Review: All Over the World, The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra
Published September 20, 2005
The Very Best Of Electric Light Orchestra - All Over The World
Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) was the very first concert I attended. The ELO spaceship landed inside half of the Pontiac Silverdome, which looks a lot like a spaceship as well! The year was 1979, and I still remember sitting there with my parents in awe of the cool spaceship as they played. I remember singing my heart out to the tunes, 'Mr Blue Sky', 'Rockaria!', 'Telephone Line', and 'Livin' Thing'. The same feelings were felt when I listened to the new ELO compilation CD, All Over The World, The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra!
The CD contains 20 of ELO's greatest hits, and it is a must for someone who likes ELO, but doesn't want to purchase each individual CD for their popular songs. The music on this CD spans over thiry (30) years and also contains: 'Don't Bring Me Down', 'Turn To Stone', 'Hold On Tight', 'Rock And Roll is King', and surprisingly, 'The Diary of Horace Wimp'. The latter song is from the Discovery album and is a secret favorite of mine, maybe because the song talks about the guy getting the girl when he usually wouldn't. Also included is the hit, 'Alright' from the last ELO CD, 'ZOOM' and a version of 'Xanadu' (written by Jeff Lynne, the song made popular by the Olivia Newton John movie) sung by Jeff Lynne himself, which I feel is good enough to replace the original!
Jeff Lynne is the writer, producer, and lead singer of ELO. Without him, ELO would not have the 'talking piano' found in 'Mr. Blue Sky' or the fast talking lyrics in 'Turn To Stone'. The liner notes of the CD are written by Jeff himself in April of 2005, and contain classic photos of ELO in concert, and the different hair styles of Jeff. ELO was a groundbreaking band in it's day, from some of the first back-masking found in songs, to alleged lip-syncing of their music in concerts. ELO was critisized for these in the past, but now those practices are almost expected!
ELO's music stands the test of time, and looking forward to having my son sing the same songs I used to sing when I was his age! Maybe someday, I can even take him to an ELO concert, and bring another generation to the great live experience of ELO as well.
![All Over the World: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51FNVGEXM9L._SY90_.jpg "All Over the World: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]")
- Review: All Over the World, The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra
- Published: September 20, 2005
- Type: Review
- Section: Music
- Writer: Zaldor
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Yep, those were great days Joanie!
Can anyone explain why Epic just released this compilation when their previous one (The Essential Electric Light Orchestra) came out only two years ago?
A nice write up about ELO and Jeff Lynne. Nice to see there are a few critics with intelligence. So many bash Jeff Lynne for some insane purpose without much knowledge of what the man has accomlished in the industry for close to 40 years.
I agree HazMatCFO. Jeff Lynne doesn't seem to get his due. He really was innovative in the studio. I would think he is probably well respected amongst industry types and most musicians. He should be anyway.
I'm surprised that Lynne even ACKNOWLEDGED the existence of Xanadu, much less produced a different version. Last I heard, he was practically ranting in his ridicule and criticism of the music of that album/film. Like most of their efforts, I quite liked it and was saddened that Jeff would feel that way about such a chunk of their work. And just like their other stuff, part of the reason I so liked it was that it was "different." ELO was one of those FAN-tastic groups of yesteryear, whose likes we unfortunately just don't seem to have (for the most part) today. Why is it I feel like an old fart, whenever I make that last comment?!
This is the first appearance of a remastered "Wild West Hero" and "All Over The World". "Alright" was also apparently remastered but doesn't sound much different to me in comparison with the 2001 issue. Makes one wish the rest of ELO's catalog would be remastered and re-issued.
The fantastic attribute that Jeff Lynne brings to music is a great sense of melody. Virtually no one can construct a melody as well as the big JL (Paul Macartney coming in at a close 2nd).
He also has a great sense of arrangement.My theory as to why ELO relied on the odd lip sync is not because they were insufficient as musos. Every musician in ELO was superb. The fact of the matter is that Jeff would utilise a 40 piece string orchestra in all his albums from 1975-1981. Trying to replicate the sound on stage would have been difficult. When the stage act consisted of two 'cellos and a violin,it became a shit fight to cover parts.
Aw... I just don't like his production. Too processed or something. I dunno - most of the time I can't even sit though an album's worth of his productions to identify what exactly it is I don't like, which is unlike me. I guess you can't like everything.
The problem is that people give too much of a continental with production. Yeah, sure, Jeff Lynne might go overboard with compression, limiting, overdubbing, sound effects etc.....but he has remarkable musical ideas. I don't really care if music has the clean production of Jeff Lynne, or the rough as guts production of Frank Zappa- just as long as the musical ideas are present!!!
Probably one of The greatest musical talents of modern times. Surrounded himself with talented people in the studio and on stage.His music speaks volumes . No current Band (sorry karaoke group) can be looked on as a modern day equivelant.
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"Blue days, black nights..."
"You're looking good just like a snake in the grass.
One of these days you're gonna break your ass."
Yes, I owned ELO albums. Back when there WERE albums. And, I played my ELO until my older sister screamed in frustration. Heh. The plus side: she loaned me her Marshall Tucker, Charlie Daniels, Jeff Beck, and Tommy Bolin records.
I was slightly evil back then, too.