About 1976 being a supreme year in music: E.LO.'s "A New World Record" was released in the fall of that year and went on to become a worldwide smash. That makes 1976 a year for 3 monumental albums (so far): Boz Scaggs' "Silk Degrees," Stevie Wonder's "Songs In The Key Of Life" and "A New World Record."
Written and recorded in just "weeks," according to lead singer and instrumentalist mastermind Jeff Lynne, "A New World Record" is a 9-song masterpiece. This engine is firing on all cylinders; the melodies, strings, guitars, drums, and vocals are all perfectly blended to create an album that should be more praised than it is. I'm here to praise it! It's a breathtaking blend of classical music and pop-rock, a theatrical sound uniquely E.L.O. There are plenty of acts out there today that owe a small debt to this band, whether or not E.L.O wants to collect on it. Brandon Flowers of The Killers could easily be mistaken for Jeff Lynne, as well as their melodic and stadium-like sound. Keane anyone? Or how about Coldplay or the indie Young The Giant?
Let us begin with the musical genius behind the "Orchestra," Jeff Lynne. "New World" is chock-full of ear candy--nothing that requires the use of a q-tip, more a pair of headphones. Hailing from the UK, this man knows how to write and arrange a melody and a song better than most (check out Regina Spektor's "Far" album for his recent production work). I'd put him right up there with The Beatles. Lynne wrote all 9 songs on this album on an old upright piano. The finished product is a gargantuan production that is best experienced at top volume.
"Tightrope" opens the album with a musical blast of dramatic orchestration and space-aged synths. Anthemic in every way, this song is perfect to get you going when you wake up in the morning. "Telephone Line" one of my absolute favorites, is an upbeat yet melancholy lament to someone far away. Wait until it gets to the chorus, "Oh, telephone line, give me some time, I'm living in twilight " you'll recognize the song from commercials. But the longing of Lynne's voice when "no one's answering" is a gut-punch. A classic example of the classical-meets-orchestral-meets-rock-meets-opera is the killer "Rockaria!" with its legit opera singer warbling away in German on the hook of the song. This is a genuine stadium rocker track that is worthy of any and all air-guitars!
The most familiar song in this lineup is, to the "Boogie Nights" /P.T. Anderson enthusiasts "Livin' Thing," a pulsing foot stomper complete with riffing violin and mariachi trumpet. Keep an ear open for the rolling orchestral strings in the background, a clever use of classical motifs in a pop song. Call me a sucker for the lovelorn ballads, but "Shangri-La" is beautifully melodic. "I'm getting out of love...my Shangri-La has gone away, faded like The Beatles on 'Hey Jude'."
In addition to this and 12 other albums, I have to give a shout-out to one of the best movie soundtracks of all time--ALL TIME (even if the movie is considered one of the worst of all time). "Xanadu" is another melodic symphonic Gem of a Jam that is just as winning as this G.O.A.J. "A New World Record." A misstep in the history of American popular music, E.L.O. has never been nominated or won a Grammy nor have they been inducted into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame. ERRONEOUS to say the least!
E.L.O.'s entire catalog is available on iTunes or in boxed set form (which of course, I own). Also available is a CD with bonus tracks with detailed liner notes and the song "Surrender" a rare B-side. Electric Light Orchestra is one of my favorite bands ever. Give them a listen and they'll be yours too.