This is part 2 of the series, "Me? I'm just listening to the music".
Before I start though, I need to tell you why the US version of this album is called "No Answer". An executive from the United Artists Records executive rang someone on the ELO side to find out the name of the album. When they didn't get through they wrote down, "no answer" and so that became the album title.
I had ELO1 on tape in my teenage years, but never the whole album, so some tracks are very familiar and I heard some for the first time when I listened to it recently.
10538 overture is prehistoric ELO. I love that it's firmly rooted in the sixties in its sound. It's like an old uncle that you don't want to change. It introduces the heavy string sound that we're going to get familiar with on this album.
Look at me is sung by Roy Wood, not Jeff Lynne and it doesn't age well.
Nellie takes her bow is lovely and dramatic. It's a long song - nearly 6 minutes - and has a three act structure.
The Battle of Marston Moor is a song I listened to so you don't have to. It's like a soundtrack to a bad drama. Feel free to skip.
First Movement is a guitar led instrumental a bit like Classical Gas. It rocks along nicely.
Mr Radio has overly dramatic strings. It reminded me of When I was a boy by Jeff Lynne's ELO, though they are separated by many years.
Manhattan Rumble is an instrumental and another battle song, but a bit more musical theatre style.
Queen of the Hours is OK, but like the other songs that were on my tape, is great nostalgia.
Whisper in the night is a Roy Wood song that I actually like. It's sweet and wistful. I thi
Overall it's interested to hear the origin of the sound that became the style that is more familiar if you've heard the classics like Mr Blue Sky. I find the strings too heavy and turgid. If you've listened to it, or plan to now I'd ask - if this was all you've heard of them, where do you think the sound would go next?
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