Jeff Lynne's ELO - 2019-07-13 - Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA

Jeff Lynne's ELO
2019-07-13 (plus bonus tracks)
Wells Fargo Center,
Philadelphia, PA USA
Audience recording, very good quality
Available in both Lossless (FLAC) and mp3 (320 kbps) versions

 A few year's ago Jeff Lynne re-formed his old band ELO (it wasn't really a re-union as much as a re-vitalization, since Lynne and keyboardist Richard Tandy were the only members from the original band included), for a new album and tour. The new incarnation of the band was dubbed Jeff Lynne's ELO, and the album was Alone on the Universe (2015). The album was a success, as it successfully recreated the sound and style of the band but with new songs, and it was great to hear that sound again. But the brief tour was an even bigger success, because although the new songs were good, what people really wanted to hear were the old classic songs from ELO's heyday, and that's what they got with the live show, done with great style with a lively 12-piece band. So, with that success, Lynne has continued to tour each subsequent year with a version of his new ELO band, wowing audiences around the world. The 2019 U.S. tour just finished up this summer, where they again delighted audiences with a great show featuring many great songs from ELO's past. As an added feature this year, George Harrison's son Dhani was included as a special guest to sing on the Traveling Wilbury's hit 'Handle With Care'. Featured here is one of the better sounding audience-recorded shows from this year's tour, from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. I've also added as bonus tracks several additional songs that were not included in this year's setlist, but were played in previous year's concerts, for a more complete documentation of Jeff Lynne's ELO in concert. 

1. Standin' in the Rain
2. Evil Woman
3. All Over the World
4. Showdown
5. Do Ya
6. When I Was a Boy
7. Livin' Thing
8. Handle With Care (with Dhani Harrison)
9. Rockaria!
10. Last Train to London
11. Eldorado Overture > Can't Get It Out of My Head
12. 10538 Overture
13. Band Intros
14. Shine a Little Love
15. Wild West Hero
16. Sweet Talkin' Woman
17. Telephone Line
18. Don't Bring Me Down
19. Turn to Stone
20. Mr. Blue Sky
Encore
21. Roll Over Beethoven

Bonus Tracks (Other songs from previous shows)
22. Tightrope (2016-05-07-Dublin)
23. Secret Messages (2016-05-07)
24. Xanadu (201808-02-Oakland)
25. Strange Magic (2015-11-12-London)
26. When the Night Comes (2015-11-12)
27. Ain't it a Drag (2015-11-12)
28. One Step at a Time (2015-11-24-Hollywood)
29. Rock and Roll is King (2015-11-24-Hollywood)

FLAC - Jeff Lynne's ELO_2019-07013_Philadelphia+_FLAC.rar

mp3 - Jeff Lynne's ELO_2019-07013_Philadelphia+_mp3.rar

Electric Light Orchestra - 1976-03-16 - Flint, MI

Electric Light Orchestra
1976-03-16
I.M.A. Auditorium, Flint, MI
Audience recording (JEMS Master), excellent quality
Available in both Lossless (FLAC) and Mp3 (320 kbps) versions

Here's more from ELO, from a bit later in their career, early in 1976 on their Face the Music tour, and at what I would consider to be their best period. Coming off the success of El Dorado (and their first top ten hit, 'Can't Get it Out of My Head'), they released Face the Music in late 1975, which quickly resulted in two more hits ('Evil Woman' and 'Strange Magic') by the time of their tour. But more than that, Face the Music was a just a dynamite album, with a great mix between the classical, pop, and rock influences of the band. This was their first major tour as a headliner, and they made the most of it, with a great set of songs from all their albums up to that point. Opening with a powerhouse trio of songs from Face the Music ('Fire on High', 'Poker', and 'Nightrider'), they went through sections featuring songs from each of their previous albums. Thus, this was the last tour to feature many of their earlier songs, which would be replaced as more hits piled up, which is why this was my favorite period, as they still featured the old ELO, but also had the added aspect of their middle period songs and hits, bu just before they would become more and more pop singles and hit-oriented. Another highlight is that, unlike in the previous (1973) show, they play the full version of 'Roll Over Beethoven', with Beethoven's 5th intro (which to me is what really makes their version work - the way the screeching guitar lick comes blasting through the classical refrain). Great stuff, and this is a great recording (especially for an audience - thanks JEMS). I've also added as a bonus track (from the Detroit show), a cover of 'Let's Spend the Night Together' with the final part of 'The End' added, that they played at some of the earlier shows on the tour (but not the Flint show). It's an interesting and different (and lesser-known) addition to the show. Enjoy!  

Tracklist:
01. Fire On High
02. Poker
03. Nightrider
04. Ocean Breakup/King Of The Universe
05. Bluebird Is Dead
06. Oh No Not Susan
07. New World Rising/Ocean Breakup Reprise
08. Hugh McDowell's Cello Solo W/Flight Of The Bumble Bee(cut)
09. Showdown
10. Eldorado Overture
11. Can't Get It Out Of My Head
12. Poor Boy(The Greenwood)
13. Illusions In G Major
14. Eldorado
15. Mik Kaminski's Violin Solo/Orange Blossom Special
16  Bev Bevan's Intro
17. Strange Magic
18. 10538 Overture
19. Do Ya
20. Evil Woman
21. Ma-Ma-Ma Belle
22. Roll Over Beethoven
Bonus Track (1976-03-04 - Detroit, MI)
23. Lets Spend the Night Together/The End

Band Members:
Jeff Lynne - Vocals, lead guitar
Bev Bevan - drums, percussion
Richard Tandy - keyboards, moog, mellotron
Kelly Groucutt - bass guitar, backing vocals
Mik Kaminski - violin
Hugh McDowell - cello
Melvyn Gale - cello

FLAC - Electric Light Orchestra_1976-03-16_Flint,MI(JEMS)_FLAC.rar

mp3 - Electric Light Orchestra_1976-03-16_Flint,MI(JEMS)_mp3.rar

Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) - 1973-74 - London BBC Recordings

Electric Light Orchestra
1973-1974 - London BBC Recordings
1973-04-19 – Lower Cinema, London
1974-01-25 - Hippodrome, London
"Rockaria Ouverture"
FM Broadcast Recordings (from Italian Bootleg), very good quality
Available in both Lossless (FLAC) and Mp3 versions

OK, at last, here I am, back on the scene. And here I continue my featured look at Progressive Rock in the '70's and beyond. I had a few more European bands I wanted to feature before we moved back to Britain, but after that long break between posts, I wanted to come back with something strong (and more popular than more relatively obscure bands). So, here is the Electric Light Orchestra. Now, many may not consider ELO to be Prog at all, what with their string of decidedly pop-style hits of the Seventies and early eighties, but at the beginning, they were definitely a Progressive Rock band. ELO was formed in 1970 by songwriters/multi-instrumentalists Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne, and drummer Bev Bevan directly from their previous band, The Move, with Bill Hunt (keyboards) and Richard Tandy (bass) and a quartet of string players rounding out the group. In fact, due to contractual obligations, The Move (with Wood, Lynne, and Bevan all still involved) continued even after formation of ELO, and actually, The Move's last album, Message from the Country and ELO's first album, The Electric Light Orchestra were essentially recorded at the same time, and both were released in 1971. ELO was formed from Wood's concept of combining strings and a classical sound and style with hard-driving guitars and rock n roll. Jeff Lynne joined The Move in 1970 precisely because he was interested in pursuing that new musical direction and the creation of ELO. And those early ELO records are definitely 'progressive rock', with long meandering songs with extended instrumental sections and clashes between the classical and rock influences. However, Roy Wood did not stay long, and left during the recording sessions for the 2nd album, ELO 2, in 1972, taking keyboardist Hunt and a cello player with him, to form his next band, Wizzard. In ELO, Richard Tandy moved over to keyboards and Mike de Albuquerque (bass) and some new string players were added for their next album, and On the Third Day was released in late 1973. With Jeff Lynne now in full control of the band, the songs and style moved more towards Beatlesque pop-rock, but the strings and classical influences were also still evident. Although they had received some previous chart success, their next album, the elaborate concept album, Eldorado (subtitled: A Symphony by The Electric Light Orchestra) in 1974 would be their breakthrough. On this album, the small string section of the band was not enough and Lynne brought in a full orchestra for the full and lush arrangements needed for the album. The single 'Can't Get it Out of My Head' became their first top ten hit in the US, and the album also cracked the top 20. More success followed with Face the Music (1975), producing more hits and (one of my favorites) the sensational instrumental 'Fire on High'. Even greater success followed in subsequent albums, but less and less of the classical bravado was evident and more just great pop melodies continued, making them into the pop sensation they became, but not much left of their more progressive origins. Here is a show from their earlier days, one of the only high quality recordings from those early days. Unfortunately, no decent recordings exist from the Roy Wood days with the band. This is the next best thing, a pair of BBC radio shows in 1973 and early 1974, featuring songs primarily from their third album, On The Third Day, and definitely belonging in the category of Progressive Rock. Unfortunately, the version of 'Roll Over Beethoven' played here does not include the classical Beethoven's 5th Intro, but we'll get another shot at that next time (in the next post).        

Tracklist:
01. From The Sun To The World
02. Kuiama
03. Roll Over Beethoven
04. Ma Ma Belle
05. King Of The Universe
06. Bluebird Is Dead
07. Oh No, Not Susan
08. New World Rising
09. In The Hall Of The Mountain King
10. Great Balls Of Fire

Tracks 1-3, 1973-04-19, Lower Cinema. London
Tracks 4-10, 1974-01-25, The Hippodrome, London

FLAC - ELO_1973-74_London BBC Recordings_FLAC.rar

mp3 - ELO_1973-74_London BBC Recordings_mp3.rar