The Day Begins

"The Day Begins" is the opening track from the Moody Blues 1967 album Days of Future Passed. The song (as well as the entire album) was one of the first in a new symphonic sound from the group. Prior to this, they primarily performed American style rhythm & blues songs, especially with their 1964 hit single "Go Now", which also appeared on their 1965 debut album The Magnificent Moodies.

Days of Future Passed is a concept album ultimately telling the story of an everyman's day from Dawn to Night, with "The Day Begins" opening the album. Rather than representing a time of the day, "The Day Begins" acts more as an overture for the album, and features excerpts from "Dawn Is a Feeling", "Another Morning", "Forever Afternoon" (better known as "Tuesday Afternoon"), and "Nights in White Satin."

"The Day Begins" was arranged by Peter Knight and performed by the London Festival Orchestra. The original LP of Days of Future Passed credited "The Day Begins" to Redwave/Knight ("Redwave" being a name used to represent the members of the Moody Blues themselves).

From 1992 through the early 2000s, the Moody Blues toured with shows backed by live orchestras. During these orchestra-backed performances, the show would begin with the orchestra performing an overture featuring excerpts from many of the Moody Blues' songs. The overture acts in the same manner as "The Day Begins", which is an overture to the songs of Days of Future Passed. Towards the end of the overture, the latter half of "The Day Begins" is played, making use of its excerpts from "Tuesday Afternoon" and "Nights in White Satin." Recordings of the overture from the orchestra-backed performances can be found on the Moody Blues live albums: A Night at Red Rocks with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra and Hall of Fame.