Nights in white Satin which I always associate with long smoochy dances with old flames!! lol tc x Sal x
arnoldhenryrufus 09.09.2006 21:57
thank you for this review now I know what to get hubby for his birthday next month - lyn x
little_red_hen 09.09.2006 12:53
An excellently laid our review. I have just given my 45s to my son, including NIWS! Probably the 1972 version. I am not familiar with a great deal of the Moody Blues material, although I have heard of Denny Lane and Go Now, and Haywood and Lodge when they released material. Karen
Disc 1 The Day Begins Dawn ( Dawn Is A Feeling ) The Morning ( Another Morning ) Lunch ... more
Break ( Peak Hour ) The Afternoon a)Forever Afternoon b)(Evening) Time To Get Away Evening a ) The Sun Set b ) Twilight Time The Night ( Nights In White Satin ) Disc...
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