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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.

Electric Light Orchestra Band: Electric Light Orchestra
Title: Out of the Blue
Rating:
Release Date: 2007-02-20
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 18: Wild West Hero [Alternate Bridge: Home Demo][#][*] 19: Quick and the Daft [#][*] 20: Latitude 88 North [#][*]

ELO at Their Best!
Who knew the sounds of pop, rock and orchestra could be merged? Apparently Jeff Lynne did and the result is incredible sound and vocals. ELO outdid themselves with this one (which Jeff Lynne said he wrote in some unbelievably short amount of time, like three months). .


Isn't a "re-master" supposed to sound BETTER than the original?
I am not rating the album. . . . . Out of the Blue was a fantastic album in 1977 and it still is in 2009.

But this re-master is grossly lacking in any significant degree in audiophile improvement. . . . . . to the contrary. . . . I think it sounds noticeably worse than the original release of the CD I bought "way back when" (Jet Catalog # ZDK 35530). This release sounds "tinty" and as someone said earlier, no low end. This surprises me given it's the 21st century ! ! !

The Jet release also had a 28 page booklet (all the lyrics included, like the LP did). . . . . though this one does have more narrative from Lynne and an interview.

I would agree with an earlier review that there is some historical improvement with the addition of "3" tracks. . . . though they can hardly be called that. . . . . one is like 24 seconds long !

You can no longer get the Jet release, I'm sure. . . . . so this is your only chance at owning this piece of music history. . . . . but for those of us who have been ELO fans for more than 30 years, this is a disappointment. . . . certainly not an improvement. Just a good thing it's only $6. 99. . . . . . . . . for musical content, it grossly under-priced. . . . . for sound quality it's about $3 too much.


One of the greatest pop albums ever

Jeff Lynne is one of rock's most gifted and criminally underrated singer-songwriters. If music has done one thing bad in the last twenty years or so, it's been the devolving of pop music - not just whatever is ranked by Billboard, but the kind of music that the Beatles and Beach Boys perfected, and latter outfits recorded that were much catchier and memorable than the bland dreck we hear today. Absurdly prolific and multifaceted, Lynne's Electric Light Orchestra dominated FM pop radio in their heyday, and for good reason; Lynne was and is the best pop songwriter right behind Paul McCartney and John Lennon's most accessible work, and that's stellar company. Lynne has worked with McCartney, too, on the excellent "Flaming Pie", one of Paul's best solo offerings.
Back to ELO, the trademark orchestral sound that never sunk to the preposterous levels of Yes or ELP, made lots of great tunes, among them "Evil Woman", "Strange Magic", "Telephone Line" and the entire double album "Out Of The Blue", easily one of the greatest pop albums ever.
Aside from the hits "Turn To Stone", "Sweet Talkin' Woman" and "Mr. Blue Sky", "Out of the Blue" is stunning. It's beautiful, it rocks, and leaves you wondering how one person was capable of writing such a variety of tunes with no outside help. "The Whale" is a spacey instrumental, "Starlight" is a first rate mellow tune that could easily have come from "Magical Mystery Tour", and the suite "Concerto For a Rainy Day" that culminates with "Mr. Blue Sky" is a masterpiece.
Maybe today's audience won't get this music, since so few modern stars can remotely come close to this talent, except for Beck, Porcupine Tree or David Gilmour, who really isn't new, but has enjoyed enormous staying power. But for those hungry for what the best pop rock had to offer, "Out of the Blue" is a must have. Please don't let this CD stop being manufactured!.


The quintessential ELO album
At the time this came out, a bunch of my friends and I went to see them for the "Out of the Blue" tour. This album, more than any other, is the one people think of when the subject of ELO comes up. It was marvellous, with saucer, laser show, and an over-the-shoulder cello rendition of "Flight of the Bumblebee. " Ah, memories!

The songs on OOTB are very eclectic, too, which I think makes it a memorable album. There's "a little something for everyone. " My favorite album side was "Concerto for a Rainy Day," the four-song blitz of "Standin' In The Rain," "Big Wheels," "Summer & Lightening," and "Mr. Blue Sky. " The mad harpsichord sound in the first song gets me going!

Glad this album got a good reissue and some bonus tracks, it deserves it.


Sellout Time
After the strong performances on "Eldorado", "Face The Music" and "A New World Record", I was expecting great things from this talented band. When this album came out before Christmas 1977, I was waiting with baited breath.

What a disappointment!

It was apparent by the end of the first side that ELO had traded in what was left of their progressive leanings for commercial success. By the time I was done listening to "Sweet Talkin' Woman", I knew the direction had changed. The rest of the album made it clear that they were interested in a more general sound, and while they would experiment with some styles, the synth-heavy sound was around to stay in the hope of filling the album with potential singles.

Mission accomplished.


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.

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