Brandon, I call, "Tightrope", the quintessential ELO song. It embodies everything the band was about, particularly during its halcyon days. It was the opening track of ELO's best album, a perfect LP start to finish, called, A New World Record. I think it's only fitting that you next react to the album's closing track, *"Shangri-la".* (Use the studio version.)
@@retroreactions.... Indeed it is. And by the way, the reason Jeff named the album, A New World Record, is because he wrote the songs during the 1976 Summer Olympics. While writing, he'd have the TV on in the other room with the Olympic games. He was just far enough away from it that the broadcast was mostly white noise, allowing him to concentrate on his songwriting. But every once in a while the announcer would break through that white noise by shouting out, *"IT'S A NEW WORLD RECORD!!!",* snapping Jeff's concentration. After it happened a few times, Jeff decided it was a sign that his as-yet-unnamed album he was writing should be named, *A New World Record".*
Hi Richard! Thanks for watching and being early 🥈 Glad I picked one that you love...Will add your vote for Shangri la, up to 6 votes now, will have to do it soon!
More ELO for you to check out: Shangri La, Showdown, Ma Ma Belle, Night In The City, Standin' In The Rain, Jungle. That should get you into the rabbit hole enough
That's one song not to many reactions to. Ma Ma Belle. What a rockin' song. Shows a harder side to ELO. Wish Jeff and the boys had done more songs like that one.
ELO's "Showdown" was a favorite song of John Lennon and one you should react to. Lennon remarked that ELO were the "Sons of the Beatles". Ringo Starr and George Harrison made frequent guest appearances on ELO albums. Jeff Lynne was in the Travelin' Wilburys with George Harrison. Lynne was the producer of choice for post-Beatles' solo projects: George Harrison's Cloud Nine, Paul McCartney's Flaming Pie, and numerous Ringo Starr projects.
Hola. "Tightrope " ( " Cuerda floja " ) tremenda canción perteneciente al álbum " A new world record " ( 1976 ) . Tiene mucho de The Beatles , y de música negra - en especial - swing , también. Gracias por seleccionar este clásico.
Sublime, another brilliant album opener from Jeff & the boys. This album IMHO is their best & deserves no less than a complete reaction. Each track is pure gold. The next track "Telephone line" is absolute pop/rock genius. Cheers
I concur. I've worn out my original copy from the late 70's (finally; RIP, vinyl treasure) and am waiting on a replacement copy. That's how GREAT this album is!
Thank you, Retro, for reacting to one of my favourite ELO songs - and one of my favourite songs in general, in that it's one of the most poignant musical paintings. As you rightly said, it balances between darkness and light, just like a person balancing on a.. Tightrope. Sheer genius.
The tightrope is a very strong existential metaphor. Nietzsche also uses it to make a point about human existence in _Also sprach Zarathustra_ (not to be confused with the music it inspired Richard Strauss to write, although it was used to great symbolic effect of a similar kind in 2001: A Space Odyssey.) I very much like (what I imagine could be) Jeff's philosophical take on the metaphor in the lyrics - sometimes you slip and slide and depend on someone else to throw you a safety line. If we view human existence as a zero-sum game, we _will_ lose, all the time. But we shouldn't believe that: because it's possible for all to win, or at least lose/suffer less, if we help each other. As humans we can't escape being dependent of other humans. It's a nice and positive message.
@@retroreactions.... thank _you_ for a wonderful reaction. It's fun to watch people discover and appreciate the music I have listened to countless times since 1981, and love and know by heart. In a way it makes me rediscover the songs as well.
Jeff Lynne is pure class. The blending of rock & pop instruments with orchestra is always so great. I hope it won't be too long before you do an album reaction to The Musical Version of The War of the Worlds from 1978. One of the best progressive rock concept albums of all time. This time the genius was another Jeff (Wayne). He conducts a 50 strong orchestra of four double basses, eight cellos, 12 violas, and 26 violins! It is awash with synths, it has some rock guitar, sound effects and top tier British & Irish vocalists. This is your chance to hear this ground-breaking album for the rest of your life!
Why hello again...Yea, as you can imagine, it's very hard trying to pick songs (adding new artists, hundreds of viewer requests, returning artists on rotation, etc). I already know I will love it based on your description. I just found out it's around 2 hours long! I will have to see if other reactors have done it and if so how...
@@retroreactions.... No. That is Spotify adding extra tracks again. It is 10 tracks @ 92 minutes I think. The closing track is Epilogue (Part 2). You can cover it in 4 reactions of 20-24 minutes which are the lengths of the original vinyl sides of the double album. 👍👍
I saw ELO PART II BACK IN THE EARLY 80S IN Reno. i thought it was just some tribute band as the ticket only set me back $ 27. plus they threw in a couple of free drinks....so I went 7 turned out to be a great show. EVERYONE WAS THERE EXCLUDING Jeff Lynne, but at that time I wasn't familiar with who he was.
The band's frontman Jeff Lynne regarded his own songwriting at this point to have reached a new high. "The songs started to flow and most of them came quickly to me. To have all those hits, it was just ...I mean amazing really. Going from doing okay for probably three or four years to suddenly being in the big time, it was a strange but great thing." - Jeff Lynne
Thanks Brandon. Now you know why it's a favorite. I think I read somewhere that Jeff would not allow this song to be released as a single because he did not want it edited. Although he may very well have questioned it's commercial viability too. Don't forget that A.M. radio (and some F.M.) stations still required singles to be 4 min. or less in order to get airplay. (Beware radio edits.) This band truly delivers on every word of it's name.
Dude, I really enjoy the reaction videos you have for ELO. But, I think you should check out the Concerto for a Rainy Day from the Out of the Blue Album. Side three is devoted to 4 tracks, different songs, but all 4 woven together to create what Jeff Lynn was shooting for in this section referred to as Concerto for a Rainy Day. Absolute masterpiece of music.
New subscriber Brandon and enjoying your reactions. Yes JL is a songwriting genius and producer but a call out must be given to Louis Clark who helped Jeff compose the orchestration and conducted the full orchestra and choir which gave ELO the big classical sound on all their 70’s albums
Hi Phil! Thank you so much for your sub and welcome! Thanks for the info- orchestra is one of my favorite group of instruments in all music, especially strings!!
Great selection as usual buddy! This is such a great song….especially that intro! The next track “Telephone Line” is a great one too. I’d like to suggest the song “The Whale” from the 1977 album Out Of The Blue. It’s really spacy and hypnotic, I dig it a lot and think it’s right up your alley. Never got to see ELO live, but did see a form of them called “The Orchestra”. It has some past members of ELO and ELO II, and they played all the classics. Just keep them coming… 3 decades is a LOT of material to cover. Lol
Here’s a quick rundown. In 1988 drummer Bev Bevan wanted to do another ELO album, Jeff Lynne declined and Bevan wanted to continue without him then. Lynne objected to him using the ELO name, so they decided to disband. Bevan founded ELO Part II in 1989 and they continued for another 10 years. Bevan decided to leave and played his last show in 1999, and said the band had split. Bevan then sold his rights to the ELO name to Lynne, and the band could no longer use ELO Part II name. The remaining members then continued on as “The Orchestra” and are currently active. ELO had a brief reunion in the early 2000s and in 2014 Lynne reformed the band as Jeff Lynne’s ELO. They released 2 albums.
Wow, kind of confusing! And here I thought Pink Floyd and Genesis had a lot of changes! I must hear the 2010s material on my own to see how they evolved...thanks bud
Good choice again I remember getting this album on red vinyl in the 70s All songs from Jeff Lynne at this time are fantastic Check out concerto for a rainy day Love your channel Brandon, great backdrops for each song
Thanks John. Wow, don't think I've ever seen a red vinyl. Ok, will add your vote for that one. Thanks so much for watching and for the comments/compliments. Appreciate you!
HAHA I wish...I don't think that most creators get the snowball effect here, so I don't expect to, but at current pace, I'd be at around 6K after the first 12 months, which is definitely great! But yes, I hope and plan to be around a long time! Lord knows there's enough music in those 30 years to keep me covered 🙂 At least by 2053 I'll be waking up at 5 AM and can post by 10 AM daily!
