Posts : 6538 Join date : 2009-11-16 Location : Los Angeles, CA
Subject: Electric Light Orchestra - guilty pleasure or genius? Fri Jan 14, 2011 11:13 pm
I've been listening to ELO since 1976, they were my "other" favorite band to KISS at the time. I stopped listening to them once the teenage years came around and have mostly ignored them since...of all the melodic 70's prog/pop bands, they had quite a nasty critical reputation that seemed to become the dominate memory in most people's minds.
They were another artist that was basically killed because of a bad movie. Peter Frampton never recovered from being associated with the abomination known as Sgt Peppers...ELO never recovered from Xanadu.
But the wonderful thing about time is that your perceptions change, the old opinions carry less weight over time and it allows us the clarity to judge art on it's own merits. So it appears it's my time to reevaluate my thoughts on ELO.
I think they are primarily brilliant, at least Jeff Lynne is, since he is ELO.
The debut album with Roy Wood is really a different band, their approach was quite different and more baroque in sound than the avenues Lynne explored later. So I think the real ELO starts with the second album (ELO II). That was the record that spawned their amazing cover of "Roll Over Beethoven" and from that point; 1973-1977, they went on an amazing run of inspired albums and hit singles.
All of these albums came from that period:
ELO 2 (1973) - featuring Roll Over Beethoven, Mama
On The Third Day (1973) - featuring Showdown, Ma-Ma-Ma Belle, Daybreaker
Eldorado (1974) - featuring Can't Get It Out Of My Head. Mister Kingdom, Illusions In G Major
Face The Music (1975) - featuring Evil Woman, Nightrider, Strange Magic, Fire On High
A New World Record (1976) - featuring Tightrope, Telephone Line, So Fine, Livin' Thing, Do Ya
Out Of The Blue (1977) - featuring Turn To Stone, Sweet Talkin' Woman, Mr. Blue Sky, Wild West Hero
The hit singles continued for a little while after this period, but by the end of 1980 (after the release of Xanadu) they were off the musical radar. A casualty of the over-produced disco decline that was rampant throughout the music industry. Many bands vanished and/or went into steady declines during that time.
But going back and listening to that 5 year stretch is a real eye-opening experience. Lynne's continuation of the basic Beatles concept yielded an incredible batch of songs. These records are every bit as "progressive" as King Crimson...but in a pop direction instead of an improvisational one. Digging beneath the hit singles into the album tracks reveals an incredible batch of instrumentals and rockers that failed to make the radio, but were of the same quality.
I've ordered the remasters of all their albums from this period and I'm looking forward to devoting some serious study time.
P.S. - From 1972 to 1986, ELO accumulated 27 Top 40 hit singles in both the UK and the US. The group also scored 20 Top 20 U.K. hit singles, as well as 19 Top 20 hit singles in the U.S. Their LP's have sold over 70 million copies worldwide (not counting single sales).
Akeldama Cagey Cretin
Posts : 6579 Join date : 2009-12-12 Age : 103 Location : Colorado
Subject: Re: Electric Light Orchestra - guilty pleasure or genius? Sat Jan 15, 2011 12:49 am
Man, I'd love to get all the remastered expanded ELO, I like everything from the debut to '77 and Discovery had a coupla good songs on it but they lost me in the '80s and with 'Zoom'.
I'd say they were brilliant in terms of their orchestral/pop hybridizing yet had the sensibility to write a good hook.
I have always been a huge fan of ELO.
S.D. The Subhuman
Posts : 6538 Join date : 2009-11-16 Location : Los Angeles, CA
Subject: Re: Electric Light Orchestra - guilty pleasure or genius? Sat Jan 15, 2011 1:20 pm
with introduction by Richard Pryor!
Akeldama Cagey Cretin
Posts : 6579 Join date : 2009-12-12 Age : 103 Location : Colorado
Subject: Re: Electric Light Orchestra - guilty pleasure or genius? Sat Jun 18, 2011 7:08 pm
Looking back to when I was a kid, 3 ELO songs were played a lot 'Rock 'n' Roll Is King' and 'Hold On Tight' were played a lot by my two immediate older bros and when I was really young I'd ask my oldest bro to play 'Last Train To London' constantly. I hate the first two aforementioned songs and love 'LTTL' after all these years.
S.D. The Subhuman
Posts : 6538 Join date : 2009-11-16 Location : Los Angeles, CA
Subject: Re: Electric Light Orchestra - guilty pleasure or genius? Sat Jun 18, 2011 8:48 pm
I was too young to really remember the "first time" I heard them. But I only owned two albums as a kid, Out Of The Blue and a collection called "Ole Elo".
The first song I distinctly remember hearing on the radio was "Turn To Stone".
At that time (1977), my favorite bands were Kiss and Queen. ELO became a fave for a few years, then I had basically moved on by the time 1981 came around, as I started to dig backwards into bands like Pink Floyd, Zeppelin, etc.
But, hearing this stuff right now in 2011, is really a wonderful experience, it reminds me that sometimes all you really need is a beautiful melody.
My favorite ELO song (by far) is "ONE SUMMER DREAM" from Face The Music.
Akeldama Cagey Cretin
Posts : 6579 Join date : 2009-12-12 Age : 103 Location : Colorado
Subject: Re: Electric Light Orchestra - guilty pleasure or genius? Sat Jun 18, 2011 11:24 pm
Ole ELO was one we had as well. Picking a fave song is like picking a fave child but 'Last Train To London' is mine.
A bit of trivia for ya: Sharon Arden designed the cover for Eldorado (my least fave album). And the backmasked message in 'Fire On High' says, "The music is reversible, but time is not. Turn back. Turn back. Turn back. Turn back." —
S.D. The Subhuman
Posts : 6538 Join date : 2009-11-16 Location : Los Angeles, CA
Subject: Re: Electric Light Orchestra - guilty pleasure or genius? Sat Jun 18, 2011 11:31 pm
Didn't know about the cover, I did know about the backwards message.
Eldorado is the closest to a Beatles record they ever got, probably why it's your least favorite. It would be pretty far down my list but there are some really good songs on there.
"Illusions In G Major" is one of their most convincing "rockers" and "Mister Kingdom" is a damn good deep cut.
"Can't Get It Out Of My Head" (perfectly titled) is one of the more beautiful pop songs from the era and one that I think few would argue is a "classic song", whether they actually like it or not.
Akeldama Cagey Cretin
Posts : 6579 Join date : 2009-12-12 Age : 103 Location : Colorado
Subject: Re: Electric Light Orchestra - guilty pleasure or genius? Sat Jun 18, 2011 11:46 pm
'Can't Get It...' Is a love or hate song for me but mostly hate hehe. 'Mister Kingdom' is one I really want to like but just can't (yet). Right now 'First Movement (Jumping Biz), 'In Old England Town (Boogie #2) and 'Dreaming Of 4000' are kicking my ass on a daily basis.
S.D. The Subhuman
Posts : 6538 Join date : 2009-11-16 Location : Los Angeles, CA
Subject: Re: Electric Light Orchestra - guilty pleasure or genius? Sat Jun 18, 2011 11:50 pm
this is the only ELO album from the period I've never heard:
Never seen a single copy of it (on LP or CD) anywhere either.
Akeldama Cagey Cretin
Posts : 6579 Join date : 2009-12-12 Age : 103 Location : Colorado
Subject: Re: Electric Light Orchestra - guilty pleasure or genius? Sun Jun 19, 2011 12:05 am
Damn! I just listened to that before Tom Petty! I was just too lazy to type it out! It's a live album but I'm sure you knew that.
S.D. The Subhuman
Posts : 6538 Join date : 2009-11-16 Location : Los Angeles, CA
Subject: Re: Electric Light Orchestra - guilty pleasure or genius? Sun Jun 19, 2011 12:07 am
yeah, I just need to find that bastard at some point.
I'm one of the few people that actually prefers live recordings when I can get them.
Akeldama Cagey Cretin
Posts : 6579 Join date : 2009-12-12 Age : 103 Location : Colorado
Subject: Re: Electric Light Orchestra - guilty pleasure or genius? Sun Jun 19, 2011 12:13 am
Bro, I got my copy used from Amazon for like 9-10 bucks. It was in great condition. The cover you posted was the reissue version as well. I like it well enough, I'm usually not a live album kinda guy. '...Beethoven' was never a song I liked and ELO's version(s) is no exception except for the non Chuck Berry parts.
S.D. The Subhuman
Posts : 6538 Join date : 2009-11-16 Location : Los Angeles, CA
Subject: Re: Electric Light Orchestra - guilty pleasure or genius? Sun Jun 19, 2011 1:49 am
You know though, that arrangement on Roll Over is just brilliant. They manage to touch on the Berry and the Beethoven, pay tribute to both and not sound like they were just "joking" when they recorded it. Go just a tiny step too far in either direction and the arrangement falls apart...but walk that line just right? That's why I've been listening to it since 1978 or so.
Plus, how many tunes can you play badass "air-violin" solos to? That's half the fun!
Akeldama Cagey Cretin
Posts : 6579 Join date : 2009-12-12 Age : 103 Location : Colorado
Subject: Re: Electric Light Orchestra - guilty pleasure or genius? Mon Jun 20, 2011 2:18 pm
Living In Twilight ('71-'79)
1. Fire On High 2. Last Train To London 3. In Old England Town (Boogie #2) 4. Turn To Stone 5. Laredo Tornado 6. Telephone Line 7. Showdown 8. Look At Me Now 9. Do Ya 10. Daybreaker 11. Evil Woman 12. Shine A Little Love 13. So Fine 14. Mama 15. Ocean Breakup, King Of The Universe 16. Livin' Thing 17. Sweet Talkin' Woman 18. Strange Magic 19. It's Over 20. First Movement (Jumping Biz) 21. Dreaming Of 4000 22. Shangri-La 23. 10538 Overture 24. Poor Boy (The Greenwood) 25. The Diary Of Horace Wimp 26. Nightrider
Last edited by Akeldama on Sat May 04, 2013 3:01 pm; edited 1 time in total
S.D. The Subhuman
Posts : 6538 Join date : 2009-11-16 Location : Los Angeles, CA
Subject: Re: Electric Light Orchestra - guilty pleasure or genius? Mon Jun 20, 2011 2:28 pm
That's a real nice playlist, I'll have to program that into iTunes and check it out. Thanks for sharing!
Akeldama Cagey Cretin
Posts : 6579 Join date : 2009-12-12 Age : 103 Location : Colorado
Subject: Re: Electric Light Orchestra - guilty pleasure or genius? Mon Jun 20, 2011 2:44 pm
Thanks man, it was hard to narrow it down to 25, I usually don't throw in so many popular/radio staples from a band on my 'best of' playlists but these were too damn good to leave off!
S.D. The Subhuman
Posts : 6538 Join date : 2009-11-16 Location : Los Angeles, CA
Subject: Re: Electric Light Orchestra - guilty pleasure or genius? Mon Jun 20, 2011 2:52 pm
My playlists generally tend to be more or less chronological in order, I'm a "development" kind of guy, I like to hear where the journey took the group.
But that's just when I make playlists, I love to hear other people's "viewpoint" of their favorite groups, so I'll definitely be copying that playlist of yours into iTunes.
Akeldama Cagey Cretin
Posts : 6579 Join date : 2009-12-12 Age : 103 Location : Colorado
Subject: Re: Electric Light Orchestra - guilty pleasure or genius? Mon Jun 20, 2011 11:05 pm
Nice man. I rarely make a playlist in chronological order, I like to hear the songs in different sequences. I try to makes the songs flow well from one to another.
S.D. The Subhuman
Posts : 6538 Join date : 2009-11-16 Location : Los Angeles, CA
Subject: Re: Electric Light Orchestra - guilty pleasure or genius? Mon Jun 20, 2011 11:15 pm
Yeah, I've done that kind as well, but all these years of studying jazz kind of locked me in the chronological mindset (all the box sets and stuff).
DeathCult Transmaniacon MC
Posts : 2164 Join date : 2009-11-16 Location : Arkham
Subject: Re: Electric Light Orchestra - guilty pleasure or genius? Wed Jun 29, 2011 9:26 pm
I've never actually listened to a whole ELO album.
S.D. The Subhuman
Posts : 6538 Join date : 2009-11-16 Location : Los Angeles, CA
Subject: Re: Electric Light Orchestra - guilty pleasure or genius? Wed Jun 29, 2011 9:32 pm
DeathCult wrote:
I've never actually listened to a whole ELO album.
You've probably heard all but 1 or 2 tracks from A New World Record on the radio, that whole album was a hit.
DeathCult Transmaniacon MC
Posts : 2164 Join date : 2009-11-16 Location : Arkham
Subject: Re: Electric Light Orchestra - guilty pleasure or genius? Fri Sep 02, 2011 12:42 am
S.D. wrote:
DeathCult wrote:
I've never actually listened to a whole ELO album.
You've probably heard all but 1 or 2 tracks from A New World Record on the radio, that whole album was a hit.
I've realized after seeing alot of the seperate songs by them posted in other threads, that I've heard quite a bit of ELO actually. They're pretty good.
Special Guest Easy Target
Posts : 487 Join date : 2010-01-18 Location : Maine
Subject: Re: Electric Light Orchestra - guilty pleasure or genius? Fri Dec 02, 2011 12:32 pm
I'm kinda split about ELO. They had plenty of brilliant tunes (Mr. Blue Sky is one of my all-time favorite songs) but for every great one, it seems like they had two forgettable or just plain annoying songs. Lots of respect for the band though, being able to mix classical elements with pop so easily. Takes a lot of talent to do that.
Akeldama Cagey Cretin
Posts : 6579 Join date : 2009-12-12 Age : 103 Location : Colorado
Subject: Re: Electric Light Orchestra - guilty pleasure or genius? Fri Dec 02, 2011 12:42 pm
I liked everyting up to Disco? Very!( But even that album was spotty) in varying degrees but the 80s material never grabbed me.
Akeldama Cagey Cretin
Posts : 6579 Join date : 2009-12-12 Age : 103 Location : Colorado
Subject: Re: Electric Light Orchestra - guilty pleasure or genius? Sat May 04, 2013 8:10 am
As I've mentioned before, I don't care much for ELO's post '70 material but have listened to 'Xanadu' ,(which I like), a few times in the last year or so, (and I think the rest but I don't remember). I just snagged the 'Xanadu' and 'Time' [Expanded] albums. I wanna see if there's anything from '81 on that I like. I still remember "Hold On Tight" and "Rock 'n' Roll Is King" from when I was a kid and even in memory recall I hate them songs.
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Subject: Re: Electric Light Orchestra - guilty pleasure or genius?
Electric Light Orchestra - guilty pleasure or genius?