Label: Epic Records (Japan), MHCP 1095
Style: Progressive Pop, Pop Rock
Country: Birmingham, England
Time: 48:00
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 313 Mb
Electric
Light Orchestra (ELO) made a huge leap forward with Eldorado, the first
complete concept album by the group. Rich melodies with various rock
and classical influences made this album highly accessible and well
received by mainstream audiences making this ELO’s commercial break
through. Composed by vocalist, guitarist, and group leader Jeff Lynne,
the tune sequence loosely follows the story of a dreamer trying to
escape reality. Along the way there are plenty of mixed metaphors using
various classic stories and characters from Robin Hood to William Tell
to Lancelot to The Wizard of Oz and, of course, Eldorado.
When formed
in 1969, ELO declared its purpose as to “pick up where the Beatles left
off with ‘I Am the Walrus’.”. The idea came from Roy Wood, formerly of
the band, The Move, who had the idea to form a rock band that would
regularly use orchestral instruments. He recruited Lynne from fellow
Birmingham group, The Idle Race. The debut ,The Electric Light
Orchestra, was released in 1971 but tensions between Wood and Lynne led
to Wood’s departure during the recordings for ELO 2, which spawned the
group’s first US hit, a cover of Chuck Berry’s “Roll Over Beethoven”.
Released in late 1973, On the Third Day, featured the hit single,
“Showdown,” and continued the band’s rise in popularity.
On those
early albums, Lynne would overdub the strings during recording. However,
on Eldorado a 30-piece orchestra and choir was hired, with Louis Clark
brought on to arrange and conduct the strings (Clark would later become a
full group member). This inclusion limited the group’s three resident
string players to a few lead sections on scattered songs. Also during
the recording of this album, bassist Ike de Albuquerque quit the group,
leaving Lynn to also take on those duties. The inspiration for this
ambitious record came from Lynne’s father, a classical music lover.
(Full version: classicrockreview.com/2014/08/1974-elo-eldorado/)
01. Eldorado Overture (02:12)
02. Can't Get It Out Of My Head (04:21)
03. Boy Blue (05:19)
04. Laredo Tornado (05:29)
05. Poor Boy (The Greenwood) (02:57)
06. Mister Kingdom (05:29)
07. Nobody's Child (03:56)
08. Illusions In G Major (02:37)
09. Eldorado (05:17)
10. Eldorado Finale (01:34)
11. Eldorado Instrumental Medley (Bonus) (07:56)
12. Dark City (Bonus) (00:47)
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