Customer Reviews

Secret Messages

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

When this album was released in 1983, it was already clear that the Electric Light Orchestra had long since peaked (back around 1977) and so it was easy to dismiss their 80's efforts. The early 80's had the band pared down to the core foursome of Jeff Lynne, Richard Tandy, Bev Bevan and Kelly Groucutt, and it seemed -- reasonably -- that synthesizers could replace their trademark string arrangements. To be honest, I don't miss them here; besides, strings would have sounded too quaint in an age of new wave and synthpop. SECRET MESSAGES is loaded with harmonic ear candy despite a couple clunkers like "Train of Gold" and "Time After Time" (which was not included on the original US vinyl release that I grew up with). In fact, I never really liked "Rock 'N' Roll Is King" ... too much of a cheesy, tongue-in-cheek nod to rockabilly 50's! In my opinion, the outstanding cuts are "Secret Messages" (mesmerizing harmonies), "Bluebird" (bittersweet pop), "Four Little Diamonds" (the real rocker on the album), "Take Me On and On" and "Stranger" (one beautiful, wistful song).

Now properly reissued with 3 bonus tracks, perhaps these new ELO reissues will invite more people to re-evaluate them. This album along with 1981's TIME is better than most people realize.

I've been getting back into ELO yet again, and beginning to appreciate Jeff Lynne's talent more than ever. Electric Light Orchestra's 1983 album "Secret Messages" strikes me as a solid, badly underrated album.

Jeff Lynne was onto something here, and although it was hardly without precedent, he really hit upon an in-your-face ear-candy production style that can be strongly detected in his subsequent production work with George Harrison and Tom Petty. Lynne hadn't entirely abandoned real orchestration here, although to a large extent he had. There are lots of synthesizers--he admits in the liner notes of this 2001 reissue of the album that he was after a more hi-tech sound, and the results are mostly impressive.

He also wrote a bunch of quality songs. The uptempo title track is a highly catchy harmony-fest with earthy and atmospheric electric guitar. The tempo-shifting "Loser Gone Wild" is a terrific track with an engagingly bluesy feel on the verses and an extremely catchy, richly harmonized chorus. "Bluebird" is a wistful and affecting, if slightly melodramatic, mid-tempo pop-rocker. The reflective "Stranger" is a supremely enjoyable ballad that sounds very similar to Al Stewart's "Song On The Radio". "Take Me On and On", with its ringing arpegiatted guitars and hushed moody feel, is sumptuous. I used to dislike "Time After Time", but I have to refute myself, as this is a spacy, wonderfully-harmonized and addictive track. "Four Little Diamonds" is rather slight, but still catchy and fun. Even "Rock 'N' Roll Is King" is hardly as lousy as I used to feel it was.

I haven't changed my mind though about "Letter From Spain", which is a dull 'atmospheric' piece with that annoying repetition of "lettah" [sic] running throughout.

Specifically regarding the 2001 reissue of "Secret Messages"... The remastering is excellent. There are also a couple of flawed, but interesting, bonus tracks--the doo-wopping "No Way Out" has a really catchy harmonized bit; and "Endless Lies" has some nice melodicism, although Lynne gets carried away with his operatic vocal sections. On the downside, the third and final bonus track, the instrumental "After All" (used as a b-side for "Rock 'N' Roll Is King") is more dull 'atmospherics' along the lines of "Letters From Spain". Also, Lynne's track-by-track "commentary" in the booklet is for the most part incredibly tossed-off and perfunctory, with nearly no insight into the actual songwriting.

In the end, "Secret Messages" is a highly enjoyable piece of work with some true essential gems--very much worth discovering if you perhaps haven't heard it in many years.

This album is simply outstanding, one of ELO's 3 very best (along with "A New World Record" and "Out of the Blue"). I don't normally fall in love with albums upon first listen, needing a little time to get into and used to them - but "Secret Messages" blew me away with each highly diverse and multi-layered and multi-faceted cut the very first time heard back in 1983.

Its predescessor album "Time" was clever as heck but somewhat self-conscious as a concept album to my ears, so "Secret Messages" felt like an incredible return to classic ELO form. The first four songs in particular are mindblowing - what a way to start a new world record!

Here's the track list of the original unreleased double album:

Side A

1. Secret Messages

2. Loser Gone Wild

3. Bluebird

4. Take Me On And On

Side B

5. Stranger

6. No Way Out

7. Beatles Forever

8. Letter From Spain

9. Danger Ahead

Side C

10. Four Little Diamonds

11. Train Of Gold

12. Endless Lies

13. Buildings Have Eyes

14. Rock 'n' Roll Is King

Side D

15. Mandalay

16. Time After Time

17. After All

18. Hello My Old Friend

All these songs are on the remastered version except for "Buildings Have Eyes", "Mandalay", "Hello My Old Friend" (these three on "Afterglow"), and the almost impossible-to-find tribute "Beatles Forever" (whose lyrics can be found at http://hjem.get2net.dk/10538overture/Tekster/ELO/BEATLES%20FOREVER.htm). So you can patch together something close to the original unreleased album using iTunes, which is well worth the trouble.

Here are some thought-provoking excerpted "secret" comments from Paul F. Johnson that only appear on the Amazon review of the unremastered CD: "Jeff Lynne solely became ELO at this point and he also found the sweet spot as a producer and singer. ... The Willburys sound was born in this album. I am still not sure how he got that overly processed-yet-dry sound that is the Jeff Lynne trademark, but it really seems to have begun with 'Secret Messages.' ... Rick Rubin and Jeff Lynne have done as much for the sound of what we hear today as anyone, and this CD is a good source for understanding why."

Also on this Amazon review thread, Ernie Clark misguidedly rates only 1 star (!#?!@*!) with the explanation that "I would be giving this remastered version of ELO's classic 'Secret Messages' cd five stars if it weren't for the fact that it's missing the final 33 second outro that was on the original cd and vinyl album. How could Jeff Lynne leave out this part of the cd?" I don't know what to say about Ernie's CD, but that spooky 33 second outro is DEFINITELY on the remastered CD that I bought. So how about restoring those missing 4 stars?!?

(...).

When this album was first released during the era of punk, new wave and techno, it was largley ignored. Its a shame - it still stands, in my opinion, as a landmark of Beatlesque production and pop songwriting at its best. Originally intended as a double set, the album was trimmed down for its original release nearly 20 years ago. This remaster version is well worth a listen - the lushness of the sound textures are maximized, and three bonus tracks are added. The highlights - the title track, "Bluebird" (should've been a hit single), "Four Little Diamonds" "Stranger" "Danger Ahead". The bonus "Endless Lies" is a standout. This track, originally part of the scrapped double album, was left off the original release and re-recorded for 1986's Balance of Power. With slightly different lyrics and a fuller sound than the "BOP" version, this song fits right in on this disc. My only regret about this remaster - it would have been ideal if this album was rereleased in its original double format. It's missing the stellar tracks "Hello My Old Friend" and "Mandalay", as well as "Buildings Have Eyes" that were released on the box set "Afterglow." And, of course, true afficiandos will miss the presence of the "Holy Grail" of ELO-dom, the never released "Beatles Forever." The song, a tribute to Jeff Lynne's favorite group, has been long talked about but rarely heard. Even with these shortcomings, the CD represents Jeff Lynne at his peak - brilliant songwriter, ingenious arranger and, above all, a visionary producer.

It couldnt started better. The song "Secret Messages" is one of the best songs they have written. In fact many of their best songs are here "Secret Messages", "Take me on and on", "Four Little Diamond", "Stranger", "Danger Ahead", "Letter from Spain" and the funny rocker "Rock n`Roll is king". This alone makes the cd worth it, and then there is all those songs that havent gotten worthy playtimes, like "Bluebird".

My favorite song of ELO is Danger Ahead. It is a upbeat rocker with a tight and typical ELO sound, with a wonderful chorus. I love it, and it makes the cd even better.

It may not be the good old ELO as they were on Eldorado and those records, but on the other hand, I prefer the Jeff Lynne dominated style, on the newer records. Those who reads my other reviews knows my knack for his style.

I give this cd 5 stars, there ARE some not so good songs here, but the good ones make it all worth it. Buy this one!

While it lacks the lush strings and big choruses of the classic mid-70s period ELO, this CD is a great collection of synth art pop tunes. SECRET MESSAGES was originally slated to be a double album. That didn't happen; it was finally released in 1983 as a single album. As it stands, it's a very concise pop statement free of filler and loaded with killer hooks. Jeff Lynne, the "guiding light" behind ELO, is rightfully regarded as a genius when it comes to his production wizardry...and certainly, SECRET MESSAGES is a brilliant marriage of studio sheen with lively, superb musicianship. However, Jeff rarely gets the credit he deserves as a lyricist. On SECRET MESSAGES, Jeff paints vivid word pictures that ring true time after time. The title track is one of those vintage ELO performances; intricate wordplay, tight harmonies, memorable melody. A sense of loneliness and loss pervades such songs as "Bluebird," "Take Me On," "Stranger" (which is somewhat reminiscent of Al Stewart), and the beautifully delicate "Letter from Spain." All of these are so radio-friendly that I cannot understand why they weren't big hits. ("Letter" was used to promote the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games.) "Loser Gone Wild" is quirky and took some time to grow on me...but I love it now (especially the barking dog bits). (Please excuse all the brackets.) "Danger Ahead" is a great rocker; another incredible melody and hook. This track reminds me a bit of Cheap Trick; it's no secret that the guys in Cheap Trick are big Move and ELO fans. Then, there's "Rock and Roll is King," which hit #19 on the pop charts. It still resonates, thanks to a timeless rock arrangement and feel-good lyric. Mik Kaminski makes a welcome return on that track with a sizzling violin solo. "Four Little Diamonds" is a gem of a track in the "Don't Bring Me Down" mode. This tongue-in-cheek tale of love gone wrong features one of Jeff's better vocal performances. ELO's sales faded during the 1980's, due in large part to the prevailing "hair band" ethic of the day. But many of those heavy metal "artists" have come and gone, leaving behind a sad legacy of bad albums, worse videos, and totally embarrasing spandex. On the other hand, ELO's music has endured and grown in stature, thanks to the vision and gifts of Jeff Lynne, Bev Bevan, Kelly Groucutt, and Richard Tandy. This special expanded edition of SECRET MESSAGES includes three outstanding tracks: "Endless Lies" (expanded and improved beyond the track that appears on BALANCE OF POWER), "No Way Out" (a moody, noirish, jazzy track), and the gorgeous instrumental "After All."

This would have been great if execs would have let Jeff release it as a double album.I remember waking up at 3am to Rock'n'Roll is King playing on the tv/radio.I was on my way to army basic and I was in a hotel.I had never heard this one and it was May 1983,before they released the LP.I had to wait three months to hear the album but I always have a story about it.The Afterglow box set has the other unreleased songs on it in case you're interested.There are many cool tunes here.I love the little things he threw in here, like the wella..wella bit for R'n'R is King.Who else do you know of who does this kind of stuff for their songs.Very cool and unique.Some overlooked gems here and even better with the remastering,insight,lyrics and bonus stuff.

Secret Messages sure were secret messages, because the band began losing popularity yet only made this album because a contract said so, but how can songs such as these come from JEFF's broken heart? In my opinion, only 2 weaker (not weak) tracks on this album and Jeff actually kind of solo's on the guitar on this album. Secret Messages (the song) deserves more credibility being an awesome pop song, with a more personal feel to Jeff. LOSER GONE WILD is definately worth the wait for the refrain, another loser gone wild, catchy. BLUEBIRD is one of the more spirit rising tracks, that works! TAKE ME ON AND ON is a track that reminds me of nights with your girl, and you want to be with her. TIME AFTER TIME, is a little weak, but I always listen to it for some reason? Must be a good song if I keep coming back to it. FOUR LITTLE DIAMONDS is the hard rocker on the album, but has basically the same drum loops that Don't Bring Me Down has exept the refrain, so it's quite familiar to it but different with some guitar licks and more than one drum beat, good song. STRANGER is just sweet pop with a nice solo in it. DANGER AHEAD is easily everones favorite on the album, and no one can turn down the song because it's imposibble to not like it, just hear it to believe it. LETTER FROM SPAIN started weak in my opinion with the "letter" singing in the backround which just makes me feel like smashing something, but the singing eventually makes up for it if you don't think about "letter" backround vocals. TRAIN OF GOLD is a mediocre song, but it has a guitar solo so it'll do. ROCK'N'ROLL IS KING is the hit of the song, which reminds me of "HOLD ON TIGHT" but a hit none the less. The extra tracks are great, and the best is AFTER ALL, nice guitar. This is definately the best-of synth ELO, pick it up!

I remember being disappointed when this album first appeared on vinyl. I adored (still do) the post-Roy Wood / pre-Discovery albums, and really missed Jeff Lynne's complex and full-bodied orchestral and choral arrangements, through which the group had (after Wood's departure) truly fulfilled its name, "The Electric Light Orchestra." When they officially changed their name to "ELO" upon the release of Discovery, it signified a dramatic change in the group's approach to popular music.

Since the original release of Secret Message, however, the album has grown on me and I now agree wholeheartedly with those who have said that this is one very good, very underrated album - with the caveat that I am referring to the original album as first issued on vinyl and CD, not the re-issued version. There is not a bad song on the original release - most are at least very good, and a couple are almost on par with the group's best work. Some, like Bluebird, Take Me On And On , and Letter From Spain, harken back to the deeply emotional quality of some of Lynne's earlier song writing. All of them are rich in texture. The guitar work on Take Me On And On, for instance, is crisp and bluesy; and Train Of Gold reveals new layers of sound upon repeated listening. Other reviewers have complained that Rock 'N' Roll Is King is ultra-poppy and rockabillyesque. All true, but the song nonetheless is exactly what it strives to be. I think it still fits in stylistically with the rest of the album (partly due to the excellent guitar work, which characterizes much of Secret Messages); and, as the last track on the original release, Rock 'N' Roll Is King provides a nice finale.

Having said all of this, the re-issue of Secret Messages is ruined by the insertion of Time After Time, which, stylistically, is completely out of place in the middle of the album, and breaks up the otherwise perfect mix and progression of music. More detrimental, though, is the simple fact that Time After Time is one of the worst songs Jeff Lynne and company ever produced. The bonus tracks on the re-issue also suffer for the same reasons. All of the these extra songs sound a lot like the sub-par tracks that later appeared on the final ELO album (before Zoom), Balance of Power. For reasons I myself don't understand, other Amazoners have given Balance of Power rave reviews, so I guess folks who like that album will like the extras on the Secret Messages re-issue. Those who like the original version of Secret Messages and agree that BoP is a weak album may be disappointed and should perhaps stick with the first Messages release. The 30 second track samples on Amazon will be enough to help you decide, so give them a listen before purchasing. If you don't like the extra tracks on the re-issue you'll be able to find the original Secret Messages release for sale someplace on the Web, if not on Amazon.

A superb 1983 ELO release. "Secret Messages" combines techno, pop and rock in a brilliant musical forum. From "Secret Messages" to "Four Little Diamonds" to "Stranger" this cd rocks. There is no filler songs on "Secret Messages" as every track speaks volumes of vibrant raucous, romantic harmony. "Secret Messages" is definitly an under appreciated gem of the 1980s. "Secret Messages" is a smooth listen, written by Jeff Lynne, one of Britians all time song writers. A nice sounding, remastered cd with fine linear notes, song lyrics and three previously unreleased tracks. Highly recommended listening, you should own this under appreciated 1983 gem.....................