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2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
 Moods of a Mystical Day Sep 13, 2009
"Days of Future Passed" by the Moody Blues is as full of passion an mystic appreciation of the various moods of the day as it was innovative as a collboration of pop-rock band and orchestra as well as, as I've read, the first outing of the mellotron. For many this album is the starting point of progressive rock.
The Day Begins - The album opens with a long cymbal or gong roll that resolves into a variously passionate description of the themes found throughout the album, an overture. Then there is poetry on the night and the coming of dawn. The orchestra responds obligingly.
Dawn: Dawn is a Feeling - The Moody Blues proper chimes in. Eternity is invoked in this song of the dawn. One is still caught perhaps in a dream state or a state of undisturbed blissful hope for the possibilities of life. The chorus, a gentle, soul guide:
You're here today
No future fears
This day will last
a thousand years
If you want it to.
The Morning: Another Morning - Okay, we're up now and a busy day is ahead of us full of childhood fun. The lyrics recall the timelessness of childhood the morning of our lives. An orchestral transition nudges you forward into the day.
Lunch Break: Peak Hour - We are definitely moving now in 60s-toned orchestral effects; the orchestra invokes images of downtown in the city and everyday human industry. The Moody Blues play an upbeat song. The topic is akin to "Good Morning Good Morning" by The Beatles and "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?" by Chicago...to what end are we all so crazily running around?
The Afternoon: Forever Afternoon (Tuesday?)/Time to Get Away - "Tuesday Afternoon" is a dreamy song about the afternoon, presently mystical rather than wistful. Tuesday is, perhaps, not a day thought of as worthy of song but The Moody Blues find plenty to sing about creating a unique song and perspective on a day as a result. This track also includes another song "Time to Get Away" which moves from lightly ominous to a more joyful mood.
Evening: The Sun Set/Twilight Time - With, perhaps, the last burst of the daytime's intense activity the orchestra gives way to an exotic song (sound maybe gamelan-like/Asian). This changes the tone a bit making the familar, seem unfamiliar and full of a strange and unearthly power. Then an orchestra interlude resolves the exotic into something more sensual. The second song in this track is a piano rocker with spiritual chorus soaring in the background; the world of dream seems to take hold again. Perhaps both songs mean to bring us round to this other-world. Plenty of song time is given to the night in this album of day and night. The song ends with an orchestral transition into the deeper night.
The Night: Nights in White Satin - Perhaps this song is meant to dissolve the passions of the whole album into two lover's sharing their passion. The chorus is lke some haunting ache of love in the darkness. If you have a heart this song will bring you tears of joy. The orchestra brings in the climax of this song. Further orchestration and poetry and finally the deep splash of the gong bring this song and album to a close.
(5 stars) Days of Future Passed is an early concept album which elevates pop-rock to an art. Music can take us on an emotional journey through imaginative landscapes and this album does so with creative passion. The band and orchestra work nearly seemlessly together here making this a great example of this kind of collaboration. This album compares well to The Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" as a much clearer concept album with more compassion and the mellotrons seem to amplify the sense of the mystical as well. This makes "Sgt. Pepper..." seem darker and sarcastic in comparison.
I recommend the album as a whole to progressive rock fans and the following songs specifically: "Dawn: Dawn is a Feeling", "The Afternoon: Forever Afternoon (Tuesday?)" (not so much "Time to Get Away"), "The Evening: The Sun Set/Twilight Time", and "The Night: Nights in White Satin".
4 of 4 found the following review helpful:
The worlds most underrated band! Jul 22, 2009
I first heard the Moody Blues when I was a young teenager, probably about 1971. During my mis-spent youth I was at some friends house doing Psilocybin Mushrooms. They were playing music, the soundtrack to Easy Rider, Jimi Hendrix, and they played an 8-track called "On the Threshold of a Dream" by the Moody Blues. I never heard of the Moody Blues before, and I was totally blown away by there style of music, the speaking of poetry, the great harmonies, and fantastic lyrics. I asked these people, who is that group? They replied, Oh, that's the Moody Blues. I said man they're cool, I've never heard anything like that before. They said, "Yeah they're pretty cool".
After I got back home I knew I had to find me some Moody Blues. There was an Eckerds drug store close to where I lived that sold records and 8-track tapes, so I went in search of a Moody Blues Album, but the only one they had was "Days of Future Passed", which had great album art, so I figured this is going to be good. I got home and rushed to put it on the record player. Well I was a little thrown off by the sound of orchestra music at the start, something I never really listened to, or knew nothing about, but it had what I was looking for, that great poetry that I heard before, and a mystical quality that I never heard to such an extent in anything else I've listened to. I played the album over and over again, and started to like it more and more.
I was the only big Moody Blues fan I knew. Most people I knew liked Pink Floyd(overrated), Led Zeppelin(one of my favorites), or Johnny Cash(one of my favorites). I ended up eventually getting all 7 of the Moody Blues earlier albums, and at that time "In Search of the Lost Chord" was my favorite, very Psychedelic.
Now that I'm an old fart, I'm still a Big Moody Blues fan, and I own all seven of there great earlier albums, but now there on digitally remastered CD's. My favorite now is "Days of Future Passed", which I also have on an old LP. I'm an a.j. squared away citizen now, so no more drugs, but I do still like to drink some beers, and listen to the old Moody Blues from time to time.
10 of 10 found the following review helpful:
 Good but disappointing Jul 19, 2009
No question, for clarity of sound the 2008 remaster is the best CD issue of this album ever, but....
Those of us who have been listening to this album (on vinyl) since it's release in 1967 were no doubt perplexed when we first heard it on CD. Why? Because the LP and the CD(s) contain different mixes. The story, as I've heard it, was that the album was remixed in 1978 because the original master tapes had deteriorated and all subsequent issues of DOFP have been made from this remix which lacks several key overdubs found in the original.
To some, perhaps most, the mix differences are inconsequential and hardly noticeable. For them I heartily recommend this CD. The clarity here is stunning and aside from a few instances where the musical background overpowers the vocals its about as good of a remaster as you're ever going to hear. The bonus material is interesting as well.
What is disappointing to me is that no CD has been released of the superior original mix. I have heard that there were plans to release one in 1997 (from a submaster?) but that never came about.
Until that happens I will jealously guard my early pressing of the vinyl LP as my preferred listening source for this classic album.
4 of 4 found the following review helpful:
Moody Blues' answer to Sgt. Pepper Jun 21, 2009
Few folks realize this album was released the same year as Sgt. Pepper was, 1967. It enjoyed a limited amount of succcess and was dismissed. However, in 1973 the album was rereleased and recieved a much more favorable response. It was then praised as a musical masterpiece (which it is) and became the springboard from which the Moody Blues' became known for they're melodic and infectous soft rock. I've even heard the strains of "Tuesday afternoon" playing in a local TV ad prodding us to get out and enjoy Tuesdays at the museum. Clever. This album is a classic. It's not music for everyone. But it is beautiful music. It can stand the scrutiny of a serious listen and it can also be played in the background. This particular disk has a nice addition of bonus tracks which are comprised of alternate mixes and some singles. I'm pleased with my purchase. Amazon got it to me with free super shipping. Nice.
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
A Masterpiece Jun 19, 2009
Days Of Future Passed is the definitive Moody Blues album containing some of there most known songs such as, "Nights In White Satin", and, "The Afternoon", but there is much more to this album then the known songs. First off if your a real music fan you know or should know that the Moody Blues recorded many great timeless albums such as, "Days Of Future Passed", "In Search Of The Lost Chord", "To Our Childrens Childrens Children", "Question Of Balance", and "Every Good Boy Deserves Favour", most of which are never mentioned as great albums and are very very underatted albums including, "Days Of Future Passed". Recorded in 1967 during a year of what some say as rocks most creative period with some of the greatest albums ever realesed of all time, "Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band", "Are You Experienced", "Disraeli Gears", "S.F. Sorrow", "The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn", and this album is one of them. Days Of Future Passed is a concept album that is simply about a common day with seven tracks in total all containing beautifully arranged strings, and beautifully arranged songs that make this album a must have for any music lover. If you want to hear some of the most beautiful music ever record of all time this album is for you.
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