I have about a dozen ELO songs on my mp3 player. Should I delve further into their catalog? I was thinking of starting with “Out of the Blue” and/or “A New World Record” as five of the songs I have are from those two records.
Sure, why not? I like 'em and have several of their CDs.
On the other hand, to the ears of this relatively casual fan, they were at their best on their singles/hits; and, compared to other bands that covered similar territory (proggy orchestral power-poppish rock), their albums (with the exception of El Dorado) don’t hang together as well.
They’re pretty amazing. I think they went through a patch when they were considered naff, during the cloth eared '90s.
We like them so much that a friend of mine (female) orally pleasured Jeff Lynne in his limo one night after a few rounds of ale.
Love love love them. Sweet Talkin Woman, Turning to Stone, Mr. Blue Sky, and if you’re shitty drunk and feeling sorry for yourself can’t go wrong with Telephone Line.
Out of the Blue contains some genuine gems including ‘Concerto for a Rainy Day’.
But, my first real dose of the Electric Light Orchestra was Eldorado. A concept album filled with very good music. The words were important. And I, as a singer, really loved that.
And, at that time, rock and roll was dominated by Led Zeppelin, et. al.
Electric violin leading a string quartet was a really different vibe for the time.
I like them, but I don’t know much more then what you’d hear on the radio.
I saw Mr Blue Sky on TV a few months ago, you might want to watch that some day if you’re bored. Lots of interesting stories. Doesn’t look like it’s on Netflix, but I’m sure it’ll be on TV again at some point.
John Lennon called them “Sons of the Beatles”, and I agree to some extent. From what I’ve heard they had some great music and I too need to delve into their full albums. Also working on The Doors and Aerosmith.
Especially if you’ve seen Billy Madison.
I liked the first album mostly because I was a Move/Roy Wood fan. Jeff Lynne is a great talent, but I never got into his style. In The Move, Roy was there to provide both heavy music and peculiar lyrics and songs. When Jeff took over ELO, it became a little too light, a too “polished” for me. That said, I had all the ELO albums up to A New World Record.
I don’t own any of their albums but I certainly don’t dislike them, which is saying a lot for a band from the mostly godawful 70s. They had the perfect mix of newish electronic pop music popularity while still retaining genuine rock & roll credibility. I think Jeff Lynne’s inclusion in the über-exclusive supergroup Traveling Wilburys is a testament to this.
This thread’s got a strange magic.
It’s a strange magic.
Got a strange magic.
Oh it’s a strange magic.
Strange magic
Yes it’s a strange magic
Got a strange magic
In my opinion, any group who can take repeating “strange magic” 750,000 times and turn it into a pop hit is ok by me!
I love ELO. I would probably list “A New World Record” in my top ten albums of all time.
They mesh Beatlesque melodies with classical instruments and sometimes just make me want to smile:
We think that while we enjoyed some of ELO’s music at the time, our appreciation would benefit from a long hiatus before we listen to them again, especially “Don’t Bring Me Down” and “Roll Over Beethoven”. We think certain songs have been overplayed just short of the point of nausea.
I think ‘Eldorado’ is one of the great concept albums.
Ooooh, we just got goosebumps hearing “Livin’ Thing” in our head.
We are putting ELO on as soon as we get in the car in a couple hours.
Don’t listen to music so much these days, but when I did I had them filed under “guilty pleasure”.
I’m the only one who’d rather shove ball bearings into my ears?..
I guess so…
I like ELO. I kind of agree with Thudlow, though; they’re a greatest hits/singles type of group.
I thought Time was, too.