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COMMENTARY & BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Electric
Light Orchestra 'Early Years'
is the third instalment in EMI's series celebrating ELO's
original formation. Definitive expanded 30th anniversary editions
of debut album 'Electric Light Orchestra'
(EMI 7243 5 829830 7) and 'ELO 2'
(EMI 7423 5 433282 1) were released during 2001 and 2003 respectively
and contain a wealth of rare and previously unreleased material.
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The
first three songs on this new collection serve as an introduction
to the above remastered editions: 'Roll
Over Beethoven' is ELO's inspired cover of Chuck Berry's
classic, released as a UK hit single in 1973; Roy Wood's
'Look At Me Now' is a brooding
tale of murder and ghostly spirits from 1971; and 'Auntie'
is a fascinating early take of Jeff Lynne's
'Ma-Ma-Ma Belle', featuring the songwriter and producer
on twin-lead guitar with Marc Bolan. With two exceptions,
the remaining 'Early Years' tracks
are all previously unreleased versions.
| Band
and crew during ELO's first ever UK tour, 1972 |
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Like
many so-called "progressive rock" groups on EMI's
Harvest label in the 1970's, ELO's debut was remixed in
quadraphonic surround sound but only released in Brazil
in 1973. Three tracks subsequently appeared in 1991 as part
of 'Early ELO' but both are
now deleted.
The
quad mixes on 'Early Years' are very different and far superior
to anything previously released. For the first time, the
Quad SQ versions of 'Electric Light Orchestra' tracks are
taken from the encoded master tape while the Discrete Quad
versions have been newly mixed down from the original four-track
separation master tape. Previously hidden instrumentation
and vocals now jump out of the speakers and dazzle the listener
with newly revealed sounds and aural delights.
By
putting together the quad versions on 'Early
Years' with those released on 2001's 'First
Light', ELO fans can now compile the definitive quadraphonic
version of 'Electric Light Orchestra'
- as it was truly meant to be heard.
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Also
included are Jeff Lynne's previously unreleased quad mixes
from the second ELO album. Many of the ELO 2 sessions were
mixed immediately to quad and it is from these recently discovered
tapes the very first mix of 'In Old England Town (Boogie No.2)'
is taken. Featuring a count-in by Jeff (and less effects-treated
vocals) the song has a far heavier and more organic, live
feel to the version that was released. 'From
The Sun To The World (Boogie No.1)' is the final quad
mix from the album master tape which was sadly never released
due to EMI cancelling their quadraphonic LP series. |
The
unreleased alternate version of 'Showdown',
discovered during 2003, shows Jeff Lynne not afraid to experiment
with different production effects and techniques and will surprise
and delight ELO fans in equal measure. The new edit of 'Mama',
Lynne's "sad tale of a lonely young
lady" is something the songwriter had planned
to do for many years and was first released on Flashback
(Epic/Legacy 5009312000) in 2000.
ELO
live
l-r: Colin Walker, Mike Edwards, Wilf
Gibson, Jeff Lynne, Bev Bevan and Michael De Albuquerque
Photo copyright EMI Records, not for reproduction.
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'In The Hall Of The Mountain King'
is taken from the BBC's popular In Concert series
recorded in April 1973 at the Paris Cinema in London
and broadcast a month later. Though previously released on an
unapproved Eagle Records compilation in the UK, this is the first
time the song has been remastered to Jeff Lynne's specifications.
Despite excellent playing and a superb audience reaction, the
BBC concert was plagued by sound problems and technical difficulties.
When asked recently for approval to include the complete BBC concert
as part of EMI's remaster series, every member of ELO performing
that evening visibly winced and vetoed the songs - except for
'In The Hall Of The Mountain King'.
A powerful arrangement of Grieg's most popular work, all
agreed the recording successfully captured the excitement of the
Electric Light Orchestra live.
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