No Answer (Exp) [Original recording remastered]

E.L.O. | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 28, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B000EHQ7VK
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #135,695 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How 'bout a review on the merits of the music?, April 16, 2006

By 

J. A. DeSilva (San Jose, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: No Answer (Exp) (Audio CD)

As I'm not an "audiophile" or professional sound engineer, I'm not going to get into the merits of "lack of tape hiss" or "bad EQ" or the engineering expertise of EMI's Peter Mew. What I will say is that as a long-time ELO fan, I'm very impressed with what I hear on this disk. If you weren't fortunate enough to get the original "First Light" 2-disk UK edition of this album (probably only for die-hard early ELO fans to be honest), then this CD is definitely the next best thing, at a very reasonable price. This is the original concept of ELO, conceived by Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne. Very experimental pieces of music, most of which work beautifully. The magnificent "10538 Overture" is the template for all that went after, even during the "hit-making" years. Roy Wood's contributions are some of his best work - "Look At Me Now", "Whisper In The Night", and "First Movement (Jumpin' Biz)". "The Battle Of Marston Moor" is probably a hard listen for those who loved "Discovery" and "Xanadu", but an interesting example of the sincere attempt to meld classical and rock together in one piece of music. The bonus tracks are also interesting insights into the creative process that went into making this album.

If you like this, you should also check out the EMI remastered edition of the Move's "Message From The Country", which was recorded simultaneously with this album. In fact "10538 Overture" was originally intended to be a Move "B-side".

It really doesn't matter what the technical aspects of the remastering process are if the music isn't good - so if you're into progressive, experimental music with an early 1970's English pop music basis, you should check this out.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No Answer, the way it ought to be heard, September 6, 2006

By 

Steven C. Schalk (New Orleans, Louisiana United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: No Answer (Exp) (Audio CD)

I've listened to ELO since before I could speak. My dad was into them from the start so I've grown up listening to his CDs and LPs. I always thought "No Answer" had some funky sounding stuff on it, but it's unbelieveable how much better (and it's already an amazing album to begin with) it is on the newly remastered edition. And the extra takes on 10538 Overture, Mr. Radio, Nelle Takes Her Bow, and Battle of Marston Moor (always thought that one was kind of freaky actually) are absolutely amazing. What is this whining about noise reduction? Discounting the live DVD of the "Zoom" concert in LA, I've never heard ELO sound better than in the new remastered series, especially "No Answer" and "ELO II." I highly recommend the entire remastered series, including "No Answer" and "ELO II."

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Move morphs into orchestral vision, September 14, 2006

By 

Dr. Emil "Tom" Shuffhausen (Central Gulf Coast) - See all my reviews

This review is from: No Answer (Exp) (Audio CD)

HERE IS THE NEWS

Thanks to Epic/Legacy, we now have the continuation of the long-awaited, much-needed re-mastering of The Electric Light Orchestra's historic, vital catalog. This, ELO's very first album, is presented in this release with a much richer and cleaner sound, improved graphics, and eye-opening alternate mixes included as bonus tracks.

Thus spake ELO founders Roy Wood, Jeff Lynne, and Bev Bevan in 1971: "We want to pick up where the Beatles left off on 'Strawberry Fields' and 'I Am the Walrus.'" Roy was the leader of the amazingly popular band, The Move, while Jeff was the leader of an up-and-coming group called Idle Race. When personnel problems created an opening in The Move, Roy invited Jeff to join he and drummer Bev Bevan. Jeff consented, provided that he and Roy could work on their side "orchestra rock" project...an experimental and daring melding of classic rock with classical orchestral instrumentation and arranging.

In 1971, the Electric Light Orchestra was birthed out of The Move with a lumbering single called "10538 Overture," which quickly ascended the charts in England. Little did they know then that this accompanying album, NO ANSWER, would be the herald of one of rock and roll's most enduring success stories.

THE SONGS

"10538" is essentially a Move single, and as such is wonderfully quirky, melodic, and mysterious...it's edgy, and punched along by the sound of sawing strings and rumbling guitars. At points, it sounds like a herd of elephants tromping through the jungle, and it even threatens to fall apart rhythmically, before grudgingly swinging back into a cohesive march. It definitely resembles the aforementioned Beatles tunes, and definitely takes them a step further.

"Look At Me Now" is a very nice-yet-urgent Roy Wood ballad, with an interesting arrangement and instrumental curios. Wood's voice can be high, keening, and plaintive, and conveys a tremendous amount of emotion. The accompanying strings and woodwinds are fairly spare and unadorned--this is like a more rustic version of "Eleanor Rigby."

Up next, "Nellie Takes Her Bow" sounds like Jeff Lynne gone vaudeville, and is very effective, though perhaps overly long. It's a fairly gentle track, suddenly interrupted by a jarring martial instrumental break, which actually might have fit better in the following cut...

..."The Battle of Marston Moor (July 2nd 1644)." This is primarily an instrumental, preceeded by a stirring battle speech. It's very cinematic, albeit rough and tumble...but it ain't what some would call "rock and roll." Do check out Bev Bevan's snazzy, tricky percussion work here--it's brilliant. Overall, this song earns ELO points for trying, but it is not, at the end of the day, extraordinarily listenable.

Wood's "1st Movement" on the other hand, is a wonderful pastiche of guitar and string quartet, not unlike "Classical Gas." It swings along very nicely for approximately three minutes with a memorable and cohesive melody, sparked by some very fine picking.

Jeff Lynne takes his turn next with the beautiful "Mr. Radio," a sad, nostalgic, evocative tune that highlights Jeff's great talent for pathos, even at an early age. It's perhaps the closest thing to the later ELO sound on this album, as piano and strings blend sweetly together, wrapping Jeff's soulful vocal in a warm cocoon of comfort.

ELO goes instrumental again with "Manhattan Rumble (49th St. Massacre)," a jaunty-yet-ominous Jeff Lynne piano workout that chugs along like some eerie 1930s mob film. I love the little whimsical break in the middle...one can picture Edward G. Robinson, cool hats, tommy guns, and dancing girls all hanging out at some swanky Chicago speakeasy.

Picking up with the Beatles sound again, the band gives us "Queen of the Hours," which would have sat comfortably on "The White Album," perhaps. The gentle melody is offset by a jumping, jarring string counterpoint during the choruses and instrumental breaks, which adds a lot of drama before cooling down again during the verses.

One of the best ELO ballads ever is the sweet and stirring "Whisper in the Night," featuring Roy, a guitar, a few strings, and a prayer. It's a nice benediction for this album. Again, Roy's voice is so simple and unadorned--when he launches into a pure falsetto, it's genuinely moving.

BONUS SONGS

The alternate tracks offered here are interesting from a historical viewpoint, although they are not essential to anyone but the hardcore collector. Still, they provide interesting insight as to how these songs evolved and were constructed.

Perhaps the most intriguing tracks for me are "Mr. Radio" and "Nellie Takes Her Bow," simply to see a slightly different vision from what the band ultimately released. With "10538 Overture," we are reminded once more of The Move and their own stirring legacy.

RECOMMENDATION

I would love to start a campaign for Roy, Jeff, and Bev to do more work together. Until then, I'll give this CD and all of my Move stuff some more spins. If you're expecting the polished power pop of A NEW WORLD RECORD or OUT OF THE BLUE, you'll be surprised and maybe disappointed. But, if you approach this CD with an open mind, and a little patience, you'll find it to be ultimately a richly rewarding experience.