Customer Reviews

Out of the Blue

5 star:		(82)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

You know those desert island discs people talk about? Those top 10 lists? This CD is one of those for me.

In 1977, I was a teenager, just graduated from high school, working the lightweight job. ELO's previous album "A New World Record" was in the 8-track deck in the Pinto a lot. I adored everything about that project and like a lot of ELO fans anxiously awaited the next release. When I heard it was going to be a double album I was prepared for the worst. After all, how many double album packages were great? OK, the Beatles white album was pretty good but I was afraid Jeff Lynne would produce a mess like the John Lennon "Number 9" thing at the end of the white album. (OK, you can direct the hate mail to me.)

But I was not prepared when I went to the record store in 1977 and plopped down almost four hours wages at the time to buy the 8 track on the day of release. I didn't open it up then, I went immediately home and relaxed a bit, put on the headphones and listened. Holy moley! I listened again. And again. I remember I listened to it 6 times that night. I couldn't get over the fact that there was nothing wrong with this album. Starting off with the single "Turn To Stone" and ending with the fantasy "Wild West Hero" I couldn't find fault. I instantly thought "Sweet Talkin' Woman" was one of the finest singles ever. "Jungle" a song about ALL the world and its inhabitants having one big party, the four song "concerto", "The Whale" one of the finest songs with whales singing the lead.

Each song evokes a different emotion and strong memories for me. This IS Jeff Lynne's masterpiece. I'd recommend buying a greatest hits package if you want ELO's biggies, but if you want to dig a bit deeper and get a sense of what a great composer and producer Jeff Lynne is (hey, he wasn't a "Traveling Wilbury" for nothing), then this 4 sided record on 1 CD is the to buy. Since that initial 8 track, I bought it on LP and now on CD, where it sounds as bright and crisp as the LP and of course 100 times better than the ol' 8 track. Where is that thing anyway?

The knock on most double albums is, "Well, it would've been a great single album." People even say this about the Beatles white album. There is no such criticism here, ELO packed many marvelous songs on this fine work. It constantly amazes me that critics loathe ELO, radio stations refuse to play their music and they have been relegated to the scrap heap of music. Why? Jeff Lynne wrote some of the most amazingly durable and futuristic songs of anyone of that era. Beatlesque in his arrangements, his lyrics are oftentimes more probing and clever than most of what McCartney churned out in the 70's.

ELO's music continues to inspire, bring a smile to your face and awaken you from the doldrums. This is a fantastic album, you can listen to it without skipping a song, it's that good.

The ELO evolved from The Move, a late sixties pop group famous for Flowers in the rain and Blackberry way, but their music is noticeably different. Although my favorite ELO album is A new world record, this is a very fine album in it's own right. Originally released as a double LP, it is a classic example of ELO's music.

The standout track is Mr Blue Sky, a happy, upbeat song that was (at least in Britain) the biggest hit on this set - the other UK hits were Sweet talking woman, Turn to stone and Wild West hero. Although the hits were mostly upbeat, rocking songs, most of the album is actually quite mellow by comparison. Still, the blending of orchestral swirls with rock rhythms makes for interesting listening. I think the hits are actually the best tracks here, but there are several other gems, most notably Across the border and Birmingham blues.

If you are unfamiliar with ELO's music, I recommend you go for a compilation of which there are plenty to choose from including double CD's. However, if you like their famous songs enough to be interested in exploring further, you will find much to interest you here.

I first got this album for my 13th birthday in 1977. Classic gatefold cover (remember them!) and lyrics provided on the inner sleeves.

I was mesmorised. "Concerto for the rainy day" became my favourite 'LP side' and the tunes would often come back to haunt you, even when you weren't thinking of the album at all.

Over time, my tastes changed - moving through Alan Parsons Project, Pink Floyd, Simple Minds, U2 etc, and on into the 90s, when British rock was re-born and connecting with its roots in the 60s and 70s. Suddenly the orchestral arrangements, Beatle-esque vocals and melodies of ELO didn't seem too far removed from Oasis (e.g. "Whatever"), Blur ("The Universal"), The Verve ("Bittersweet Symphony") and the other Britpop bands - Cast, Radiohead, Embrace, etc.

At this point I rediscovered ELO, and "Out of the Blue" in particular. Its longevity as an album is remarkable. While other, younger albums now sound dated, this album retains a freshness born of strong melodies, intricate arrangements and variety.

Concerto for a Rainy Day remains a favourite, as does "Stepping Out" and "Wild West Hero" (a fantastic song permanently scarred by dreadful musical interludes after each chorus).

In the decade taste forgot, this album stands out - not because it solds mega copies a la "Dark Side of the Moon", or because the fans went hysterical a la Bay City Rollers, or even because it defined a period a la Sex Pistols; but because it has survived the test of time.

. . . and into the realm of, well, damned good pop music. This is a true story: I was a snot-nosed little Yes fan in the late 70s, but now and then I'd lower myself to something as vulgar as an ELO concert "just for something to do tonight." When this tour came to town, I had heard about the plastic flying saucer stage, and I have to admit, that kind of gave a me an attitude going in. And (this is the fun, hard-to-believe part)-- I had actual front row center seats (radio industry connection gave 'em to me.) Despite the in-your-face-oh-wow effect, I was pretty bored by the over-the-top, yet coldly overproduced show. (Shame, too, because I really liked their "New World Record" and "Face The Music" tours.) A decent show, I suppose, but probably I was too stupid and whiney to enjoy it.

Flash forward 20+ years: (Another true story) -- I had purchased every cd I that I legitimately wanted, and found myself bored in a cd store. "Hmmmm. Let's pick the worst, most bad taste cd we can think of, and go home and laugh at it." Mean, no? Here's the fun part: I bought "Out of the Blue," took it home, played it, and immediately LOVED IT! I proceeded to go out and buy almost every cd in ELO's backlog (all of them from their second album to "Balance of Power,") and there's really something great going on here. Time has been very, very kind. [And their album "Time" is quite fun, too.] Two months later this showed up in Q Magazine's "What We're Listening To," column. Could it be that ELO is becoming hip again? Honestly, do yourself a favor. Buy now. It's like eating a can of chocolate frosting in one sitting. A genuine, delicious guilty pleasure. PS: This pressing needs remastering desperately. The cheapo packaging kind of sucks, too. If anyone knows of a Masterdisk cd pressing for sale, or a remastered version, please e-mail me. Hope you enjoy this disc as much as I do!

Jeff Lynne has picked this as his best ELO album, and the fans agree. This was released in 1977, ELO's peak year, when their concerts sold out and the radio was playing their music all the time. Lynne is without a doubt the heart and soul of this group. John Lennon commented in the early 70's that ELO was best equipped to carry on the "Beatles" spirit. How prophetic he was! Jeff Lynne would go on to work with George Harrison, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, as well as Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty and other pop icons.
One of the highlights of the double album (although it fits on one disc) is the Concerto for a Rainy Day: Four songs that take you from a bad storm to a beautiful blue sky (the last released as a single and now part of a movie soundtrack). Lynne's mix of violins, cellos, choirs and electric guitars has never been matched. It's such an unlikely combination that only a truly gifted musician like Lynne could pull it off successfully.
I would recommend this album to lovers of classical music, rock or Top 40 Pop. Lynne gets my vote as one of the most talented musicians that has somehow eluded the accolades he deserves. Perhaps because he doesn't seem to like the limelight. Whatever the reason, he deserves an extensive coffetable type book written about him.

Out Of The Blue is an extraordinary album with production work that I couldn't even begin to compete with. I don't think any musician has the studio wizardry that Jeff Lynne has. Not Paul McCartney. Not John Lennon. Not Brian Wilson. Not Phil Spector. But the album is very very very very good. It blows my mind! Album of all time probably. I don't mean anything I'm saying here lightly. This album is unbelievable.

The year was 1977 and I was making minimum wage working at a large discount store chain. I had discovered E.L.O just recently and had purchased all their albums to date, and then this massive colorful sci-fi looking double cocept album hits the shelves!! Wow. It came with a poster and a cardboard cut-out spaceship model too!

And, it turned out to be a magnificent concept album! Who cares if Jeff Lynne "wrote the songs that the Beatles didn't get around to writing"? Someone had to do it, right? The Beatles didn't do it so Jeff Lynn did. And it's a good thing too!

Oh yeah, doesn't "Across the Border" remind you of Brian Wilson's "Heros and Villians"? Can't you hear the riff from George Gershwin's "Rhapsody In Blue" in "Birmingham Blues"? Does it really matter? Could it have been Jeff Lynne's way of paying some tribute to other great musicians? I don't know and I haven't done the research, but it occured to me.

Oh yeah I almost forgot. "Power cello riffs can only take you so far". Yup. That's what I think when I listen to Beethoven or Dvorak. Just about says it all!

This album plays like a pop rock symphony. I didn't buy it because of their arena show. I bought it because I already owned all the ELO to date and I figued this one was going to be great too. The sad part is that ELO seemed to fall apart after this album; it just wasn't the same after this. All they had worked for throughout the 70's led up to this great work.

Finally, isn't it time for a 30th anniversary edition? Remastered with some extra stuff maybe? How about a little tiny cardboard cut-out spaceship?

This album defines ELO's early success. This assemblage of songs is awesome. I particularly enjoy "Jungle" among others. This is a CD that I put on, hit continuous play, and listen and listen. I've always liked the way that ELO's music includes not only traditional rock instrumentation, but electronic classical instruments, like strings, as well.

I enjoy "ELO's greatest hits," "Discovery," "Face the Music," "New World Record," the "Xanadu" movie soundtrack, and other works, but I believe that "Out of the Blue" will always represent the best of ELO for me.

If you buy only one ELO album, I'd recommend that you seriously consider this one. It was a two-disc LP when it came out in vinyl, now together on one CD. Great stuff!

Of all of the CDs that I own, this one ranks near the top of my "favorites" list, and has for more than 25 years. With OUT OF THE BLUE, the Electric Light Orchestra attained its apex of artistic creativity and commercial appeal. Frankly, any student of rock and pop music MUST own this album. For all of its incredible variety, this album holds together as a cohesive whole. Still, it's also easy to imagine that virtually every song on the album could have been a hit single, had they been released. Five of them were: "Turn to Stone" (my own favorite), which made synths sound incredibly organic and expressive; "Sweet Talkin' Woman," an inevitable hit; "Mr. Blue Sky," which is impossibly happy and grandiose and altogether wonderful; "It's Over," the perfect Autumn song; and "Wild West Hero," which made it big in the U.K. thanks to it's wistful, innocent theme. But, as other reviewers have pointed out, this is hardly the end of the line. "Birmingham Blues" is a great rocking tribute to the band's hometown. "Standin' in the Rain" is musically complex, yet altogether compelling. The tender-but-tough ballad "Sweet is the Night" is another song that could have been a big hit single. "Jungle" and "Across the Border" are very innovative, humorous, and vivid. "Starlight" is funky and pretty. "Steppin' Out" reminds me a bit of "Shangri La" from A NEW WORLD RECORD. "Big Wheels" is sad and gorgeous enough to make a grown man cry. "Summer and Lightning" sounds like it could have been a Brian Wilson classic. "The Whale" is an evocative instrumental. Sometimes, an album this full (17 tracks) will be loaded with filler. Not this album! It is deservedly regarded as a masterpiece, and it's still fresh and fun today.