Days of Future Passed | Memories of The Moody Blues with Aaron Belansky (& Frank Zappa)

How does embarking on an epic 329-album listening journey, tracking decades of classic rock through relational databases, interviewing Frank Zappa at fifteen, and falling in love with a pioneering symphonic rock masterpiece shape a lifelong music maker? In this episode of The Friday Vinyl Club, Jamie sits down with Aaron Belansky, music enthusiast and creator of The Review Board project, to trace how The Moody Blues' genre-defining 1967 masterpiece, Days of Future Passed, served as a blueprint for blending orchestral arrangements with psychedelic rock and timeless songwriting. Along the way, Aaron shares behind-the-scenes insights into his data-led listening methodology, blagging a 45-minute interview with Frank Zappa as a teenager, and how revisiting childhood favorites with fresh ears completely transformed his perspective on music. Episode Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6PLaU98hk0yp8ZLIXQinJu?si=khS-b1VRQ1mgdojc4rk8rA CONNECT WITH THE CLUB:Our Official Website: https://www.thefridayvinylclub.com/ Contact / Guest Inquiries: [email protected] Connect with Jamie on Instagram: @jamieb1nine73 INSIDE THE EPISODE & TIMESTAMPS: 00:18 - Introduction: Welcome to The Friday Vinyl Club with guest Aaron Belansky. 01:39 - Meet Aaron Belansky: Exploring life in California and the origins of his ambitious project, The Review Board. 02:58 - The Mechanics of The Review Board: Tackling 29 classic rock artists, 329 albums, and 3-listen weighted scoring systems. 13:35 - Childhood Musical Memories: Early AM radio days in the car and getting an initial vinyl gift from family. 17:14 - The Frank Zappa Obsession & The 15-Year-Old Interview: Discovering Frank Zappa, running a 45-minute backstage interview, and meeting a memorable bodyguard. 33:20 - Concert Experiences: Seeing George Thorogood, the Doobie Brothers, and sharing Pink Floyd live shows with his son. 37:19 - Discovering Days of Future Passed: Summer camp bus memories and the allure of concept albums. 40:22 - Days of Future Passed discussion: Cinematic orchestral sweeps, "Tuesday Afternoon," office-life industrial vibes on "Peak Hour," and the timeless anthem "Nights in White Satin." 54:20 - Project Findings & The Friday Spin: Unpacking the 81st position ranking, unexpected top scores for The Who's Live at Leeds, Led Zeppelin III, and George Thorogood. TOPICS COVERED: Aaron Belansky, The Review Board, The Moody Blues, Days of Future Passed, Frank Zappa, classic rock, data-led music analysis, vinyl record collecting, concert memories, live album discoveries, and upcoming project milestones. THE FRIDAY SPIN: THE REVIEW BOARD TOP PICKS & RECOMMENDATIONS: The Recommendation: Aaron's top three data-led album recommendations from his project—The Who's Live at Leeds (highest scorer tied at 25/26), Led Zeppelin III (the biggest surprise), and More George Thorogood and the Destroyers (the hidden gem). The Vibe: High-octane live power-trio rock, acoustic-tinged folk exploration, toe-tapping rhythm and blues, and the analytical joy of rediscovering classic rock. FOR FANS OF: If you love music memories, physical media, and human stories behind the songs on podcasts like The Vinyl Guide, Back to NOW!, Music Is None Of Our Business, Desert Island Discs, A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs, or Word in your Ear, you are right at home in the club! Leave us a review wherever you listen to help our independent community grow! https://www.moodybluestoday.com/ https://www.zappa.com https://reviewboardmusic.com/ Apologies for the sound quality on this episode - every effort was made to clean up Aarons mic but hopefully doesn't detract from this fascinating story!