The thought of a new ELO album sounds great to me right now, as it's seven years since Jeff Lynne released any new product under the banner of Electric Light Orchestra. Sadly, this is just another ELO compilation.
I'm sure there are people questioning the fact that an ELO album should be reviewed here at a classic rock dedicated website, as Jeff Lynne's undoubted talent was the ability to write and produce well crafted three-to-four minute popular tunes.
Classic Rock Roots
But if you only thought ELO were a pop band, you'd be very wrong, as you'd soon find out if you delved into their early-to-mid 70s material. But from their early, uniquely classical rock releases, they then became more recognized as pretty much a pop / rock act, which is a little sad, considering their tremendous talents as musicians.
The complexities of their particular brand of music may have been too involved for most pop fans, and not rock-y enough for real rock fans, which is probably why the novelty wore off towards the mid 80s, coupled with the fact that both Jeff Lynne and Richard Tandy were reluctant to tour.
Their fantastic interpretation of Chuck Berry's "Roll Over Beethoven" and rock tracks such as "Ma-Ma-Ma Belle," "Do Ya," "10538 Overture" and "Rockaria" to name a few, but then live, well they rocked too!
Okay, so you're wondering why you should buy this "Best Of" compilation, the 13th such item of officially released collections, which, aside from the three-CD sets Flashback and Afterglow have never included anything previously unreleased to the public.
I can tell you this is actually a very good compilation to listen to, covering many of the different directions Jeff Lynne had chosen to explore.
Almost New, Sort Of ...
Courtesy Epic Records
There is also the bonus that from three of the recently remastered reissues – A New World Record, Out Of The Blue and Balance Of Power – three tracks, unearthed from each of those albums sessions, are included here. So, these will be new to you if you hadn't bought those three remastered albums.
Opening with "Twilight" from the Time album, which was really the first clear cut statement at the time – that ELO was now simply a four piece band of Jeff Lynne, bassist / vocalist Kelly Groucutt, Richard Tandy on keys and Bev Bevan on drums. Time was also, to me anyway, a step back on track after the cheesiness of the Discovery release.
It was also on this album tour that I finally saw ELO live for my first and only time with Jeff Lynne. (I did subsequently see ELO Pt. 2 with Groucutt, Bevan, Mik Kaminski and Louis Clark (strings arranger on most Jeff Lynne ELO albums) a few times also.
I must say I think "Twilight" is an excellent opening track for this release, in the same way that it was for Time.
"Do Ya" is next, and brings back great memories from when A New World Record was first released. Good rocker, but how many people know that this was actually originally recorded when Jeff and Bev Bevan were in The Move?
Build and Deliver
"Can't Get It Out Of My Head" was one of ELO's first big hits, but I wish this compilation was actually focused more on the period of, say, Face The Music up to Zoom. There's no denying this track's ability to epically build and deliver.
"Latitude 88 North" is the first of the tracks here that were only relatively recently (2007) added on remastered ELO releases. It surprises me is that apparently it's from the Out Of The Blue sessions, but it really sounds more like it could've come from the Balance Of Power sessions. It sounds like a more up-to-date ELO.
"It's Over", from the original Out Of The Blue is next. I always liked this classy, catchy track.
"Ticket To The Moon", the subtitle track of this compilation is next, and also reflects the polished sound of ELO's twilight years. Kind of mild AOR style stuff.
From the Balance of Power album comes "Heaven Only Knows", a great up tempo number.
"Starlight" is a nice track, easy going, but really, on a Best Of release?
A clear indication of Jeff Lynne's love of The Beatles comes in the form of "4 Little Diamonds", rock and roll style!
Secret Messages was a very underrated album. Here, the title track reminds me of how excellent it really was.
"Eldorado" is next and perhaps this should have been on the first of this series of compilations, with the first release covering the earlier years and this one covering the later years. Still, there's no doubt that it shows how Mr. Lynne could bring the real orchestral side to the fore with this talented band.
Glory Days
A very catchy, prime J.L. pop song is next. "So Serious" had hit single written all over it, but it didn't chart.
"Last Train To London", from Discovery was a big hit, probably more so to those not typically ELO fans.
From the last ELO album, Zoom, we have "In My Own Time" which takes us back to their 70s glory days sound. Almost swing / blues type feel and, of course, smooth.
"Destination Unknown" was from the Balance of Power album sessions, but didn't make it at the time. Here, it sounds as if it should have!
With an almost Mexican feel in places, "The Way Life's Meant To Be" is next. Cool enough!
"One Summer Dream" from Face The Music is simply easy going, laid back stuff that's an excellent piece.
Their last hit single, "Calling America" just oozes commercialized, pop-y AOR, then "Moment In Paradise" just shifts back a gear to laid back ELO.
And so to track 20, whew! The last song here, "Surrender" from the remastered version of A New World Record, is an excellent song. It surprises me that it didn't make it on to the album originally, but I guess those old vinyl albums might've all been doubles if Jeff Lynne had gotten his way!
This is a worthy compilation by what seems to be (sadly) a done band now. I hope Jeff Lynne proves me wrong, but when they tried selling tickets for the Zoom tour, I understand the demand was not there. I seem to recall prices were a little high, too.
Jeff, come on, give us a new album and tour that we can all afford!
