I've always wondered who Bruce is. On second thought, nah, I don't really want to know who Bruce is. I'd rather keep the mystery alive.
Posts: 1855 | Registered: Mar 2003
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Ah, I couldn't really comment on the question, as I'm not a huge ELO fan. My main exposure to them was a shoddy 10 song greatest hits cd that my dad used to play.
It's kind of strange that I never made an effort to check out their stuff, cause I really like Jeff Lynne. He's not only great in the Traveling Wilburys, but he's an awesome producer who collaborates with some of my favorite musicians.
I really dig Mr. Blue Sky though. What a great song.
Posts: 1855 | Registered: Mar 2003
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yeah. that's the first song that turned me on to them officially. then i realized that i had actually heard a bunch of their songs and just didn't know it.
Do you remember that Volkswagon commercial where they used Mr. Blue Sky? I think that was the first time I heard it.
Posts: 8741 | Registered: Apr 2001
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I don't think I ever saw that one. I know I had listened to it before, but I didn't appreciate it until after I heard it in the trailer for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
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damn. i wish i could find that commercial. it was really fantastic. a few years before Eternal Sunshine. I remember being really psyched to see it in the preview though, great trailer. Apparently it was also in Adaptation, though I can't remember during what part it was used at the moment.
I also always loved Fire On High.
Posts: 8741 | Registered: Apr 2001
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There are three different types of ELO songs. The first is the songs where the orchestra tends to be joined by 1950's/60's era rock musical instruments. Try "Roll Over Beethoven". Ten there is the pop style songs they do where the format s certainly to 40 radio. The difference is that these songs are also piled on with Jeff Lynn's re-mastering and editing. The result is technically flawless music. Songs like "Mr. Bluesky" or "Bluebird is Dead" represent this type. Think of these songs as a what-if version of what would have happened had the Beatles never broken up, kept making studio concept albums, and left it all to Sir George Martin to splice together. A lot of these ELO songs could have fit in very well on SPLHCB or Yellow Submarine. You know it's ELO but if you were just a bit less musically educated, you could swear ELO is the Beatles.
Some argue that that was intentional on Jeff Lynn's part. The fact that he worked with Ringo and George a lot, and Sir Martin kinda backs that up.
The best songs by ELO are the ones that tend to be long, and a cross between a honky-tonk band and a drunk classical orchestra. "Ma Ma Ma Bell" and "Four Little Diamonds" are good examples. The songs seem unforced like the other two types of ELO songs. Catchy, good playing, and more importantly that just sound inventive.
ELO vastly better than most admit.
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