Another Sad Loss In Music

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Lodge in 1970

 

I guess it is something that comes with age, but it feels as though I am writing too many tribute posts recently. Sadly, here is another, for someone whose music I have loved for nearly sixty years, from a band that I adored in my formative years and still play today. You may recognise him from his 1970 photo: if not, that is John Lodge, of The Moody Blues.

John Charles Lodge was born on 20 July 1943 in Birches Green, near Erdington, Birmingham. He was educated at Birches Green Infant and Junior School and Central Grammar School, before going on to engineering studies at Birmingham College of Advanced Technology, and his early influences were the likes of Buddy Holly and Jerry Lee Lewis. At the age of 14 he met future bandmate Ray Thomas: they formed the band El Riot and the Rebels and performed regularly at a club called Teabury, where they met several other bands including the Beatles and Gerry and the Pacemakers. He took a year off from the music scene to finish his college education before being persuaded to join the Moody Blues in 1966, at around the same time that Justin Hayward was recruited to replace Denny Laine, who had been lead vocalist on their 1964 UK #1 hit Go Now. The band started moving away from a pop approach and developed a style that was at the forefront of the burgeoning prog rock scene – though they never lost sight of the need for good tunes, unlike some! 

John died last Friday, at the age of 82, and as he is someone who has played a big part in my musical pleasure since then it seems only fitting that I mark his passing by playing some of the songs he wrote for The Moodies. Whilst Justin Hayward was recognised as their principal songwriter all of the other band members (including Graeme Edge, Mike Pinder and Ray Thomas) contributed too, and John was responsible for some of their best. I’m starting with one from the band’s second album after the rebuild, In Search Of The Lost Chord – after a brief spoken track it opened the album and is a good place to begin today. The soundtrack is showing its age a bit, but it’s still a great song:

The album was released in July 1968 and reached #5 in the UK and #23 in the US. Ride My See-Saw was the second track taken from it as a single, in September that year, but I didn’t buy it – I already had the album! It only got to #42 in the UK and #61 in the US – I think they were already becoming known as an albums band, following their first release of the new incarnation, Days of Future Passed, in November 1967 (UK #27, US #3).

Having released just one album with the previous lineup the Moodies became very prolific, giving us seven more between November 1967 and October 1972. Six of these went up to uni with me that autumn, and the other was bought on its day of release, just after I got there. This next song of John’s is from the fourth of those, To Our Children’s Children’s Children, which was released in November 1969. This has always been my favourite of its tracks:

That was Candle Of Life, a haunting track with speaks meaningfully about human experience. That isn’t an official video, but I think it is a sympathetic fit for the song. Like their other albums it was built around a concept, of life and the universe, prompted by the Moon landing taking place while they were in the recording studio for this record. It reached #2 in the UK, #11 in Canada and #14 in the US. Candle Of Life became the B-side to their big hit single of 1970, Question, from their Question Of Balance album, but as that was one of Justin’s songs I won’t be playing it today, sorry.

John had a couple of tracks on their sixth album of the reincarnation, Every Good Boy Deserves Favour (you should be reminded of  your school music lessons!). The first of these is a real beauty, written for his newborn daughter, and it says all of the things that a new dad feels:

Again, this isn’t an official video, but it was compiled by the same lady who made the previous one, who is clearly a fan who loves their music too. If you have ever experienced becoming a father for the first time you will know what a magical moment it is, and the song and video encapsulate that perfectly.

The album was released in July 1971, and reached #1 in the UK and #2 in both Canada and the US. For the second I’m playing from it I’m going to a concert version from 2007, as it is such a good performance:

Ray Thomas had left the band by that time, and his flute parts were, as here, often played by Norda Mullen, a classically-trained American musician, who now lives and teaches here in the UK. I think she does a wonderful job with it, and she left a lovely tribute message for John on her Facebook page after the news of his passing was announced, which showed her appreciation for playing his music.

My next choice is a track from the band’s seventh in their new style, fittingly called Seventh Sojourn, which was released in October 1972. The track I’m playing is Isn’t Life Strange, from a live performance in 1992: it closed side one of the album, but had already been released as a single the preceding April:

They had a few friends to help them out with that show, and it made for a majestic concert. The album reached #5 in the UK and become their first US #1, topping their charts for five weeks. It also made #1 in Canada. The single peaked at #13 in the UK, #9 in Canada, and #29 in the US.

I’m closing with another track from that album, as this one really sums up everything John and the band were about:

I’m Just The Singer in A Rock And Roll Band. I think they were all much more than that and, sadly, John’s passing leaves Justin as the only remaining member. This track was released as a single in January 1973, and peaked at #36 in the UK, #16 in Canada and #12 in the US. It closed the album and feels a very appropriate place to close out this post.

I was well known among my friends and peers for my love of The Moody Blues, and for saving up birthday and pocket money so that I could buy their latest album as soon as it came out. Some years ago an old schoolfriend – one of my best mates – came up for the day for us to watch our hometown team, Dover Athletic, play against Harlow Town, who in those days were in the same league. He told me that he had been revisiting his Moody Blues albums in the car on the way up, as a kind of homage to our friendship. I hope I’ve shown you with this brief recap why they were – and still are – huge favourites of mine.

R.I.P. John, and thank you for the musical legacy you have left us.

61 thoughts on “Another Sad Loss In Music”

  2. Pingback: That Was October | Take It Easy

    • I’ve no idea either, Cindy! I checked my spam folder this morning and it wasn’t there. It’s a real shame to lose another of my musical heroes, and such a talented one, too ☹️

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    • No need to apologise, Clare, you’re welcome here at any time! I’m glad you liked this and the songs. They were my favourite band through my teenage years and I still love their music. Sadly, only Justin is still with us.

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  5. A beautiful tribute, Clive! 💖 LIke you, I’ve been a fan of the Moody Blues from (almost) the beginning. Losing John Lodge so suddenly was a tragic blow. 😢 Sad to think that Justin Hayward is the only surviving member of the band.

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    • Thank you, Debbie, I’m pleased you liked it. I loved Go Now and the reincarnated band was even better. It is sad that only Justin is left, but they have left us a wonderful musical legacy.

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  7. Me again I got all confused here. First of all on WordPress I have four blogs, travel, animals, music, and poetry. However, this article I did about the Moody Blues I have not put up on my blog yet with a link, I wrote it and posted it on Vocal Media, Sorry about that. I will be putting the link on my Joy of Music blog,

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  10. I’d missed his passing. Thanks Clive for your post about a wonderful musician, in what was a favourite band.
    I was lucky enough to see The Moody Blues perform twice in an Adelaide. The second occasion was truly memorable and although it was some years after their prime they were still magnificent. May he rest in peace.

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  13. Sad news, but nice tribute, Clive and there were so many great Moody Blues songs for you to choose from.  I wanted to hear ‘The Story In Your Eyes’ and ‘I Know You’re Out There Somewhere’, but your selection was awesome.

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  14. My eldest brother was a huge fan, and it became a sort of bond between us, as he had no interest whatsoever in sport, so communication with our two other bros for him was limited! He also turned me on to Radio Luxembourg – Fab 208!

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  18. We read about John’s passing last week and it was a tough one for us. We have so many memories of nights with the Moodies. They truly set the tone, didn’t they? I remember a particularly difficult time a few years ago when I was recuperating from knee surgery. I was depressed and in a bad place. Bill was playing some of our vinyls to cheer me up but when “Isn’t Life Strange” came on, I lost it and totally broke down crying. That’s what the Moody Blues music did … it made us feel. We loved them and now they’re all gone. Rest in Peace John and all your band mates.

    Thanks, Clive

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    • It feels like losing a close friend, doesn’t it. That song obviously meant a lot to you, so I’m pleased I played a version for you in this – and such a good one at that.

      We still have Justin, though he is now 79. Our musical heroes live on in their legacies.

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