Post by wolvesgirlgonewild on Oct 24, 2016 19:40:25 GMT
Regarding Jeff's compositions: most of his work since Eldorado is similar to Paul's (Can't Get it Out of My Head has the Let It Be's spirit, just like Eldorado has Golden Slumbers' and Mr. Blue Sky follows Good Day Sunshine, BUT his earlier ELO material is a hundred percent Lennon. Just hear Bluebird is Dead, Oh No Not Susan, Momma...
Yes, both ELO eras have some of each Beatle: Mr. Radio is so Paul's whereas Mister Kingdom and 21st Century Man are so John's. Now, it's clear that Jeff was following the Lennon path until Eldorado, when he shifted to Paul's poppier sound.
If we should talk about Jeff's preference, I'm sure he'd be the most democratic: he likes the four the same. But I bet he liked Lennon the most when he was younger. Lennon called ELO son of Beatles and Jeff made him a tribute for an entire tour. And Paul was the only living Beatle who didn't play on Zoom (although that may have a different explanation).
Long live Sir James Paul McCartney.
I agree with all of this totally. Well said, fernandoamado .
I’m a George fan first and foremost but I have to say that it was the Wilbury connection that made me a fully paid up member of the Harrison camp. I liked him a lot before because he was quietest and because of the stories I’d heard about how kind and nice he was. But until I found ELO I never really had an opinion of the Beatles either as a band or of any individual member, it had been always hard for me to pick. Every time I'd try to choose a best Beatle I'd keep going back to Paul. George and John were quiet and edgy respectively but they played guitar. Paul played the coolest instrument - the bass. Ringo was overlooked being the drummer (I always love drummers) yet he wasn't a genius like Paul. No matter how hard I tried to convince myself of the appeal of other members I kept coming back to Macca. Is not the Frog Song a work of genius??? It wasn't that the others were lesser than Paul, it was that Paul had so much more to recommend him.
I think that my love for ELO comes from that early love of Macca. It can't have come from my adoration of George because I knew nothing of him until I discovered Jeff. George was the only Beatle that I didn't have any solo knowledge on - and to be honest, I thought he was quite dull, all that religion and Indian stuff. But, thankfully, I know different now thanks to Jeff "introducing me". When I first watched Concert for George it was for Jeff and I hadn't even heard of any of the songs aside from a few including 'Here Comes the Sun' which I thought had been a solo single!
So I think ELO is a very Macca-ish band. They have that irresistible upbeat pop sound, a slight cheesiness, natural genius and a sense of fun. Most importantly I think Paul and ELO both share that slightly laboured creation method. You just know Jeff and Macca have sweated hard to make their music and have put so much effort into making their music seem effortless. Yes, I think you can hear the labour as well. Remember, Jeff said he hated writing lyrics and had to force himself and Paul struggled for days to get the words for 'Yesteday' to sound less about eggs. A more natural musical is Lennon. He never seemed to have to force anything. I'd say very early ELO was closer to Lennon in sound but the more successful tracks and ideas were the ones that sounded more McCartney. Lennon didn't need to try but Jeff did which is why he fits better with Paul's sound. What made ELO ELO for me was not the Lennon influences. They were there and they did work but not as well as the Macca influences.
If it hadn't been for my childhood love of Paul I don't think I'd love ELO now so, in ELO terms, I'm on Paul's side (though, to be clear, my heart is all George's now!!) Actually, I think that George may have been influenced BY Jeff rather than the other way around as he was by Paul and John. I wonder if Jeff would admit to being influenced by Paul? I expect he'd readily admit to Lennon's influence. I love each Beatle but it's definitely Sir Paul who is the ELO Beatle.
, but we're OK. 
Apparently it's quite hard to see them with the naked eye, you need to be looking through a camera or other type of lens?