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Out of the Blue

Electric Light Orchestra - Out of the Blue Audio CD

A fair review of the Electric Light Orchestra "Out of the Blue" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Electric Light Orchestra reviews here, or go back to the Electric Light Orchestra tabs.

Band: Electric Light Orchestra
Title: Out of the Blue
Rating:

Release Date: 1990-10-25
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Turn to Stone 2: It's Over 3: Sweet Talkin' Woman 4: Across the Border 5: Night in the City 6: Starlight 7: Jungle 8: Believe Me Now 9: Steppin' Out 10: Standin' in The Rain 11: Big Wheels 12: Summer and Lightning 13: Mr. Blue Sky 14: Sweet Is the Night 15: Whale 16: Birmingham Blues 17: Wild West Hero

contrary to false popular notion, disco not punk ruined many a great 70s bands

I really need to take exception to the ongoing notion that in 1977 punk unceremoniously barged in and supplanted the old guard bands like Tull, Yes, ELO and all the others. Please indulge me for one minute. True, punk made a noticeable impression in London and New York and possibly L. A. But the US at large missed out on the entire punk wave of '77 and '78. Some college radio stations played it but certainly precious few (if any) US mainstream radio stations dared play Ramones, Sex Pistols, et. al. The false refrain that punk ruled and disposed of album rock in 1977 is getting tired, repeated ad nauseam by both noted music journalists on AMG and Rolling Stone (who ought to know better) and do-it-yourself-ers on Amazon and elsewhere. I guess they feel they are hip and "in the know" when citing even false information. Unbeknownst to many, there exists a considerable world outside of London and New York. A world that functioned just fine without the edict stating that punk will turn your music world upside down. Sure, most large cities had a burgeoning punk movement but it didn't happen simultaneously (in 1977). It took a couple of years to germinate and grow and didn't have a measurable impact on the pop music of the time in the US. Just look at the reprehensible music charts of the time. Punk simply wasn't there. I wish otherwise. Please don't cite Elvis Costello or Blondie. Elvis was no punk; an acerbic, gifted, new voice in the rock/singer-songwriter mold but certainly not a punk. If Blondie were punks then they were the lamest of all. Most US music fans in 1977 didn't even know what punk was and maybe could name one or two bands. There just wasn't this purported onslaught of punk rock in the US as urban legend tells us. Disco was the real culprit here in the US. Many top rock artists suffered or fell due to the preponderance of disco in the pop and sales charts and their flawed notion that they must therefore forfeit integrity and alter their sound accordingly.

ELO was one of the few groups that used it artistically and to their advantage. While they weren't a full-fledged disco band Jeff Lynne certainly was influenced by this change in the musical landscape. As early as 1975 he abandoned much of the formula that made ELDORADO such a delightful and groundbreaking album in favor of a more pop and, yes, disco-flavored sound. I don't hold this release (OUT OF THE BLUE) as near and dear as many ELO fans. The AM and FM hits were numerous and relentless. I didn't get this CD to hear 'Turn to Stone,' 'It's Over,' 'Sweet Talking Woman,' 'Night in the City,' 'Birmingham Blues' or 'Mr. Blue Sky' even though I find a couple of those quite tolerable today. With 17 tracks I'd hoped that there were a few gems that were neglected due to the constant hammering of the hits back in the late 70s. I never owned this album until now but I certainly heard it many times on 8-track in Nova SS and Trans-Am autos as well as on LP at house parties and college dorms in those days.

My hunch proved right. There are many other nice pieces on this album. The first one that jumps out at my is 'Jungle' with it's propulsive rhythm and irresistible melody. The nonsensical refrain is a bit silly but so what. Remember Doo-Wop, anyone? 'Standing in the Rain' is a tasty medium tempo rocker in the classic ELO mold, once the lengthy intro expires. The slow tempo 'Big Wheels' is another melodic winner replete with the swirling string section synonymous with ELO. 'Summer and Lightening' and 'Sweet is the Night' are two more enjoyable album tracks. Actually, this entire album is quite nice, hits or otherwise. I didn't buy it for the hits and am pleased to say that this album would hold its own as a 12 track album, not including any of the best-known songs.

And that is the criteria for a truly solid album. Take away the hits and what's left?.

Timeless Classic
I came across this facinating looking spaceship on the cover of a double-album and that was the one I wanted. It was 1978 I was 8 years old and I was at the San Jose Public Library looking at record albums to check out. I had already seen Star Wars and Close Encounters so spaceships to me were really cool. My parents had just bought a hi-fi with stereo headphones so I laid back and listened to this record in amazement. Still to this day I cannot explain how, but I've been hooked on this album and this band since that day. I even bought a full size poster of the cover for my wall in my bedroom, wish I still had it! I since bought it on cassette tape, and it was the first CD I ever bought in 1987. From start to finish it is a sonic buffet with everything to offer. .

Astonishing!!
L. This is with out a doubt the crowning jewel in the career of E. O. !! The whole album is absolutly amazing!! Try listening from track eight to track 15, over and over again and see if you can see what Jeff Lynne and the band are doing there, just awesome, absolutly awesome!! It's too bad E. L. O. did not follow up on `Out of the Blue' in a similar fashion on the next collection of songs in this amazing concept of a rock'n roll/classical band! If you haven't heard it, I challenage everyone to try it!!!.

fine blending of orchestration and rock
the group's leader, jeff lynne, is an extremely talented individual with an extraordinary sense for fine pop melodies. an excellent album of rock/pop music with classical overtones. the classical overtones are more mozart, than say, stravinsky or mahler. the orchestra is always moving forward, elegantly, to a satisfying resolution on each song. the songs themselves are almost all fine, but my one gripe would be that this was a two record set, thus a looong cd, and the tempos of the songs are all fairly similar (upbeat, but not really hard rocking), thus towards the end it does seem that some editing could have been used, and the whole thing made just a tad shorter. small complaint though. i highly recomment this album. wonderful stuff.

A GREAT CLASSIC
I only rate A NEW WORLD RECORD and TIME slightly better. This is such a great cd and one of ELO's finest achievements. This is one of Lynne's masterpieces and such a great listen it is. My only complaint is that I wish there were more up-tempo songs than slow/mid-tempo ones, but oh well we all can't have our cake and eat it too! Anyway, if you don't have this cd in your collection/library, by all means, get this one. You won't be disappointed! Can't wait for the 30th Anniversary Edition cd to be released!
Highlights:"TURN TO STONE","SWEET TALKIN' WOMAN","STARLIGHT","JUNGLE","STANDIN' IN THE RAIN","MR BLUE SKY", and "SWEET IS THE NIGHT" .

You can see a complete list of all Electric Light Orchestra discography, or go back to the Electric Light Orchestra tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.