Music Review: Electric Light Orchestra - Out of the Blue: 30th Anniversary Edition
Published February 18, 2007
In the midst of "Sweet Talkin’ Woman" (appropriately enough) I found the solution to the “surprise honey!” problem and told her I’d take the job. I also informed her I didn’t need his house key and that she should call me in about a week to pick it up. This frustrated her to no end, because I flatly refused to tell her exactly how I was going to do it!
For two days without touching paint to anything I relaxed with a pair of headphones trying to figure out Gary and why this album was his all time favorite. With pencil to sketchpad, lead singer/founder/producer Jeff Lynne’s voice on "Summer and Lightning" followed by "Mr. Blue Sky" began putting fantasy science fiction pictures in my head and on paper, and within hours I had the concept for it.
I started with the smooth back of a cheap piece of 8’ X 4’ wood paneling. In a few days I had a day scene of two opposing cliffs taking up the outer thirds of both sides of the painting. At eye level on both cliff edges were ancient castles with towers and domes. A dark hooded monk stood on the brink waving something at his twin on the opposite side who seemed to be returning the gesture.
Miles below in the middle third, I put a futuristic city on a flat plateau’s floor, with a river running through it and nifty buildings and air cars flying around in traffic patterns. Through the light blue haze above, I created a huge dead star that could barely be seen through the afternoon clouds and took up nearly the whole sky. Orbiting it was a bright and blinding dwarf star.
I almost called her to pick it up early, when while listening to "Sweet is the Night," inspiration hit yet again.
In the next few days I made some major alterations and when I was done, she arranged to get him out of the house for a few hours and I went to work in his bedroom. With some friends, we lifted it up, added a clear piece of Plexiglas to protect it and after some electrical wiring I pronounced it finished just as they returned home.
She was still fuming because I wouldn’t let her see it in advance.
When I was ready, I called them in and he didn’t notice anything; after all who looks at the ceiling every time they enter a room? The bolts that I used to put it up there with were painted over and became three-dimensional components of a few overhead hovering space ships or a tree that overhung the scene.
Jet is the not yet published author of two spy novels, SYSTEM 10 and its sequel GHOST OF A CHANCE, and a professional artist. He likes to collect books, music, chess sets, and friends. Favorite quote: "Evil only succeeds when good men do nothing."
In 2004 his "good life" came to an aburpt end with a robbery and near-fatal beating. He now works as a writer/artist on disability.
- Music Review: Electric Light Orchestra - Out of the Blue: 30th Anniversary Edition
- Published: February 18, 2007
- Type: Review
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: Rock, Music: Popular and Standards, Music: Pop, Music: Classic Rock and Oldies
- Writer: Jet Gardner
- Jet Gardner's BC Writer page
- Jet Gardner's personal site
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Comments on this articleComments
Good article Jet. I actually prefer ELO's earlier stuff like "Face the Music" and especially the magnificent "Eldorado," but Out of The Blue was probably their last really good record. The story about the painting was also fun to read. I feel like I know you a bit better now. Maybe you should write something about the painting you did that was inspired by Pink Floyd's Animals. Now I bet that would be interesting...
-Glen
Good lord, Jet. You can actually stand to listen to an entire ELO album? Scary.
Dave
Thanks Glen, believe it or not it was a landscape of a new house near Lake Erie for a rich business man.
Don't knock it till you've tried it Dave...
(:^p~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
.....As fascinating as the artwork story was, (and it was good. Sounds amazing!) I'd have liked to have heard why this CD betters my old LP, or the old CD full of digital artifacts. I'm going to buy it tomorrow, of course, in the hope that it will sound better this time around. It's definitely in my top 5 all-time of records.
.....I was originally hooked by hearing "Mr. Blue Sky" on an AM radio every night, and over the years, decided that "Standing in the Rain" was my favorite. If you could bottle the strings on that track, you'd be able to sell me another keyboard...
Acid? As I said in the review, the new photos, the story of how the album was made is reason enough.
I've been listening to ELO from the beginning.
A reissue of a title that never went out of print seems a bit odd, as does the lack of comment that it never went out of print.
You 21st Century man you.
Okay Paul, I'll repeat: It comes with and in a book that tells the story of how the group was formed in Jeff Lynne's own words and there are dozens of photos that are previously unreleased along with three previously unreleased tracks.
Reason enough for someone who maybe owns the vinyl but never had a good excuse to buy the CD to do so now.
Attention: I'd like to invite everyone to look at the right side menu. That button marked BC Forums....
more new stuff please jeff.
does anyone know if jeff lynne is going to tour again orrelease any new music?
Thanks Colin, from what information I could garner, Lynne has no plans to reform the group. The previous releases before this were all greatest hits compilations (All over the World)
I know, I'm disappointed too.
Jet
Jet, electric light band? What does this have to do with pit bulls and Elvis on the Titanic? Im confused.
Hi Jet, what an interesting article! I, too, am a fan of ELO. I shared this article with others that are fans including my brother-in-law who is an artist like you. Did you happen to take a picture of your masterpiece? I would love to see that! Also wanted to say that the lastest releases are remasters of Face the Music and A New World Record (2006), and Balance of Power and Out of the Blue (2007). If anyone wants to purchase these but can't find them, they can be purchased from ELO's website. Also, you can find out the latest news by joining the ELO email list.
Great job Jet!
Amy
Thanks Amy, unfortunately my portfolio and the photo negatives for that era were destroyed in a fire. I'm glad you enjoyed the review and thanks for the info
Jet
You're right David, it is an excellent resource and I have checked it out. It appears to be run by a very true and knowledgeable fan.
one warning however. the site appears to want to run software on my computer when I enter the site or any of its side links...
there's music on some pages. Maybe it's the reason
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For an even larger view of the original album artwork click my URL.