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There's no good reason to review The Moody Blues' Days Of Future Passed. In the fifty years since its 1967 release, plenty has been said about it. I just picked up a copy (finally) and have a couple thoughts. This is not a review.

Mark Twain, talking about his Google Play Music library, said a classic is an album often praised but seldom listened to. He needed a turntable. I've been looking for a copy of Days of Future Passed since last year when I bought my first record in decades. I've listened to it for more than forty years. On the turntable yesterday there were no surprises, but I loved it.

I wonder how the band felt when Justin Hayward presented his two contributions. I'm competitive and might have quit the band on hearing "Forever Afternoon (Tuesday?)" and "Nights In White Satin." They're just too good. Game over. The opening cymbals and mellotron of "Tuesday" are hypnotic and the rest of the tune is beyond everything else on the album. Everything except "Nights In White Satin" which is epic, operatic, symphonic. It is classic and the highlight of the band's career. The album is good, but side two mesmerizes, largely because of those two tracks.

It's mesmerizing for me. For my wife, not so much. The orchestra and at least two songs on side one are too cheesy for her. But our love endures despite this travesty.

The vinyl is in great shape. I got it from Jack's Rhythms in New Paltz. The shop is small but well organized and worth a visit.

And unless you're my wife, Days Of Future Passed is worth a couple thousand listens. Go get it.