Artrocker issue 43, 16 August - 29 August 2006

Electric Light Orchestra
The Harvest Years 1970 - 1973 (EMI)

Way before the success of 'Mr Blue Sky' some fabulous furry Brummies bought a load of cheap Chinese cellos and made a career out of their version of 'A Day In the Life' and 'Eleanor Rigby'. They sprang from psychedelic rockers The Move and called themselves the Electric Light Orchestra. Their first two albums are reissued here with outtakes and quadraphonic mixes. Of interest to Artrockers not for the lame-ass Beatles tribute but for the total conviction, the unearthly noises produced by these bearded nutters; and the absolutely live sound of the out-of-tune strings. Recorded in the days before bits and bytes there was no tweaking in the studio. Worth checking for the break in 'Nellie Takes Her Bow' and the intense school orchestra excitement of the 'Battle Of Marston Moor'. Extraordinary.

Hauser O'Brien
Lead reissue review