HELLO,
MR. RADIO
YOU FRIENDLY STATION
SO GLAD OF YOUR COMPANY
The Electric Light Orchestra
is the debut
studio album
by English
Rock Band
(ELO),
released in
December 1971
in the
United Kingdom
by Harvest Records.
In the United States,
the album was
released in
March 1972
as
No Answer,
after a
misunderstood
telephone message
made by a
United Artists
Records executive
asking about
the album name;
the caller,
having failed to reach
the ELO contact,
wrote down
"no answer"
in his notes,
and this was
misconstrued to be
the name of the album.
Recording
The album is focused on
the core trio of
Roy Wood,
Jeff Lynne
and
Bev Bevan,
who were the
remaining members
of rock group
the Move.
The Move
were still
releasing singles
in the UK
at the same time
as this project
was undertaken,
but interest was soon
to be abandoned
in Wood's
former band.
In fact,
the Move's
final album,
Message from the Country,
was recorded
simultaneously
with
The Electric Light Orchestra.
The sound on
The Electric Light Orchestra
is unique
on this recording
in comparison to
the more slickly produced
ELO albums
of the
subsequent Lynne years,
incorporating many
wind instruments
and replacing
guitar parts
with heavy,
"sawing"
cello riffs,
giving this
recording an
experimental
"baroque-and-roll"
feel to it
Because Wood,
Lynne,
and
Bevan
were the
only members,
the album utilized
many overdubs
(with some tracks having well over 10)
and doubling
on instruments.
Lynne and Wood
did the strings
(with Wood doing the woodwinds)
while Bevan
stuck with
percussion and drums.
On the track
"The Battle of Marston Moor
(July 2nd, 1644),
" Wood also had to provide
the percussion
as well because
Bev Bevan,
normally the group's
percussionist
and drummer,
refused to play
on the track
due to his
low opinion of it.
The album cover
fittingly depicts a
disconnected lightbulb
in the middle
of a large empty
baroque-style
dance hall
with modern
electric lights
livening up the room.
The back cover
depicts Wood,
Lynne,
and Bevan
adorned in
era
appropriate clothing
and playing
classical instruments
(a cello, a violin, and a piccolo, respectively).
The image is depicted
in wall-eye style,
as if they are reflected
within the
lightbulb's dome
TRACKLIST
10538 Overture
Look At Me Now
Nellie Takes Her Bow
The Battle of Marston Moor
(July 2nd 1644)
Mr Radio
Manhattan Rumble
(49th Street Massacre)
Queen of the Hours
Whisper in the Night
10538 Overture
(Acetate version)
Mr. Radio
(take 9)
Nellie Takes Her Bow
(alternate mix)
Whisper In The Night
(take 1/take 2 edit)
The Battle Of Marston Moor
(Take #1)
Mr. Radio
(7-inch single version)
10538 Overture
(Top Of The Pops)
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