Electric Light Orchestra - Time (1981) (Remaster Edit 2001)

Electric Light Orchestra - Time (1981) (Remaster Edit 2001)

Time was the last truly great album from the Electric Light Orchestra, released as their world-conquering fame was starting to ebb. A concept album (in itself a brave undertaking by 1981), Time is set at the end of the 21st century and is populated by a host of space-age themes and characters. What's most remarkable about the album is how all this science fiction silliness is salvaged by the overall exuberance of the playing. "Yours Truly, 2095" uses a number of ELO hallmarks--a catchy synth riff, sweeping strings and over-the-top-production--to tell it's tale, of a man in love with a robot, andmore… become the album's highlight (and what should have been a hit single). Other tracks such as the epic "Twilight" and "Hold On Tight"--which practically bounces along like an overexcited puppy--also stand amongst ELO's finest works. Moreover, critical darlings Grandaddy have frequently stated the album's influence on the recording of their excellent The Sophtware Slump, proof that this futuristic concept album was itself years ahead of its time...R. Hoffnung

320 @
125 MB

Tracklist:

01. Prologue 1.16
02. Twilight 3.42
03. Your's Truly, 2095 3.12
04. Ticket To The Moon 4.07
05. The Way Life's Meant To Be 4.39
06. Another Heart Breaks 3.49
07. Rain Is Falling 3.56
08. From The End Of The World 3.17
09. The Lights Go Down 3.33
10. Here Is The News 3.50
11. 21st Century Man 4.03
12. Hold On Tight 3.06
13. Epilogue 1.36
14. The Bouncer (Bonus Track) 3.15
15. When Time Stood Still (Bonus) 3.33
16. Julie Don't Live Here (Bonus) 3.42

Electric Light Orchestra - The Harvest Years 1970-1973 (2006)

Electric Light Orchestra - The Harvest Years 1970-1973 (2006)

Three CD set, spotlighting the early experimental years of this hugely successful British pop band. Initially formed as s a side project for The Move's Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne, they eventually abandoned that band and concentrated on this project. Taking their inspiration from the Beatles, Wood and Lynne wanted to create the perfect mix of Rock and Classical, succeeding on many levels before Wood decided to move on and Lynne took ELO to worldwide success later in the decade. This 38 track collection features tracks from their first two ELO albums as well as singles, alternate mixes, quad mixes, etc. Includes '10538 Overture', 'Roll Over Beethoven', 'Showdown', 'Mr. Radio' and many more...Dhar Jellinc

EMI's 2006 triple-CD set The Harvest Years 1970-1973 is a more limited -- yet also somewhat expanded -- vault exploration covering some of the same territory as the U.K.-issued double-CD editions of the Electric Light Orchestra and ELO 2 albums. There are no project "leftovers" such as fragments from "Lost Planet," or any BBC tracks -- everything is confined to surviving studio outtakes from the two completed albums that they did for Harvest, so in that sense this is a more restricted survey of that history, the virtues being the sensational sounding remastering of the two albums (the same remasterings heard on those double-CD editions), relevant session outtakes, and the single mixes and edits of the 45s generated by the group during this period. But the makers have also included the complete alternate quadraphonic mix of the self-titled debut album (of which only four tracks, "Look at Me Now," "Nellie Takes Her Bow," "The Battle of Marston Moor" and "Queen of the Hours," had ever previously shown up on CD). To make it clear, it's not in quad here -- its been remastered to stereo while keeping the mix intact; the alternate mix places considerably different emphasis on various instruments, suppressing some in favor of others that were pushed into the background on the original stereo mix, and moving the vocals around as well. It isn't better -- and someday it might be interesting to use that quad mix intact, in quadraphonic, on an SACD -- but it is very different and it does tie up one loose-end among official ELO releases from this period. Hardcore fans who already own the double-disc reissues of the two albums may resent the idea of having to buy the same upgraded remasterings (and the same outtakes) for a second time, in order to get that alternate mix of Electric Light Orchestra (known in the U.S. as No Answer); but others, who are just discovering the joys of this band's early history, may well welcome the chance to probe deeper into that history, and will use this as a jumping-off point for plunging into the two double-CD reissues, with their wider-ranging explorations of the band's work...B. Eder

320 @
390 MB

Tracklist:

CD 1

01 10538 Overture 5:37
02 Look at Me Now 3:20
03 Nellie Takes Her Bow 6:02
04 The Battle of Marston Moor (July 2nd 1644) 6:05
05 First Movement (Jumping Biz) 3:03
06 Mr. Radio 5:06
07 Manhattan Rumble (49th Street Massacre) 4:25
08 Queen of the Hours 3:25
09 Whisper in the Night 4:49
10 10538 Overture Take 1 / Alternate Take 5:50
11 Battle of Marston Moor Take 1 / Alternate Take 0:59
12 Whisper in the Night Take 1 / Alternate Take 5:01
13 Mr. Radio Take 9 / Alternate Take 5:16


CD 2

01 In Old England Town (Boogie, No. 2) 6:58
02 Mama 7:00
03 Roll Over Beethoven 7:03
04 From the Sun to the World (Boogie, No. 1) 8:18
05 Kuiama 11:19
06 In Old England Town (Boogie, No. 2) Take 1 / Alternate Take 6:54
07 Roll Over Beethoven Take 1 / Alternate Take 8:18
08 Mambo (Dreaming of 4000) Take 1 / Alternate Take 5:03
09 Wilf's Solo Instrumental 3:05
10 Baby I Apologise 3:43
11 Showdown Take 1 / Alternate Take 4:15

CD 3

01 10538 Overture Single Version 4:03
02 Mr. Radio Withdrawn Single Edit 3:54
03 Roll Over Beethoven Single Version 4:38
04 Showdown 4:11
05 In Old England Town (Boogie, No. 2) Instrumental 2:46
06 10538 Overture Alternate Album Mix / Mix 5:32
07 Look at Me Now Alternate Album Mix / Mix 3:22
08 Nellie Takes Her Bow Alternate Album Mix / Mix 6:02
09 The Battle of Marston Moor (July 2nd 1644) Alternate Album Mix / Mix 5:58
10 First Movement (Jumping Biz) Alternate Album Mix / Mix 3:03
11 Mr. Radio Alternate Album Mix / Mix 5:04
12 Manhattan Rumble (49th Street Massacre) Alternate Album Mix / Mix 4:24
13 Queen of the Hours Alternate Album Mix / Mix 3:20
14 Whisper in the Night Alternate Album Mix / Mix 4:46

Electric Light Orchestra - A New World Record (1976)(Remaster Edit 2006)

Electric Light Orchestra - A New World Record (1976)(Remaster Edit 2006)

This brilliant newly re-mastered edition of "A New World Record" makes a strong case for it being simply the best art-pop album of the 1970s--or maybe ever. Featuring a dynamic, fresh, big sound and updated graphics with many rare band photos and artifacts. Written and recorded in record time after the US tour for "Face the Music" "A New World Record" cemented ELO's reputation as making great records. Recorded in Germany (again)the album featured 8 Lynne originals and a remake "Do Ya" his tune from his days in The Move (which also became a hit single). This reissue sounds terrific (particularly when compared to the original CD release). There's sharper detail throughout the CD.
The bonus tracks are a great addition. The best bonus track is the rocking "Surrender" which should have been on the album (although it's lack of orchestral overdubs would have made it stand out a bit). It's a terrific slice of rock that wouldn't have sounded out of place on The Move's last album. We also get rough instrumental mixes of "Tightrope", "Above the Clouds", "So Fine" and "Telephone Line". Additionally we get an alternate version of "Telephone Line" (which became the band's biggest single to date world wide with a UK Gold record the result)with a different vocal take (and without the filter effect at the beginning where it sounds Lynne is singing over the phone). The keyboards are a bit more prominent here as are the backing vocals while the orchestration is a bit further back in the mix (Bevan's drums also sound a bit distorted and fuller here).
We get liner notes on the making of the album how it charted and Lynne briefly commenting on the various songs on the album. This is a terrific reissue that fans have been waiting for. The only thing missing is a replica of the original embossed sleeve (they could have done that to the cover artwork)...W. Klein

320 @
135 MB

Tracklist:

01 Tightrope 5:06
02 Telephone Line 4:40
03 Rockaria! 3:12
04 Mission (A World Record) 4:25
05 So Fine 3:55
06 Livin' Thing 3:32
07 Above the Clouds 2:17
08 Do Ya 3:45
09 Shangri-La 5:40
10 Telephone Line previously unreleased / Bonus/ Different Vocal 4:41
11 Surrender previously unreleased / Bonus 2:37
12 Tightrope previously unreleased / Bonus/ Instrumental Early Rough Mix 4:55
13 Above the Clouds previously unreleased / Bonus/ Instrumental Rough Mix / Mix 1:14
14 So Fine previously unreleased / Bonus/ Instrumental Early Rough Mix 4:16
15 Telephone Line previously unreleased / Bonus Instrumental 4:51

Electric Light Orchestra - Discovery (1979) (Remaster Edit 2001)

Electric Light Orchestra - Discovery (1979) (Remaster Edit 2001)

Electric Light Orchestra continued on their winning Top 40 ways with the release of Discovery. Now pared down to the basic four-piece unit, Jeff Lynne continued to dominate the band and they still got their hits (this time around it was the smash "Don't Bring Me Down"). Elsewhere on the disc there was, of note, "Last Train to London" and "Confusion." Though Discovery charted well, it was becoming obvious that ELO were starting to run themselves out of useful Beatles hooks with which to fuel their hit-making machine. [The 2001 CD reissue on Epic/Legacy adds three previously unreleased bonus tracks: a home demo of "On the Run," a home demo of "Second Time Around" (a song Lynne never finished for the album), and a cover of Del Shannon's "Little Town Flirt."] James Chrispell

320 @
102 MB

Tracklist:

01 Shine a Little Love 4:43
02 Confusion 3:42
03 Need Her Love 5:11
04 The Diary of Horace Wimp 4:17
05 Last Train to London 4:32
06 Midnight Blue 4:19
07 On the Run 3:55
08 Wishing 4:13
09 Don't Bring Me Down 4:02
10 On The Run 1:01
11 Second Time Around 0:42
12 Little Town Flirt 2:53

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