Ken's Album of The Day - 12 / 9

[Ken]

Today's pick is one of my all - time faves from the 70's








Released - November 1976

Label - United Artists

Produced By - Jeff Lynne

Chart Position - # 5

Singles released -

Livin' Thing - 1976/1977 - #13

Do Ya - 1977 - #24

Telephone Line -1977- #7


1. Tightrope (Lynne) - 5:03
2. Telephone Line (Lynne) - 4:38
3. Rockaria! (Lynne) - 3:12
4. Mission (A World Record) (Lynne) - 4:25
5. So Fine (Lynne) - 3:54
6. Livin' Thing (Lynne) - 3:31
7. Above the Clouds (Lynne) - 2:16
8. Do Ya (Lynne) - 3:43
9. Shangri-La (Lynne) - 5:34

I remember being at my Uncle's house as a kid for a Christmas party and all my cousins were down in the rec - room and the stereo was on and the radio was playing Livin' Thing that was the first time I heard it.

My brother bought the 8 - track and played it all the time , I bought each single as it came out and sometime in '77 had my mom buy me the album which I now have on CD. Jeff Lynne has said that this along with the follow up Out of The Blue were ELO at their peak - I agree


Tightrope - what an eerie intro LOL use to really freak me as a kid but I love it now:)

Telephone Line - Cool intro - love that phone along with Jeff's vocal . a very Beatlesque tune! Great harmonies and Bev's drumming can't be beat.

Rockaria - Man I love this - crank it to 11 ! LOL killer slide guitar. Dig that opera singer.


Mission (A World Record) - Once again great orchestration on this track . love Richard's playing on what sounds to me like a clavinet . Flawless vocal by Jeff


So Fine - This kicks off Side 2 on the LP . I loved this track as a kid and still love it now! Love the Woo Woo backing vocals and love Kelly's bass playing.
I love the seague into.....


Livin' Thing - This was the first BIG hit single and later used in the movie Boogie Nights . Great violin and I really like the echo effects on Jeff's vocals. Such a great song.

Above The Clouds - Great percussion - I just love the feel of this all around.

Do Ya - originally done by The Move in 1972 and later covered by KISS ' Ace Frehley on his Trouble Walkin' album - a great cover!.Love those violins and once again I love that slide guitar - awesome pop tune!

Shangri La - The final track - a fine ballad -a nice easy laid back relaxing song - and you gotta love that Beatles / Hey Jude reference. I love the ending.

I can't recommend this album enough - a simple "must have" for your collection

[Railyn]

We never had this album, but there are some fabulous songs on there!

[lora]

My dad used to be pretty big on ELO, had a couple albums, but I've never heard any of these songs.

[djdave]

Absolutely WONDERFUL.

Great album from start to finish, featuring their uncontested best, "Telephone Line".
Livin' Thing and Do Ya are also up in the stratosphere!

[Dawn]

An outstanding album by one of my favorite groups. I've loved the singles 'Telephone Line' and 'Livin' Thing' since I was a kid, and when I heard the other cuts from the album, I was definitely impressed! 'So Fine' is probably my favorite cut - I have been known to play that one over and over at a sitting!

I would agree with you and Jeff that those two albums capture the group at their peak (although Face the Music is super also!).

Excellent review, Ken!

[beatles4ever]

Excellent choice,Ken!We used to play the heck outta this album.

[athompsen]

Ken, you are the coolest! Your review was super sweet! Although I've never owned this album, I know most of the songs on it. "Livin' Thing" is one of my all time favorite ELO songs.

[55dodger]

Great choice Ken. One of the first ELO albums I ever owned. Three great singles, Rockaria is a fun song, and the rest are just great album tracks. A definate must have.

[Ken]

athompsen said:

Ken, you are the coolest! Your review was super sweet! Although I've never owned this album, I know most of the songs on it. "Livin' Thing" is one of my all time favorite ELO songs.

Thanks Andrea

[Pete70s]

Great album, great band! I want to post a big write up on it, but I'm pressed for time. I'll come back to it when I get the chance!

[SAT-I need more room!!]

Damn you Ken, for reviewing one of my faves!! LOL!! Actually, I waited because I believe Dawn had done this on her old album feature so I figured to wait awhile. But I guess that was some time ago.

Absolutely PERFECT album. Without question, the first album I knew start to finish.

My dad's friend had the album and brought it over once-it never left our house! LOL!

I am guessing we all got so into it because of the Beatles sound on it.

The funny thing is, despite 3 singles being on it, I don't remember a single one on the radio! Just the album.

I'm with you Ken, Tightrope used to freak me out, as did Mission. They created such a HUGE sound on those songs! It was unbelievable.

I always considered Shangri-La the "weakest" cut, but it's still better than so many other songs out there! And I too LOVE the Hey Jude reference.

I wish FM radio would play So Fine WITH Livin' Thing. I can understand the single being the way it is, but they should really connect them on classic rock radio.

Rockaria is a big fave, one my dad always calls I'm Ready.

Telephone Line is sorta Bee Gees like, isn't it?
Whenever I record Do Ya for myself or someone else, I always include Above the Clouds with it, even though they don't run together. They just seem to "go" together.

Don't call yourself a fan of 70's rock unless you own this album.

[Ken]

SAT-Sissy's said:

Damn you Ken, for reviewing one of my faves!! LOL!! Actually, I waited because I believe Dawn had done this on her old album feature so I figured to wait awhile. But I guess that was some time ago.

Absolutely PERFECT album. Without question, the first album I knew start to finish.

My dad's friend had the album and brought it over once-it never left our house! LOL!

I am guessing we all got so into it because of the Beatles sound on it.

The funny thing is, despite 3 singles being on it, I don't remember a single one on the radio! Just the album.

I'm with you Ken, Tightrope used to freak me out, as did Mission. They created such a HUGE sound on those songs! It was unbelievable.

I always considered Shangri-La the "weakest" cut, but it's still better than so many other songs out there! And I too LOVE the Hey Jude reference.

I wish FM radio would play So Fine WITH Livin' Thing. I can understand the single being the way it is, but they should really connect them on classic rock radio.

Rockaria is a big fave, one my dad always calls I'm Ready.

Telephone Line is sorta Bee Gees like, isn't it?
Whenever I record Do Ya for myself or someone else, I always include Above the Clouds with it, even though they don't run together. They just seem to "go" together.

Don't call yourself a fan of 70's rock unless you own this album.

"Damn you Ken, for reviewing one of my faves!! LOL!! "

LMAO

[Laura--I wuv u all :)]

I don't have this one, but there are some great songs on it! Great review!