BY DANIEL GLUSKOTER
The legendary English rock band The Moody Blues is preparing for their rapidly approaching two month North American tour that will see them celebrate the 50th Anniversary of their epic album “Days of Future Passed” by playing it in it’s entirety for the first time with early stops scheduled at The Mountain Winery in Saratoga on June 6th and 7th.
One of the first significant concept albums, “Days of Future Passed” spawned both “Nights in White Satin” and “Tuesday Afternoon” as part of a song cycle written from a single day in the life perspective that featured the merger of classic rock songs and lush instrumentation with a symphony orchestra, producing one of the earliest progressive albums that saw song lengths routinely exceed the four minute mark for the first time.
Unquestionably and inexcusably one of the greatest snubs of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame era, the Moodies also penned such timeless Rock classics as the Timothy Leary tribute “Legend of a Mind,” “Ride My See-Saw,” “The Story in Your Eyes,” “Isn’t Life Strange” and “I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)” before going on hiatus in 1974.
Returning nearly four years later, the band proceeded to peak commercially in the Early 80’s with a stellar string of albums that included the hits “Your Wildest Dreams,” “I Know You’re Out There Somewhere,” “The Voice,” “Sitting At The Wheel,” and “Gemini Dream.”
Featuring guitarist Justin Hayward and bassist John Lodge on lead vocals with Graeme Edge on drums, the Moody Blues have sold over 70 million albums worldwide while accumulating 14 platinum records. The “Days Of Future Passed – 50th Anniversary” tour will feature the band performing their greatest hits in the first half of their set, and then finish with “Days Of Future Passed” performed in the second half.
Tickets for both of the Mountain Winery shows and additional information on the long history of the band are available here at www.moodybluestoday.com