Tribute/ John Lodge of The Moody Blues

 

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR

My introduction to the Moody Blues didn't begin with 'Nights In White Satin', their most famous song. Yes, it played on the radio when I was 16 in the late 1970s, but I never paid attention. Three or four years later, a tape with the album To Our Children's Children's Children on one side and Seventh Sojourn on the other caught my attention. Not having the inlay cards, I knew little about the group members or who wrote which song, but I later discovered that John Lodge wrote the gems 'Eyes of A Child', 'Candle Of Life', 'Isn't Life Strange' and 'I'm Just A Singer In A Rock N' Roll Band'.

Lodge, who passed away on Friday at the age of 82, was perhaps the most underrated of the Moody Blues members. Though he sang quite a few of the British progressive rock band's songs, played bass majestically and wrote some memorable gems, the genius and personality of vocalist and main songwriter Justin Hayward always grabbed more attention, moreso because the latter wrote the hits 'Nights In White Satin', 'Tuesday Afternoon' and 'Question'. In the peak period between 1967 and 1974 flautist Ray Thomas, Mellotron master and keyboardist Mike Pinder and drummer Graeme Edge all played stellar roles.

Yet, fans always thought of Hayward and Lodge as a team, and Lodge had his own touch when it came to vocals. Even when the Moodies had a five-year hiatus after 1974, the duo released the album Blue Jays. Their 1987 song 'Blue Guitar', written by Hayward, is a beauty. For the band, Lodge chipped in as writer of other outstanding tracks like 'Peak Hour', 'Ride My See-Saw', 'Talking Out Of Turn' and 'Emily's Song', for his daughter. He co-wrote many songs, including 'Gemini Dream' with Hayward and 'Out and In' with Pinder.

The Moodies had their own style, influenced by orchestral and cinematic music, using vocal harmonies intelligently and the Mellotron in a distinct way. They started off as a covers band but in 1967, released Days Of Future Passed, featuring the London Festival Orchestra conducted by Peter Knight. Produced by Tony Clarke, it was one of the first concept albums, themed around events happening during the course of a day. It was also considered a pioneer of orchestral rock. The tracks 'Nights In White Satin' and 'Tuesday Afternoon', both written by Hayward, sparked a devoted fan base.

Years later, in 2023, Lodge released Days Of Future Passed - My Sojourn, his own interpretation of the album, roping in producer Alan Hewitt, as an accompaniment to a tour of the same name. 'Nights In White Satin' and 'Tuesday Afternoon' were sung by his son-in-law Jon Davison, who had also taken over as vocalist of progressive band Yes.

In February this year, Lodge released the solo EP Love Conquers All. On the title track 'Love Will Conquer All', he sang, "Love will conquer all, love will conquer all, it doesn't only have to be this time of the year, it can be any time, any time at all". Up in heaven, he can be joined by Ray  Thomas, Graeme Edge and Mike Pinder to present a fresh take. To quote Lodge, isn't life strange, a turn of the page?