Original ’67 stereo mix’s CD debut / 5.1 surround mix / Many outtakes

Universal Music are to put out a 50th anniversary deluxe edition of the The Moody Blues‘ 1967 album Days Of Future Passed.

The band’s second album was an orchestral rock concept album, and features their famous single, Nights In White Satin. It will be reissued as a three disc, 2CD+DVD set and one of the big selling point is the reversion to the very original 1967 stereo mix which was superseded in 1972 due to damage on the original master tape. All CD reissues have used this mix and not the ’67 original. Apparently, ‘technology’ has allowed the repair of the audio from the original tapes and so this original stereo mix gets its first CD release on this anniversary set. The first CD includes this and nine bonus tracks.

The second CD offers alternate versions and outtakes. In total this package has 33 audio tracks, which is seven more than the previous SACD/CD set.

The DVD element includes a 5.1 surround sound mix derived from the original 1972 Quad mix. Presumably, this is the same surround mix that was included on the now out-of-print 2006 SACD edition of this album. The original Quad mix was by Tony Clarke and Justin Hayward and John Lodge enhanced it for the 5.1 mix. This disc includes a hi-res stereo version and previously unreleased video footage of the band performing three tracks from the album at MIDEM on 24th January 1968, eight weeks after its release.

You do wonder why they haven’t opted for a blu-ray audio here, to allow for lossless 5.1 surround mix. Likely to be a budget-related issue since DVDs are cheaper to author and manufacture. Regardless, it’s certainly much cheaper than tracking down the previous SACD version.

This 2CD/DVD set will be issued on 17 November 2017.

Disc: 1 – Album & bonus tracks
1. THE DAY BEGINS
2. DAWN: Dawn Is A Feeling
3. THE MORNING: Another Morning
4. LUNCH BREAK: Peak Hour
5. THE AFTERNOON: Forever Afternoon (Tuesday?) / Time To Get Away
6. EVENING: The Sun Set: Twilight Time
7. THE NIGHT: Nights In White Satin

BONUS TRACKS

1967 Studio Recordings

8. Long Summer Days
9. Please Think About It

BBC Radio Sessions

10. Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood
11. Love And Beauty
12. Leave This Man Alone
13. Peak Hour
14. Nights In White Satin
15. Fly Me High
16. Twilight Time

Disc: 2 – Alternate Versions and Outtakes
1. THE DAY BEGINS
2. DAWN: Dawn Is A Feeling
3. THE MORNING: Another Morning
4. LUNCH BREAK: Peak Hour
5. THE AFTERNOON: Forever Afternoon (Tuesday?) / Time To Get Away
6. EVENING: The Sun Set: Twilight Time
7. THE NIGHT: Nights In White Satin
8. Tuesday Afternoon (Alternate Mix)
9. DAWN: Dawn Is A Feeling (Alternate Mix)
10. The Sun Set (Alternate Version without orchestra)
11. Twilight Time (Original vocal mix)
12. I Really Haven’t Got The Time (B – side single)
13. Fly Me High (A – side single)
14. Love And Beauty (A – side single)
15. Leave This Man Alone (B – Side single)
16. Nights In White Satin (A – side single)
17. Cities (B – side single)

Disc: 3 – DVD
5. 1 Surround Sound Mix & 96kHz / 24 – bit 1967 stereo mix

Disc: 3 – DVD
1. Peak Hour
2. Tuesday Afternoon
3. Nights In White Satin

looks to be some great ear candy and eye candy ty for the heads up Paul

I have the last Deluxe double cd of this and other titles that followed,i thought and still do think this,"Lost Chord"and"Childrens Children"deluxe issues were and still are fantastic.I had read about the issue concerning the old and original masters concerning "Future Passed"could not be used,but technology has made it possible for the first time since the "67 release that those masters are being used!!Ya know am i the only one who is never fussy about DVD/Blue Ray discs being used in a deluxe reissue,i have no dvd or blue ray player,even if i had i still could do without them.Theres a couple of those Pink Floyd sets that feature DVDs but also one cd of music,which to be blunt i felt ripped off paying £30,just because it had a DVD as an extra....im going to have a wee moan here,i feel for years that Pink Floyd products(others too) have been way over priced and i honestly feel fans are getting the piss taken out of them!!!Just my opinion though!!!!