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Post by martin53 on Feb 12, 2011 15:40:36 GMT -5
Fantastic review Martin! Thanks for adding an educated synopsis to my informed 'guess' that Action: The Sweet Anthology is a definitive career summary of the Sweet! Thanks again for your fantastic contribution here Martin! You are very welcome, John! I'm glad you liked my review about a great British band of the 70's.
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Post by europeanson on Feb 12, 2011 17:26:02 GMT -5
Yes, here it is! The Sweet were a very successful British band of the seventies covering a variety of different musical styles such as pop, glam rock, rock and disco. At the very beginning of their career the band was the “product” of producing/songwriting team Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman. They were responsibles for all their early hits. Besides writing songs for Sweet, Chinn/Chapman also penned great tunes for the British bands Mud and Smokie. In 1978 Mike Chapman produced Blondie’s third album “Parallel Lines” which became the group’s biggest success ever. Chinn/Chapman and The Sweet had an agreement that the band would release singles of which the A-side would always be written by Chinn/Chapman whereas the B-side would be penned by The Sweet. The band members were eager to get recognised as “serious” musicians and were in the process of finding their own new musical style and songwriting. This agreement comprised obviously a foreseeable conflict that would later become clear when The Sweet finally wrested themselves free of the procuding/songwriting team Chinn/Chapman in the summer of 1974. “Desolation Boulevard” (1974), “Sweet Fanny Adams” (1974), “Give Us A Wink” (1976), “Off The Record” (1977) and”Level Headed“ (1978) followed. The albums were good, containing more “mature” songs than before and heading towards to a rock- and sometimes to a discooriented audience. I can highly recommend the 2-CD-Compilation “Action: The Sweet Anthology” released in 2008 on the Shout!Factory label. Not only covers this representative collection all their famous hits since the very beginning, but includes as well their latest big and famous hit “Love Is Like Oxygen” from their 1978 album “Level Headed” (running time 6.52). The product is still available and is really worth the money. To my knowledge it’s the only compilation that contains the album version of the fantastic “Love Is Like Oxygen”. Martin, thank you for the outstanding and detailed review about Sweet! Excellent read! I enjoyed it very much! Thanks again!
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Post by martin53 on Feb 13, 2011 5:00:47 GMT -5
Thank you, Europeanson! You are welcome!
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Post by bamajohn1 on Feb 21, 2011 2:28:13 GMT -5
I will turn my focus to The Electric Light Orchestra. I think the most comprehensive set for them also happens to be a bargain set. I'll get to that after some explanation. ELO has two boxsets. Afterglow was the first one and it came out in 1990. It is a 3CD, 47 track set. I have this boxset and it is a nice set but there are some problems that I'll get to. The major benefit of "Afterglow" is the inclusion of tracks from the unreleased half of the aborted double album version of 1983's "Secret Messages". Jeff Lynne originally intended for that 1983 album to be a double album but it ended up being a single album. "Afterglow has 6 of the rejected cuts in "Hello My Old Friend", "Mandalay", "Buildings Have Eyes", "A Matter of Fact", "No Way Out", and "Destination Unknown". Only 1 of these 6 tracks, 'No Way Out', was included on the 2001 remastered edition of 'Secret Messages'. Afterglow also has a personal fav and rarity 'Julie Don't Live Here Anymore'. It has many of ELO's hits but has some glaring omissions. Afterglow doesn't include such essential ELO hits as "Confusion," "Last Train to London," "Calling America" and their five songs recorded for the "Xanadu" soundtrack. It doesn't include 'Fire On High' which many consider to be an essential ELO track. The sound mastering for Afterglow is of the early 90s variety, so it definitely is not up to the remastered standards of the last 10 years or so. Afterglow is also 'out of print' and you can only buy a 'used' version for a reasonable price. The second ELO boxset, 'Flashback' came out in 2000! It is a 3CD, 53 song set. I have not heard this set but it presumably has the benefit of remastering. It has some of the omissions of the Afterglow (Last Train to London, Confusion, Calling America) set but there are drawbacks to it too! In it's favor is the fact that Flashback is in print and can be had brand new for $25 to $30 readily online! Flashback also doesn't include 'Fire On High' or the 6 'Secret Messages' rarities included on Afterglow. It further fails to include "All Over the World," "I'm Alive," and the original title track recording of Xanadu. I believe the best one stop shop way to procure a definitive collection of ELO's hits and key albums tracks is the 2CD, 38 track set 'Light Years: The Very Best of the Electric Light Orchestra'. True, it doesn't include 'Fire On High' or 'Tightrope'; or rarities like 'Julie Don't Live Here Anymore'. It also has some 'radio/single edits' but those are commonplace on compilations. But it's benefits are many! The best feature is 'Light Years...' includes all 20 of ELO's Top 40 hits in the USA including their three hits from "Xanadu" plus "Don't Walk Away" from the same soundtrack. The two boxsets together cannot match this set of inclusions in it's entirety! 'Light Years..' is in print and can be had 'brand new' for as litte as $7.50 from third parties on online selling platforms. It was released in 1997 so one would expect it to have better mastering than Afterglow, at least! There are a lot of single disc and two disc sets which do not cover ELO's catalogue to near the degree of this set! I'll reiterate that 'Light Years' bridges some of the major gaps that the two boxsets have in their contents! I'll leave it to the Chairman of the Board to offer his further insight about the 2CD set 'Light Years: The Very Best of the Electric Light Orchestra; as well as any merits of the 2 boxsets that might counter 'Light Years' benefits!
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Post by sleepwalker24 on Feb 21, 2011 10:43:23 GMT -5
Thankyou for the intresting and informative piece about E.L.O John! I recently bought All Over The World - The Very Best Of E.L.O and I've really enjoyed listening to it. I bought it for a few songs that I liked but was really impressed with the tracks I didn't know. I'd like to hear more so I may just have to look into the recommendations that you've made. I'll let you know what I decide
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Post by martin53 on Feb 21, 2011 11:28:45 GMT -5
Great essay, John! Congratulations!
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Post by bamajohn1 on Feb 21, 2011 11:30:13 GMT -5
You're welcome sleepwalker! I remember you telling me about the great deal you got on that ELO cd. I think it served it's purpose to wet your appetite for more ELO! I would highly recommend 'Light Years: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra' as a very budget choice to get a broader ranging sampling of their music! I think it is the perfect choice for you as it would basically double your ELO library!
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Post by bamajohn1 on Feb 21, 2011 11:32:04 GMT -5
Great essay, John! Congratulations! Thanks Martin! It took awhile to compile that entry even though I had already gathered the information I thought was pertinent! It's great to hear that the info is helpful!
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Post by martin53 on Feb 21, 2011 11:39:39 GMT -5
ELO’s first boxset „Afterglow“ was impressive and a must to have when it came out in 1990. As John stated it included six forgotten pearls from the “Secret Messages” sessions. But casting back my mind now I think that this boxset set should have contained 4 CD’s instead of 3 giving thus space for the neglected and omitted essential hits of this great British band. “Secret Messages” was originally planned to be released as a double album in 1983 but the band's record company cited that it would be too expensive for a double vinyl LP due to the early 1980s' oil crisis. It was the final ELO album that featured bassist Kelly Groucutt who left the band shortly after its release. The original intended track listing for the “Secret Messages” double vinyl LP was: Side A 1. Secret Messages 2. Loser Gone Wild 3. Bluebird 4. Take Me On And On Side B 1. Stranger 2. No Way Out 3. Beatles Forever 4. Letter From Spain 5. Danger Ahead Side C1. Four Little Diamonds 2. Train Of Gold 3. Endless Lies (1983 Version) 4. Buildings Have Eyes 5. Rock’n Roll I s King Side D1. Mandalay 2. Tome After Time 3. After All 4. Hello My Old Friend The track " Beatles Forever" was abandoned — and somewhat abruptly, given that it had previously been cited as the likely lead-off single from the intended double LP. It currently remains the only "lost" track from the original “Secret Messages” album not to appear later as an official bonus track or part of a compilation. The track seems unlikely now to ever be given an official release, with plenty of speculation as to the reasons why. One likely explanation centers around some of Lynne's later involvements as a producer first with George Harrison and then with subsequently re-released Beatles material; Lynne, now having had the opportunity to work closely with the subjects of the song (The Beatles and its members), may have later felt somewhat embarrassed by the track. Unfortunately for fans, " Beatles Forever" seems destined to remain in the vaults forever. ELO’s second boxset “Flashback” from 2000 was a big improvement compared to the first. It offered a different musical variety to the customer but again there were several important tracks missing. Interestingly enough “Flashback” was re-released in November 2010 with no additional bonus or different tracks as one might have hopefully presumed. Even the quantity of tracks remains unchanged - 53 that is. There is however a new brochure by Jeff. The beautiful and outstanding “Fire On High” which John is referring to is the opening instrumental track from the 1975 Electric Light Orchestra album “Face The Music”. People who are interested in this particular track should get the entire album, it’s worth it. Which leads us to the most difficult task – what is the best, the most representative and the top customer-friendly collection showing a great retrospective of ELO? Let’s face it, in the last 20 years or so dozens of compilations were released, most of them in a slap-hazard manner and none actually meeting the collector’s high expectations. With the exception of one, namely The 2-CD-Set “ELO: Light Years – The Very Best Of Electric Light Orchestra”! (1997)I fully second John’s recommendation. It’s the most comprehensive set available and a good bargain at the same time. It is a MUST to have! “Strange Magic”, “Ma Ma Ma Belle”, “Can’t Get It Out Of My Head”, “Nightrider”, “10538 Ouverture” and “Roll Over Beethoven” are presented as 7” edits, whereas “Secret Messages” is a special version from the LP of the same name and “Across The Border” comes along as the EP version. I would love to thank you, John, for a very insightful and detailed substantial contribution! It was an excellent read! And, I guess, you must have done pretty much research! Thank you again, John!
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Post by bamajohn1 on Feb 21, 2011 11:41:13 GMT -5
Martin: The 2-CD-Set “ELO: Light Years – The Very Best Of Electric Light Orchestra”! (1997) I fully second John’s recommendation. It’s the most comprehensive set available and a good bargain at the same time. It is a MUST to have! “Strange Magic”, “Ma Ma Ma Belle”, “Can’t Get It Out Of My Head”, “Nightrider”, “10538 Ouverture” and “Roll Over Beethoven” are presented as 7” edits, whereas “Secret Messages” is a special version from the LP of the same name and “Across The Border” comes along as the EP version. I would love to thank you, John, for a very insightful and detailed substantial contribution! It was an excellent read! And, I guess, you must have done pretty much research! Thank you again, John! You are very welcome Martin! I tried to use the 'quote' functiuon but your post was apparently so extensive and lenghty that the function would not work! I am so glad that as a big ELO fan that you are Martin, I have provided information that passes your inspection! I wanted to mention again to listen closely to the music in 'Do You Remember Walter' and compare it to 'Mr. Blue Sky' and note similarity! ELO had some good influences besides the Beatles! And thank you for your additional explanations about the abridged Secret Messages album and the 'Beatles Forever' track!
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Post by europeanson on Feb 21, 2011 12:10:17 GMT -5
John, thank you for a very interesting article. Great!
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Post by bamajohn1 on Feb 21, 2011 12:32:44 GMT -5
You are very welcome europeanson!
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Post by franklima on Feb 21, 2011 12:35:57 GMT -5
Martin: The 2-CD-Set “ELO: Light Years – The Very Best Of Electric Light Orchestra”! (1997) I fully second John’s recommendation. It’s the most comprehensive set available and a good bargain at the same time. It is a MUST to have! “Strange Magic”, “Ma Ma Ma Belle”, “Can’t Get It Out Of My Head”, “Nightrider”, “10538 Ouverture” and “Roll Over Beethoven” are presented as 7” edits, whereas “Secret Messages” is a special version from the LP of the same name and “Across The Border” comes along as the EP version. I would love to thank you, John, for a very insightful and detailed substantial contribution! It was an excellent read! And, I guess, you must have done pretty much research! Thank you again, John! You are very welcome Martin! I tried to use the 'quote' functiuon but your post was apparently so extensive and lenghty that the function would not work! I am so glad that as a big ELO fan that you are Martin, I have provided information that passes your inspection! I wanted to mention again to listen closely to the music in 'Do You Remember Walter' and compare it to 'Mr. Blue Sky' and note similarity! ELO had some good influences besides the Beatles! And thank you for your additional explanations about the abridged Secret Messages album and the 'Beatles Forever' track! my favorite ELO albums are all their first ones up to and including Eldorado, after that it was all down hill for me with them..I got to see them live a few times during those early years, shows were quite good too. Of course my favorite ELO album is the first one when Roy Wood was in the band.
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Post by europeanson on Feb 21, 2011 12:37:10 GMT -5
Martin, congratulations on your excellent essay! I very rarely have read such a fascinating and thrilling piece of work! Fantastic!
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Post by martin53 on Feb 21, 2011 12:47:04 GMT -5
Martin, congratulations on your excellent essay! I very rarely have read such a fascinating and thrilling piece of work! Fantastic! Thank you Europeanson! I'm pleased that you like it!
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