I heard `ELO` on the radio today, `All Over The World` sounds great in the car, it`s a band I had forgotten, loved `Xandu` & the lovely `Livvy Newton John` are they worth a review on these threads ????

Hi Jemma. I really don't know any of their music apart from "Xanadu" and "Calling America" (I love both songs), but I imagine there are a few ELO fans on these threads, and they're as worthy of a review as any other group/artist.

Fail to ignroe ELO at your peril.

Well, I guess I'm in peril!

"The clouds painted ominous suggestions"

God, I could have a field day with ELO, but they're just not worth the effort. But I might change my mind...

'elo to you too!

ELO's music was finely crafted, hook laden and pretty clever, but any affection I might have had for them is now compromised by bad memories of blue cellos, white flares, aviator shades and a stodgy drum sound. However, I can't help thinking how they may have turned out had Roy Wood stayed with them.

Loosen up and just think great British pop of the highest quality. Superb Beatlesque songs, excellent production and well sung by one of the industry's underrated vocalists. All in all, a wonderful band and a fine back catalogue worth exploring if you're too young to remember them first time around or else deliberately ignored them (stand up and be counted, Cornish).

They put a great show on in Wembley donkeys years ago that had the flying saucer(a bit more money spent on it than George Clintons) and all the gubbins. As a kid I thought it was just the last word in staging a show. I was greatly disappointed with the Out of the Blue remaster I got a couple of years ago. It did nothing for me at all. Sure it was clear and all cleaned up, but some of the magic had been scrubbed out of it.

The vinyl double disc in it's magnificent packaging was a real collectors piece. More flying saucerery.

The cheap Greatest Hits cd with the medal on the front is a decent way to start exploring ELO, IMHO.

Well I enjoyed their stuff back in the day. Give 'em a break SCH it was the seventies after all.

Love them. P.Bell is right on the money. I had the Greatest Hits ( with the medal) on cassette in my youth. Played it to death. They look so uncool that they are super-cool.

Livin Thing - (Not so) secret guilty pleasure!

"Give 'em a break SCH it was the seventies after all." What in the blazes do you mean by that, young man?

There would be no excuse in ANY decade for Lynne's crimes against music. His Frankenstein-esque welding of The Beat-less to classical music was an insult to both sides, and a thoroughly cynical & unforeseen rabbit-punch to those of us who detested both.

He even once had the temerity to try to sue Paul Weller for alleged plagiarism of '10538 Overture' in 'Changing Man', despite the fact that the former's riff bore a striking resemblance to 'Dear Prudence'. I'm no fan of Weller's, but at least he never tried to disguise or deny his influences.

The only people I ever knew who were into ELO were the nerds at school taking 'cello lessons, and my cousin, who was a disco dolly.

I could go on, but will this do for now?

Thanks Tripmender but I think Peter was referring to my recollections of how ELO looked more than anything. Probably a bit remiss of me to pick on their appearance bearing in mind I liked glam rock. I didn't mind their music on the whole but I make no apologies for disliking what I still maintain was a terrible drum sound.

I was a fan. Saw them on the OotB (flying saucer and lasers) tour and again a few years later. Pretty good live. I still listen to and enjoy all their LPs up to OotB. It was the 70s, so fashion crimes weren't so noticeable.

My Dad got into them after OotB, bought Discovery (and later albums) for himself, and they somehow lost their allure....

As someone that loves my ELO Greatest Hits CD, (the latest one), I have, to my eternal shame, never 'delved' below the hits.

Bearing in mind my extreme love for the later hits (Telephone Line, Wild West Hero, Mr.Blue Sky) which back catalogue CD would you first point me in the direction of?

New World Record - all tracks pretty good. OotB was OK, but as a double (on vinyl) had a bit too much filler.

The first couple of albums, ELO and ELO II are a bit proggy, and a bit of an aquired taste. On the Third Day, Eldorado and Face the Music all have some good tracks beyond the singles.

I'd avoid anything after OotB, especially if it's by ELO Part 2.

'Livin' Thing' is also my favourite - a stupendously good record. No guilt necessary, Adam!

I wasn't that keen on the early stuff, but the singles were always good. I was very keen on OotB and New World Record. Pretty good all round I think.

Agreed - like Queen and the Quo, all their best records were their singles.

Chicory Tip kicked ELO's collective @rse.

Hey, Nuge, answer the question - when are you gonna reform Damn Yankees?

Hi Collette, I only knew of ELO from the film `Xanadu` it`s a mixed response about the group though!! will give a few more tracks a listen, tried `Livin Thing` as Martin suggested not bad, =Jemma

Out of the Blue was my first ever album I ever bought, and I played it till it was worn out.

Still like it, although it's dating rather especially in terms of production values.

I remember having a nightmare before their next album came out that it would be a disco record. Probably because at the time the Bee Gees etc were all the rage. Guess what, it was DiscoVERY ! Gutted at the time, although Horace Wimp is still a cracking beatles pastiche.

Earlier stiuff is great, particularly liked On the Third Day as it's really quite rocky in parts.

ELO - fine band when at their best, which unfortunately wasn't all the time.

By the way, listen to the orchestral intro to Exogenesis by Muse, it's really like the opening to Eldorado !

Personal favourite is Mr Blue Sky - love this song - always makes me smile.
Have told family to play it at my funeral - I want people to remember me happily!!!