THE NIGHT THE LIGHT WENT ON IN LONG BEACH

At the time of purchase, I remember that I was a bit disappointed with this ELO live effort. Probably due to the absence of any track from "El Dorado" (Lynne probably reluctant to play songs from it without an orchestra...).

It was quite interesting then to listen back to this album in 2006 to allow me to review it. Actually, I was quite positively surprised by the start.

Both "Daybreaker" and "Showdown" (specially this one) are superior to their studio version. "Showdown" was not one of my preferred tracks from "On The Third Day", but here it is a sensational rendition and probably the best on this live album.

Their version of "Daytripper" could have been a highlight. Whoelse than ELO could produce a great Beatles cover ? Well, honestly they are not quite convincing in doing so. "10538 Overture" is as good as their studio version is, which means : great !

We get then a short Kaminski violin solo which turns into a cow-boy jam that should have been avoided. But since this one lasts only two minutes, there is no damage.

Next track is a dual one : "In the Hall of the Mountain King/Great Balls of Fire" : like many times in live performances, the tracks are harder and this is no exception. Since I thought that the studio version for "In the Hall..." was way too long, I can only be pleased with this downsized version. Kaminski is doing a great job here.

This rock'n'roll classic from Otis Blackwell but made famous by Jerry Lee Lewis is a quite good appetizer for the closing "Roll Over Beethoven". This song is one of my ELO fave. It is a pity though that it is kind of emasculated in comparison with the original version (over eight minutes on the European release). Usually, live tracks are longer, aren't they ? It is far to reach the classicism, grandeur, emotion of the studio one. Therefore, I guess, my disappointment some thirty-two years ago. I was dreaming of a ten minutes frenesy and craziness maybe ?

This live album is as good as it could be, but doesn't belong to the great ones of the genre. Three stars.