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Days of Future Passed

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Untitled
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[3]
Rolling Stone (1968)mixed[4]
Rolling Stone (2007)favorable[5]
Spinfavorable[6]
Sputnikmusic5/5[1]
Uncut[7]
Yahoo! Musicfavorable[8]

Days of Future Passed is the second album and first concept album by English rock band The Moody Blues, released in November 1967 by Deram Records.[5] After two years performing as a struggling white R&B band, The Moody Blues were asked by their record label in September 1967 to record an adaptation of Antonín Dvořák's Symphony No. 9 as a stereo demonstration record.[5] Instead, the band chose to record an orchestral song cycle about a typical working day.[5]

Recording sessions for the album took place at Decca Studios in West Hampstead, London between 9 May and 3 November 1967.[9] The band worked with record producer Tony Clarke, engineer Derek Varnals and conductor Peter Knight.[3] The album's music features psychedelic rockers,[3] ballads by singer-songwriter and guitarist Justin Hayward, Mellotron played by keyboardist Mike Pinder[5] and orchestral accompaniment by the London Festival Orchestra.[3]

Music writers cite the album as a precursor to progressive rock music.[1][7][10] Bill Holdship of Yahoo! Music remarks that the band "created an entire genre here."[8] David Fricke cites it as one of the essential albums of 1967 and finds it "closer to high-art pomp than psychedelia. But there is a sharp pop discretion to the writing and a trippy romanticism in the mirroring effect of the strings and Mike Pinder's Mellotron."[5] Will Hermes cites the album as an essential progressive rock record and opines that its use of the Mellotron, a tape replay keyboard, made it a "signature" element of the genre.[6] An influential work of the counterculture period,[11] Allmusic editor Bruce Eder calls the album "one of the defining documents of the blossoming psychedelic era, and one of the most enduringly popular albums of its era."[3]

Background

Members of the group have claimed that originally the Moodies' British label, Decca Records, had wanted them to record an album based on Dvořák's New World Symphony for the newly formed Deram Records division in order to demonstrate their latest recording techniques, which were named "Deramic Sound." Instead, the band (initially without the label's knowledge) decided to focus on an album based on an original stage show that they'd been working on. However, Decca recording engineer Derek Varnals disputes this story, claiming that even at the start of the sessions in 1967 there was no intent to record a Dvořák album and that talk of this project did not emerge until the mid-1970s.[12]

Original and later mix

In 1978 the album was remixed because of apparent deterioration of the master tapes.[13] Digital releases of the album have used this remix. Some compilations, however, have used the original 1967 stereo mix for some songs.[14] The original mix of the entire album has been transferred digitally, for possible release, but has not been used in favour of the remix.[15]

The ways in which the later mix departs most noticeably from the original are:

  • After the orchestral intro, "Dawn Is a Feeling" begins more abruptly, and there is less echo on Mike Pinder's vocal on the bridge, making it more prominent.
  • On "Another Morning" Ray Thomas's double vocals are spread left and right in the stereo channel. Also the flute interlude is played twice towards the end of the song before the orchestral segue.
  • The orchestral intro "Lunch Break" goes on about 20 seconds longer before fading out.
  • The bridges to "(Evening) Time to Get Away" have John Lodge singing alone; all the backing vocals on that part have been lost.
  • The end of "(Evening) Time to Get Away" is missing a mellotron part and only repeats twice, instead of three times.
  • "The Sun Set" is missing some piano parts, and the reverb on "through the night" is different.
  • The backing vocals on "Twilight Time" are heard through the entire song instead of only coming in at strategic points.
  • At the beginning of "Nights in White Satin", as the orchestral prelude ends, there is one less beat of time before the rhythm section starts in.
  • Some of the strings near the end of "Nights in White Satin" (before "Late Lament") are out of sync with the main body of the song.

Track listing

Side one
1. The Day Begins: (5:50)
2. Dawn: (3:48)
  • (Intro) (Peter Knight) [unlisted track] — (0:38)
  • "Dawn Is a Feeling" (Mike Pinder) - (3:10) (lead singer: Justin Hayward, Bridge: Mike Pinder)
3. The Morning: (3:55)
  • (Intro) (Peter Knight) [unlisted track] — (0:21)
  • "Another Morning" (Ray Thomas) — (3:34) (lead singer: Ray Thomas)
4. Lunch Break: (5:33)
  • (Intro) (Peter Knight) [unlisted track] — (1:53)
  • "Peak Hour" (John Lodge) — (3:40) (lead singer: John Lodge)
Side two
1. The Afternoon: (8:23)
2. Evening: (6:40)
  • (Intro) (Peter Knight) [unlisted track] — (0:38)
  • "The Sunset" (Pinder) — (2:39) (lead singer: Mike Pinder)
  • "Twilight Time" (Thomas) — (3:23) (lead singer: Ray Thomas)
3. The Night: (7:24)

Original vinyl track listing

Side one
1. THE DAY BEGINS (5:45)
2. DAWN: Dawn Is a Feeling (3:50)
3. THE MORNING: Another Morning (3:40)
4. LUNCH BREAK: Peak Hour (5:21)
Side two
1. THE AFTERNOON: Forever Afternoon (Tuesday?) (8:25)
2. EVENING: The Sun Set: Twilight Time (6:39)
3. THE NIGHT: Nights in White Satin (7:41)

2006 SACD deluxe edition tracks

Days of Future Passed was remastered into SACD in March 2006 and repackaged into a 2 CD Deluxe Edition.

Extra tracks on the Deluxe Edition are:

  1. "Tuesday Afternoon" (Hayward) – 4:20 alternate mix
  2. "Dawn Is A Feeling" (Pinder) – 2:19 alternate version
  3. "The Sun Set" (Pinder) – 2:49 alternate version without orchestra
  4. "Twilight Time" (Thomas) – 2:27 alternate vocal mix
  5. "Nights in White Satin" (Hayward) – 4:26 mono mix from single released November 1967
  6. "Fly Me High" (Hayward) – 2:54 Recorded 30 March 1967; released as single May 1967
  7. "I Really Haven't Got The Time" (Pinder) – 3:07 Recorded 30 March 1967; released as b-side May 1967
  8. "Love and Beauty" (Pinder) – 2:23 Recorded 17 July 1967; released as single September 1967
  9. "Leave This Man Alone" (Hayward) – 2:58 Recorded 17 July 1967; released as b-side September 1967
  10. "Cities" (Hayward) – 2:23 Recorded 17 July 1967; released November 1967 as b-side to "Nights in White Satin"
  11. "Long Summer Days" (Hayward) – 3:12 Recorded 19 May 1967 and released on Caught Live + 5
  12. "Please Think About It" (Pinder) – 3:40 Recorded 29 June 1967 and released on Caught Live + 5
  13. "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" (Bennie Benjamin, Gloria Caldwell, Sol Marcus) – 2:23 live 9 May 1967 for BBC Saturday Club
  14. "Love and Beauty" (Pinder) – 2:12 live 20 September 1967 for BBC Easybeat
  15. "Leave This Man Alone" (Hayward) – 2:52 live 20 September 1967 for BBC Easybeat
  16. "Peak Hour" (Lodge) – 3:22 live 20 September 1967 for BBC Easybeat
  17. "Nights in White Satin" (Hayward) – 3:48 live 1 January 1968 for BBC Dave Symonds
  18. "Fly Me High" (Hayward) – 2:45 live 1 January 1968 for BBC Dave Symonds
  19. "Twilight Time" (Thomas) – 2:08 live 1 January 1968 for BBC Dave Symonds

2008 single standard CD remaster tracks

  1. "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" (Benjamin, Caldwell, Marcus) – 2:23 live 9 May 1967 for BBC Saturday Club
  2. "Fly Me High" (Hayward) – 2:54 Recorded 30 March 1967; released as single May 1967
  3. "I Really Haven't Got The Time" (Pinder) – 3:07 Recorded 30 March 1967; released as b-side May 1967
  4. "Love & Beauty" (Pinder) – 2:23 Recorded 17 July 1967; released as single September 1967
  5. "Leave This Man Alone" (Hayward) – 2:58 Recorded 17 July 1967; released as b-side September 1967
  6. "Cities" (Hayward) – 2:23 Recorded 17 July 1967; released November 1967 as b-side to "Nights in White Satin"
  7. "Tuesday Afternoon" (Hayward) – 4:20 alternate mix
  8. "Dawn Is A Feeling" (Pinder) – 2:19 alternate version
  9. "The Sun Set" (Pinder) – 2:49 alternate version without orchestra
  10. "Twilight Time" (Thomas) – 2:27 alternate vocal mix

Chart positions

Album

Year Chart Position
1967 UK Albums Chart 27[16]
1972 Billboard 200 3

Singles

Year Single Chart Position
1967 "Nights in White Satin" UK Singles Chart 19[17]
1968 "Tuesday Afternoon" Billboard Hot 100 24
1972 "Nights in White Satin" UK Singles Chart 9[18]
Billboard Hot 100 2

Personnel

Musicians

The Moody Blues:

Production

  • Tony Clarke: Producer, Realisation.
  • Derek Varnals: Engineer.
  • Hugh Mendl: Executive Producer, Liner Notes.
  • Michael Dacre-Barclay: Realisation.
  • David Anstey: Cover Design, Cover Painting.
  • Steven Fallone: Digital Remastering.

References

Reed, John (1999). "Days of Future Passed Re-release liner notes". London, England: The Decca Record Co. Ltd. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

  1. ^ a b c SowingSeason (11 March 2011). "The Moody Blues - Days of Future Passed (staff review)". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  2. ^ James E. Perone (2012). The Album: A Guide to Pop Music's Most Provocative, Influential, and Important Creations. ABC-CLIO. p. 117. ISBN 978-0-313-37906-2.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Eder, Bruce. "allmusic ((( Days of Future Passed > Overview )))". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 11 October 2009.
  4. ^ Miller, Jim (7 December 1968). "The Moody Blues: Days of Future Passed : Music Reviews". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 6 June 2008. Retrieved 29 July 2012. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ a b c d e f Christgau, Robert; Fricke, David (12 July 2007). "The 40 Essential Albums of 1967". Rolling Stone. Jann S. Wenner. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  6. ^ a b Hermes, Will (January 2004). "Essential Prog Rock". Spin. 20 (1). Vibe/Spin Ventures: 48. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  7. ^ a b "Review: Days of Future Passed". Uncut. London: IPC Media: 120. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  8. ^ a b Holdship, Bill. "The Moody Blues Reviews". Yahoo! Music. Yahoo!. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ "Moody Blues - Days of Future Passed CD Album". CD Universe. Muze. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  10. ^ Classic Rock, July 2010, Issue 146.
  11. ^ Macan, Edward. (1996).Rocking the Classics : English Progressive Rock and the Counterculture. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195098889.
  12. ^ "Sound On Sound (Classic Tracks: The Moody Blues "Nights In White Satin")". www.soundonsound.com. Retrieved 17 August 2010.
  13. ^ "THE MOODY BLUES FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS LIST". Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  14. ^ "Moody Blues - Days of Future Passed Original Mix question". Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  15. ^ "On the Subject of The Moody Blues-Days of Future Passed". Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  16. ^ "Chart Stats - The Moody Blues - Days Of Future Passed". www.chartstats.com. Retrieved 11 October 2009.
  17. ^ "Chart Stats - The Moody Blues - Nights In White Satin". www.chartstats.com. Retrieved 11 October 2009.
  18. ^ Roberts, David, ed. (2005). British Hit Singles and Albums. Guinness World Records Ltd. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  19. ^ Show 49 - The British are Coming! The British are Coming!: With an emphasis on Donovan, the Bee Gees and the Who. [Part 6] : UNT Digital Library
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