ELO (Electric Light Orchestra)

[Borry]

Anyone like them or into them?

I have quite a few of their songs on my mp3 purely because I have been able to easily get into them and like them a lot (eg Don't bring Me Down, Evil Woman, It's A Living Thing).

 

[mantis]

Brilliant band, I have a few of the albums.

 

[mediumsizered]

Anyone like them or into them?

I have quite a few of their songs on my mp3 purely because I have been able to easily get into them and like them a lot (eg Don't bring Me Down, Evil Woman, It's A Living Thing).

One of my favorite bands. Saw them in concert a couple of times and there use of laser lights was just awesome. Their Discovery album was IMO their greatest effort with so many quality songs. Jeff Lynne ranks up there with Brian Wilson and Lennon/McCartney when it comes to song writing. Mik Kaminski on the violin is a brilliant showman, who would have no trouble beating the devil in a fiddle contest (ie The Devil Went Down to Georgia - Charlie Daniels Band).

 

[materamagic]

Jeff Lynne, not only an underrated musician, but an underrated influence on so many musician and a great producer.

He was the driving force behind the revival of great music around the end of the 80's and played a first hand role in the comeback of Roy Orbison, amongst others. He worked on so many projects after his ELO fame but always was the man underneath the beard, hat and glasses.

His musicianship on those mid to late 70's ELO albums was amazing, those melodies. Glad you mentioned Discovery, their best IMHO

Their latest greatest hits is also a good buy for anyone wanting to get into this band, or turn on oldies radio, it is still around

"Shine A Little Light" listen to it, obviously a huge influence of Jamoroqui. Some people think back on ELO as daggy, but like ABBA, it was all in the harmonies and the pop arrangements that was the ingredient to success.

Do not overlook solo Jeff Lynne. It is his song "lift me up" that is that catchy song you heard on "Duece Bigalow"

and also his production on albums such as "the traveling wilburys vol 1-3" "cloud nine" "mystery girl" "highway companion" "full moon fever" "brainwashed" "into the great wide open"

 

[John]

I dunno. I caught ELO live in their glory days when a New World Record was slaying em. Great show from memory. They first came to my attention with a brilliant cover of Roll Over Bethoveen. I had known Jeff Lynne from his days in a band called The Move who had a terrific hit with a song called Blackberry Way. When New World Record was released I thought it was a stayer but now days I hear the songs from it and it all sounds a bit twee. I know Materamagic will fight me tooth and nail on this, and fair enough too, but for me they lost an edge with the passing of time. When it comes to that Lennon/McCartney influenced British pop I would take XTC any day of the week as their tunes seem a bit less contrived and more melodic.

 

[materamagic]

I dunno. I caught ELO live in their glory days when a New World Record was slaying em. Great show from memory. They first came to my attention with a brilliant cover of Roll Over Bethoveen. I had known Jeff Lynne from his days in a band called The Move who had a terrific hit with a song called Blackberry Way. When New World Record was released I thought it was a stayer but now days I hear the songs from it and it all sounds a bit twee. I know Materamagic will fight me tooth and nail on this, and fair enough too, but for me they lost an edge with the passing of time. When it comes to that Lennon/McCartney influenced British pop I would take XTC any day of the week as their tunes seem a bit less contrived and more melodic.

fair enough. One thing about ELO is that some of the songs do sound dated, the bombastic production and what not. They are still great songs. Ah, XTC, great band, alot of people know "senses working overtime" and "dear god" etc... Good you mention them. It is the former members of ELO touring nowdays, Jeff is a reluctant performer. Tom Petty had to drag him onstage to play at the induction of George Harrison into the R and R Hall Of Fame.

My fave band of all time after the Beatles is Tom and the Heartbreakers and they melded alot of the classical music from the 50's to the 70's into their own sound and off course as a writer and a musician Tom has remained consistent with timeless tunes. It was not too long before Jeff applied his "pop, sheen and gloss" into the mix

 

[- PC -]

Always been a fan

I've heard it say that ELO were what the Beatles would have been if they stayed together

 

[materamagic]

Always been a fan

I've heard it say that ELO were what the Beatles would have been if they stayed together

Now that's interesting. Certainly they could have sounded that way. Remember Badfinger? I think their early 70's stuff is the most Beatlesque and it's a no brainer to see why, involvement with the lads throughout their brief success. George producing and on lead guitar, McCartney writing their hit, etc...

To recall on each of the 4's styles around the split. John was getting back to basics, raw, edgy, rocking stuff, heavily into Yoko and everything far out; Paul was into neo classical pop arrangements, and perfection, George was a the dark horse with his strongest material and on the verge of exploding due to all the talent bottled up inside, and Ringo was sitting at the drumstool, getting fed up with the 3 ego's in front of him.

The old trick of putting the best songs of each onto one compilation, give it a try, especially 1970-1973.

 

[John]

fair enough. One thing about ELO is that some of the songs do sound dated, the bombastic production and what not. They are still great songs. Ah, XTC, great band, alot of people know "senses working overtime" and "dear god" etc... Good you mention them. It is the former members of ELO touring nowdays, Jeff is a reluctant performer. Tom Petty had to drag him onstage to play at the induction of George Harrison into the R and R Hall Of Fame.

My fave band of all time after the Beatles is Tom and the Heartbreakers and they melded alot of the classical music from the 50's to the 70's into their own sound and off course as a writer and a musician Tom has remained consistent with timeless tunes. It was not too long before Jeff applied his "pop, sheen and gloss" into the mix

Indeed materamagic and they should get out and listen to more than those two ditties. A complex duo are XTC. I caught them live at Brisbanes Festival Hall, as I did ELO at the same now non existant venue, during their tour for their Black Sea album back in 1980 (I think it was.) They are still kicking on to this day but do not play live due to incurable stage fright that Andy Partridge suffers from. They are one of the few bands from my youth that I have replaced the 12 inch with CD's.

 

[lioness]

Not a massive fan but I really like their sound!

 

[Leaping Lindner]

Indeed materamagic and they should get out and listen to more than those two ditties. A complex duo are XTC. I caught them live at Brisbanes Festival Hall, as I did ELO at the same now non existant venue, during their tour for their Black Sea album back in 1980 (I think it was.) They are still kicking on to this day but do not play live due to incurable stage fright that Andy Partridge suffers from. They are one of the few bands from my youth that I have replaced the 12 inch with CD's.

How good was that bill? XTC and Magazine! XTC are a great band "Drums and Wires" and "Black Sea" are about as close to perfect "new" pop albums as you'll find.
As for ELO I was quite a fan of The Move and early ELO but not later stuff. I wonder why that is????

 

[Leaping Lindner]

Now that's interesting. Certainly they could have sounded that way. Remember Badfinger? I think their early 70's stuff is the most Beatlesque and it's a no brainer to see why, involvement with the lads throughout their brief success. George producing and on lead guitar, McCartney writing their hit, etc...

To recall on each of the 4's styles around the split. John was getting back to basics, raw, edgy, rocking stuff, heavily into Yoko and everything far out; Paul was into neo classical pop arrangements, and perfection, George was a the dark horse with his strongest material and on the verge of exploding due to all the talent bottled up inside, and Ringo was sitting at the drumstool, getting fed up with the 3 ego's in front of him.

The old trick of putting the best songs of each onto one compilation, give it a try, especially 1970-1973.

Badfinger IIRC wrote all their hit singles after "Come and get it" and to be honest their later singles shat on "Come and get it".

 

[Mad Dog]

One of my Fav bands growing up

Telephone line
Diary of Horis Whimp
Dont bring me down
Shine a little love
l

....list goes on

Good to see that releasing a DVD and "Best of" has brought them to the attention of the younglings....

also enjoyed JL's work with the Wilburys......

 

[Constipated Duck]

Yes, another good band and the Beatles comparisons (sound-wise) are very evident. How much does it sound like George Harrison is singing on "Livin' Thing"?

 

[cats56]

Saw Electric Light Orchestra around late '74/early '75, @ the barn (Festival Hall). There were only 300 people there and they partitioned the sides off. The MC came on said something like "I can't believe how many fools there are in Melbourne" (in ref. to the poor turn-out). Remember having great seats about 5 or 6 rows from the front right in the middle, (although it was pretty hard not to have a good view, of course the sound @ the barn being awful as always).

Actually pretty good gig, but unfortunately by the time of 'Face The Music' it was all downhill (musically and critically) as the chase for the almighty dollar saw them slip further and further into mediocrity (but, as is the usual case,become more popular).

Mik Kaminski was pretty amazing with his solo/ 'Orange Blossom Special' thing on the violin, Bev Bevan, pretty damn good drummer as well. Jeff Lynne went on to unfortunately become the 'Anti-Christ.'

 

[materamagic]

Anyone ever heard the song "When We Was Fab" where Lynne really wen't nuts on the production side of it, with lots of subtle Beatle references, stings, sitar at the end, violin, slide guitar, sound effects, reverb, etc.. It was George Harrison's song from Cloud Nine, but the production with Elton John providing a simple yet darkly haunting piano melody is better than some of the ELO stuff

 

[John]

How good was that bill? XTC and Magazine! XTC are a great band "Drums and Wires" and "Black Sea" are about as close to perfect "new" pop albums as you'll find.
As for ELO I was quite a fan of The Move and early ELO but not later stuff. I wonder why that is????

I am a fan enough to like all their later stuff as well. I strongly recomend English Setttlement and Skylarking. Pop at it melodic best.

Drums and Wires was a seminal album for me. It took my new wave roots to a higher level. This was not 3 chord thrash, as much as I liked that, this was an album of finely crafted songs with great rhythm and clever witty lyrics. Only Making Plans for Nigel and Life begins at the Hop as Pure Pop with the more progressive ideas of Roads Girdle the Globe and Complicated Game. Black Sea took that pop feel a whole lot further without losing the progressive feel. Respectable Street/Generals And Majors to mirror Nigel/hop and No Language in our Lungs and Travels In Nihlon to mirror Roads/Complicated. Great band. One of the few I can still listen to after all these years. We were lucky to not only see them live Leaping but to be a part of that new wave era that spawned them.

 

[HorseHead]

I am a fan enough to like all their later stuff as well. I strongly recomend English Setttlement and Skylarking. Pop at it melodic best...

XTC are one of those bands I've been meaning to investigate further, but I just never seemed to get around to doing it. I picked up their Nonsuch album in a bargain bin well over ten years ago and really enjoyed it. Great pop music. I've heard bits and pieces of their earlier output, but they seem to have a hell of a lot of albums.

 

[John]

XTC are one of those bands I've been meaning to investigate further, but I just never seemed to get around to doing it. I picked up their Nonsuch album in a bargain bin well over ten years ago and really enjoyed it. Great pop music. I've heard bits and pieces of their earlier output, but they seem to have a hell of a lot of albums.

Nothing wrong with Nonsuch, good get in a bargain bin. I guess what would happen is that you would not see the growth in style and substance by working your way back. Drums and Wires has very very differant production values and could almost be descibed as sparce in comparison but I would start there and head forward. I love their 1st two releases White Music and Go2 but they would sound a touch dated maybe.

 

[Leaping Lindner]

I am a fan enough to like all their later stuff as well. I strongly recomend English Setttlement and Skylarking. Pop at it melodic best.

Drums and Wires was a seminal album for me. It took my new wave roots to a higher level. This was not 3 chord thrash, as much as I liked that, this was an album of finely crafted songs with great rhythm and clever witty lyrics. Only Making Plans for Nigel and Life begins at the Hop as Pure Pop with the more progressive ideas of Roads Girdle the Globe and Complicated Game. Black Sea took that pop feel a whole lot further without losing the progressive feel. Respectable Street/Generals And Majors to mirror Nigel/hop and No Language in our Lungs and Travels In Nihlon to mirror Roads/Complicated. Great band. One of the few I can still listen to after all these years. We were lucky to not only see them live Leaping but to be a part of that new wave era that spawned them.

At the risk of sounding cliche I liked their old stuff better than their new stuff English Settlement is a sublime LP as well but they lost me a little after that. There were occassional gems on Mummer, Big Express, Skylarking but nothing like those first 3 LPs with Dave Gregory - IMHO. Having said that however I found "Oranges and Lemons" a great return to form, and "Mayor of Simpleton" is a fine pop song.

 

[Leaping Lindner]

Nothing wrong with Nonsuch, good get in a bargain bin. I guess what would happen is that you would not see the growth in style and substance by working your way back. Drums and Wires has very very differant production values and could almost be descibed as sparce in comparison but I would start there and head forward. I love their 1st two releases White Music and Go2 but they would sound a touch dated maybe.

White Music and GO 2 sound so late 70's (not that there is anything wrong with that.)
Horsehead - if you see Drums and Wires, Black Sea or English Settlement at a good price I reckon they are worth checking out.

 

[goatsby]

Dont Mind ELO pity Roy Wood missed the cut

 

[HorseHead]

Nothing wrong with Nonsuch, good get in a bargain bin. I guess what would happen is that you would not see the growth in style and substance by working your way back. Drums and Wires has very very differant production values and could almost be descibed as sparce in comparison but I would start there and head forward. I love their 1st two releases White Music and Go2 but they would sound a touch dated maybe.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll be sure to check them out.

 

[HorseHead]

White Music and GO 2 sound so late 70's (not that there is anything wrong with that.)

Not at all. I actually don't mind a fair bit of music from the late 70's. Generally speaking, it's the early-to-mid 70's that I have a problem with. There's something about that era that I find kind of irksome.

Horsehead - if you see Drums and Wires, Black Sea or English Settlement at a good price I reckon they are worth checking out.

Cheers. I'll add them to the list.

 

[utility]

I really dig a lot of their music but they did release some terrible albums.