features in: Album Chart of 1977 ● Album Chart of the Decade: 1970s ● 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die |
The ambitious seventh long-player from the orchestral arena-rockers arrived in October '77 as a two-disc 70 minute set, and gave them their greatest success yet, reaching #4 in both the UK and the US. They lined up: Jeff Lynne (lead vocals, guitars, electric piano, minimoog), Bev Bevan (drums, percussion, backing vocals), Richard Tandy (acoustic & electric pianos, sythns, guitar), Kelly Groucutt (bass guitar, percussion, backing vocals), Mik Kaminski (violin), Hugh McDowell (cello) and Melvyn Gale (cello). Four singles were released in the UK, all going Top 20; “Turn To Stone” (#18), “Mr. Blue Sky” (#6), “Wild West Hero” (#6) and “Sweet Talkin' Woman” (#6). It's hard for me to love soft-rock-based records, but they're much more tasteful and likeable than 10cc, I'll give them that. The orchestration is a big plus point, just a pity they weren't more edgy with it.
The Jukebox Rebel
04–Mar–2016
Tracklist |
A1 | [03:47] Electric Light Orchestra - Turn To Stone (Jeff Lynne) Pop |
A2 | [04:08] Electric Light Orchestra - It’s Over (Jeff Lynne) Cerebral Pop |
A3 | [03:47] Electric Light Orchestra - Sweet Talkin’ Woman (Jeff Lynne) Pop |
A4 | [03:52] Electric Light Orchestra - Across The Border (Jeff Lynne) Rock |
B1 | [04:02] Electric Light Orchestra - Night In The City (Jeff Lynne) Pop |
B2 | [04:30] Electric Light Orchestra - Starlight (Jeff Lynne) Pop |
B3 | [03:51] Electric Light Orchestra - Jungle (Jeff Lynne) Rock |
B4 | [01:21] Electric Light Orchestra - Believe Me Now (Jeff Lynne) Pop Ballad |
B5 | [04:38] Electric Light Orchestra - Steppin’ Out (Jeff Lynne) Cerebral Pop |
C1 | [04:20] Electric Light Orchestra - Standin’ In The Rain (Jeff Lynne) Cerebral Pop |
C2 | [05:10] Electric Light Orchestra - Big Wheels (Jeff Lynne) Pop Ballad |
C3 | [04:13] Electric Light Orchestra - Summer And Lightning (Jeff Lynne) Pop |
C4 | [05:05] Electric Light Orchestra - Mr. Blue Sky (Jeff Lynne) Prog |
D1 | [03:26] Electric Light Orchestra - Sweet Is The Night (Jeff Lynne) Pop |
D2 | [05:05] Electric Light Orchestra - The Whale (Jeff Lynne) Electronica |
D3 | [04:21] Electric Light Orchestra - Birmingham Blues (Jeff Lynne) Pop |
D4 | [04:40] Electric Light Orchestra - Wild West Hero (Jeff Lynne) Prog |