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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
"Days of Future Passed" has one of the stranger stories behind the birth of an album in rock history. In 1967 Deram Records, part of the Decca label, wanted to promote its new Deramic Stereo process and tapped the Moody Blues to do a rock version of Dvorak's "New World Symphony." However, instead of putting together something that would anticipate Emerson, Lake & Palmer's live performance of Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition," the group persuaded the powers that be to abandon the Dvorak idea and let them do their own original compositions. Obviously inspired by the Beatle's "Sgt. Pepper," the result was a concept album presenting an archetypal day from "The Day Begins" to "Nights in White Satin" and essentially became the first major salvo in the Progressive Rock movement. This is another album that benefits from being on CD because as an album or cassette Side 2, with "Tuesday Afternoon" and "Nights in White Satin," was going to be listened to a lot more. Both those songs were written and sung by Justin Hayward, who had just joined the band in the wake of Denny Laine's departure. The fusion of rock and classical music works well overall, mainly because the pretentiousness of the songs was offset by the stunningly beautiful orchestrations by Peter Knight. Arguably the Moody Blues never scaled these grand heights again and in one significant sense they never tried: after "Days of Future Passed" the orchestra was replaced by a Mellotron on their albums. But what would become part of the Moody Blue's music that would continue were the deep thoughts profoundly intoned by Graeme Edge, which certainly gave this album one of the most unusual endings in rock history. I think this album still stands up today; if it does not, then it surely takes me back to a time when it did. So there.
28 of 29 people found the following review helpful
By Greywolf
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
1967. The Beatles were working on Sergeant Pepper, the Rolling Stones were getting busted and going psychedelic, Pink Floyd were wowing them down at the UFO, Timothy Leary was advising the world's youth to "turn on, tune in, drop out," art was exploding with extravagant flashes of colour, light shows were swirling, flowers were for wearing, life was for living and to be young was a treasure and an opportunity. Magic was in the air. And in a studio in London, the five members of the Moody Blues gathered to fashion a portion of that magic into an album the like of which the world had never heard. The result was this still remarkable collaboration of rock band and orchestra, featuring a collection of strong songs and musical themes, outstanding among which is, of course, their hit single, 'Nights In White Satin.' The latter is widely recognised as one of the best singles in the history of recorded music. The whole album is one of the finest artefacts of a revolutionary musical era. In the current age of cynicism it's fashionable to dismiss the Moody Blues as limp, lame, hippy has-beens. Personally, I rate them as among the all-time great British rock bands and find their albums still fresh, enjoyable and relevant after all these years. This album stands up remarkably well, taking us through a day from sunrise to night with every note, phrase and lyric perfectly judged to create what is arguably the first themed rock album. The quality of the musicianship from the band members is amazing. This was a band who could genuinely play real instruments. Their voices combine beautifully too. A true classic, still capable of rekindling the magic of a golden era of optimism and wonder.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Fussy Reader
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I received this album recently after having ummed and ahd as to whether to buy it for ages. I am not disappointed. I listened to it for the first time in the car and was blown away. The blend of rock and classical-style music (albeit quite light classical) is wonderfuland and the whole thing, for me, works really well. I grew up during the time when 'Nights in White Satin' was scarcely off the radio, and, in all honesty, I got a bit fed up with it. Some forty years later, though, it is still obviously a classic. Can't wait to explore the rest of the so called Magnificent Seven now.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
True Classic
This album created the basis for so much that was to follow, and still echoes down the years. Listen and you will keep coming back to it.
Published 15 days ago by John McGarrachan
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great Music
Even though it is still good, I don`t think it`s as good as On the Threshold of a Dream , and other LP /CDs
Published 1 month ago by Cuthbert Colling
5.0 out of 5 stars
An album from my past
I loved the Moody Blues back in the 70s and this was a welcome blast from the past. Funny to think the were making concept albums so long ago.
Published 1 month ago by Stephen White
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best Moody Blues Album
I have always enjoyed this album and the sound quality on the digital version is superb. Playing it has brought back many happy memories.
Published 1 month ago by Mr Anthony Lamb
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not their best
A patchy album with good parts - if you like the Moodies buy it, if not give it a miss
Published 3 months ago by G. Elliott
5.0 out of 5 stars
Moodies
Good album as I have now the complete colllection of the moody blues, I have liked them since the 60s, and enjoy their music
Published 3 months ago by louise hannah
5.0 out of 5 stars
Moodie Blues
Good sound. Helped me to remember the old songs. A good additions to my CD collection. I would buy more - watch this space.
Published 3 months ago by Mrs A Jones
5.0 out of 5 stars
Still Fresh as the Day it was Recorded
This was the first symphonic style 'pop concept' album and it's still as fresh as the the day it was recorded, over 45 years ago. Read more
Published 4 months ago by D. G. Walker
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic album
This is one of my favourite albums. The orchestration is wonderful; the songs flow into one another like streams into a river. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Wayne Storton
4.0 out of 5 stars
not their best
I clicked on the wrong button, I thought I had bought the moody blues greatest hits, I was wrong, this album is ok but they have far better work on the compilation album I meant to... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Mr. John Cuthbertson
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