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Progland was founded by John Gabbard in 2005. It's purpose has been to provide you, the music community with the latest music and dvd reviews. It will continue to be your link to the most popular music reviews in the progressive world.

 

Electric Light Orchestra - “2”

Label - Sony
Reviewed by: Wayne Klein
Genre: Prog/orchestral rock
Country: England
Language: English
Length: NA
Release Date: 3/28/06
Band Members: Lead Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards Roy Wood - Violins, Bass on "In Old England Town" and "From the Sun to the World"
  Bev Bevan - Drums, Percussion, Vocals Richard Tandy - Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards, String Arrangements
  Michael d'Albuquerque- Bass, Vocals Mike Edwards- Cello
  Wilfred Gibson- Violin
Track Listing: 1.)- "In Old England Town" 8.)-In Old England Town (Take 1, Alternate Mix)
  2.)- "Mama" 9.)- Roll Over Beethoven (Take 1)
  3.)- Roll Over Beethoven (Berry/Beethoven)  
  4.)- From the Sun to the World  
  5.)- Kuiama  
  6.)-In Old England Town (Instrumental mix)  
  7.)-Baby I Apologise
     
The Review

With "ELO II" Jeff Lynne began to retool the Electric Light Orchestra sound. Co-founder Roy Wood left midway through the sessions taking his songs and some of the newly recruited members of ELO with him to form Wizzard. While the formative sound of ELO can be heard on the band's second album "ELO II" was truly a transitional album. Lynne's collaborator throughout the rest of ELO's career keyboardist/guitarist Richard Tandy joined at this stage. Tandy arguably helped Lynne retool the sound of the band from here on out with his assistance in arranging the string parts and playing. Tandy provided a perfect although different foil for Lynne than Wood; Tandy wasn't a songwriter and his expertise was confined to arranging and playing on the album. ***

One of the gems in the collection here is the FM stable "Roll over Beethoven" where Lynne cleverly fused Beethoven's Fifth Symphony with Chuck Berry's witty classic rock song. Lynne and the rest of the band reinvent the song with their interpolation of Beethoven's classical piece into the main body of the song played on sythesizer by Tandy. The rumbling "In Old England Town" which features Wood playing strings opens the album with a stomping piece of prog rock. "Mama" one the other highlights of the album bear the strongest resemblence to later ELO with its lilting vaguely Asian sounding opening string part arranged by Lynne and Tandy. ***

The rest of the album isn't quite as memorable although it is just as experimental as the first ELO album. "From The Sun to The World" recalls both "What" and "Open Up Said The World At The Door" both Lynne compositions from The Move's "Looking On" with its rambling structure. After hearing it (and the other long songs on the album) Lynne's father asked him if he could write something with a "melody" and that he would probably sell more records if it was more melodic and straight forward. He was right and Lynne did just that with the third albumFar more inviting than either of those tunes the song finds ELO straddling the line between what they were and what they were to become. The closing track "Kuiama" meanders all over the place and goes on for far too long at 11 minutes. The central melody of the song is certainly memorable and a very good song but it could have used some editing. It's clear that Lynne created many of these longer pieces because 1) it was the trend at the time 2) prog rock was doing it and 3) he needed to fill out the album and didn't have enough material ready when Wood left. ***

The bonus tracks fill out the album nicely with alternate takes of ""In Old England Town" without the vocals and one with an alternate mix. "Roll Over Beethoven" appears in a witty alternate take with Lynne imitating by humming, laughing and making farting sounds with his mouth of the characteristic opening string part. Would it have been a hit single? Doubtful but it sure is fun to hear particuarly with the band sounding much looser and playing with raw energy that outpaces the released finished version. The jewel is a minor Lynne tune "Baby I Apologise" that features the singer on a demo playing piano for an unknown singer to learn the song (Lynne can't recall who he wrote and recorded it for now). ***

As uneven as "ELO II" is it still features some terrific material as Lynne remakes the group's sound into something ELO fans will recognize. This moved the band further from the group's origin in The Move into its own unique sound. ***

A couple of notes for ELO fans; if you're looking for the full length version of "Roll Over Beethoveen" that was on the original US release this version isn't quite it. From what I recall the U.S. version ran about 7:45 minutes and this version runs nearly 30 seconds less. Still, it sounds terrific. The lyrics (never Lynne's strongest suit although he is quite capable at writing them when he wants to be) are not included in the booklet although we do get notes from Lynne about the production of the album. ***

I'd highly recommend this early effort just keep in mind it resembles the ELO people know from "New World Record" only superficially as Lynne kept wanting to progress and try different things.

 

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