HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ONE AND ALL , HOPE TO SEE YOU MORE OFTEN THIS YEAR !
<BRIAN.KIDD@sky.com>...
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ONE AND ALL , HOPE TO SEE YOU MORE OFTEN THIS YEAR !
<BRIAN.KIDD@sky.com>
Member since:10.05.2001
Reviews:185
Members who trust:24
‘Out Of The Blue’ - Electric Light Orchestra
-~- Manufacture Details -~-
Release Date : 1977
Record Label : Epic Records
Catalogue No. : EPC450885-2
-~- The Review -~-
Probably the most famous of ELO’s recordings , and the one that catapaulted them into the big league , was originally released in double album , double cassette and 8 track cassette formats ( no CD’s at this time ! ) .
The group at this time consisted of no less than seven members , these being ;
Jeff Lynne : song writer , lead vocal , guitars Bev Bevan : backing vocals , drums , percussion Richard Tandy : synthesisers / keyboards , occasional guitar Kelly Groucutt : vocals Mik Kaminsky : violin Hugh McDowell : cello Melvyn Gale : cello
The album’s original title was to be ‘Out Of This World’ , however , its resemblence to ELO’s previous album ‘A New World Record’ was thought to be too much , and so Jeff changed the title to ‘Out Of The Blue’ , with the word Blue representing his home town of Birmingham .
Written entirely by Jeff Lynne , it’s aim was to be a double album that would rival the success of ‘A New World Record’ . Little did he know at the time , just how successful this album
would be . indeed , the following year a sell out world tour commenced , based around the album.
The album itself was indeed ambitous . Commercially successful , yet independantly grandiose , with a mixture of styles , that blend together so seamlessly . With the different syles being combined , keeping the listener focused on the record would normally be very difficult , however , Lynne did the impossible , and the compostion holds ones attention throughout the duration of the record .
Seventeen tracks were used to make up this album , several of which became major single release successes , most notable ‘Mr Blue Sky’ , ‘Turn To Stone’ and ‘Wild West Hero’.
The tracks are as follows :
1) Turn To Stone 2) It’s Over 3) Sweet Talking Woman 4) Across The Border 5) Night In The City 6) Starlight 7) Jungle 8) Believe Me Now 9) Stepping Out 10) Standing In The Rain 11) Big Wheels 12) Summer and Lightning 13) Mr. Blue Sky 14 Sweet Is The Night 15) The Whale 16) Birmingham Blues 17) Wild west Hero
-~- My choice tracks -~-
Reviewing 17 tracks is out of the question especially if I want to keep your attention , so I’ll pick out my favourite tracks :
1) Concerto for a rainy day ( collectively tracks 10 - 14 incl. ) .
With our three weeks of sunshine now past , we look forward to a wet and miserable end of year . But fear not , as ‘Concerto for a rainy day’ will soon cheer you up on such days . Uplifting , upbeat , with some wonderful orchestration thrown in , particularly on the ‘Summer and Lightening’ track , whoose electrical orchestral interlude is thunderous , and to cap it all , the monumental 70’s pop classic ‘Mr. Blue Sky” - dare I say more !
2) Jungle
Pure fun , with a disco type beat , featuring animal sounds and even Tarzan ! If this song doesn’t put a smile on your face then your’e dead !
I was standing in the jungle I was feelin’ alright mmhmm , mmhmm I was wanderin’ in the darkness In the middle of the night mmhmm , mmhmm The moon began to shine I saw a clearing ahead mmhmm , mmhmm But what’s that goin’ on I think I’m out of my head mmhmm , mmhmm
Chooka chooka hoo la ley Looka looka koo la ley
A hundred animals were gathered round this night mmhmm , mmhmm And they were singing out A lovely song under the pale moon light mmhmm , mmhmm
I stood and stared for quite a while Then a lion sang to me and smiled ‘Come and join us if you so desire’
I said now please explain The meaning of this song you sing mmhmm , mmhmm Wonderous is our great blue ship That sails around the mighty sun And joy to everyone that rides along
Pretty soon I knew the tune And we sat and sang under the moon And the jungle sang in joyful harmony.....
3) Wild West Hero
A western ballad , with unusual saloon bar paino interlude - sheer poetry ...’ Ride the range of the day , till the first fading light , be with my western girl , round the fire oh so bright , I’d be the Indians friend , let them love to be free , ridin’ into the sunset , I wish I could be...’
-~- The Sleeve / Cover-~-
CD : booklet Lp : Pull out booklet Cassette : unknown
Full lyrics , group member illustrations ( in very serious pose ) , and usual credits . The list of musical instruments used is never ending ( now-a-days one synth does all ) , and of course the infamous ELO spaceship cover design .
-~- Overview -~-
Almost 70 minutes of 70’s nostalga , with songs that sound as good today as when released. One of those classic must have albums , that should be up with the likes of Fleetwood Mac - ‘Rumours’ , Mike Oldfield - ‘Tubular Bells’ , Queen ‘Night At The Opera’ and Meatloaf ‘Bat Out Of Hell’ .
-~- Useless facts -~-
For those interested , the album was also released in limited numbers on blue vinyl ( both dark and light versions ) , which at the time cost no more than the standard black vinyl version . Nowadays though an average condition blue vunyl album can set you back upto a few hundred pounds , while an immaculate condition album could cost you around the one thousand pound mark - no a bad markup and on an album now twenty-seven years old , which would have cost you around the ten pound mark .
Jeff Lynne left the line up to concentrate on other venturs such as The Travelling Willoughburys , and the musical Time . From that time ELO became ELO part 2 .
ELO are still doing the rounds today , although the line-up has changed somewhat , and once again it has amongst its list of musicians Jeff Lynne .
A three CD best of compilation has recently been released , which goes beyond the usual single releases , and contains some rare material - Jeff Lynne deciding what was included.
New material is to follow.....
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
My father had a copy of this album in the early eighties but I always felt that ELO's best album was Time, even though by 1981 they were heading over the hill. However, after buying the album on CD last Saturday I've changed my mind. Out Of The Blue is in a league of it's own and acts as the band's peak. Personally my two favourite tracks are Steppin' Out and Standing In The Rain. Still, liked your review. Very informative.
iiyama1000 19.10.2004 10:18
good review. you said it like it is. i also have out of the blue.the best album of all time?
cheers.john.
gerb 15.09.2003 09:17
Do you remember those dreadful recordings Mick Kaminsky made as Violinski?
very helpful by (100%):
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