Release Date: April 12, 2024
Label: Deko Entertaiment https://www.dekoentertainment.com/
Website: https://www.johnlodge.com/
This album is Lodge’s homage to the classic prog Moody Blues
album Days of Future Past, a significant milestone in
music history and a crucial part of prog rock's roots. With its unique sound
quality and nostalgic appeal, the vinyl edition adds a new dimension to the
listening experience, making it a must-have for any music enthusiast.
Listening to the original album, initially released in 1967
(remastered in 2017), it's astounding how it retains its relevance and
influence even today. It set a timeless foundation for prog rock. While
comparisons to the original are inevitable, my focus is on the enduring
masterpiece that Mr. Lodge has created, a testament to the original's timeless
influence.
Performed in eight magnificent parts, Lodge plays his bass and
sings like it was all those decades ago with a commitment, respect, and deep
love for what he and his mates created. This will be a must-have record
for all prog-rock enthusiasts and Moody fans. Hearing it on vinyl was
appropriate but a privilege I am grateful for, allowing me to experience
it the same way it was initially heard.
The orchestral intro, a nod to the original album's overture,
starts the proceedings, and a flute comes in, shaping into beautiful classical
music as it turns into Moody’s song instrumentally. So, you have the words
going through your mind.
God rest his soul. Graeme Edge provides two spoken-word parts
for this album. We are fortunate that it was recorded for this project.
John’s voice resonates with unparalleled excellence on this
recording, and his bass playing is, as expected, superb. The personal
significance of this recording to John Lodge is unfathomable, and it's this
deep personal connection that not only elevates the album to a new level of
musical precision and performance but also brings a profound emotional depth to
the music. From the first note to the last, this album strongly impacts the
listener, a testament to its influence and deep personal connection.
“The Afternoon” and “Nights in White Satin” Are genuinely
spine-tingling. Jon Davison (Yes vocalist) provided both vocals for the classic
tracks, and we all know how Justin Hayward sang the originals prolifically.
Davison's voice has an entirely different tone, of course, and he does a great
job, especially in choruses where his full range can be heard. The excellence
of everyone’s performance, including the indelible stamp left by The Moody
Blues, is a testament to the high quality of this music.
Sometimes, the keyboards on this album can be haunting. Side B
begins with “Afternoon.” The music is phenomenal as things move on from part to
part of each segment. The rhythm sections are spot-on throughout each track,
which may not be news to longtime fans, as Lodge was and still is one of the
greatest bass players in rock.
Days of Future Past-My Sojourn is an updated version of the original
enhanced and magnified with technologies that did not exist in 1967. It is
breathtaking music and orchestration that any music fan can appreciate. It is a
prog rock classic that has been renewed and appreciated by this fan, and I
believe it will be by many more. It is accessible, not too complex or going
into extended bombastic jams for which the genre is known.
This is a loving memory of a legendary recording revisited by
one of the experts who was there when the original recording started to take
shape. Don’t miss this vinyl version.
Keith “MuzikMan”
Hannaleck-TFOV Reviews Founder
August 21, 2024
Tracks:
Side A:
The Day Begins:
The Day Begins
Morning Glory (Featuring Graeme Edge)
Dawn Is A Feeling:
Dawn (Prelude)
Dawn Is A Feeling
The Morning: Another Morning:
The Morning (Prelude) 2. Another Morning
Lunch Break: Peak Hour
Lunch Break (Prelude)
Peak Hour
The Afternoon:
Tuesday Afternoon (Forever Afternoon) (Featuring Jon Davison)The Night (Finale)
Side B:
The Afternoon:
Evening (Time to Get Away)
Evening :
The Sun Set (Prelude)
The Sun Set
Twilight (Prelude)
Twilight Time
The Night:
Nights In White Satin (Featuring Jon Davison)
Late Lament (Featuring Graeme Edge)
The Night (Finale)
