All-round music maestro and famous bass guitarist, songwriter, and singer “in a rock ‘n’ roll band…” the moody JOHN LODGE has just released a resurgent and pizzazz-filled new live album: ‘The Royal Affair and After’ an offering that’s sure to delight existing fans of The Moody Blues and make many new ones!
During a remarkable career in music, Lodge John has received numerous awards including an Ivor Novello for Outstanding Contribution to Music and an ASCAP (American Society Of Composers & Publishers). He was recently inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
The new release features incredible live recordings of all John’s Moody Blue hits, plus special tributes to all band-mates, Graeme Edge, Justin Hayward, Mike Pinder and Ray Thomas.
John describes these songs as ‘the soundtrack of my life’, and continues his deeply felt quest to ‘Keep the Moody Blues music Alive’. They recorded this album live in Las Vegas on ‘The Royal Affair Tour’, with additional tracks recorded during subsequent USA dates.
During the summer of 2019, Lodge was part of the ‘The Royal Affair Tour’, with YES, Carl Palmer, Arthur Brown, and ASIA, and for John this was an invaluable opportunity to bring his fascinating show to long-established fans, and also those who were new to the Moody Blues experience.
The live album incorporates many of the incredible Moody hits mentioned above, and also: “Gemini Dream,” “Ride My Seesaw,” “Steppin’ in a Slide Zone”.
the recording is a touching tribute to his friend, Ray Thomas
Also included on the recording is a touching tribute to his friend Ray Thomas, who died in 2018 (age 76) with Lodge’s tender version of ‘Legend of a Mind’.
The 2021 album also features a unique recording of ‘Late Lament’, by the Moody Blues’ drummer Graeme Edge. The poem originally appeared on the iconic album ‘Days of Future Passed’, and was composed by Edge, but voiced by Mike Pinder. It delighted Lodge when Edge agreed to record his poem for him. Lodge’s tribute to Mike is his rendition of ‘Sunset’, a new version that exemplifies the transcendent nature of Pinder’s work.
“The last two years have been strange and crazy times,” John reflects, “and we have all faced challenges we never imagined. For me, it was very therapeutic to spend time working on this new live album.”
“As the COVID waves have come and gone, and we’ve been isolated and often separated from loved ones, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about these songs: songs that really are the ‘soundtrack of my life’: ‘Ride my See-Saw’, ‘Isn’t Life Strange’, ‘Steppin’ in a Slide Zone’ — all seem so relevant today.”
Main photo: Brian Aris
Download/Stream here https://orcd.co/JohnLodgeTheRoyalAffairAndAfter
Link: https://www.johnlodge.com/the-royal-affair-and-after
JOHN LODGE 2022 TOUR DATES
8 March Infinity Hall, Norfolk CT
9 March Levoy Theatre, Millville NJ
11 March Suffolk Theater, Riverhead NY
12 March Warehouse at FTC, Fairfield CT
13 March Infinity Hall, Hartford CT
15 March Sellersville Theater, Sellersville PA
16 March Rams Head on Stage, Annapolis MD
17 March The Tin Pan, Richmond VA
19 March City Winery, Nashville TN
20 March City Winery, Atlanta GA (two shows in 1 night)
23 March The Villages, FL (two shows in 1 night)
25 March Ponte Vedra Hall, Jacksonville FL
26 March Stage 954 at the Casino at Dania Beach, Dania Beach FL
Track Listing (CD and Digital)
- Steppin’ in a Slide Zone
- Saved by the Music
- Legend of a Mind
- Sunset
- Late Lament (with Graeme Edge)
- Nights in White Satin (with Jon Davison)
- Gemini Dream
- Isn’t Life Strange
- I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)
- Ride My See-Saw (with Jon Davison)