Thoughts on Electric Light Orchestra

Lisnaholic · 10-17-2021, 05:50 PM

I've dipped into "Eldorado", but have to say that this combination of pop and orchestral is just not doing it for me. I got as far as "Boy Blue", which feels to me as if that nice honest pop song, "Hang On Sloopy" is struggling to break out from an excess of orchestration. For me, "Can't Get It Out of My Head" has a similar problem; what underneath is an average, somewhat repetitive pop song has been dressed up to sound grander than it really is, and has lost its bright poppy edge in the process. Or maybe it's another iteration of what JLennon called McCartney's "grannie rock": rock music with all the sharp corners rubber off.

Anyway, my apologies to the enthusiasts here; I'll take myself off and go rain on someone else's parade, ok?

rubber soul · 10-18-2021, 07:25 AM

A little pre-history..

The Move had quite a following in England in the late sixties as noted by this TV appearance in 1968

That same year, Jeff Lynne formed the Idle Race, not as popular as the Move but obviously good enough to get Roy Wood's attention

Jeff Lynne joined the Move in 1970 and was a big part in the Move's final album, Message From the Country in 1971.

And I found out through Wiki that 10538 Overture was actually recorded by the Move. Wood and Lynne though decided it didn't in with the Move so they saved it for Electric Light Orchestra.

And the rest is history

Lisnaholic · 10-18-2021, 08:16 AM

Thanks for inviting us to re-visit that excellent single,"Fire Brigade", and showing how those two bands turned themselves into ELO.

Yes, for a while The Move regularly appeared in the UK charts or that reputation-making show, Top of The Pops. With their two biggest singles on it, I bought their debut album myself. It's packed with inventive, quirky songs; this one was my own non-single favourite from the album:-

rubber soul · 10-18-2021, 08:20 AM

Got the infamous Video Unavailable once again. You guys need new copyright laws or something

Lisnaholic · 10-18-2021, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rubber soul

Got the infamous Video Unavailable once again. You guys need new copyright laws or something

Or you guys need to change your firewall settings to "floods of pirate videos from overseas are fine by me"

Anyway, the song was "Mist On A Monday Morning" - you may well know it already.

Trollheart · 10-18-2021, 10:40 AM

Here's an interesting take on ELO by Asia. Think they really nailed it!

DianneW · 10-18-2021, 01:41 PM

I thought somebody would mention where and why Roy Wood left ELO...
just an extract from wiki...

Not long after the release of Electric Light Orchestra's first album, Wood found himself in political disagreements with the band's manager Don Arden. Following a difference of opinion during recording of the band's second album, ELO 2, Wood walked out of the session, went down the road to a studio where the Birmingham group Mongrel (which included his former Move bandmate Rick Price, as well as drummers Charlie Grima and Keith Smart) were recording, and asked them if they would be interested in putting a band together.

Wood left ELO, taking band members Bill Hunt (keyboards and french horn) and Hugh McDowell (cello) with him, as well as ELO's sound engineer, Trevor Smith. Despite press reporting a fallout between Wood and co-founder/leader Jeff Lynne, Wood denies that he and Lynne ever had a real row, blaming it on press fabrication and insisting that "We never had a real row and we're still mates now.] In fact, Wood claimed that he left the group because he foresaw a fallout between him and Lynne due to their increasing differences of opinion (which he felt were caused, indirectly, by the band's management) and wanted to avoid it.

Also in the line-up were saxophone players Mike Burney and Nick Pentelow (the son of actor Arthur Pentelow). Prior to the recording of the band's second album, Introducing Eddy and the Falcons, McDowell left and was not replaced (he returned to ELO), and during the recording of the album Bill Hunt also departed and was replaced by Bob Brady (also from Mongrel). Prior to the 1975 recording of the band's final album, Main Street (released 2000), drummer Keith Smart departed the band and was not replaced.

Chart success and tours
The band made their live debut at The London Rock and Roll Show at Wembley Stadium on 5 August 1972.[5] Wizzard's second appearance was at the Reading Festival later that month. With Wood's distinctive warpaint make-up and colourful costume,[6] not to mention regular appearances on BBC Television's Top of the Pops in which members and friends, including Wood's girl friend, singer Ayshea Brough, variously appeared in pantomime horses, gorilla costumes or as roller-skating angels, often wielding custard pies for good measure, they were one of the most picturesque groups in the British glam rock era. In 1973 they scored their first Top 10 hit with "Ball Park Incident", which made No. 6 for three weeks from 13 January.
Their biggest hit was with their second single. "See My Baby Jive", Wood's faithful and affectionate tribute to the Phil Spector generated 'Wall of Sound', made No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart for four weeks.
It sold over one million copies globally, and was awarded gold disc status.

A tour of the US later that year failed to bring them any commercial success there, but after meeting Brian Wilson some members guested on a Beach Boys session, which resulted in the eventual release of the latter group's single "It's OK" in 1976.[9] According to Wood, the record label neglected to make a substantial push to make Wizzard a success in the U.S., preferring to focus promotion on England since the band were already very popular there.

Extracts only... and the rest can be read on the Wiki page itself..

bob_32_116 · 10-18-2021, 02:11 PM

^^ "See My Baby Jive" is one of those hits that brings back memories for me. It was number one here for what seemed like ages, and was very much the soundtrack to my first summer in Perth.

Trollheart · 10-18-2021, 06:13 PM

Yeah yeah but listen to "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day" - it's the same bloody song!

bob_32_116 · 10-19-2021, 02:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Yeah yeah but listen to "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day" - it's the same bloody song!

Don't know it.

10-17-2021, 05:50 PM	#21 (permalink)
Lisnaholic ...here to hear... Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: He lives on Love Street Posts: 4,444	I've dipped into "Eldorado", but have to say that this combination of pop and orchestral is just not doing it for me. I got as far as "Boy Blue", which feels to me as if that nice honest pop song, "Hang On Sloopy" is struggling to break out from an excess of orchestration. For me, "Can't Get It Out of My Head" has a similar problem; what underneath is an average, somewhat repetitive pop song has been dressed up to sound grander than it really is, and has lost its bright poppy edge in the process. Or maybe it's another iteration of what JLennon called McCartney's "grannie rock": rock music with all the sharp corners rubber off. Anyway, my apologies to the enthusiasts here; I'll take myself off and go rain on someone else's parade, ok? __________________ "Am I enjoying this moment? I know of it and perhaps that is enough." - Sybille Bedford, 1953

10-18-2021, 08:16 AM	#23 (permalink)
Lisnaholic ...here to hear... Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: He lives on Love Street Posts: 4,444	Thanks for inviting us to re-visit that excellent single,"Fire Brigade", and showing how those two bands turned themselves into ELO. Yes, for a while The Move regularly appeared in the UK charts or that reputation-making show, Top of The Pops. With their two biggest singles on it, I bought their debut album myself. It's packed with inventive, quirky songs; this one was my own non-single favourite from the album:- __________________ "Am I enjoying this moment? I know of it and perhaps that is enough." - Sybille Bedford, 1953

10-18-2021, 10:40 AM	#26 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	Here's an interesting take on ELO by Asia. Think they really nailed it! __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

10-18-2021, 06:13 PM	#29 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	Yeah yeah but listen to "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day" - it's the same bloody song! __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

10-18-2021, 01:41 PM	#27 (permalink)
DianneW Music Addict Join Date: Apr 2021 Posts: 1,161	I thought somebody would mention where and why Roy Wood left ELO... just an extract from wiki... Not long after the release of Electric Light Orchestra's first album, Wood found himself in political disagreements with the band's manager Don Arden. Following a difference of opinion during recording of the band's second album, ELO 2, Wood walked out of the session, went down the road to a studio where the Birmingham group Mongrel (which included his former Move bandmate Rick Price, as well as drummers Charlie Grima and Keith Smart) were recording, and asked them if they would be interested in putting a band together. Wood left ELO, taking band members Bill Hunt (keyboards and french horn) and Hugh McDowell (cello) with him, as well as ELO's sound engineer, Trevor Smith. Despite press reporting a fallout between Wood and co-founder/leader Jeff Lynne, Wood denies that he and Lynne ever had a real row, blaming it on press fabrication and insisting that "We never had a real row and we're still mates now.] In fact, Wood claimed that he left the group because he foresaw a fallout between him and Lynne due to their increasing differences of opinion (which he felt were caused, indirectly, by the band's management) and wanted to avoid it. Also in the line-up were saxophone players Mike Burney and Nick Pentelow (the son of actor Arthur Pentelow). Prior to the recording of the band's second album, Introducing Eddy and the Falcons, McDowell left and was not replaced (he returned to ELO), and during the recording of the album Bill Hunt also departed and was replaced by Bob Brady (also from Mongrel). Prior to the 1975 recording of the band's final album, Main Street (released 2000), drummer Keith Smart departed the band and was not replaced. Chart success and tours The band made their live debut at The London Rock and Roll Show at Wembley Stadium on 5 August 1972.[5] Wizzard's second appearance was at the Reading Festival later that month. With Wood's distinctive warpaint make-up and colourful costume,[6] not to mention regular appearances on BBC Television's Top of the Pops in which members and friends, including Wood's girl friend, singer Ayshea Brough, variously appeared in pantomime horses, gorilla costumes or as roller-skating angels, often wielding custard pies for good measure, they were one of the most picturesque groups in the British glam rock era. In 1973 they scored their first Top 10 hit with "Ball Park Incident", which made No. 6 for three weeks from 13 January. Their biggest hit was with their second single. "See My Baby Jive", Wood's faithful and affectionate tribute to the Phil Spector generated 'Wall of Sound', made No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart for four weeks. It sold over one million copies globally, and was awarded gold disc status. A tour of the US later that year failed to bring them any commercial success there, but after meeting Brian Wilson some members guested on a Beach Boys session, which resulted in the eventual release of the latter group's single "It's OK" in 1976.[9] According to Wood, the record label neglected to make a substantial push to make Wizzard a success in the U.S., preferring to focus promotion on England since the band were already very popular there. Extracts only... and the rest can be read on the Wiki page itself..

10-18-2021, 02:11 PM	#28 (permalink)
bob_32_116 Music Addict Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: 32S 116E Posts: 324	^^ "See My Baby Jive" is one of those hits that brings back memories for me. It was number one here for what seemed like ages, and was very much the soundtrack to my first summer in Perth.