ELO was once "magic". And I'm glad it's back again. Jeff Lynne's ELO is touring and their latest best album is currently marked as a best seller in Amazon.
Out Of The Blue (1977), ELO
It was 1977 when I first heard the track "Turn To Stone" and was totally mesmerised by the chorus, melody and the synthesiser sound. I had to have the album "Out Of The Blue".
Listening to the album for the first time, I got transfixed. "Night In The City" sounded like a night in the city, "Across The Border" sounds like a train crossing the border, "The Whale" sounded like a whale in the sea, "Jungle" sounded like a jungle, "Starlight" sounded like... I'm not exaggerating, I really was transfixed by the fact that musical instruments could create such a fun, feel-good art like nothing else.
Dicovery (1979), ELO
At the age of 13-14 as a child of punk rock, Electric Light Orchestra was totally something else to me. Like there's always a room for a dessert in a stomach. "Out Of The Blue" was a double album - 2 vinyl discs, 4 sides. Whichever part of the record you dropped the needle on, you would get an ultimate pop tune.
Yet for a kid of 14 years of age, ELO was a really uncool, old rock band, old guys with long, curly hair, I never dared to say I was a fan. Then in 1979, there came another eye-popping album "Discovery". I knew it didn't make sense that I was worshipping Joe Strummer and would also sing along with Electric Light Orchestra at the same time. But I couldn't help it, I loved their sound and the tunes so much.
Jeff Lynne continued to shock me with Xanadu (1980). The first single "I'm Alive" with out-of-space ultra synth orchestral pop was totally captivating.
To me that was the climax - by then I knew a lot of their old tracks and had learned a lot of Jeff Lynne's works were Dylan / Beatles influenced, some were rock 'n' roll. I wasn't personally keen on the subsequent rockabilly-revival direction (singles "Hold On Tight" and "Rock 'n' Roll Is King")
The Very Best Of Electric light Orchestra
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There have been many ELO best albums over the years, and I would say this is a compact version. Unfortunately "I'm Alive" is not included - it was not a big hit and, although when it first came out it had an amazing sound quality at the time, it may sound outdated now. The album is perfect as an introduction to young generation who don't know the ELO.
Get the ELO Best album from Amazon - Digital Download/streaming, by CD or Vinyl.
Oh Ray man, just how old are you if you don’t mind me asking??? I used to love ELO and Out Of The Blue and Discovery are my two most favorite. To be honest these 3 albums including the best are the only ELO CD’s that I own. I think I was about 12 when I heard Turn To Stone. Good job Ray, cheers. Danny
Hi Danny, I’m 53. I think I’m about the same age as you then, and I think Turn To Stone was the tune that made me fall in love with ELO… And when I was about 25+, I mentioned ELO to someone at work who was in early 20’s, she just said “Ehh…aren’t they old?” They really were (and probably still are for some!) pretty uncool in 1990’s. Good to share the same interest with someone like this here – thanks for your visit & comment Danny!