Album Review: The Moody Blues’ ‘Days of Future Passed’
This article appeared originally on BestClassicBands.
There wasn’t a great deal of precedent – either within the group or on the pop music landscape – for Days of Future Passed when the Moody Blues recorded their (sort-of) debut album. The British quintet had only just reinvented itself with a new lineup and a new sound, built in large part around the Mellotron, played by keyboardist and founding member Mike Pinder. That instrument – previously used so effectively on an influential handful of Beatles tracks (and intriguingly by Brian Jones on the Rolling Stones’ Their Satanic Majesties Request – finally afforded rock bands the ability to incorporate “classical”-type sonic textures in their music in a relatively practical fashion.
The hybrid rock/pop and classical (or at last classical-leaning) aesthetic of Days of Future Passed hadn’t been attempted by many significant artists prior to the Moodys’ effort. At roughly the same time as DOFP was being made, Love’s Forever Changes was being recorded more than 5,000 miles away. But the baroque textures of Love’s album – impressive though they would be – were far less ambitious than what the Moody Blues (along with producer Tony Clarke and conductor/composer Peter Knight) would achieve with Days of Future Passed.
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About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The 4500-plus interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he taught a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.