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Post by bluey on Jul 13, 2017 20:20:39 GMT
Here is a YouTube video of Jeff Lynne's first recorded composition to feature a string section.
"The Lady Who Said She Could Fly" was on the debut Idle Race album "The Birthday Party".
The Birthday Party was released in 1968 to critical acclaim, however the record buying public didn't share the critics love for the album and sales were very disappointing. Eleven of the albums thirteen tracks were penned by Lynne.
If you get the chance to hear the album, you won't be sorry that you did. It's laden with catchy tunes and Jeff's beautiful vocals.
Hope you enjoy the video.
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Post by unomusette on Jul 13, 2017 21:12:40 GMT
Must agree about what a great album The Birthday Party is, my kids were raised on it. I could always get them to stop fighting by starting up Mr Crow and Sir Norman, we must have sung it a billion times
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Post by bluey on Jul 13, 2017 22:51:23 GMT
Must agree about what a great album The Birthday Party is, my kids were raised on it. I could always get them to stop fighting by starting up Mr Crow and Sir Norman, we must have sung it a billion times
Mr Crow and Sir Norman isn't on The Birthday Party album, it's on the self titled second album from 1969. Idle Race was the first album to be produced by Jeff Lynne, like it's predecessor it was a great album, but it too was not appreciated by the record buying public and was a sales flop.
Here is Mr Crow and Sir Norman. I like it too, it's a real foot tapper of a song.
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Post by IvanDSM on Jul 14, 2017 5:37:54 GMT
The Birthday Party is an absolute gem! Love this album, but interestingly, "The Lady Who Said She Could Fly" is probably my least favorite track on the whole album. My favorites are probably "I Like My Toys", "The Birthday", "On With The Show" and "End of the Road"!
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Post by bluey on Jul 14, 2017 12:09:04 GMT
The Birthday Party is an absolute gem! Love this album, but interestingly, "The Lady Who Said She Could Fly" is probably my least favorite track on the whole album. My favorites are probably "I Like My Toys", "The Birthday", "On With The Show" and "End of the Road"!
I agree that "The Lady Who Said She Could Fly" is the weakest track on The Birthday Party album, but it was Jeff's first attempt to add a string section to one of his own songs. That's why I posted it, not everyone is as familiar with Jeff's Idle Race material as we are. "End of the Road" was an ideal ending to the album with its upbeat tempo and happy whistling. Other gems for me are "Lucky Man", "Mrs Ward" and "Sitting in My Tree".
Here is a rare live Top of the Pops version of "End of the Road".
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tl77
Full Member
Posts: 62
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Post by tl77 on Jul 14, 2017 16:35:42 GMT
End Of the Road was mentioned. A very catchy tune and a great pop tune, but the beginning melody line reminds me almost too much of Any Time At All by The Beatles. ("There was peace and quiet for me"/"If you need somebody to love"). It has been said that Jeff is more Paul than John, but ATAA is mostly a John track, I think.
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Post by IvanDSM on Jul 15, 2017 18:36:13 GMT
Hello IvanDSM,
I agree that "The Lady Who Said She Could Fly" is the weakest track on The Birthday Party album, but it was Jeff's first attempt to add a string section to one of his own songs. That's why I posted it, not everyone is as familiar with Jeff's Idle Race material as we are. "End of the Road" was an ideal ending to the album with its upbeat tempo and happy whistling. Other gems for me are "Lucky Man", "Mrs Ward" and "Sitting in My Tree".
[/font][/quote] Yes, I forgot about Lucky Man and Sitting In My Tree! I absolutely love those! Oh, who am I kidding? I love the whole album!  |
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Post by elophile on Jul 15, 2017 20:29:48 GMT
Here is a rare live Top of the Pops version of "End of the Road".
Top of the Pops - so this was televised? I wonder if we'll ever get to see video of the the Idle Race with Jeff ?! That's something I would very much like to see. |
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Post by bluey on Jul 16, 2017 14:45:09 GMT
Here is a rare live Top of the Pops version of "End of the Road".
Top of the Pops - so this was televised? I wonder if we'll ever get to see video of the the Idle Race with Jeff ?! That's something I would very much like to see.
Brian started the T.O.T.P radio show in 1964, the same year as the tv show of the same name. Unlike the tv version which had different Radio 1 disc jockey presenters rotating weekly, Brian was the only presenter of the radio show, he was a great supporter of both The Move, The Idle Race and ELO, Brian would invite the bands into the BBC Radio 2 studio to record live sessions. As these sessions were made for radio, there is no video footage, sorry about that. Brian's show ran for about 30 years.
I'll feature more sessions from Brian Matthew's Radio 2 version of Top of the Pops in the future.
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Post by queenofthehours on Jul 17, 2017 14:17:21 GMT
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Post by bluey on Jul 17, 2017 20:12:40 GMT
I wasn't aware that Brian had passed away, thanks for letting me know.
I had heard earlier this year that he was ill, but I didn't know it was life threatening.
Brian was a great disc jockey who did a lot to publicise the music of both Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne.
R.I.P. Brian Matthew. (17th September 1928 - 8th April 2017).
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Post by unomusette on Jul 17, 2017 20:25:08 GMT
It was a disgrace the way the BBC elbowed Brian Matthew aside, he made it very plain he wanted to carry on presenting the show. It was the same with Jimmy Young, he was given the heave-ho against his wishes purely because of his age. He was perfectly capable of presenting, to listen to him you'd never know how old he was, and the show itself has kept the same format.
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Post by queenofthehours on Jul 31, 2017 19:34:15 GMT
I haven't listened to Sounds of the Sixties www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006wqlv since Brian left. Partly from loyalty, partly because it just wouldn't sound the same. Most of the joy I got from that show was hearing Brian's reminiscences and stories because he was there and knew the bands personally. There always seemed to be a Move track every week almost. |
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Post by unomusette on Jul 31, 2017 21:18:53 GMT
To be fair I think Tony Blackburn is doing a good job carrying on the show, he's a big fan of the era himself and he's doing it his way rather than trying to copy what Brian did. Plus he's not been treated well by the BBC himself. I suppose we should count ourselves lucky the whole show wasn't axed in favour of some hip hop series  |
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, 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?