Thoughts on Electric Light Orchestra

Trollheart · 10-16-2021, 07:38 PM

I don't share your hatred of "Telephone Line", bob, in fact I love it. But you shouldn't miss out on what is a really good album just because you don't like/dislike/hate one track. That album has some great songs - "Do ya", "Livin' Thing", "So Fine" - a great opener in "Tightrope" and a great closer in "Shangri-La", to say nothing of the close harmony acapella in "Above the Clouds."

There are plenty of albums - well, a few - on which I hate one song, but that doesn't stop me from listening to and enjoying the album. At times I want to kill, disembowel and eat Gary Moore (yes I know he's passed on already) for writing the piece of unmitigated garbage that is "Teenage Idol" - I hate it with the sort of passion I reserve for things I really, really, really hate - but I still listen to Victims of the Future. I'm not terribly fond of Abacab but I don't refuse to listen to it even though I despise "Whodunnit". You shouldn't, in my opinion, cut off your nose to spite your face by refusing to give an album a chance just because you hate one track.

Anyway, in these days of digital albums you can surely arrange to buy or download it minus that song? Or, you know, just skip it? Up to you of course, but you really should give the album a chance. It's pretty damned good.

bob_32_116 · 10-17-2021, 03:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

I don't share your hatred of "Telephone Line", bob, in fact I love it. But you shouldn't miss out on what is a really good album just because you don't like/dislike/hate one track. That album has some great songs - "Do ya", "Livin' Thing", "So Fine" - a great opener in "Tightrope" and a great closer in "Shangri-La", to say nothing of the close harmony acapella in "Above the Clouds."

There are plenty of albums - well, a few - on which I hate one song, but that doesn't stop me from listening to and enjoying the album. At times I want to kill, disembowel and eat Gary Moore (yes I know he's passed on already) for writing the piece of unmitigated garbage that is "Teenage Idol" - I hate it with the sort of passion I reserve for things I really, really, really hate - but I still listen to Victims of the Future. I'm not terribly fond of Abacab but I don't refuse to listen to it even though I despise "Whodunnit". You shouldn't, in my opinion, cut off your nose to spite your face by refusing to give an album a chance just because you hate one track.

Anyway, in these days of digital albums you can surely arrange to buy or download it minus that song? Or, you know, just skip it? Up to you of course, but you really should give the album a chance. It's pretty damned good.

I've heard all the ELO tracks you mention, and I do like "So Fine" and "Livin' Thing", though I probably have heard the latter so many times I hardly need to own it. Not so fond of "Do Ya". Still I concede that that album is mostly good stuff.

The bottom line is that, for me, ELO are the kind of band where I find one album is enough, especially since Out of the Blue is a double album. If I were going to get another, it would probably be from their earlier period such as Eldorado or possibly Face the Music.

Lisnaholic · 10-17-2021, 06:44 AM

I have a kind of bob_32 to the extreme attitude to ELO. There was a time when their music seemed to be everywhere. A big enthusiast was person I didn't like at school, so rather unfairly to J Lynn, that put me off them too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bob_32_116

ELO are a second-tier band for me. ......

If ELO are musically indebted to anyone, I say it would be The Moody Blues. This may be the reason ELO are not higher in my list of top bands. When I want to hear dramatic rock with a semi-classical sound, the Moodies usually scratch that itch for me.

Oh, and I doubt I will ever want to own "A New World Record", because I hate that song "Telephone Line" with a passion.

times two! So far, ELO have remained a band that I have unwillingly heard but never listened to. Still, with some lesser known tracks being recommended here, I might give them a go later today...

PS: No-one has mentioned Roy Wood yet; wasn't he like half the band?

rubber soul · 10-17-2021, 06:56 AM

Roy Wood initially formed ELO with Lynne but I don't think he stayed with them very long. Lynne, I believe, had joined the Move just before they broke up and ELO basically took off from there.

Lisnaholic · 10-17-2021, 07:32 AM

Thanks, rs ! I had no idea that Lynn was briefly in The Move. They had some good singles back in the sixties.

rubber soul · 10-17-2021, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lisnaholic

Thanks, rs ! I had no idea that Lynn was briefly in The Move. They had some good singles back in the sixties.

They did and you can hear the comparisons to ELO as well. same thing with Lynne's original band, The Idle Race. I absolutely love their Birthday Party album.

Trollheart · 10-17-2021, 11:43 AM

Yeah Wood was more about the folky rock thing (which is why I'm not so enamoured of the first two albums) while Lynne was into getting the classical edge on the music. I guess you could say (maybe wrongly) that Wood was ELO's Syd?

To all who have heard the singles to death, let me assure you there are some album tracks that knock them into a hat (cocked or otherwise) and you should not judge ELO on the strength (or weakness due to repetition) of their hit singles alone. Did you know they do a cover of Grieg's "In the Hall of the Mountain King"? Or that they tackle future issues on the album Time? Or that there's a full concerto on Out of the... oh you knew that did you? Well did you know Eldorado is basically one big concerto, and one of their greatest albums? Or that On the Third Day features a fine instrumental and... well, I could go on. Book by the cover, guys! Book by the cover...

**Frownland** · 10-17-2021, 12:07 PM

Eldorado's ****ing great (even if Illusions in G Major is a skipper and a half).

Trollheart · 10-17-2021, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frownland

Eldorado's ****ing great (even if Illusions in G Major is a skipper and a half).

Agree, and I can do without "Nobody's Child" too, but the rest is 24-carat gold.

DianneW · 10-17-2021, 03:48 PM

10-16-2021, 07:38 PM	#11 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	I don't share your hatred of "Telephone Line", bob, in fact I love it. But you shouldn't miss out on what is a really good album just because you don't like/dislike/hate one track. That album has some great songs - "Do ya", "Livin' Thing", "So Fine" - a great opener in "Tightrope" and a great closer in "Shangri-La", to say nothing of the close harmony acapella in "Above the Clouds." There are plenty of albums - well, a few - on which I hate one song, but that doesn't stop me from listening to and enjoying the album. At times I want to kill, disembowel and eat Gary Moore (yes I know he's passed on already) for writing the piece of unmitigated garbage that is "Teenage Idol" - I hate it with the sort of passion I reserve for things I really, really, really hate - but I still listen to Victims of the Future. I'm not terribly fond of Abacab but I don't refuse to listen to it even though I despise "Whodunnit". You shouldn't, in my opinion, cut off your nose to spite your face by refusing to give an album a chance just because you hate one track. Anyway, in these days of digital albums you can surely arrange to buy or download it minus that song? Or, you know, just skip it? Up to you of course, but you really should give the album a chance. It's pretty damned good. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

10-17-2021, 07:32 AM	#15 (permalink)
Lisnaholic ...here to hear... Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: He lives on Love Street Posts: 4,444	Thanks, rs ! I had no idea that Lynn was briefly in The Move. They had some good singles back in the sixties. __________________ "Am I enjoying this moment? I know of it and perhaps that is enough." - Sybille Bedford, 1953

10-17-2021, 11:43 AM	#17 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	Yeah Wood was more about the folky rock thing (which is why I'm not so enamoured of the first two albums) while Lynne was into getting the classical edge on the music. I guess you could say (maybe wrongly) that Wood was ELO's Syd? To all who have heard the singles to death, let me assure you there are some album tracks that knock them into a hat (cocked or otherwise) and you should not judge ELO on the strength (or weakness due to repetition) of their hit singles alone. Did you know they do a cover of Grieg's "In the Hall of the Mountain King"? Or that they tackle future issues on the album Time? Or that there's a full concerto on Out of the... oh you knew that did you? Well did you know Eldorado is basically one big concerto, and one of their greatest albums? Or that On the Third Day features a fine instrumental and... well, I could go on. Book by the cover, guys! Book by the cover... __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

10-17-2021, 12:07 PM	#18 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,541	Eldorado's ***ing great (even if Illusions in G Major is a skipper and a half). __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth.* d e a f b o x

10-17-2021, 03:48 PM	#20 (permalink)
DianneW Music Addict Join Date: Apr 2021 Posts: 1,161