Customer Reviews

Eldorado

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I've recently become reacquainted with this recording, which I first fell in love with at the age of 12-13. It's funny that we live in an age that has been willing to redefine the likes of Abba and the Bee Gees as respectable music -- that is, even the most superficial pop can be celebrated from a countercultural sort of mindset -- but the art-rock excesses of the 1970s are still taboo. Over the last 20 years, pretentious displays of musical erudition within the bounds of pop music have become the unforgivable sin. Accordingly, any record with a title like, "A Symphony by the Electric Light Orchestra" is going to be sneered at. So if you buy this CD, you may feel compelled to hide it from your friend who works in the record store.

This isn't the ELO of "Livin' Thing" and "Sweet Talkin' Woman." If you've come looking for ELO at their most snappily pop, you've come to the wrong place. But what *is* here is far, far more rewarding.

To be fair, pop musicians did get carried away with this stuff in the 1970s. No doubt impressed by the Beatles' ability to combine and sequence several songs seamlessly (Sgt. Pepper, Abbey Road) in a sort of medley or symphonic-movement format, as well as their ability to incorporate classical instruments into pop songs, bands from ELP to Pink Floyd to ELO to the Moody Blues all seemed to determine to show off their classical "chops" and technical wizardy, and in the course of this, the pop aesthetic was lost amid in-your-face "Look what we can do!" messages. The difference between Eldorado and most of these records is that Jeff Lynne's songs are so darn good in a purely pop way.

Jeff Lynne throws the whole kitchen sink in here -- lavish orchestrations, a choir singing backup, lyrics that steal from Shakespeare and Walter Scott, musical stylings borrowed from the soundtracks of old Hollywood. And I disagree with those who find this to be pompous; rather, it's done with a wink, and it is pure fun.

The opening strains of the record, the Eldorado Overture, sound like the soundtrack of some old 1950s film version of a Grimm's Fairy Tale. It's far too whimsical to be taken as anything other than a bit of parody, but the energy that is kicked up when the orchestra and the band get going is very real, and when the Overture settles into ELO's classic Can't Get it Out of My Head, only a callous listener could avoid being affected by it.

One thing that the CD reminds me of is how lush and distinctive was ELO's sound then, the way that Lynne combines the string section and his electrical instruments with great ingenuity. As soon as the full ensemble starts playing together halfway through the first verse of Can't Get it Out of My Head, you're reminded that nothing else sounds like this.

And there are plenty of other truly great songs on this album. Laredo Tornado is forbiddingly bluesy, and I can't quite put my finger on the style that is being riffed off of with the strings. Mister Kingdom is a lovely melody and is made more beautiful by a restrained performance of the verses. Illusions in G Major is mindless fun, and Eldorado is really a gorgeous tune, one of Lynne's best.

But even the ones that rank below those masterpieces -- Boy Blue, Poor Boy, Nobody's Child -- show off Lynne's ability to pull off impressive atmospheric styling (for instance, a film noir feel in Nobody's Child.)

Is it all too over-the-top to be a rock classic in the sense of the Rolling Stones or the Beatles' music? Indeed it is. But that doesn't diminish what Eldorado is -- a combined display of musical virtuosity and pop music composition that is nearly without parallel. Jeff Lynne went on to propel ELO to pop music stardom, but this creation of his, on the brink of that stardom, is a jewel, an expression of a talent that is no less unique and amazing simply because pop music chose afterwards to go in a different direction.

With 1974's ELDORADO (their fourth studio album), the Electric Light Orchestra launched an unabated 12-year, 9 album trail of consistently incredible brilliance. Not only did this album raise the bar for ELO, but for all progressive rock bands. ELDORADO, billed as "A Symphony by the Electric Light Orchestra" is a powerful concept album about the grandiose renaissance dreams of a poor worker, stuck at a "bank job in the city." "Overture" and "Can't Get it Out of My Head" lay out the foundation for the story, and remind us that, in dreams, "no pain may kiss the brow/the love of ages fills the head." Musically, the orchestral richness of ELO is in full bloom throughout the album...a heavenly concoction of strings, synths, and guitar work that is alternately shimmery and biting. "Boy Blue" is an underrated ELO classic, with the great line, "I have fought in some of the holiest wars/I have smashed some of the holiest jaws." "Poor Boy (The Greenwood) is a vivid Robin Hood tale and "Illusions in G Major" is another of those great ELO retro-rockers. "Mister Kingdom" is a fine prog-rock ballad and "Eldorado" is all majestic magnificence, as Jeff Lynne's voice ventures into Roy Orbisonville, singing "I will stay, I'll not be back...I will be free, of the world." Lynne carries the listener with him..."free, of the world." With this album, ELO broke free from the obscurity of being a really good "unheard" band into the pantheon of enduring classic rock artists. ELDORADO was an ambitious concept that paid off handsomely 25 years ago, and still continues to pay dividends to the listener who is willing to make the investment today. (By the way, listen to ELDORADO and TIME back-to-back sometime, and be amazed as the story continues.)

ELDORADO strikes me as the culmination of everything Jeff Lynne was striving to achieve from as far back as The Move's LOOKING ON (5 albums earlier). Sweeping string sections (in large part thanks to Louis Clark & a full orchestra!) combining seamlessly with rock & blues guitars. With a unifying theme (daydreaming about a "better life" in the past) and instrumental bridges linking it all together, this is virtually ELO's "Days Of Future Past" (or, to a lesser extent, "Sgt. Pepper"-- Lynne's favorite album!). Standouts are the magnificent "Eldorado Overture", "Can't Get It Out Of My Head", "Boy Blue", "Laredo Tornado", "Poor Boy" (gee, that's the whole first side!) and my personal favorite, "Illusions In G Major" (an ironic "classical" title for the album's sideline into 50's ROCK & ROLL! ). After this, apparently having felt he'd "proved his point", ELO headed back into more pop-based material-- and greater "commercial" success.

Electric Light Orchestra peaked with this album. This is the pre-sellout Electric Light Orchestra, before they started going by their initials, ELO. I love the songs and I love the lyrics, but most of all, I love the emotion and the feel of the whole album. Sit back in an easy chair with a glass of wine, or a doobie, and be transported to Eldorado by this timeless classic concept album.
Joe Davis

This album, ELO's second, is a concept album of the dream world, Eldorado. It's amazing. It contains two of the most amazing slower songs of all time, as well as great upbeat songs. It's well-rounded, and, on one's third or fourth listen, one will realize that there is more to the album than meets the eye.

1) Eldorado Overture: Great beginning to the album. The strings used are perfect, as well as the poem in the beginning. Marvelous song.

2) Can't Get it out of my Head: After three or four listens to this song, you will not be able to get it out of your head. One of the more remarkable songs ever.

3) Boy Blue: Classic song. Something new is discovered on every listen. Plucking on the violin is used perfectly.

4) Laredo Tornado: Another fantastic song. Somewhat slow, and just great guitar riffs.

5) Poor Boy (The Greenwood): Possibly the most overlooked song on the album. However, it's another great ELO song. Fits perfectly on the album.

6) Mister Kingdom: A most fantastic song. The first time I listened, I remember thinking, "Whoa, this song is pretty good!", as I had skipped over it for the longest time. Great ELO.

7) Nobody's Child: This song shows the diversity of ELO. They have such a wide range of songs that they are capable of performing.

8) Illusions in G Major: Another example of ELO's diversity. Such a different personality, but works perfectly. Fantastic.

9) Eldorado: My favorite song on the album. Possibly rhe most amazing song. Ever. On the fourth listen, this kicks in.

10) Eldorado Finale: Just like the Overture, but different in many ways. Great conclusion.

If you own later ELO albums, like A New World Record and Out of the Blue, it's worth going back and buying this. It shows part of ELO's evolution, but it's also a great collection of music.

This has always been my favorite by ELO. I like their pseudo-orchestral stuff better than their visits to retro-rock-and-roll. The material that came later voyages too close to ordinary pop and disco.

Listening to this album today is a guilty pleasure. I still love it! It sounds a little dated, and sometimes corny, but it's a great deal of fun.

ELO was already a well-established group when this album came along. What set El Dorado apart from earlier works is that, rather than being a collection of singles, it devoloped and kept a central theme. Along the way there are some enormously popular songs (ie "Can't Get It Out of My Head"). But what makes this album fun is the constant return to the El Dorado Theme. It's a near perfect union of power band and strings. Speaking of power, the bass drum gets a bit overbearing on this CD version, but it's still a great romp.

Thrown in as a nice bonus at the end is an extended, instrumental piece in which the major musical themes, without vocals, are smurshed together into sort of a mini-suite. Since I was always frustrated with the shortness of the symphonic sections on the original album, this truly improves the album instead of simply filling up dead CD space, as is usually the case on re-releases.

ELO fans typically love or hate this album. For me, it's love.

This is actually the richest, most fulfilling of all of Jeff Lynne's work either with ELO or post ELO. Though other ELO records may get all the hype; ala "New World Record" and "Out Of The Blue", "Eldorado" as well as "Time" take you on a lyrical as well as emotional journey that is far deeper than the singles collections that many of their other albums were. I recommend the Gold CD.

I'm a long-standing ELO fan and I can tell you that Eldorado is fantastic! Next to Out of the Blue, it is the most surprising ELO album I've ever listened to. Laredo Tornado is my very favorite with its blues influence. Make me think of New Orleans funerals -- until you get to the chorus, and then it's all ELO. Of course, the only way to listen to ELO is with the volume cranked up as high as the woofers and tweeters can stand and this album is supurb for that. You'll especially like the Eldorado Overture, Eldorado and Eldorado-Finale. A must own for ELO fans.

This is probably their first home-run album for the Electric Light Orchestra as creativity and momentum is filled here! Beginning with a soothing overture, the album starts off with a flare as Eldorado is presented following one of ELO's best songs "Can't Get It Out of My Head". The rest coincides without interlusions whatsoever. Next to the second song, the fourth, "Laredo Tornado", steals the rest of the show on side one as it shines Lynne's high-pitch tone. The second side goes rather downward but not too far! "Nobody's Child" stands strong along with the closing "Eldorado" song, one of Lynne's best as well! Probably one of the best albums for ELO, especialy for their early years!! A complex album in the studio and outside, many artists were sessioned to this one giving no official lineup for ELO! However, ELO still managed to pull a sucess with this album earning them their first Gold Record! Well worth experiencing!!