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Joined: April 12 2013
Location: Michigan
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Points: 470
Topic: Electric Light Orchestra, are they really Prog? Posted: October 22 2014 at 23:10
TODDLER wrote:
The last thread on ELO featured negative comments/opinions about "No Answer". I was very thrown off about a hundred degree level across 5 football fields. I don't get it!...(Tom Hanks' remark in "Big"). The Jeff Lynne songs are Beatles influenced of course, however.."Look At Me Now" is a song that could have fit nicely on Gentle Giant's In A Glass House. Listen to the backing sections of the strings and how reminiscent the lead vocal style is to Derek Shulman's. Then we have a track titled "Manhattan Rumble (49th street)" which is directly tied into the style of instrumental composition that can be heard on early Gentle Giant releases. It doesn't display the presence of counterpoint, but it contains the exact same approach in style. The piece also has an influence of King Crimson somewhere along the border and after being a Prog fanatic for decades...I can't possibly be dismissive of that easily conceived observation. "The Battle Of Marston (July 2nd, 1644)" is just bizzare and Prog related because of it's theatrical presence. So...there you have it!..3 songs from this album that are genuine Prog oriented constructed pieces. It confuses me as to why sooooooo many people dislike it. I believe ELO could have done a brilliant album on the subject of Edgar Allen Poe, just as Alan Parsons did in the 70's . I believe their commercial growth out did their thoughts to giving any further effort to be progressive.
So, so
astute.I’ve long considered it one of
those albums that has a unique feel to it that’s never been duplicated, and in
the best way.It’s almost enough to make
you wish they did another one like it, but then of course it wouldn’t be
unique.
Caption: We tend to take ourselves a little too seriously.
Joined: April 01 2009
Location: Atlanta
Status: Offline
Points: 26133
Posted: October 22 2014 at 12:07
I never made the connection between "No Answer" and Gentle Giant before, but you're right. The approach to string instruments (both performance-wise and compositionally) is very similar.
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The last thread on ELO featured negative comments/opinions about "No Answer". I was very thrown off about a hundred degree level across 5 football fields. I don't get it!...(Tom Hanks' remark in "Big"). The Jeff Lynne songs are Beatles influenced of course, however.."Look At Me Now" is a song that could have fit nicely on Gentle Giant's In A Glass House. Listen to the backing sections of the strings and how reminiscent the lead vocal style is to Derek Shulman's. Then we have a track titled "Manhattan Rumble (49th street)" which is directly tied into the style of instrumental composition that can be heard on early Gentle Giant releases. It doesn't display the presence of counterpoint, but it contains the exact same approach in style. The piece also has an influence of King Crimson somewhere along the border and after being a Prog fanatic for decades...I can't possibly be dismissive of that easily conceived observation. "The Battle Of Marston (July 2nd, 1644)" is just bizzare and Prog related because of it's theatrical presence. So...there you have it!..3 songs from this album that are genuine Prog oriented constructed pieces. It confuses me as to why sooooooo many people dislike it. I believe ELO could have done a brilliant album on the subject of Edgar Allan Poe, just as Alan Parsons did in the 70's . I believe their commercial growth out did their thoughts to giving any further effort to be progressive.
Joined: April 11 2014
Location: Kyiv In Spirit
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Points: 20483
Posted: October 22 2014 at 10:07
HolyMoly wrote:
AZF wrote:
It was reported when he was in the move with Roy Wood there would be pushing of who led the band on the stage by coming on last.
That's pretty funny, if that's true. Egos can be amusing to watch in action. They can be kind of sickening too.
But they sometimes create the greatest music. Lennon and McCarney had a healthy ego battle when they composed songs in order to out do each other and get an A-side on a single. Ego's don't often have to be a negative in the early years of a band but watch out later on. The Beatles, again, for example and Pink Floyd, of course.
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Joined: January 17 2012
Location: Wirral
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Points: 1079
Posted: October 22 2014 at 08:52
What I love about the band is even though the music and songs are cheery, there is an insane desire for complete control from Jeff Lynne! Which is obviously why he re-recorded "Xaunadu so he could get rid of the co-producer credit.
It was reported when he was in the move with Roy Wood there would be pushing of who led the band on the stage by coming on last.
If ELO are Prog then this means they were my first Prog act as I grew up with only sides 3 & 4 of Out Of The Blue.
But I just wanted to point out how I'd hate to have worked for Jeff as he would have driven me mad! Despite the end result being worth listening to.
Maybe the reason they always sound great on the radio is because the listeners don't know the arguments and pressure Jeff Lynne was under when making them?
Joined: September 03 2013
Location: Rio de Janeiro
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Points: 1607
Posted: October 22 2014 at 08:29
SteveG wrote:
Toaster Mantis wrote:
I keep getting Electric Light Orchestra and Emerson, Lake & Palmer confused with each other. Probably because their abbrevations are just next to each other in the alphabet.
"Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." LvB
Joined: April 11 2014
Location: Kyiv In Spirit
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Points: 20483
Posted: October 18 2014 at 11:18
Toaster Mantis wrote:
I keep getting Electric Light Orchestra and Emerson, Lake & Palmer confused with each other. Probably because their abbrevations are just next to each other in the alphabet.
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Joined: August 22 2010
Location: Indiana
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Points: 20451
Posted: October 15 2014 at 12:55
Logan mentioned Old England Town which is from the 2nd album and I think the first two are still the most interesting things they did. For me they have that 'post Move' sound which I really liked on the last 2 Move albums.
Lynne with The Move forging his future sound .....
Edited by dr wu23 - October 15 2014 at 13:00
One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin
I love ELO. They are listed as "Crossover" here, which indicates that they are (perhaps more consistently than bands in other subgenres) a hybrid of prog and pop.
Any favorite song?
Yes I agree about crossing over. my favorites are Turn to Stone, Roll Over Beethoven, Fire on High, Strange Magic, and 10538 Overture.
This has been my favourite ELO track, but I haven't listened to the band much since I was a kid -- my bro had their early albums.
Now Now be serious ELO ELP funnies ha ha he he, the Electric Light Orchestra have always been in the no prog yes prog debate there a great band and PROG to me. I`ve a few albums there a amazing live band too!
Friedrich Nietzsche: "Without music, life would be a mistake."
Music Is Live
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Joined: April 12 2008
Location: Denmark
Status: Offline
Points: 5898
Posted: October 15 2014 at 04:54
I keep getting Electric Light Orchestra and Emerson, Lake & Palmer confused with each other. Probably because their abbrevations are just next to each other in the alphabet.
"The past is not some static being, it is not a previous present, nor a present that has passed away; the past has its own dynamic being which is constantly renewed and renewing." - Claire Colebrook
Joined: August 06 2014
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 14
Posted: October 15 2014 at 04:34
Epignosis wrote:
I love ELO. They are listed as "Crossover" here, which indicates that they are (perhaps more consistently than bands in other subgenres) a hybrid of prog and pop.
Any favorite song?
Yes I agree about crossing over. my favorites are Turn to Stone, Roll Over Beethoven, Fire on High, Strange Magic, and 10538 Overture.
Joined: April 01 2009
Location: Atlanta
Status: Offline
Points: 26133
Posted: October 13 2014 at 15:13
Time is a great album. And I, like others here, also discovered it late in the game. Very solid. Probably more solid than Discovery, the huge hit album that preceded it, which had some great singles but was pretty inconsistent overall.
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Electric Light Orchestra, are they really Prog?
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TODDLER wrote:
