John Lodge Readies Album; Tour With Yes Begins

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John Lodge, the bass guitarist, and a prominent vocalist and songwriter for the 2018 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2018 inductees, the Moody Blues, has released a single from a new album he’s recording for BMG. The songwriter of such classic rock favorites as “Ride My See-Saw,” “I’m Just A Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band),” “Isn’t Life Strange?” and many more, has been performing and recording with The Moody Blues for more than five decades.

The album, BYOND The Very Best Of is scheduled for an August 23 release and is available for pre-order here. Listen to the first single “Street Café,” below.

Lodge is touring North America this summer as part of Yes’ “The Royal Affair Tour,” along with Asia and Carl Palmer’s ELP Legacy with guest vocalist Arthur Brown.

The new album features three new recordings, new remixes, and other tracks chosen by Lodge as he revisits the very best of his career with the Moody Blues and his solo work. He went back into the studio to totally recreate “Street Café,” “(Evening) Time to Get Away” and “Legend of a Mind” (the latter as a tribute to his late, former Moodies bandmates, Ray Thomas), with the musicians of Lodge’s 10,000 Light Years Band.

Listen to the new recording of “Street Café”

The tracks were co-produced by Lodge and Alan Hewitt. Lodge used his original Fender Precision bass which he recorded all of the classic Moody Blues songs on. He is joined by Hewitt on keyboards, Duffy King on guitars, Billy Ashbaugh on drums and Jason Charboneau on cello.

BYOND The Very Best Of Track Listing

1. I’m Just A Singer (In A Rock And Roll Band) (Live)
2. Summer Breeze, Summer Song (2019 Remix)
3. In My Mind
4. Street Café (2019)
5. (Evening) Time To Get Away (2019)
6. Saved By The Music (Live)
7. Legend Of A Mind (2019)
8. Say You Love Me (2019 Remix)
9. Get Me Out Of Here
10. Gemini Dream (Live)
11. Isn’t Life Strange (Live)
12. Ride My See-Saw (Live)

In a June 13 statement, Lodge said: “With this album I want to share with you my deep cuts, songs that I have wanted to revisit, and songs which have become an important part of my life.”

The “Royal Affair Tour” began on June 12 and continues through July 28. Tickets are available here and here.

Related: Our 2018 concert review of John Lodge

Watch Lodge introduce his band and perform “I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)” earlier this year during Cruise to the Edge

Best Classic Bands Staff

1 Comment so far

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  1. jp5472
    #1 jp5472 24 June, 2019, 10:14

    No “Emily’s Song”? Ouch!

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