Noteworthy Notions - ELO : 'ELO II'

NOTEWORTHY NOTIONS

'ELO II'
ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA - 1972

ELO 2 is not a fan favourite. It is not jeff's favourite. It's not my favourtie either, but i am more forgiving than Jeff lynne, who once dubbed it 'The worst album ELO ever made'. It is certainly long.

ELO 2 contains five tracks, with the longest being 'Kuiama' at just over 11 minutes. It is even rougher than it's predeccesor, with Jeff Lynne free to do as he likes in the studio, having parted with Roy Wood after the single release of '10538 Overture' from their debut album. The entire ELO 2 album was performed 'live' and unplugged. The album is wackier and more heavy than the first, with long winding songs that seem to talk about nothing yet seem so profound.

The star of this set is undoubtedly the ELO's version of Chuck Berry's classic rock and roller, 'Roll Over Beethoven', with the Ork lending their own unique and inimitable qualitites to the tune, inclusing opening the track with a rendition of 'Beethoven's Fifth Symphony' before the guitar kicks in. The other great tune of note on this LP is the 11 minute classic, 'Kuiama', an anti war piece with a sad lyric, homely guitar and a wonderfully poingnant violin solo.

The other three tracks are also enjoyable for different reasons. 'In Old England Town' is a rolling monster of a tune, heavy cello and guitar as Jeff sings about the military and pollution. 'Mama' is a pleasant sounding song about a lonely girl, though it could have done without the comical trumpet noises that play at intervals, which always make me laugh at the farcical sound. 'From The Sun To The World' is a theatrical piano stomper (I make these terms up) that would sound fitting in any bizzarre musical.

I would not say ELO 2 is the worst album ELO ever made, as it is too negative a description. it is certainly the roughest, the most 'prog' and is incredibly heavy, but I listen to it more than their debut album and I always go to it when I need a real thumping record to make my ears pop.

Review by Jim Stanton

Release Details

Tracklisting

In Old England Town (Boogie #2)
Mama
Roll Over Beethoven
From The Sun To The World (Boogie #1)
Kuiama