‘Days of Future Passed' stands as the pioneering masterpiece of English Progressive rock, with much credit owed to this gentleman. #RIP Mike Pinder: the Moody Blues' last surviving founding member, who passed away at 82

WireImage

A trailblazer of the Mellotron and the visionary who guided the Moody Blues from their R&B roots, or more specifically, their 'British beat' origins, into something truly revolutionary. I firmly believe that 'Days of Future Passed' (1967) stands as the inaugural fully-fledged Progressive rock album and shall forever remain my favourite work by the Moodies. With all due respect to 'Sgt. Pepper's' and 'In the Court of the Crimson King', it is worth noting that Procol Harum's first full-length album did not emerge until after 'Days of Future Passed'. However, it is undeniable that Procol Harum did release one of the very first legitimate Progressive rock singles (the earliest being ‘Eleanor Rigby’) with 'A Whiter Shade of Pale' in early 1967, positioning themselves alongside the Moodies and a select few others in shaping this bold new era of music.

Mike Pinder remained with the Moody Blues until their break-up in 1972. He briefly rejoined the group when they reformed in 1978, only to step aside for former YES keyboardist Patrick Moraz. Whilst Mr. Moraz did perform valiantly during his time with YES - filling in for Rick Wakeman on 1974's masterwork 'Relayer' - it is questionable whether he left a comparable mark in replacing Mike Pinder in the Moody Blues. Despite the band's considerable chart success into the late 1980s and their respectable output during this period, nothing they produced after Pinder's departure matched the sonic and thematic depth of their golden era from 1967 to 1972. Not even close. Some sources do suggest that Mr. Moraz may have felt relegated to the role of a mere session player during his 13-year tenure with the Moodies, which is to say, beyond manning the keys, he did not fulfill quite the same roles with the ensemble as Mr. Pinder.

For the Moody Blues, Mike Pinder was irreplaceable. Whilst I cannot profess to have known much about him personally, this obituary does provide insight into an eccentric yet kind individual who remained devoted to music and spirituality until his final days. It is saddening that so many English Progressive rock pioneers have departed in recent years. Let us pay homage to those who have left us and honour those who remain, not named Roger Waters. Thank you, Mike Pinder, for your contributions and legacy.

Copyright 2024, Arthur Newhook. @Sunking278 and @FloydEtcetera on X, and at the same handles on FACEBOOK. MASTODON - @ArthurNewhook@mastodon.world, BLUESKY - @arthurnewhook.bsky.social, and @arthurnewhook on POST. DONATIONS GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED at https://tinyurl.com/ArthurNewhook.

Ten notable albums each from the first quarters of 1974, 1984, and 1994

MCA Records

Looking back fifty years, to 1974. In no particular order, ten good-to-great albums that were released between January and March of that year: JONI MITCHELL - ‘Court and Spark’; STEELY DAN - ‘Pretzel Logic’; CARLY SIMON - ‘Hotcakes’; CAMEL - ‘Mirage’; FRANK ZAPPA - ‘Apostrophe’; KING CRIMSON - ‘Starless and Bible Black’; WEATHER REPORT - ‘Mysterious Traveller’; HARMONIA - ‘Musik von Harmonia’; ROY HARPER - ‘Valentine’; and TANGERINE DREAM - ‘Phaedra.’ Remember, this list covers only the first three months of 1974, and I believe only ‘Court and Spark’ and ‘Pretzel Logic’ would be likely to make my top ten albums of the entire year. A task I may or may not tackle some other time.

Berlin singer Terri Nunn. Photo: Geffen Records

Looking back forty years, to 1984. In no particular order, ten good-to-great albums that were released between January and March of that year: PRETENDERS - ‘Learning to Crawl’; THE SMITHS - s/t; QUEEN - ‘The Works’; ALAN PARSONS PROJECT - ‘Ammonia Avenue’; SPINAL TAP - ‘This is Spinal Tap’ soundtrack; DAVID GILMOUR - ‘About Face’; BERLIN - ‘Love Life’; KING CRIMSON - ‘Three of a Perfect Pair’; JOE JACKSON - ‘Body and Soul’; and MARILLION - ‘Fugazi.’ Despite being a child all throughout the 1980s, I am not keen on the music and culture of the decade; yet, I had to fill a spot and it was not going to be with all the hair metal bands that were becoming prevalent (Tap aside, naturally). Remember, this list covers only the first three months of 1984, and whether any of these records would be likely to make my top ten albums of the entire year is an open question.

Geffen Records

Looking back thirty years, to 1994. In no particular order, ten good-to-great albums that were released between January and March of that year: ALICE IN CHAINS - ‘Jar of Flies’; TORI AMOS - ‘Under the Pink’; NINE INCH NAILS - ‘The Downward Spiral’; SOUNDGARDEN - ‘Superunknown’; PINK FLOYD - ‘The Division Bell’; MEAT PUPPETS - ‘Too High to Die’; MARK LANEGAN - ‘Whiskey for the Holy Ghost’; ALISON MOYET - ‘Essex’; FAILURE - ‘Magnified’; and MARILLION - ‘Brave.’ At the age of sixteen, I found myself amidst a momentous epoch for rock music. Verily, it was the last period where rock-based music was dominant in the marketplace. Remember, this list covers only the first three months of 1994, and of these releases only ‘The Division Bell’ and ‘Superunknown’ - and quite possibly ‘Jar of Flies’ - would be absolutely guaranteed to make my top ten albums of the entire year. 

Copyright 2024, Arthur Newhook. @Sunking278 and @FloydEtcetera on X, and at the same handles on FACEBOOK. MASTODON - @ArthurNewhook@mastodon.world, BLUESKY - @arthurnewhook.bsky.social, and @arthurnewhook on POST.