On October 10, 2025, John Charles Lodge died aged 82. He was musician (bass guitar), singer, and songwriter, He was member of the band El Riot and the Rebels, but was best known as bass guitarist, co-lead vocalist and principal songwriter of The Moody Blues. Lodge produced two albums for the band Trapeze. As leader, he released four studio albums, one EP and two live albums.
Tag Archives: The Moody Blues
The Moody Blues: The Other Side Of Life
On April 21, 1986, “Polydor” label released “The Other Side of Life”, the twelfth Moody Blues (The) studio album. It was recorded 1985 – 1986, at “Good Earth” in London, and was produced by Tony Visconti.
Personnel:
- Justin Hayward – vocals, guitar
- Ray Thomas – tambourine, backing vocals, flute
- Patrick Moraz – keyboards, synthesizers
- John Lodge – vocals, bass
- Graeme Edge – drums, percussion
- Tony Visconti – engineer
- Alwyn Clayden – art direction, design
- Bruce Gill – design
- Karl Lloyd – illustration
- Michael Hoppen – photography
Track listing:
- Your Wildest Dreams – Justin Hayward
- Talkin’ Talkin’ – Justin Hayward, John Lodge
- Rock ’n’ Roll Over You – John Lodge
- I Just Don’t Care – Justin Hayward
- Running Out of Love – Justin Hayward, John Lodge
- The Other Side of Life – Justin Hayward
- The Spirit – Graeme Edge, Patrick Moraz
- Slings and Arrows – Justin Hayward, John Lodge
- It May Be a Fire – John Lodge
The Moody Blues: Days Of Future Past
On November 10, 1967, “Deram” label released “Days of Future Passed”, the second Moody Blues (The) album. It was recorded October – November 1967, at “Decca Studios” in London, and was produced by Tony Clarke and Michael Dacre-Barclay. It was band’s first concept album, with mixture of classical and rock elements, and is widely regarded as one of the first progressive rock albums at all.
Personnel:
- Mike Pinder – vocals, mellotron, piano, tambura
- Ray Thomas – vocals, flutes, percussion, piano
- Justin Hayward – vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, piano, sitar
- John Lodge – vocals, bass
- Graeme Edge – vocals, drums, percussion
- Peter Knight– conducting, arrangements
- The London Festival Orchestra
- Derek Varnals – engineer
- David Anstey – design, cover painting
- Hugh Mendl– executive production, liner notes
Track listing:
- The Day Begins
- The Day Begins – Peter Knight, Mike Pinder, Ray Thomas, Justin Hayward, John Lodge, Graeme Edge
- Morning Glory – Graeme Edge
- Dawn: Dawn Is a Feeling
- Intro – Peter Knight
- Dawn Is a Feeling – Mike Pinder
- The Morning: Another Morning
- Intro – Peter Knight
- Another Morning – Ray Thomas
- Lunch Break: Peak Hour
- Intro – Peter Knight
- Peak Hour – John Lodge
- The Afternoon: Forever Afternoon (Tuesday?) / Time to Get Away
- Forever Afternoon (Tuesday?) – Justin Hayward
- (Evening) Time to Get Away – John Lodge)
- Evening: The Sun Set: Twilight Time
- Intro – Peter Knight
- The Sunset – Mike Pinder
- Twilight Time – Ray Thomas
- The Night: Nights in White Satin
- Nights in White Satin – Justin Hayward)
- Late Lament – Graeme Edge, Peter Knight
The Moody Blues: In Search of the Lost Chord
On July 26, 1968, “Deram” label released “In Search of the Lost Chord”, the third Moody Blues (The) album. It was recorded January – June 1968, at “Decca Studios” in West Hampstead, in London, and was produced by Tony Clarke. In the “Q” and “Mojo” “Classic Special Edition Pink Floyd & The Story of Prog Rock”, “In Search of the Lost Chord” was ranked at number 37 in the list of “40 Cosmic Rock Albums”.
Personnel:
- Justin Hayward– vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, 12-string guitar, sitar, harpsichord, bass, percussion, mellotron, piano
- Mike Pinder– vocals, mellotron, piano, harpsichord, acoustic guitar, bass, cello, autoharp, tambura, spoken vocals
- John Lodge– vocals, bass, acoustic guitar, cello, snare drum, tambourine
- Graeme Edge- vocals, drums, timpani, tambourine, piano, percussion, tabla, spoken vocal
- Ray Thomas– vocals, C flute, alto flute, soprano saxophone, oboe, French horn, tambourine
Track listing:
- Departure – Graeme Edge
- Ride My See – Saw – John Lodge
- Livingstone, I Presume – Ray Thomas
- House of Four Doors – John Lodge
- Legend of a Mind – Ray Thomas
- House of Four Doors (Part 2) – John Lodge
- Voices in the Sky – Justin Hayward
- The Best Way to Travel – Mike Pinder
- Visions of Paradise – Justin Hayward, Ray Thomas
- The Actor – Justin Hayward
- The World – Graeme Edge
- Om – Mike Pinder
The Moody Blues: Every Good Boy Deserves Favour
On July 23, 1971, “Threshold Records” released “Every Good Boy Deserves Favour”, the seventh Moody Blues (The) album. It was recorded November 1970 – March 1971, at “Wessex Sound Studios” in London, and was produced by Tony Clarke.
Personnel:
- Justin Hayward– vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, sitar
- John Lodge– vocals, bass, cello
- Ray Thomas vocals, flute, tambourine, oboe, woodwinds, harmonica
- Graeme Edge– electric and acoustic drums, percussion
- Mike Pinder– vocals, mellotron, harpsichord, Hammond organ, piano, keyboards, Moog synthesizer
- Derek Varnals – recording
- David Baker – engineer assistant
- Harry Fisher – cutting engineer
- Phil Travers – sleeve artist
- Randall Nelson – lyrics sheet photograph
Track listing:
- Procession – Graeme Edge, Justin Hayward, John Lodge, Mike Pinder, Ray Thomas
- The Story in Your Eyes – Justin Hayward
- Our Guessing Game – Ray Thomas
- Emily’s Song – John Lodge
- After You Came – Graeme Edge
- One More Time to Live – John Lodge
- Nice to Be Here – Ray Thomas
- You Can Never Go Home – Justin Hayward
- My Song – Mike Pinder
The Moody Blues: Long Distance Voyager
On May 15, 1981, “Threshold” label released “Long Distance Voyager”, the tenth Moody Blues (The) album. It was recorded February 1980 – April 1981, at “Threshold Studios” and “RAK Studios”, and was produced by Pip Williams.
Personnel:
- Justin Hayward– vocals, guitars
- Patrick Moraz– keyboards
- John Lodge– vocals, bass
- Ray Thomas– vocals, flutes, harmonicas
- Graeme Edge– drums
- J. Cole– pedal steel guitar
- Pip Williams–string arrangements
- The New World Philharmonic – string section
- Greg Jackman – recording, mixing
- Melvyn Abrahams – mastering
- Cream –design, artwork
Track listing:
- The Voice – Justin Hayward
- Talking Out of Turn – John Lodge
- Gemini Dream – Justin Hayward, John Lodge
- In My World – Justin Hayward
- Meanwhile – Justin Hayward
- 22,000 Days – Graeme Edge
- Nervous – John Lodge
- Painted Smile – Ray Thomas
- Reflective Smile – Ray Thomas
- Veteran Cosmic Rocker – Ray Thomas
The Moody Blues: On the Threshold of a Dream
On April 25, 1969, “Deram” label released “On the Threshold of a Dream”, the fourth Moody Blues (The) album. It was recorded January 1969, at “Decca Studios” in London, and was produced by Tony Clarke. The album was mixed and released in both stereo and quadraphonic sound.
Personnel:
- Justin Hayward- vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, twelve-string acoustic guitar, cello,
- Mike Pinder- vocals, mellotron, Hammond organ, piano, cello
- Ray Thomas- vocals, harmonica, flute, tambourine, oboe, piccolo
- John Lodge- vocals, bass, cello, double bass
- Graeme Edge- drums, percussion, vocals, EMS VCS 3
- Phil Travers – artwork
Track listing:
- In the Beginning – Graeme Edge
- Lovely to See You – Justin Hayward
- Dear Diary – Ray Thomas
- Send Me No Wine – John Lodge
- To Share Our Love – John Lodge
- So Deep Within You – Mike Pinder
- Never Comes the Day – Justin Hayward
- Lazy Day – Ray Thomas
- Are You Sitting Comfortably? – Justin Hayward, Ray Thomas
- The Dream – Graeme Edge
- Have You Heard (Part 1) – Mike Pinder
- The Voyage – Mike Pinder
- Have You Heard (Part 2) – Mike Pinder
The Moody Blues: To Our Children’s Children’s Children
On November 21, 1969, “Threshold Records” released “To Our Children’s Children’s Children”, the fifth Moody Blues (The) album. It was recorded May – September 1969, at the “Decca Studios” in London, and was produced by Tony Clarke.
Personnel:
- Justin Hayward– vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, sitar
- Mike Pinder– vocals, Mellotron, piano, Hammond organ, acoustic guitar, celesta, double bass
- Ray Thomas– vocals, flute, tambourine, bass flute, oboe
- John Lodge– vocals, bass guitar, harp, acoustic guitar
- Graeme Edge– drums, percussion
Track listing:
- Higher and Higher – Graeme Edge
- Eyes of a Child I – John Lodge
- Floating – Ray Thomas
- Eyes of a Child II – John Lodge
- I Never Thought I’d Live to Be a Hundred – Justin Hayward
- Beyond – Graeme Edge
- Out and In – Mike Pinder, John Lodge
- Gypsy (Of a Strange and Distant Time) – Justin Hayward
- Eternity Road – Ray Thomas
- Candle of Life – John Lodge
- Sun Is Still Shining – Mike Pinder
- I Never Thought I’d Live to Be a Million – Justin Hayward
- Watching and Waiting – Justin Hayward, Ray Thomas
Dick Rowe
On June 6, 1986, Richard Paul “Dick” Rowe, died aged 64. He was A&R man at “Decca Records” in the 50’s and the 60’s, became known to the wide audience “as the man who did not sign The Beatles”. Brian Epstein. The Beatles manager paid “Decca Records” one-hour audition. After the audition Rowe told Epstein “Guitar groups are on their way out, Mr. Epstein”. But Rowe was actually one of the most successful producers and record executives in the 50’s and in the 60’s and he signed to “Decca Records” many important artists including The Rolling Stones, Them (Van Morrison), The Moody Blues, The Tremeloes, The Zombies, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, The Brumbeats, The Tornados, Tom Jones and The Small Faces.
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