Electric Light Orchestra II

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
U.K. edition of E.L.O.'s 1973 & second album with different cover art than the U.S. release. Five tracks, including their top 50 remake of Chuck Berry's classic 'Roll Over Beethoven'. All tracks are digitally remastered. 1999 release. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Electric Light Orchestra II, Music, Electric Light Orchestra, Album Rock, Pop, Pop/Rock, Popular Music, Prog-Rock/Art Rock, Rock, Rock/Pop

ELO II
Average customer rating:

pretty cool elo album

Uneven but pleasing second effort from Lynne and company

To boldly go where no band has gone before ...

ELO II couldn't have been better if Beethoven had composed it

Worst Sounding Remaster Ever!!!!!

ELO II
Electric Light Orchestra
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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No Answer

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Eldorado

ASIN: B000EHQ7VA
Release Date: 2006-03-28

Tracks:

In Old England Town (Boogie No.2)
Mama...
Roll Over Beethoven
From The Sun To The World (Boogie No.1)
Kuiama
In Old England Town (Instrumental)
Baby I Apologise (Session Outtake)
In Old England Town (Take 1 Alternate Mix)
Roll Over Beethoven (Take 1 Alternate Mix)

Customer Reviews:

pretty cool elo album.......2007-07-03

i picked this up on ebay really cheap. a couple of the tunes appear to be a little bit too long. however, this is cool music i would recommend to those who like sgt pepper era beatles or meddle and darkside era pink floyd. kuiama is an awesome tune as is their rendition of roll over beethoven. the bonus songs are cool too (baby i apologize)

Uneven but pleasing second effort from Lynne and company.......2006-09-29

Honestly I'm not going to get into the debate here about using Sonic Solutions "No Noise" to reduce tape hiss on these master recordings. The truth is they went through so many overdubs that I suspect tape hiss might have been an issue. To my ears these sound extremely good. While ELO's second album isn't quite as daring as the first nor as melodic as the third it features a number of classic Lynne songs. it featured a collison between Chuck Berry and Beethoven that hadn't been heard before with "Roll Over Beethoven" featuring sections of Beethoven's 5th Symphony as part of the piece.

There are two great bonus tracks on here. The first is an alternate version of "Roll Over Beethoven" with Lynne laughing, making farting sounds with his mouth as we hear the strings kick in. This version has a bit more energy and sense of abandon. It's amusing and also a great listen. "Baby I Apologize" is a tune that Lynne was writing for someone else and was recorded as a demo to teach whomever that person was the song. Lynne notes in his comments that he doesn't recall who he was writing it for. We also get an instrumental mix of "In Old England Town" and the first take alternate mix of the same track. That rounds out the bonus tracks.

If you're looking for the full length version of "Roll Over Beethoveen" that was on the original US release this version isn't quite it. From what I recall the U.S. version ran about 7:45 minutes and this version runs nearly 30 seconds less. Still, it sounds terrific.
The album itself is still great with the rumbling "In Old England Town" and smooth melodic strains of "Mama" opening the album (and taking up much of the first side of the original vinyl version as well). The second side opened with (if memory serves) "From the Sun to the World" which is only beat by the epic "Kuiama" (after hearing it Lynne's father asked him if he could write something with a "melody" and that he would probably sell more records if it was more melodic and straight forward. He was right and Lynne did just that with the third album).

I'd highly recommend this early effort just keep in mind it resembles the ELO people know from "New World Record" only superficially as Lynne kept wanting to progress and try different things.

To boldly go where no band has gone before ... .......2006-09-15

HERE IS THE NEWS

As part of its long overdue upgrading of The Electric Light Orchestra catalog, Epic/Legacy has finally released "2," the second album from these prog-pop pioneers who had promised to "pick up where the Beatles left off with 'Strawberry Fields' and 'I Am the Walrus' back when they were formed in 1971. Not only did they ultimately achieve their goal, but they continued on, breaking new ground sonically and artistically, becoming one of the great bands of all time.

This outstanding re-master of ELO 2 gives us sterling sound, improved graphics, interesting liner notes, and outstanding bonus tracks--all wrapped around the original core of bracingly bold and (mostly) highly enjoyable songs. Founders Jeff Lynne, Roy Wood (who departed midway through the recording of "2"), and Bev Bevan invaded the studio like Vikings bent on conquest and produced a sound that accurately reflects their transition from the darker hues of their earlier band, The Move, to the art-pop sensibilities that later typified the sleek ELO.

"ELO 2" was a pivotal album for ELO as Roy Wood departed in mid-stream (though he plays uncredited on the two "Boogies.") It's wildly experimental, at times rough and barely listenable, but it is a brilliant and stirring piece of work. (We must note: this album is entitled "2" by the ORIGINAL Electric Light Orchestra; it is not the self-titled debut of "The Electric Light Orchestra Part Two.") This early 1973 album is a master work, albeit somewhat flawed by later ELO production standards. It was here that ELO truly became Jeff Lynne's band, and he makes the most of it.

THE SONGS

The album kicks off with what can only be described as a "heavy metal orchestral" piece, "In Old England Town (Boogie #2)," wherein Jeff Lynne paints a disturbing picture of unwelcome and encroaching industrialization. Like fellow Birmingham, England, native J.R.R. Tolkien (who lived more towards the southern end of the River Cole), perhaps young Jeffrey Lynne was troubled by the environmental destruction he was witnessing all around his Shard End neighborhood. While I applaud the band's daring here, the song frankly is a bit too depressing for my tastes, and Lynne's uncharacteristic harsh, barking vocals are somewhat grating. Fitting for the subject matter, perhaps, but not for repeated listening.

However, "Mama" is a lovely pastoral Lynne ballad, with a memorable instrumental break. The strings are dreamy and the Moog accents by newcomer Richard Tandy add intriguing flourishes to the mellow proceedings.

"From the Sun to the Sun to the World (Boogie #1)" is an orchestral rave up and showcases Tandy's piano and synths, and he totally rocks his socks off here. Jeff contributes a memorable, Hendrixian smoking guitar solo. This is probably the wildest cut on the album, and it's my favorite; numerous mood and tempo shifts, recurring classical motifs, and near-out-of-control whirling dervish playing make this a jam for the ages.

Of course, for many, the favorite is "Roll Over Beethoven," which is the perfect marriage of orchestra with retro-rock and it struck pretty big on the charts worldwide. It remains popular today, and is the definitive version of that oft-covered tune. And, man, does it ever cook with fire. The arrangement and production are pure genius and reflect Lynne's "everything-including-the-kitchen-sink" aspirations at their zenith. I would describe it as "Eight minutes of melodic, cacaphonous, swinging bliss."

"Kuiama" is a very ambitious prog-rock tune that lumbers along at times, soars celestially, and ultimately breaks your heart. It's unlike anything ELO has done since, and bears repeated listenings. Kudos to Bev Bevan for his perfect drumming on that tune and througout this entire album. Wilf Gibson's violin solo is stunning on "Kuiama."

THE BONUS SONGS

One of my favorite ELO songs is included here as a bonus: the instrumental version of "In Old England Town," which is a tad more melodic than it's vocal counterpart and judiciously edited to a little less than three minutes. Wilf Gibson's violin work is a highlight. The rare "Baby I Apologise" is another bonus track; a silly, somewhat unfinished piano boogie sung by Jeff in a pseudo-soulful voice. The other alternate takes included here are interesting to hear, if not totally necessary.

RECOMMENDATION

This whole album has a very experimental air, and saw the band stretching its legs like never before or since. If the only ELO you know is from pop radio, you might give ELO 2 a spin; it contains some really fine progressive rock. (Also look for the UK import expanded edition THE LOST PLANET which contains two discs with impressive contributions from the Move's Carl Wayne and T. Rex's Marc Bolan.)

If I were introducing someone to The Electric Light Orchestra, I might not give them this album first, but if I saw that they were the kind of person who appreciated a bit of progressive daring, I would make sure they got to hear this rough gem. More than 30 years after its first release, it's still making waves.

ELO II couldn't have been better if Beethoven had composed it.......2006-09-07

Where do these people get off saying this album is no good? Perhaps I'm biased in favor of Jeff Lynne and ELO, but I think ELO II is the best sounding of the whole remaster series thus far (A New World Record and/or Out of the Blue will likely change that). Baby I Appologize is a fantastic bit of Electric Light Orchestra history. It's simply just Jeff Lynne having fun with his music, and I think it fits perfectly with the other 5 original tracks. The instramental take of In Old England Town just plain rocks, as does its take 1 alternate, and the Roll Over Beethoven alternate. Again, I've gotta ask, where is this bloody noise reduction foolishness everyone keeps complaining about? ELO is arguably one of the best sounding bands ever, and I feel they've never sounded better (maybe with the exception of live shows) than they do on the remasters. I highly recommend the rest of the existing remaster series, along with ELO II and the soon to be released "On the Third Day," "Face the Music," "A New World Record" and including "Out of the Blue" and even "Balance of Power" which'll both be out sometime in 2007 I believe.

Worst Sounding Remaster Ever!!!!!.......2006-04-18

Peter Mew (remastering engineer at Abbey Road) continues to play George Lucas by destroying many of my favorite albums. Why does he feel the need to over process everything with noise reduction?

STOP SMOTHERING MY MUSIC WITH NOISE REDUCTION!!!!!!

Noise reduction sucks the life and space out of music. It makes 24 bit recordings sounds like chirpy MP3s. If you think this remaster sounds good you need to educate yourself with the many audible artifacts left behind from the No-Noise? processing. Once you learn it you'll hear why all of us are upset over its use.

Average customer rating:

OK so there's no Jeff Lynn but...
Nice try but you are no E.L.O.
Should not be listed as "E.L.O."
Moments of brilliance...and then there are other moments
Worth the money if you're an ELO fan!

Moment of Truth
Electric Light Orchestra Part II
Manufacturer: Curb Special Markets
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Electric Light Orchestra Part Two
Secret Messages
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ASIN: B000000D9K
Release Date: 1995-07-18

Tracks:

Moment Of Truth (Overture)
Breakin' Down The Walls
Power Of A Million Lights
Interlude 3
One More Tomorrow
Don't Wanna
Voices
Interlude 2
Vixen
The Fox
Love Or Money
Blue Violin
Whiskey Girls
Interlude 1
Twist Of The Knife
So Glad You Said Goodbye
Underture
The Leaving

Customer Reviews:

OK so there's no Jeff Lynn but..........2005-08-24

this is everybit as good as any elo album. Obviously Jeff Lynn's great song writing has rubbed off on Bevan and co. I only liked 2 songs really well on the previous album ELO pt II (honest men and for the love of a women) and 2 more were very good and the rest were mediacore. But on this, their second album there is really only one song I don't like, there are 5 awsome standouts and the rest are very good.

I would rank this album about 4th overall ELO and ELO related albums after 'Out of the blue', 'Zoom' and 'Earthrise' - Tandy & Morgan.

Nice try but you are no E.L.O........2005-07-10

I agree in whole with Mr. Rizzo, these guy's aren't ELO. It is obvious that Jeff made these guys what they once were but without him, they are desparate. I know it sounds harsh but it is deserving. By using the name Electric Light Orchestra they should be held accaountable and to the standards that have been set while Jeff was a part of (the soul of) the group. If they were calling themselves by another name, then I could maybe appreciate thier work but until then......Not a chance.

Should not be listed as "E.L.O.".......2005-01-21

The most important point of this review it to let you know that this band is not The Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) and Amazon is doing a great disservice to its customers by labeling it as such. This is a band led by former ELO drummer Bev Bevan and at various times in its incarnation has had a variety of former members of ELO. They call themselves "Electric Light Orchestra Part 2", though the labeling of most of their projects do not always make that clear. If you are truly a fan of the unique ELO sound that carried through their albums of the early 70's and into the 80's (and can even be heard on 2001's Zoom) then you probably will not enjoy this. That is because the unique sound of ELO was created by, sung by, and produced by Jeff Lynne (who is not a part of this outfit). However, if all you ever liked about ELO was the melding of rock and strings then perhaps you will find some enjoyment in this. As a fan of ELO since discovering them at age 11 in 1979, I personally find this recording a disappointment. In fact, I find the whole "ELO part 2" project disappointing.

Moments of brilliance...and then there are other moments.......2004-11-20

MOMENT OF TRUTH is an improvement over ELO Part Two's first CD, and it contains several outstanding tracks. The personnel here make a stronger case for this project being associated with The Electric Light Orchestra, though, sadly, anything without Jeff Lynne is just not ELO. The orchestral interludes included are a nice thread, and reminiscent of the ELO classic ELDORADO. Sir Louis Clark's involvement, as well as that of Kelly Groucutt and Mik Kaminski and Bev Bevan help to beef up the sound and the quality here. Eric Troyer proves himself a fine tunesmith and vocalist, and Phil Bates provides a suitably rough "rawk" element. Things kick off strong with the "Overture" and into the first single, "Breakin' Down the Walls," which has an excellent cascading chorus. Troyer's "Power of a Million Lights" would have fit in nicely on any of the classic mid-period ELO albums with a great melody and spine-tingling arrangement. "One More Tomorrow" is a lovely, big ballad that hits all the high notes. So far, so good. However, "Don't Wanna" is a slight step down, a rather trite rocker followed by the less-than-memorable "Voices." Groucutt presents a lovely tale with "The Fox," a fine narrative of high drama that again recalls ELDORADO. Another strong cut is "Love or Money," a gutsy ballad. I really love "Blue Violin," but wish it were fleshed out into a full song; instead, it slips by all too quickly. Sadly, the band takes a major stumble with the utterly stupid "Whiskey Girls," which trots out an amazing number of bad rock n' roll cliches, lyrically and musically. Groucutt comes to the rescue with "Twist of the Knife," a melodic mid-tempo piece and the band ramps up the energy for "So Glad You Said Goodbye," which is not remarkable, but is at least passable. Overall, this could have been a much stronger CD had "Whiskey Girls" been axed and "Blue Violin" expanded. As it stands, there is a lot to like about it and I suppose I would actually give it 3.5 stars. Just be prepared to skip a couple of cuts.

Worth the money if you're an ELO fan!.......2004-03-10

If you are a longtime fan of ELO, you will recognize some of the members of ELO Part 2 at the time this album was recorded: Bev Bevan (ELO's drummer); Kelly Groucutt (ELO's bass player); Mik Kaminski (ELO's violinist); and Louis Clark (the man who wrote the string and choral arrangements for ELO and the conductor of the symphony with whom ELO recorded its classic albums ["Eldorado" through "Discovery"]). Plus, this album features something that many of the later ELO albums lacked: a sense of fun and adventure!

Tracks:

Hello
Honest Men
Every Night
Once Upon A Time
Heartbreaker
Thousand Eyes
For The Love Of A Woman
Kiss Me Red
Heart Of Hearts
Easy Street

Customer Reviews:

Only for the ELO completist........2007-02-07

Bev Bevan wanted to continue ELO after Jeff Lynne moved on, but how do you replace someone who was the singer/producer/guitarist/sole-songwriter? Bev's answer was to not replace him with just one guy but instead bring in three, and to bring back Louis Clark from the 70's to layer strings over the songs to have them pass for ELO. The 4 songs sung by Eric Troyer are okay, fairly melodic, and in the case of "Honest Men" almost sound like it was made in 1977 (too bad it came out in 1991, and too bad they chose it for the single. It failed to chart in the US.) The trouble is that half the album is given over to two bland singers who sound like they'd be more at home in a Foreigner tribute-band. "Every Night" is a very average rock song that sounded dated in 1991. Add some bad singing, truly awful lyrics, and a load of strings where they shouldn't be, and you have a song best forgotten. "Kiss Me Red" "Heartbreaker" and "Easy Street" aren't much better. ELO were known for using strings, but they didn't need them to make a put out a great song (see "Don't Bring Me Down" or "Secret Messages"). But laying strings over average-at-best tunes dosen't turn a weak album into a good one. You can approach an album like this in two ways: on its own merits, or based on previous work. On both counts, I can't really see recommending this to anyone other than ELO completists. It was a welcome return when Jeff Lynne came back with ZOOM in 2001, showing everyone how it ought to be done!

A Worthy Revisiting........2006-06-05

I remember back in 1991 when ELO Part 2 debuted live on the radio to promote the upcoming new album. They played "Honest Men", and although we all knew it was not Jeff singing, there was a distinctive appeal to it all. When I bought the CD after it finally came out, (cover art was a plus)I found that the sound harkened back to a more lush landscape than what was displayed on ELO's last studio album, Balance Of Power. Jeff's solo CD, Armchair Theatre came out only a summer before, and was similarly "stripped down" in sound (still a strong effort). Yes, it seemed that all of the trademarks of the classic mid-70's ELO sound were in place on many cuts off ELO Part II. Cascading string runs, layered harmony vocal arrangements...many sung in a falsetto, above average chord changes, Humor, songs that were corny in some respects, but we loved them for it! Even a nod to Jeff's "nod" to the Orbison style ("For the Love Of A Woman"'s quasi Spanish setting in the verse). Some may claim that this is simply an album of imitation, and it is true to a degree. However, those millions of musicians who take elements of Beatles Brilliance, distill it into great songs of their own might be just as guilty. In my opinion, I am glad for groups like 10cc, Ambrosia, Cheap Trick (who also love ELO), Badfinger, Raspberries and countless others who took a certain sonic ball and ran with it. There are some weak songs on here: "Every Night" just makes me cringe with the "slam-bam, alakazam" line, but I wouldn't change it because it is that corny element that makes it succeed. Eric Troyer is particularly good on this album. He seems to know how to push the ELO buttons and summon elements of the band's sound compositionally. Pete Haycock, alumni from Climax Blues Band, will sound familiar to anyone who enjoyed his smooth vocals on their hit, "I Love You". Louis Clark added his "strange magic" to the overall sound with his wonderfully dramatic string arrangements. He is to ELO what David Palmer is to Jethro Tull: A brilliant classical musician working in a pop format. Kelly and Mick (vintage era ELO bandmates) later joined as full-time members, with Kelly's voice being a secret weapon for sure! All in all, I would advise the listener to enjoy this collection of sounds and songs for what it is: a knowing nod to a different era and writing style that was a refreshing change for 1990-1991. Well done indeed!

This is the REAL ELO!.......2006-02-14

Just listen to Jeff Lynne's latest...Zoom. A far cry from what the name of the band indicates (referring to the "Orchestra"). Lynne barely knows how to compose and seems trapped in the '70s (as is evident in the Zoom album). I don't recall hearing any strings in any of the songs on Zoom (including those songs that are supposed to have them; I think there was one).

Electric Light Orchestra II is the definitive ELO as they put the "O" in ELO. Real orchestration (and I can't be more emphatic about that), great harmonies in instruments and vocals, and just an all out great composition on every piece of work. Even the not-so-good songs far outdo Jeff Lynne's work.

I'd like to see ELO II put another album out and let Sony see how much better they do than Jeff Lynne with his weak Zoom album.

Forget Jeff Lynne when listening..........2005-06-11

First off, look at all the bad reviews for this album, and band for that matter. What do they ALL have in common? "This band isn't ELO without Jeff Lynne", "ELO without Jeff Lynne is ELO Part nothing" just to quote a few. These guys actually have more right to the name ELO than Jeff did with Zoom. Zoom was Jeff Lynne doing practically everything in an album that doesn't sound like ELO on most of the tracks. The only member of ELO on Zoom besides Jeff was Richard Tandy, on only ONE song. ELO Part II's debut has two members, Bev Bevan, the drummer of ELO who help found the band with Jeff Lynne and Roy Wood in 1971 as a side project of their other band, the Move. Bev was a member of the Move before Jeff was. Louis Clark, who conducted and with Lynne and Tandy arranged the strings of ELO begining with "Eldorado" and ending with "Time". On "Secret Messages", Louis Clark arranges and conducts the strings without Lynne or Tandy. Finally, there was some who used the fact that Jeff Lynne never sued ELO Part II as a point not to buy anything from ELO Part II and this is Bev Bevan simply using the good ELO name to make money. Not true... ...not even close. Before Part II formed, Bev and Jeff had a long legal battle. The result was that Jeff recieved 50% of the profit from ELO Part II's first two albums and that Bev's ELO had to be distinguished from the original. That's why Part II is at the end of the name. If Bev was trying to make money, 50% of all profit going to someone not even in the band is a bad way to make money. Jeff could have sued for royalties when ELO Part II performed his songs live, but he choose not to. There's enough bad blood between him and Bevan now, why make the situation worse for when they finally do reunite.
Now that all of that is out of the way, into the album. The album starts of with "Hello Hello", which is short and infectious. Then the album dives into "Honest Men", probably the best song of the album. Here Eric Troyer songwriting shines as well as Louis Clark's arranging skills as the lush orchestral sound recalls "Eldorado". From there it goes to the catchy "Every Night". The strong vocal harmonies are the highlight of the song. "Once Upon a Time" recalls ELO at their height. Then ELO Part II cranks it up a notch with "Heartbreaker". Its a harder song that reminds me of "Ma-ma-ma Belle". This is probably what ELO would have sounded like if Roy Wood had never left the band. Eric Troyer and Louis Clark shine again with "Thousand Eyes". This song reminds me of the "Eldorado" days of ELO. "For the Love of a Woman", "Kiss Me Red", and "Heart of Hearts" are all infectious with their charms. In my opinion, the weakest song is the last, "Easy Street". But it too has some good qualities.
The bottom line is to forget the bad reviews. If the fact Jeff Lynne is not part of the album and they're using the ELO name, don't thin of Lynne, forget him. This band is much better. In the Jeff Lynne's ELO, there was no teamwork. ELO Part II shines. I also recommend that you pick up "Moment of Truth" as Kelly Groucutt and Mik Kaminski join the band and give it even more right to the ELO name than Lynne with Zoom. I also recommend "One Night-Live in Australia." This may be a good introductory album to anyone unfamiliar with Part II. They perform their own music (some of which is unavailable on any studio albums) and classics from the ELO days. When it comes to the ELO songs like "Do Ya", you don't really miss Jeff Lynne's voice, because Kelly Groucutt's voice was doubled with Jeff's on most songs. And if you buy the Live at Wembley DVD, you will see that Lynne and Groucutt sing most songs together, and when they don't, they alternate the lead vocals verse to verse. So Groucutt would sing those songs even if Jeff was with the band. Just give these guys a chance. I think you'll enjoy them.

One Third of the ORIGINAL band!.......2005-05-31

This one's worth a listen. Don't listen to the JEFF LYNNE fanboys. BEV BEVAN has been in this band since pre-ELO (THE MOVE) days. As another reviewr stated, this is way better than Zoom. At any rate, check the sound samples yourself.

Average customer rating:

good effort
A Masterful Live Album with Energy and Passion!!!
One Night - Only one? Gimme more!
Enjoy!
Finally a decent live ELO album

One Night - Live in Australia
Electric Light Orchestra Part II
Manufacturer: Sanctuary Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Electric Light Orchestra - Greatest Hits-Live
Moment of Truth
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ASIN: B000001YA7
Release Date: 1997-05-20

Tracks:

Standin' in the Rain
Evil Woman
Don't Wanna
Showdown
Can't Get It Out of My Head
Whiskey Girls
Livin' Thing
One More Tomorrow
Mr. Blue Sky
Telephone Line
Ain't Necessarily So
Starnge Magic
Sweet Talkin' Woman
Confusion
Do Ya
Rockaria!
Roll over Beethoven
Don't Bring Me Down

Album Description

1996 SPV release featuring 100 minutes worth of 26 classicE.L.O. hits on two CDs, all recorded live at TheEntertainment Centre in Sydney, Australia on March 18 & 19,1995. Housed in a double slimline jewel case & pressed on twofull color picture CDs, it inc

Customer Reviews:

good effort.......2006-11-04

Even though this is a nice recording, I would prefer to buy the oldest live presentations with the original line-up. This is a correct performance but nothing more.

A Masterful Live Album with Energy and Passion!!!.......2004-03-06

ELO Part II may go down as rock music's biggest footnote. But what folks don't understand is the genuine musicianship of this ELO wannabe group. They seem to pull off the impossible. The orchestral intro to "Standing In The Rain", the giddy-up of "Evil Woman", the majesty in "Can't Get It Out Of My Head". In some cases these arrangements have more depth and clarity than the original recordings. Check out "Telephone Line" for exhibit A. Sprinkled ELO II originals don't damage the overall flow and mood of the album. In fact, "One More Tommorow" sounds as if it was taken from the Jeff Lynne unused song archives. Also of note is the "strange magic-sweet talkin woman-confusion-do ya " medley. Wow. If you want the hits they're here! The album concludes with a raucous version of "Don't Bring Me Down", sort of a parting shot at Jeff Lynne who did everything in his power to derail Part II. He may be a genius, but if he doesn't like to tour, he ought to let the rest of his former underpaid mates make the dough. For Pete's sake, Jeff. Anyway, great disc, great sound, great band. Buy it!

One Night - Only one? Gimme more!.......2000-01-15

One Night, live in Australia, finally a good live album! ELO Part II does a superb job delivering some ELO classics and some of their own material. Having seen ELO Part II myself I can say that this CD really tears the roof off the house. Though most people dismiss Part II saying they're just imitating ELO, I have to say that this still is one of my favorites. For me, the highlights of this CD are the Intro to Can't Get it Out of My Head, the Eldorado Overture. The only complaint is it's not quite up to tempo. The other highlight is the "ELO hits" medley near the end of the show. (The end of this CD, this is actually a double CD cut down to one without some great songs, drat) The first three songs are great in their own respects but the final two, Do Ya sounds great and it leads right up into the orchestral/vocal explosion of Rockaria! With Kelly Groucutt singing his patented opera segment that was originally sung by Mary Thomas on the album for those of you who don't know. And of course every song on this album is great. I'm not quite sure but I think that the line in "Roll Over Beethoven" that says, "Hey diddle diddle gonna play my fiddle" now reads "Hey diddle diddle, Mik Kaminski's playin' his fiddle" I may be wrong. My opinion, buy this CD, for the sake of the band if nothing else.

Enjoy!.......1999-12-23

If you a seeking a great rocking experience and instant energy on a compact disc, put this on, step back, and get ready to roll. Incredible concert production!

Finally a decent live ELO album.......1999-05-11

There are live albums of the original lineup out there, but without exception, the sound on all of them is absolutely cruddy. Well, I never had a bootleg mentality (paying more than a decent album wiould cost just to own the thing), so I never touched the things. Okay, so these guys in this one aren't all the same guys. Big deal. Not only do they present the newer material well like you'd expect, they even do a decent job on the oldies (I mean, some of these guys were little kids when that stuff was first released). And this being the decade it is, the sound is good. So, not only is this a worthwhile album for the new fan, it has something for us dinosaurs who followed the old lineup, too! Don't forget, "our" ELO never did get around to a decent live album.

(ELO Part II) Electric Light Orchestra, Part 2: Greatest Hits

Average customer rating:

(ELO Part II) Electric Light Orchestra, Part 2: Greatest Hits
Electric Light Orchestra
Manufacturer: Legacy
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ELO's Greatest Hits
The Essential Electric Light Orchestra

ASIN: B000253690
Release Date: 2005-03-09

Tracks:

Livin' Thing
Mr. Blue Sky
Telephone Line
Strange Magic
Sweet Talkin' Woman
Confusion
Do Ya
Rockaria!
Roll Over Beethoven
Hold on Tight
Turn to Stone
Don't Bring Me Down

Average customer rating:

Electric Light Orchestra's sophomore effort
Rob Caiger strikes again with another winner ...
EMI delivers best ELO remasters!
Great and Classic Album of Rock

ELO II/The Lost Planet
Electric Light Orchestra
Manufacturer: EMI Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Electric Light Orchestra
Face the Music
A New World Record
Early Years
Eldorado

ASIN: B00008LJFF
Release Date: 2003-04-08

Tracks:

In Old England Town (Boogie, No. 2)
Momma
Roll Over Beethoven
From the Sun to the World (Boogie, No. 1)
Kuiama
Showdown [*]
In Old England Town (Boogie, No. 2) [*][Instrumental]
Baby I Apologize [*]
"Auntie" [Ma-Ma-Ma Belle, Take 1][#][*]
"Auntie" [Ma-Ma-Ma Belle, Take 2][#][*]
"Mambo" [Dreaming of 4000, Take 1][#][*]
Everyone's Born to Die [#][*]
Roll Over Beethoven [Take 1][#][*]

Tracks:

Brian Matthew Introduces ELO
From the Sun to the World (Boogie, No. 1)
Momma
Roll Over Beethoven [Single Version]
Showdown [Take 1][#]
Your World [Take 2][#]
Get a Hold of Myself [Take 2][#]
Mama [Take 1][#]
Wilf's Solo [Instrumental]
Roll Over Beethoven

Album Description

30th anniversary reissue of 1973 album includes 18 bonus tracks, (8 on disc one) 'Showdown', 'In Old England Town' (Instrumental), 'Baby I Apologize', 'Auntie Ma Ma Ma Belle' (Take 1), 'Auntie Ma Ma Ma Belle' (Take 2), 'Mambo Dreaming Of 4000' (Take 1), 'Everyone's Born To Die' & 'Roll Over Beethoven' (Take 1). Disc two - The Lost Planet features a collection of rare and previously unreleased material from the ELO vaults - 'Introduction By Brian Matthew' (The Lost Planet), 'From The Sun To The World' (Boogie No.1/BBC Session), 'Momma' (BBC Session), 'Roll Over Beethoven' (Single Version), 'Showdown' (Take 1), 'Your World' (Previously Unreleased), 'Get A Hold Of Myself' (Previously Unreleased), 'Mama' (Previously Unreleased), 'Wilf's Solo Instrumental' (Previously Unreleased), & 'Roll Over Beethoven' (BBC Session). EMI. 2003.

Album Details

At Long Last, the Second Elo Album Finally Sees Release after Many Long Years of Promising by EMI. Though it was Actually their Third Recording, it was Roy Wood's Last with the Band. The Second Disc is Actually a Previously Unissued Concept Album by Wood with Eight Tracks. Among the Bonus Tracks and Rarities Included Are Three which Feature Marc Bolan on Guitar: "Auntie (Ma Ma Ma Belle Pt.2)", "Mambo (Dreaming of 4000, Take 1)" and "Everyone's Born to Die". The Second Disc is Said to Be Limited, So Get Yours While You Can.

Customer Reviews:

Electric Light Orchestra's sophomore effort.......2005-09-27

Electric Light Orchestra II (1973.) The second Electric Light Orchestra album.

INTRODUCTION:
The Electric Light Orchestra evolved from the Move, an earlier progressive/classical fusion rock band Jeff Lynne had played in. Upon recruiting co-frontman Jeff Lynne, the group was complete. Their first album, released in 1971, was all but forgotten with the exception of the minor hit in the band's native England, 10358 Overture. Sadly though, the rest of the album was all but forgotten by most. Having Roy Wood, who had been so instrumental in making the songs on there so great in the first place, left the band to form Wizzard, his own band. He also took some of the band's musicians with him to pursue his own interests, resulting in band formation changes. Jeff Lynne was now the one and only frontman of the group. How would the follow-up album measure up? Keep reading, and you shall see!

OVERVIEW:
Electric Light Orchestra II was released in March of 1973. The album was produced by Jeff Lynne and featured the following songs: In Old England Town (Boogie Number Two), Mama, Roll Over Beethoven, From The Sun To The Moon (Boogie Number One) and Kuiama. This was the first album not to feature Roy Wood as a member of the band (although he plays uncredited on a few tracks.)

REVIEW:
A lot of people call Electric Light Orchestra II an identity crisis point for the band. Quite honestly, it's not that hard to see why. Jeff Lynne was suddenly left alone as the group's only frontman - he no longer had Roy Wood to collaborate with, and on this album he was looking for his voice as a leader. That said, this is somewhat of an experimental album. There are only five tracks here, but they're among the band's lengthiest songs. Kicking things off is In Old England Town (Boogie Number Two.) This song starts the album off on a very high note, definitely standing as one of the strongest pieces of music from this era of E.L.O. The Baroque-flavored melodies that kick the song off, and the overall tone of the song are strongly reminiscent of the sound the band featured on their first album. And since I loved the first album, it goes without saying that I hold this track in pretty high regard. The song definitely should have been a bigger hit! The second track is Mama. This song takes the music in a slower, more melodic direction than the opening track did. The overall melodic and haunting tone of this piece brings to mind the orchestral experimentation the Beatles used in their final years before disbanding. But, Lynne's vocals make it distinctly E.L.O. Track number three is the band's first hit on the American pop charts, a cover of Chuck Berry's Roll Over Beethoven. But E.L.O. didn't just cover the song and leave it at that - blatant copying is bland, and the group shows it here. To kick things off, for the first minute the band actually performs the first portions of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony's First Movement! Now THAT'S creativity. From there on out, the band combines the classic fast-paced rockabilly feel of the original song with the occasional classical music elements. The end result is a classic, and it's not hard to see why so many people like this song, and why it ended up being their first American hit. The second of two "Boogie" tracks, From The Sun To The Moon (Boogie Number One) comes next (don't ask me why Boogie Two came before Boogie One, I guess that's just one of the mysteries of life.) Starting this song off is an amazing instrumental portion that combines moog synthesizers with the orchestral instrumentation everyone expects from E.L.O. After the minute-long intro, Lynne starts serving up some damn fine vocals, and the song continually evolves and changes all the way through, with plenty of instrumental diversity. But the main draw of this song would have to be the vocals. My favorite E.L.O. songs are the ones that are continually transforming all the way through, catching me off guard - and this song epitomizes that beautifully. The fifth and final track on the album is Kuiama. This is the album's longest track, and quite honestly, the group could not have ended things on a higher note. Essentially, the final song lets every member of the band show off their musical prowess, demonstrating their finesse at their respective musical roles in the band. In the end, despite what some people say, this is an EXCELLENT album, but it's an aquired taste, and not necesarily a good starting point for new fans of the band.

EDITION NOTES:
The American edition of this album sucks. It's a bare bones issue with crappy production quality. But this problem has been corrected, in the form of a new foreign issue of the album! The new version has better sound quality, as well as lots of bonus material - so much, in fact, that it's a two-disc package. If you're a big fan, hunt the import version down. It's worth finding.

OVERALL:
Overall, Electric Light Orchestra's sophomore album is damn good stuff. As a part of Jeff Lynne's early experimentation trying to find his own sound as frontman, the band would NEVER sound this way again. Buy this album, and you'll capture the band in a little-known but still excellent era casual fans may never know. Don't make this your first E.L.O. purchase, though - start with one of the later releases that has more of the pop hits. But if you're a tried and true fan already, BUY THIS ALBUM. Give it some time, and it will grow on you. Just don't make the mistake I made initially and judge it on your first impressions. This release is an aquired taste, but if you get into it, you'll be in the same boat as me, claiming it's an underrated masterpiece of an album. Final verdict? Electric Light Orchestra fans MUST own this album. Five stars.

Rob Caiger strikes again with another winner ..........2003-08-18

... with this double-disc set, the sequel to the maginficent ELO/First Light 2-CD set of 16 months ago. ELO II was hardly Jeff Lynne's most imaginative (or concise) work, but the high points here equal those of the more ballyhooed ELO I. Yes, it's quite prog. But it's ... catchy prog. Tuneful prog. Not that gloom-and-doom, Roger Waters-oh-woe-is-Syd-Barrett [material] that made Pink Floyd millionaires. The sawing cellos in Jeff's two "Boogies" sound as if they're right on top of you -- thanks, Roy Wood! "Mama" is a heartfelt gem and the best signpost of the direction Lynne would take into the "classic" ELO period in a few years. The extra tracks inserted by archivist/compiler Rob Caiger are interesting, particularly those featured former Move lead singer Carl Wayne, one of the more under-rated voices in British rock. That said, it's a small step down from the remastered ELO I -- but a very, very, very small step, probably because Caiger raised the bar so high 16 months ago. Look. IF YOU BOUGHT THE NEW ELO I, PONY UP FOR THE NEW ELO II. Now, Rob, on to the future -- when are we getting: 1. The remastered "Message From the Country" and 2. The new Idle Race box set? :)

EMI delivers best ELO remasters!.......2003-06-08

The second in EMI's First Light series of remasters showing the formative evolution of the early Electric Light Orchestra, featuring members of ELO and the Move, this beautiful two disc collection is chockful of rare and lost photos, great alternative and missing album tracks, informative and entertaining interviews and essays and more versions of "Roll Over Beethoven" than you could shake an orchestra conductor's baton at! Disc Two titled "The Lost Planet" was the aborted name of ELO's follow up album, until Roy Wood quit the band and shortly starting having hits with Wizzard. This disc features great lost archival recordings that sound fresh today as the day they were recorded. The tracks that feature ex-Move vocalist Carl Wayne sound like singles that should have been in every Brit-pop fan's jukebox. A must have for prog rock and serious ELO fans.

Great and Classic Album of Rock.......2003-05-30

The End...or The Beginning of a Great Rock Group on two cd's?
This Album of ELO is a Diamond, a Classic, a Jewel on the Universe of Great Albums of Electric Light Orchestra & Jeff Lynne. Beethoven Says: Please ELO Plays Again and Again and Again My Favourite Song, "Roll Over Beethoven"... But I follow without listening nothing.

Average customer rating:

This is just awful - I was suckered by the excellence Reich Remixed
a huge letdown...
The Ever Recyclable Glass
Pop music with only a hint of Philip Glass
Sound Effects

Glasscuts, Philip Glass Remixed

Manufacturer: Orange Mountain Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Philip Glass : Orion
Symphony No. 6, Plutonian Ode
Philip Glass : Symphony No. 8
Roving Mars
Philip Glass : Les Enfants Terribles

ASIN: B0009Y8I0G
Release Date: 2005-09-13

Tracks:

Another Look at Harmony
Piano Etude No.2
Saxophone Concerto
Tirol Concerto for Piano and Orchestra
Etude No.1
Houston Skyline
Dance from Act II, Scene III of Akhnaten
Etude No.5
Channels and Winds
Why Are We Here?
Thin Blue Line
Saxophone Concerto
2nd Perception of Light, Moon, Mist and Rainbow

Album Description

It has been said that Philip Glass is the `Godfather of Trance' and evidence of that is found in the remixes that a number of young producers/musicians began sending to Orange Mountain Music as early as 2002. These unsolicitated mixes became the genesis for Glasscuts, Philip Glass Remixed (release date Sept 2005). This CD presents a very diverse program without any one dominant style. The artists are Androoval from Uruguay, Robert Bell from Australia, Brian Bender from the US, Hector Castillo from Venezuela, Taylor Dupree from the US, Sebastian Escofet from Argentina, impLOG, from the US, Woody McBride DJ ESP from the US, Marcos Romero from Uruguay, Kate Simko from the US, Dietrich Schoenemann from the US, Luciano Supervielle from Uruguay and Dave Wesley from the US.

We invite you to immerse yourself in Glasscuts, Philip Glass Remixed with open ears to experience a Glass that is reminiscent of the past, but with an adventurous contemporary twist.

Customer Reviews:

This is just awful - I was suckered by the excellence Reich Remixed.......2006-07-23

I just assumed that this would be as equally wonderful, and that Glass' music would be even more translatable into the "trance" genre, or whatever the kids are calling it nowadays.

Sadly, it seems that this was done by junior high kids with a computer and Acid Foundry or whatever that cheap software is.

No creativity, and, oddly enough, not even any real sense of Glass' music still being in the "remix".

I am a huge fan of Glass; I am not a fan of this kind of music, but since I am also a fan of Reich and since, to my total surprise, I am quite enthralled by the Reich Remixed CD, I figured I really needed to give this CD a shot.

What a waste. This is totally amateur, but without the occasional genius that some amateur can manage. Strictly, totally, and banal amateur yuckiness.

a huge letdown..........2005-12-21

Yeah, it's fun and easy to beat up on remix albums since there are so many mediocre and terrible ones out there... but, wait: here's a great idea... let's give the pioneering, repetitive, trance-like minimalist music of Philip Glass the remix treatment... after all, Reich: Remixed was fabulous... surely the same kind of creativity can be unleashed in this project... But alas, something went terribly wrong here... these are mostly unbearably monotonous, grating, overlong, amateurish productions by remixers who don't seem to even GET (or enjoy?) Glass' music. A real missed opportunity and a huge letdown... ick...

The Ever Recyclable Glass .......2005-11-20

This is just another insipid release from the Orange Mountain label, which keeps putting out anything with the Philip Glass
name on it - even if it is flagrant garbage. Several releases have been issued which about 90% have the same old songs, just performed by different people. In fact, Philip Glass has become more banal and bovine in the last few years because he knows anything with his name on it will sell to the trendy modernistic music crowd. Overall, I believe it is time to stop
recycling Glass.

Pop music with only a hint of Philip Glass.......2005-10-28

This music should be categorized under the "popular music" category, not "classical". All the pieces have an incessant drum beat typical of popular music. This is unlike any other Philip Glass CD that I have and I have about a dozen of them. Where can I get rid of this?

Sound Effects.......2005-09-24

When this album was announced, I was quite looking forward to it; before hearing anything, I compared it to the wonderful work done on "Reich Remixed" which takes some daring approaches to Reich's music and does an excellent job (with a few exceptions) of being new and exciting. Unfortunately, Glass Remixed isn't as daring or as good.

Much of the music is overshadowed with Glass's music and themes. It's as if someone was playing the original music in the background and sound effects were added to it. Throughout listening to Remixed, these sound effects got in the way of the music and I ended up digging out the original pieces and listening to them. However, there are some excellent pieces of interpretation contained within: Etude #2, the Tirol Concerto, and the Saxophone Concerto stand out (especially the Saxophone Concerto since I don't care for the original piece).

The other mark against this effort is all the work had to come from the Orange Mountain Music catalog due to ownership complications. This is not to say there aren't outstanding pieces in the catalog, but this restriction limits most of Glass's seminal works from being considered.

As a huge Glass fan, I was mildly disappointed, but I applaud the effort and the concept behind it.

Average customer rating:

Electric Light Orchestra Lite
Mostly pleasant...some peaks and valleys
It's ELO with Medium Sauce
Is there life after Jeff Lynne?
Not bad, but is it really ELO?

Electric Light Orchestra Part Two
ELO Part II
Manufacturer: Bmg Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Moment of Truth
A New World Record
Eldorado
Face the Music

ASIN: B000000U53
Release Date: 1991-06-11

Tracks:

Hello
Honest Men
Every Night
Once Upon A Time
Heartbreaker
Thousand Eyes
For The Love Of A Woman
Kiss Me Red
Heart Of Hearts
Easy Street

Customer Reviews:

Electric Light Orchestra Lite.......2005-03-25

Electric Light Orchestra traces its history to the 1960s. In the 70s ELO's music and public taste matched, and the group had a string of successful albums. By the end of the 70s public interest in the group began to wane, and it was apparent that ELO's time had passed. Jeff Lynne left the group in 1986. Since Jeff Lynne would not rejoin ELO, the reformed group released "Electric Light Orchestra Part Two" in 1990. Perhaps the group should have called itself "A Group Who Sorta Sounds like ELO, But Not Quite," because while there are similarities in the style, and even a few good songs, ELO this is not.

The opening track seems to be a hello to ELO fans. "Hello" is a relatively trivial song that ends up sounding more like the Beatles or Herman's Hermits than ELO. I could speak further about the lack of depth and inspiration, but instead I will class this song as one of the throwaway songs on this CD.

The second track is perhaps the best song on the entire CD. "Honest Men" is about as close as this CD comes to classic ELO. The highly orchestrated music is well done, and I would classify this song as a very good song, and worthy of being considered an ELO song. The lyrics are admittedly just a tad trite, but I like the science fiction implications of the song. When I read the words I think of "Star Trek" rather than "Star Wars" because of the Earth orientation of the song. Had Jeff Lynne participated in this song, it would have been just a bit better.

The third track is mediocre derivative rock. "Every Night" sounds too much like cookie-cutter big hair rock of the 80s. This song would have been interchangeable with the music of any of a dozen 80s groups that churned out forgettable songs. The music itself is not all that bad, just not very good. The lyrics, on the other hand, are just bad. I think this song was hidden between two much better songs hoping the magic would wear off. Call this one filler.

Another good song is "Once Upon a Time." The music is fair, with several moments of inspiration, but the lyrics are some of the better lyrics on this CD. There are some interesting strings, but the music of this song still comes out only as a bit better than average for ELO.

"Heartbreaker" starts off with a lot of potential, but it ends up sounding too much like big hair band music of the 80s. I really enjoyed the line "Rain (falling from the skies, falling from your eyes)," until it was repeated the sixth, seventh, eighth and then ninth times. Somewhere along the line the line, which is the best part of this song, is abused, and then it becomes tedious. This song can be categorized as the way to not exploit a good lyrical and musical concept.

After the last two songs another good song is welcomed. "Thousand Eyes" has enough flavor and flair of ELO to be listenable multiple times. There are good harmonies in this song that make it enjoyable. The lyrics have some complexity and a touch of fantasy, and while portions of the music reveal 80s roots, there are good songs from every era, and this one is another of the better songs on this CD. Consider also that Eric Troyer, the author of this song, also wrote "Honest Men," which, as noted above, I also consider to be very good.

Yet another good Eric Troyer song is "For the Love of a Woman." Eric has an excellent style and feel for ELO's style. This powerful pop song owes a stylistic singing nod to Roy Orbison. Enough said about this song.

"Kiss Me Red" is just atrocious. Elimination of this cheesy song, which sounds like something sung by a group of wannabes rather than a professional rock group, and "Every Night" might have kicked the quality of this album up another notch. The CD would have been shorter, but shorter good is much better than longer with garbage like this song. Program your CD player to pass this one over.

At first "Heart of Hearts" had a Cars' flavor. Then the song changed into something more reminiscent of Survivor, but again not quite; maybe Survivor with a bit of Alan Parson's influence. While the style is clearly 80s, this song is reasonably good, though this Eric Troyer song is still less than some of the better songs that Eric provided earlier on this CD.

The final song starts off with a lot of promise, and just as quickly fizzles into derivative rock. The pseudo-power of this song is all bark and no bite, and you long to dig your old Kiss records out of the box, or Black Sabbath from the Ozzie years, just to get this noise out of your ears. Forget this song; it belongs with "Kiss Me Red" and "Every Night" as songs that should have remained in the box.

The question I always ask is: Knowing what I know now, would I buy this CD again? What if I were an ELO fan? I would not purchase this CD. There are several good songs, but nothing I consider essential. I would make a higher recommendation to a die-hard ELO fan, because several of these songs are ELO-worthy. There is too much chaff in this wheat. Go back to the earlier ELO albums for much better music.

Mostly pleasant...some peaks and valleys.......2004-11-20

The big question here is whether or not this CD merits an association with the ELO name. As such, the "Part Two" is a warning to those looking for Jeff Lynne but who will not find him here. Frankly, I consider this to be a pretty good Electric Light Orchestra *tribute* album, and on several cuts, they acheive a powerful and pleasing sound. Certainly, the involvement of Sir Louis Clark with orchestral arrangements, along with appearances by Hugh McDowell and Mik Kaminski help with the "ELO connection." Drummer Bev Bevan, one of ELO's founding members, does his usual stellar work bashing the skins, and he has assembled a fairly decent outfit here. Eric Troyer (keyboards and vocals) is perhaps the best of the lot, contributing some strong songs and a definite fondness for the old-school Jeff Lynne sound. Pete Haycock (Climax Blues Band) on guitars and vocals is a fine practitioner of pop/rock, and makes a fine addition. Only guitartist/vocalist Neil Lockwood really sticks out like a sore thumb here...while he is obviously a fairly skilled rocker, he doesn't seem to fit into the ELO ethos at all, sad to say. Producer Jeff Glixman, one of the best guys to have behind the boards, may or may not be well-suited to the ELO sound...the follow-up LIVE WITH THE MOSCOW SYMPHONY album makes better use of Glixman's skills. That said, here are the highlights:

"Honest Men" - Stellar tune with huge orchestral sound, great vocal arrangements

"Thousand Eyes" - Excellent Troyer contribution, melodic and innovative

"Heart of Hearts" - Mid-tempo rocker, well played..."grows on you"

"Once Upon a Time" - Pete Haycock crafts a very pleasant and wistful song of lost love...nice string arrangements here

"For the Love of a Woman" - Another strong Troyer song, with good string and choral arrangements

Beyond those songs, it gets a bit more tepid, though not awful. However, there are two stinkers: The absolute nadir is "Every Night," for which we can thank Mr. Lockwood. It's utterly cheesy and offensive lyrically, a triumph of unimagination. The music grinds and drones on like a bad 80s video game soundtrack. "Kiss Me Red" is pretty lame as well with a very dorky, clumsy arrangement and pitiful lyrics. Roll over Jeff Lynne, and tell Roy Wood the news.

Over all, this is not a bad album...it's just not very good. It should not have been called "Electric Light Orchestra" and the "Part Two" just seems confusing. Why not give it an original name? Ah yes, two words: easy money. I would rate this as 2.5 stars, but my fondness for "Honest Men" makes me round up to a 3. If you don't expect Jeff Lynne, you can probably enjoy most of this CD for what it is.

It's ELO with Medium Sauce.......2003-07-26

I have loved ELO since their inception. Obviously, it's not the same without Jeff Lynne writing the songs and turning the knobs. But, these guys are real pros. "Honest Men" is a great song that I listen to over and over. "Kiss Me Red" has it's own sound that resembles ELO, but stands on it's own with the personalities of the current band lineup. It's a nice song. The rest of the songs are good too. The hooks are there. The string arrangements are there. There a couple of songs on this release that sound like a softer late-80's heavy metal band. Sure, Jeff Lynne was the heart and soul of ELO, but the other band members know their craft. If you like ELO, you'll like this just fine. The ELO flavor is there. It's maybe just a tad different.

Is there life after Jeff Lynne?.......1999-05-10

Well, it depends on what you want. If you're looking for the Beatlesque sound Lynne brought to the original lineup, forget it--he's discovered rockabilly, sometimes with Tom Petty. Likewise forget it if you're seeking the Bee Gees clone sound present in the originals' "Out Of the Blue". This bunch does modern rock'n'roll, as you might expect from there being some younger dudes in the lineup, with fiddle man Mik Kanminsky's familiar string arrangements in there to keep old fans like me interested. The secret is not to expect an H.G. Wells time machine thing--years have a nasty habit of changing things, you know?

Not bad, but is it really ELO?.......1999-04-25

Bev Bevan, the powerful drummer for the original Electric Light Orchestra as well as the Move, launched what was dubbed "The Electric Light Orchestra PART TWO" in 1991. Bev was the only original member in the lineup, though ELO stalwarts Mik Kaminski and Hugh McDowell make appearances and Sir Lou Clark ably handles the rich orchestration. Otherwise, it's really difficult to consider this an "ELO" product. That said, the album has some fine moments. Consider "Honest Men," a lushly arranged and orchestrated song by new member Eric Troyer. This song and Troyer's lovely tune "Thousand Eyes" are definitely worthy of the ELO moniker, and are the highlights on this set.

"Heart of Hearts" is an effective mid-tempo rocker in the Alan Parsons mode and features more fine vocal arrangements. "Once Upon a Time" and "For the Love of a Woman" are very likable and feature some sweet swinging strings. "Heartbreaker" (a tamer "Ma-Ma-Ma Belle") is a fairly well-done rocker, with a good "rain" reference--which, by law, must be mentioned on any ELO album! Mik adds a sizzling violin solo that lifts the song beyond average.

Allow me a moment of negativity..."Every Night" is part of a trilogy (along with "Whiskey Girls" from MOMENT OF TRUTH and "Ain't Necessarily So" from ONE NIGHT LIVE) of the absolute worst songs ever associated with ELO. It's amazing how many lyrical and musical cliches the band was able to fit into three minutes. Absolute putridity. "Kiss Me Red" is almost as bad, at least lyrically. "Easy Street" is pedestrian and a dead end. "Hello" is cute, but is undeveloped and thin...might would have been more appropriate to have Bev take the vocals on that one.

Jeff Glixman is a superb producer...I love his work with Kansas. Here, he does a great job with what he has to work with, though his style is not always compatible with the ELO sound. Lou Clark...what can you say? He saves this project absolutely with his superb orchestral arranging. The strings haven't sounded this good for ELO since 1977. ELO Part Two was a name designed to capitalize on the past, but thank goodness, at least a few cuts here actually make the grade.

Electric Light Orchestra - Greatest Hits Live
Average customer rating:

This rules!

Enjoyable live tour through ELO's hits

Bringing it to life

Electric Light Orchestra - Greatest Hits Live
Electric Light Orchestra Part II Feat. The Moscow Symphony Orchestra
Manufacturer: Scotti Bros.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000000U6F
Release Date: 1992-01-01

Tracks:

Overture
Turn To Stone
Evil Woman
Showdown
Livin' Thing
Hold On Tight
Thousand Eyes
Can't Get It Out Of My Head
Telephone Line
Roll Over Beethoven

Customer Reviews:

This rules!.......1999-05-27

I Like music from the 70's and early 80's and this is the most Da Bomb collection of E.L.O. that I've ever heard before although my classmates would probably disagree.

Enjoyable live tour through ELO's hits.......1999-04-02

The Electric Light Orchestra Part Two took a major step for legitimacy with this live release featuring the return of Kelly Groucutt, Mik Kaminski, and Hugh McDowell to the ELO fold, joining drummer Bev Bevan and keyboardist/vocalist Eric Troyer, as well as the soon-to-be-departed Neil Lockwood and Pete Haycock. Kelly's vocals are superb throughout, and the strings swing, thanks to Kaminski, McDowell, and the conducting/arranging of Louis Clark. The "Overture/Turn to Stone" kickoff is very effective. The performance of "Evil Woman" is marred somewhat by tinny keyboards and preening vocals by Neil Lockwood. Pete Haycock does a better job on "Showdown," though again the keyboard sound is a little thin, and the screechy guitars are a bit overdone. Groucutt and Kaminski shine on "Livin' Thing." The background vocals are somewhat weak, however. The arrangement on this particular album for "Hold On Tight" has been controversial among ELO fans...it has a real rockabilly feel here. Personally, I love it, and Kelly sounds invigorated vocally. Troyer's harmony vocals click very well on this cut. Then, Troyer takes a turn with his own "Thousand Eyes," an excellent cut on the studio album that loses none of its effectiveness live. (One major beef I have is that Troyer's superb "Honest Men" was not included in this live collection.) "Eldorado Overture/Can't Get it Out of My Head" sounds great live, as Bev Bevan intones the spoken intro with proper solemnity. Troyer does a very nice job on the lead vocal, and the orchestra sounds rich and full. "Telephone Line" is a tough song to pull off live, but Troyer and Groucutt pull it off with aplomb. The arrangement is very nice, not coming off as an exact carbon copy of the studio recording. Then, the album closes literally with a bang on the kicking version of "Roll Over Beethoven." Here, Jeff Glixman's production really shines, as none of the complex orchestral details are lost in what is a very complex mix. Lockwood's rugged vocals work on this cut, along with Troyer and Groucutt. The Bev Bevan stomp n' swing is in full force here. Instrumentally, this cut cooks. This album is another reminder of how integral Kelly Groucutt was to the original Electric Light Orchestra. Obviously, Jeff Lynne's presence is sorely missed...his genius and spark can never be doubted. But on this album, his former bandmates prove that ELO was not just a one man band. If you're not smiling and jumping just a little bit by the final cannon blast of "Beethoven," better check your pulse.

Bringing it to life.......1999-01-10

If your an E L O fan or not this live cd will make you enjoy and respect this band a whole lot more . The way they mix the classical beats with their own up beat style makes this music one of a kind ! Highly recomended.

Average customer rating:

This is Prog-Rock folks, not Top 40...
Really Good Album!
ELO?
Electric Light Orchestra's underrated sophomore effort
One of E.L.O's Best.

ELO II
Electric Light Orchestra
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

On the Third Day
No Answer
Eldorado
Face the Music
Out of the Blue

ASIN: B0000025DW
Release Date: 1990-10-05

Tracks:

In Old England Town (Boogie #2)
Mama
Roll Over Beethoven
From The Sun To The World (Boogie #1)
Kuiama

Album Description

U.K. edition of E.L.O.'s 1973 & second album with different cover art than the U.S. release. Five tracks, including their top 50 remake of Chuck Berry's classic 'Roll Over Beethoven'. All tracks are digitally remastered. 1999 release.

Customer Reviews:

This is Prog-Rock folks, not Top 40..........2006-03-23

...and it's also not the ELO that everyone listened to in the 70's. This is a 70's progressive album; like Yes and ELP.

After this one-hit wonder album, ELO saw dollar-signs, switched to pop formulas that paid the rent & they laughed all the way to the bank. Can't blame them. I might do the same.

However -- ELO never repeated the prog-rock quality of this album ever again and practically deny ever recording it. If you love prog, you'll love this album. But if you dig "The Archies", then skip it and get their later albums.

Really Good Album!.......2006-01-02

I am a huge ELO fan and I like everything they have ever done. I haven't found anything bad by ELO. This album is no exception. With each song running over six (6) minutes, it doesn't sound exactly like they do on some of their more well known albums, like "A New World Record" or "Out of the Blue", but they still sound pretty damn good. "In Old England Town" is a great way to start off the album. Although a bit slower then the songs that come later on the album, but it's pretty upbeat and Bev Bevan really knows how to drum! Just listen to the fills he does in this song. Next comes "Mama", which is the slowest song on the album, but very melodic and a great example of a ballad. Next comes one of their most favored songs and their first American charted single, "Roll Over Beethoven". They start the song with a part of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony and then kick into some great classic Rock 'n' Roll. The liner notes on Ole' ELO say this song is "The perfect marriage between rock and classical". I'd have to agree. There is some really good violin work in this song as well as a great guitar part. After that comes "From The Sun To The World". It starts out kind of slow, gets a little bit upbeat, slows down, and then WHAM! the pace picks up a lot. One of my favorite ELO songs. Lastly comes there semi-hit "Kuiama". A haunting song and the longest song on album, running at 11:19. So if you're new to ELO, I wouldn't buy this album yet, but for anyone who is a big fam of ELO, I suggest you get this album, because it shows some of ELO's best work

ELO?.......2005-11-28

If you've never listened to ELO before their Out Of The Blue album you might not recognize the band! Jeff strayed so far from the original intent of the band in ELO's later albums it's almost unbelieve it's the same band! I wonder how many people like both "eras" of ELO! I do, but I think I'm the exception most likely. The word for the early ELO music is "haunting"! Does any of his later music appear "haunting"? I don't think so! His later songs seems about as "friendly" and "comfortable" as anyone has ever written, with hooks all over the place! His earlier work such as this cd and On The Third Day was intent on injecting classical musical instruments into a rock format. If you like classical music used on rock music this is as good as it gets, and I do! You don't hear much classical music in rock anywhere else, maybe snippets in some other bands songs (One other band I have to mention that has alot of classical music in a rock format is Trans Siberain Orchestra, TSO, you might want to check them out!) So to conclude, if you like Jeff Lynne's voice, classical music, long songs (all are about 8 minutes), and nice music to "trance out" on, this album is for you! But don't expect Mr Blue Sky!

Electric Light Orchestra's underrated sophomore effort.......2005-09-30

One of E.L.O's Best........2005-03-25

This is a great album,despite the fact it only has 5 songs. It's those 5 songs that make this album great.The songs are almost erie in a way, just like the preceding album and the move's albums too.I suggest you pick up this album if you like the move and the Idle race's style of music like I do.

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