I guess by 1982 the Electric Light Orchestra was pretty much over, at least in terms of being fashionable. So Kelly Groucutt, who became a member on the "Eldorado" tour in 1974, decided to release a solo record. And that record, "Kelly," is basically an ELO record without Jeff Lynne, who Kelly had fallen out with. Long story short, I bought this record back in 1982 and I liked it. But I didn’t love it, because it was missing one thing, Jeff Lynne.
I hadn't heard the record for years and then a copy showed up in this recent record collection that came my way, and listening to it made me realize, it’s a pretty good ELO record. The reason it isn’t a great ELO record? No Jeff Lynne.
But Bev is here, as is Jeff's right hand man Richard Tandy, and Mik Kaminsky and it's full of pop earworms.
9 comments:
I'm pretty sure I was alive when that record came out, and reviewing albums professionally, but I do not remember either seeing or hearing it. Or about it.
😎
Good songs, but it sounds like ELO lite.
So you're arguing the key ingredient in ELO was...Jeff Lynne? Well, you're the expert!
Wow, some great bargains at your record store! Great stuff.
Yes, about 180 pounds lighter.
I made it to 1983 and "Rock N' Roll is King." I like it in spite of myself, just enough ersatz 50s feel to be pleasurable. And at that point Jeff was working with the Everlys and Dave Edmunds so a little cred there. (I love the song "Information" but always laugh at those programmed keyboard sweeps/arpeggios. "What does this button do?"
Bob in IL
no the key ingredient was in fact Roy Wood.
Okay, Roy is a hero of mine. But he's on one and a half ELO records. So if that's your point? Not liking ELO? We can't be friends, not even anonymously.
Jesus I remember seeing him on American Bandstand - I was a huge ELO fan in middle school. https://youtu.be/UtuiMhy0VjU?si=u9coIynI7MzICW1x
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