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Electric Light Orchestra - A New World Record CD (album) cover

A NEW WORLD RECORD

Electric Light Orchestra

 

Crossover Prog

3.40 | 330 ratings

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Gatot
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
3 stars A memorable album from a legendary band

As music, especially rock, has been in my life since I was a six-year old child, it's hard not to memorize how Electric Light Orchestra shone a bright light in music industry during the glory days of rock music in seventies. "A New World Record" was one of the band's albums where the cassette was available and quite popular in local record stores at small city, Madiun, where I grew up since birth until I went to university. Oh yes, "Telephone Line" was a major hit at that time through local radio stations using AM and SW frequencies because at that time FM was not invented yet. I sometime tuned Radio Australia through the SW channel to broaden my knowledge about rock music industry. On top of that, "Telephone Line" was really popular song for the teenagers like me at that time. Hey, I was 16 by the time this album was released. And you know what? This album was one of favorites as airplay for my amateur radio station: Thunderstorm Broadcasting. Wow man .! I was so proud airing tunes from ELO because it's quite unique: pop song but with intense orchestration.

The album starts with "Tightrope" (5:04) which to me it sounds like The Beatles (style and melody) with the flavor of orchestra. I like the way the string arrangements that are nicely combined in this composition. It flows nicely to the major hit "Telephone Line" (4:37) which starts with its memorable narration: "Hello, how are you ..?". It's so simple but it represents a down to earth example in standard day-to-day conversation using a telephone line. I like the title of the next track "Rockaria!" (3:13) and the beats the song produced, it's like the Beatles "Rock n Roll" music in softer mode.

"Mission (A World Record)" (4:25) is to me like a light orhestra with nice melody while the music flows in ballad style. "So Fine" (3:55) brings the music back into upbeat mode in pop style. I can sense the bass playing is dynamic right here. "Livin' Thing" (3:31) starts nicely with violin work followed by upbeat pop music that, again, reminds me to The Beatles. "Above The Clouds" (2:17) is a nice song in mellow style using string arrangements as main rhythm section. "Do Ya'" (3:44) is a rocker in happy mood. It's a nice song. The album concludes with a ballad song using nice howling guitar at opening : "Shangri-la" (5:33).

Overall, this album has been part of my life as well as yours (those of you who lived during the glory days of rock music in 70s). Even at that time, this album was not considered as really "rock" music but most of them who loved rock, they loved this band and this album. The compositions in this album are solid and the album represents a cohesive whole as the style of music is similar from one song to another. It's a memorable album. Keep on proggin' ..!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW (i-Rock! Music Community)

Gatot | 3/5 |

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