I've been outed as an ELO fan since I was 7yo! re the 'secret messages': Face the Music is a record I love playing backwards for the secret message, "The music is reversible but time is not. Turn back, turn back, turn back, turn back" which is on the opener Fire on High
For me (original studio albums only): 1) Out of the Blue, 2) A New World Record, T3) Face the Music, T3) Discovery, 5) ELO's half of Xanadu, 6) Eldorado, 7) Time, 8) On The Third Day, 9) Secret Messages -- I've never heard the double album version... only the extra songs individually, 10) Balance of Power, Side Notes: If I was given the latitude, I'd put "The Night the Lights Went on in Long Beach", "Live at Winterland", and ELO Part II's "Moment of Truth" somewhere around 5, 6, and 7. If you've never heard ELO Part II's "Moment of Truth", I highly recommend it!
I enjoyed your comments on your top ten and would agree with the majority of your thoughts and my order wouldn't be much different from yours. I agree with what you said about Balance of Power and I think if it had been recorded a few years earlier with more string than synth it would have been a cracking album. I like Secret Messages (particularly the double album version released not long ago, which includes more of the songs Jeff originally wanted on the album). I think the album that divides most ELO fans is Time, with most having it near the bottom or the top of their list, ... I love it and it would be one of my top picks. I think there is some great stuff on ELO 2, although less known than many of the other albums. Depending on my mood, I could easily pick, Time, Eldorado, Face the Music, or A New World Record at the top of my list, but it's difficult to argue against Out of The Blue, because it's a double album with great songs from start to finish. It was my first album and arguably still the best! 😊
.Thanks for expressing your knowledge and giving so much insight.I have noticed that ELO has one of the most diverse ratings for top albums of any band I have seen. I have a bit of trouble placing the exact numbers but the top albums for me are: Out of the Blue, New World Record, Eldorado and On the Third Day, Face the Music and followed closely by the 1st album, TIme and then Discovery. These are the main albums I enjoy listening to.
I'm one of those you've mention. For me, A New World Record is a complete masterpiece and ELO's best album. It's another one that makes the list of my top 20 favourite albums of all time. Every track is outstanding and none more so than: Shangri-La(My favourite ELO song). It's hard to believe that when ELO released albums of their best of or greatest hits, this track was never included. It's a gorgeous ballad that deserves more love and respect. Excellent ranking of their fabulous catalogue by the way.
Welcome back! I've always liked the band, but as my musical tastes matured I tended to think of them as, using your own phrase, a guilty pleasure. A few years ago, however, I underwent my own reappraisal and experienced a major ELO obsession, a re-Discovery if you will. Though I like some of their albums outside this list, for me their truly essential music comes down to the streak of five consecutive great records they had in the 70s, perhaps one of the most impressive streaks in popular music. Here is my ranking of those albums. 5. A New World Record 4. On the Third Day 3. El Dorado 2. Face the Music 1. Out of the Blue Concerto for a Rainy Day is arguably the band's finest hour. Regarding Time, I've never understood the love ELO fans have for this album, for me it sounds like a synth rock record and I'm not a big fan of that particular genre. However, based on the effusive praise heaped upon this album by yourself, and others, I vow to give it another chance!
@@rockrecordsreviewed1880 Okay, I gave Time another listen, and I have to admit, it is much better than I remembered...though I must admit, I find the bonus track The Bouncer as enjoyable as anything on the album proper (guess it didn't fit in with the concept, too bad). Once you get past the synthesized sound of the whole project, which for me was always the biggest turnoff, you can see that Jeff Lynne's songwriting, his inventiveness in the studio and especially his gift for melody, is still at a high level.
@@chrisboerger465Brilliant, can I chalk that down as a small win for RRR then Chris? Really glad to know someone is listening, lol. Seriously though, very glad you revisited it - as you say, through all the instrumentation and concept, you just a volley of great songs from a master craftsman.
A 'guilty pleasure' is how I'd define ELO. I love The Move and appreciate the early ELO albums. Not being a hard core fan, I still have their first six albums plus the double compilation LIGHT YEARS. Probably enough for me though friends are always recommending the albums that followed NEW WORLD RECORD. Enjoyed the Wembley video when one of the friends lent it to me. Big & bold. Still, I have a soft spot for those early videos with the string players sawing away behind Lynne and his canned vocals. Oh, and Olivia Newton-John never sounded so good as when she was cooing to the XANADU material! Question: What did you think of Lynne's early solo album, ARMCHAIR THEATRE? I see it a lot in used bins and am tempted. Good to have you back, Adam. Hopefully you've been productive with your own music.
Thanks Dean. I liked Armchair Theatre...and I like the Jeff Lynne's ELO albums to varying degrees.....definitely worth a punt in the bargain bin, you know you will always get a handful of good hooks.
14. Balance of Power 13. From Out of Nowhere 12. Alone in the Universe 11. No Answer 10. Zoom 9. Secret Messages 8. Time 7. Eldorado 6. Discovery 5. On the Third Day 4. ELO 2 3. Face the Music 2. A New World Record 1. Out of the Blue
Great video. ELO were a fine band. The two albums I go to most often are A New World Record and Face The Music. If I want to dig deep I tend to either go forward to Out Of The Blue or back to Eldorado and On The Third Day. I've not really given Time much of a chance.
27 year old here, grew up listening to ELO thanks to my dad-we’re probably the biggest fans of the group that I know. For me it’s 1. Out of the Blue 2. A New World Record 3. Discovery 4. Face the Music and if I’m allowed to include it I personally love the new From Out of Nowhere album-that’d probably round out my top five, if I’m being honest.
I really like FOON but I do love bands and the chemistry musicians create together, and it feels more like a Jeff Lynne solo album to me, which of course it is really. Great list though!
I purchased the Eldorado album back in High School as a blind purchase: totally unfamiliar with their music and don’t remember hearing anything by them on the radio, but I never listened to the radio much anyway. I bought it because I liked the album cover and I loved it. I liked their subsequent albums but Eldorado will always be my favorite.
I think Jeff was justified in objecting to his band members going on tour with his songs without him. He was sole writer and producer of that band for decades. Why should he allow former band members profit from his inspiration? The only other person I give massive props to is Louis Clark, who had a huge influence on the string arrangements. Bev did a good job on early albums like Face the Music, and Groucutt was great on Discovery, but it is clear that Jeff was the inspiration and the creative engine.
I tend to hear that ELO picks up where the Beatles left off. Still a great band tho (even tho I havent heard all their albums) 1. New World Record 2. Out of the Blue 3. Face the Music 4. Eldorado 5. Discovery
I always had some ambivalent relation to ELO. I like much of Jeff Lynne's work, especially with Tom Petty or the Traveling Wilburys. I also liked the Move and Roy Wood - except Roy Wood's work with ELO. Normally I do not care much for hits and singles but go for albums. ELO is the exception here. I think that they are a great singles bands. Their hits always were the best tracks on the albums. Throughout their career they have been an band with albums that contained their hits augmented with some fillers. There are very few deep cuts on their LPs. Again, I really love their hits to this day but the only albums I revisited for years are New World Record and "The Definitive Collection" from 1992. Also, I never thought of ELO as being "progressive", not even the early albums. They were not progressive but just experimenting around with their sound. Progressive was not what Lynne actually wanted to do, he is and was a hit maker. Anyway, since I know all their albums I feel entitled to rank them. 1. A New World Record 2. ELO 2 3. Out of the Blue 4. On the Third Day 5. Face the Music 6. Time 7. From Out of Nowhere 8. Zoom 9. (No Answer) First 10. Alone in the Universe 11. Secret Messages 12. Eldorado 13. DISCO(very) 14. Balance of Power
As ever you pretty much sum it up better than I ever do Roxanne......I totally I agree I don't hear their music as progressive, though whilst definitely a singles band, I do think there are a few great deep cuts here and there. I can't blame you for my putting Balance of Power last either - it's my ELO guilty pleasure...
Weirdly, I find a lot of ELO TO be kind of insane and mad. I thought that is what made ELO, well, ELO? I guess compared to heavy metal or punk, sure it's tame.
I think it's the idea that, essentially, Jeff Lynne is all about well-crafted, exceptional pop songs. Adding the orchestra isn't quite enough for me to tip him in to 'mad genius' territory.
A song left off of the concept side of Time - a horribly catastrophic mistake, imo - is "Julie Don't Live Here Anymore." Heavy, but enjoyable synth, lyrically excellent. If you don't know it, you can now get fresh ELO.
1. New World Record
2. Out of the Blue
3. Discovery
4. Time
5. Eldorado
I've been outed as an ELO fan since I was 7yo! re the 'secret messages': Face the Music is a record I love playing backwards for the secret message, "The music is reversible but time is not. Turn back, turn back, turn back, turn back" which is on the opener Fire on High
great video Adam, Always enjoy your insights from the alternate mirror universe
For me (original studio albums only): 1) Out of the Blue, 2) A New World Record, T3) Face the Music, T3) Discovery, 5) ELO's half of Xanadu, 6) Eldorado, 7) Time, 8) On The Third Day, 9) Secret Messages -- I've never heard the double album version... only the extra songs individually, 10) Balance of Power, Side Notes: If I was given the latitude, I'd put "The Night the Lights Went on in Long Beach", "Live at Winterland", and ELO Part II's "Moment of Truth" somewhere around 5, 6, and 7. If you've never heard ELO Part II's "Moment of Truth", I highly recommend it!
I enjoyed your comments on your top ten and would agree with the majority of your thoughts and my order wouldn't be much different from yours. I agree with what you said about Balance of Power and I think if it had been recorded a few years earlier with more string than synth it would have been a cracking album. I like Secret Messages (particularly the double album version released not long ago, which includes more of the songs Jeff originally wanted on the album). I think the album that divides most ELO fans is Time, with most having it near the bottom or the top of their list, ... I love it and it would be one of my top picks. I think there is some great stuff on ELO 2, although less known than many of the other albums. Depending on my mood, I could easily pick, Time, Eldorado, Face the Music, or A New World Record at the top of my list, but it's difficult to argue against Out of The Blue, because it's a double album with great songs from start to finish. It was my first album and arguably still the best! 😊
.Thanks for expressing your knowledge and giving so much insight.I have noticed that ELO has one of the most diverse ratings for top albums of any band I have seen. I have a bit of trouble placing the exact numbers but the top albums for me are:
Out of the Blue, New World Record, Eldorado and On the Third Day, Face the Music and followed closely by the 1st album, TIme and then Discovery. These are the main albums I enjoy listening to.
I'm one of those you've mention. For me, A New World Record is a complete masterpiece and ELO's best album. It's another one that makes the list of my top 20 favourite albums of all time. Every track is outstanding and none more so than: Shangri-La(My favourite ELO song). It's hard to believe that when ELO released albums of their best of or greatest hits, this track was never included. It's a gorgeous ballad that deserves more love and respect. Excellent ranking of their fabulous catalogue by the way.
Totally agree! Great song, and a brilliant album....thanks :-)
Welcome back!
I've always liked the band, but as my musical tastes matured I tended to think of them as, using your own phrase, a guilty pleasure. A few years ago, however, I underwent my own reappraisal and experienced a major ELO obsession, a re-Discovery if you will. Though I like some of their albums outside this list, for me their truly essential music comes down to the streak of five consecutive great records they had in the 70s, perhaps one of the most impressive streaks in popular music. Here is my ranking of those albums.
5. A New World Record
4. On the Third Day
3. El Dorado
2. Face the Music
1. Out of the Blue
Concerto for a Rainy Day is arguably the band's finest hour. Regarding Time, I've never understood the love ELO fans have for this album, for me it sounds like a synth rock record and I'm not a big fan of that particular genre. However, based on the effusive praise heaped upon this album by yourself, and others, I vow to give it another chance!
Yes give to another go, but it's understandable if you don't take to it, as it is definitely heavier on the synth side.....!
@@rockrecordsreviewed1880 Okay, I gave Time another listen, and I have to admit, it is much better than I remembered...though I must admit, I find the bonus track The Bouncer as enjoyable as anything on the album proper (guess it didn't fit in with the concept, too bad). Once you get past the synthesized sound of the whole project, which for me was always the biggest turnoff, you can see that Jeff Lynne's songwriting, his inventiveness in the studio and especially his gift for melody, is still at a high level.
@@chrisboerger465Brilliant, can I chalk that down as a small win for RRR then Chris? Really glad to know someone is listening, lol. Seriously though, very glad you revisited it - as you say, through all the instrumentation and concept, you just a volley of great songs from a master craftsman.
A 'guilty pleasure' is how I'd define ELO. I love The Move and appreciate the early ELO albums. Not being a hard core fan, I still have their first six albums plus the double compilation LIGHT YEARS. Probably enough for me though friends are always recommending the albums that followed NEW WORLD RECORD. Enjoyed the Wembley video when one of the friends lent it to me. Big & bold. Still, I have a soft spot for those early videos with the string players sawing away behind Lynne and his canned vocals. Oh, and Olivia Newton-John never sounded so good as when she was cooing to the XANADU material!
Question: What did you think of Lynne's early solo album, ARMCHAIR THEATRE? I see it a lot in used bins and am tempted.
Good to have you back, Adam. Hopefully you've been productive with your own music.
Thanks Dean. I liked Armchair Theatre...and I like the Jeff Lynne's ELO albums to varying degrees.....definitely worth a punt in the bargain bin, you know you will always get a handful of good hooks.
Blown Away is a song from Armchair Theatre definitely worth a listen. I'd probably give the album as a whole 6 out of 10.
yes always liked elo, i remember i used to have the out of the blue album on blue vinyl, just have the cds now.
14. Balance of Power
13. From Out of Nowhere
12. Alone in the Universe
11. No Answer
10. Zoom
9. Secret Messages
8. Time
7. Eldorado
6. Discovery
5. On the Third Day
4. ELO 2
3. Face the Music
2. A New World Record
1. Out of the Blue
incorrect ranking.
cause you put Time as low as 8, that has to go in top 3. Only then, is your ranking correct.
Great video. ELO were a fine band. The two albums I go to most often are A New World Record and Face The Music. If I want to dig deep I tend to either go forward to Out Of The Blue or back to Eldorado and On The Third Day. I've not really given Time much of a chance.
Agreed. I've tried to like Time in the past, perhaps I need to keep on trying.
Time is great, but definitely has a slightly different feel to it cos of the concept and instrumentation...let me know what you think!
Glad to know someone else doesn't hate Balance of Power! I find it really enjoyable.
Absolutely, though it's one of those albums I sometimes wonder what it would sound like if he re-recorded it now....but tunes everywhere, as always.
Hmm, that would be interesting! As long as those Jeff Lynne melodies are still there, I could be on board with that.
27 year old here, grew up listening to ELO thanks to my dad-we’re probably the biggest fans of the group that I know. For me it’s 1. Out of the Blue 2. A New World Record 3. Discovery 4. Face the Music and if I’m allowed to include it I personally love the new From Out of Nowhere album-that’d probably round out my top five, if I’m being honest.
I really like FOON but I do love bands and the chemistry musicians create together, and it feels more like a Jeff Lynne solo album to me, which of course it is really. Great list though!
I purchased the Eldorado album back in High School as a blind purchase: totally unfamiliar with their music and don’t remember hearing anything by them on the radio, but I never listened to the radio much anyway. I bought it because I liked the album cover and I loved it. I liked their subsequent albums but Eldorado will always be my favorite.
Thanks Al, a perfect example of what Bev Bevan was saying about the album cover.....must make a note to make my own covers more interesting!
Rain is fallin is my fav from time
I think Jeff was justified in objecting to his band members going on tour with his songs without him. He was sole writer and producer of that band for decades. Why should he allow former band members profit from his inspiration? The only other person I give massive props to is Louis Clark, who had a huge influence on the string arrangements. Bev did a good job on early albums like Face the Music, and Groucutt was great on Discovery, but it is clear that Jeff was the inspiration and the creative engine.
Please note... I meant Evil Woman on Face The Music, not Sweet Talking Woman. D'oh!
1. ELO II 2. FACE THE MUSIC 3. A NEW WORLD RECORD. The only ELO album i still listening to....................
Nice one. Been enjoying Eldorado so much. Cheers
Yes, definitely A New World Record!
My favourite ELO is "On the the third day"
I tend to hear that ELO picks up where the Beatles left off. Still a great band tho (even tho I havent heard all their albums)
1. New World Record
2. Out of the Blue
3. Face the Music
4. Eldorado
5. Discovery
I always had some ambivalent relation to ELO. I like much of Jeff Lynne's work, especially with Tom Petty or the Traveling Wilburys. I also liked the Move and Roy Wood - except Roy Wood's work with ELO. Normally I do not care much for hits and singles but go for albums. ELO is the exception here. I think that they are a great singles bands. Their hits always were the best tracks on the albums. Throughout their career they have been an band with albums that contained their hits augmented with some fillers. There are very few deep cuts on their LPs.
Again, I really love their hits to this day but the only albums I revisited for years are New World Record and "The Definitive Collection" from 1992.
Also, I never thought of ELO as being "progressive", not even the early albums. They were not progressive but just experimenting around with their sound. Progressive was not what Lynne actually wanted to do, he is and was a hit maker.
Anyway, since I know all their albums I feel entitled to rank them.
1. A New World Record
2. ELO 2
3. Out of the Blue
4. On the Third Day
5. Face the Music
6. Time
7. From Out of Nowhere
8. Zoom
9. (No Answer) First
10. Alone in the Universe
11. Secret Messages
12. Eldorado
13. DISCO(very)
14. Balance of Power
As ever you pretty much sum it up better than I ever do Roxanne......I totally I agree I don't hear their music as progressive, though whilst definitely a singles band, I do think there are a few great deep cuts here and there. I can't blame you for my putting Balance of Power last either - it's my ELO guilty pleasure...
""Evil Woman" was on Face the Music. "Sweet Talking Woman" was on Out of the Blue.
Adam, do an Iggy Pop vid. I'd love to get to know your opinion. Good day. L8r
What is your take of from out of nowhere ?
Short! I thought it was pleasant enough, but a little underwhelming to be honest, I preferred Alone In The Universe. What did you think?
If this album was a date, I think you’d enjoy it, but you wouldn’t be DYING to see them again 🤣🤣🤣
Weirdly, I find a lot of ELO TO be kind of insane and mad. I thought that is what made ELO, well, ELO? I guess compared to heavy metal or punk, sure it's tame.
I think it's the idea that, essentially, Jeff Lynne is all about well-crafted, exceptional pop songs. Adding the orchestra isn't quite enough for me to tip him in to 'mad genius' territory.
You were a teenager in 1986? Meaning you were born in the early 70s. You do not look like you're in your late 40s/early 50s lol.
Why thank you! It's amazing what filters can do! lol
A song left off of the concept side of Time - a horribly catastrophic mistake, imo - is "Julie Don't Live Here Anymore." Heavy, but enjoyable synth, lyrically excellent. If you don't know it, you can now get fresh ELO.