jimm64
Junior Member
Posts: 14
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Post by jimm64 on May 11, 2020 22:38:01 GMT
The OOTB thread has me thinking about SM...after all these years we finally have a complete double-album version of Secret Messages (minus Beatles Forever, of course). But imagine you had access to the masters in 1983 and you are charged with coming up with a single-album running order. So...if you were able to choose from the 18 available songs to make this single album (no more than 45 minutes in length), which songs would you pick?
Side One
1. Secret Messages 4:43
2. Danger Ahead 3:47
3. Buildings Have Eyes 4:04
4. Bluebird 4:13 5. Take Me On and On 4:59
Running Time 22:00
Side Two
1. Four Little Diamonds 4:10
2. Rock N Roll is King 3:14
3. Stranger 4:29 4. After All :40
5. Hello My Old Friend 8:31
Running Time 21:10
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 13, 2020 6:03:00 GMT
Good thread. I think this is harder than doing OOTB, because, imho, OOTB has more filler that you can more easily get rid of. (I know....I know.....kill me now.) Plus, in the case of SM, some IDIOT did in fact make it into a single album, without several of the best songs available, and I never figured out if Jeff played a role in this selection, or not.
Anyway, if we look at the intended 18-track album, and get rid of 6 tracks in order to make a 12-track single album SM, which may be ELO's crowning achievement, ignoring what the IDIOT decided above, we may consider the following:
Getting rid of That Beatles Song is a no brainer. Because where is the official version anyway?
After All ain't no great loss.
Rock And Roll Is King is the most annoying ELO song ever. (Tie me up and play Battle Of Marston Moor endlessly. Go ahead.)
Letter From Spain can get lost in the mail without any great grief.
Now it gets hard: Train Of Gold and Mandalay are my very tough choices for taking the scissors to two more tracks, but I have tears in my eyes as I do so. Hey, a 12 track album is a 12 track album.
So, we begin with Secret Messages and we end with Hello My Old Friend. Even Donald Trump would agree with this. Ending side 1 with Time After Time seems right to me. It forshadows the end of side 2. I always thought those two songs had a similar feel. Here we go:
1. Secret Messages. 2. Loser Gone Wild. 3. Bluebird. 4. Take Me On And On. 5. Danger Ahead. 6. Time After Time.
7. Four Little Diamonds. 8. Stranger. 9. No Way Out. 10. Building Have Eyes. 11. Endless Lies. 12. Hello My Old Friend.
Questions?
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Post by Grroosss on May 13, 2020 7:26:40 GMT
My choices are similar to jimm64's: Side 1: Secret Messages Loser Gone Wild Bluebird Buildings Have Eyes Rock 'n Roll Is King Side 2: Four Little Diamonds Stranger Danger Ahead After All Hello My Old Friend I didn't mess with the running order much compared to the original single album--I've never listened to SM in its full double album glory, so I don't have a basis for comparison, but I'm pretty happy with the single album version and its running order even though it's not one of my favorite albums (unpopular opinion, I know). Unlike OOTB, I think I could've been content with a single album as long as Hello My Old Friend was included, it's practically a crime that it wasn't... I know that Mr Blue Sky is often compared to A Day In the Life since it borrows certain elements, but if you ask me, Mr Blue Sky is ELO's Twist and Shout or I Want to Hold Your Hand; it's Hello My Old Friend that deserves to be ELO's A Day In the Life.
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Post by tremblinwilbury on May 13, 2020 9:34:49 GMT
I've just changed my mobile contract, and the first treat I gave myself was to buy the digital version of the double album. I've been listening to it quite a bit, and I'm getting used to its slightly different running order. The single album running order is imprinted on my brain. That'll change, I'm sure.
As to what to select for MY single album... haven't made my mind up yet. One definite omission would be Train Of Gold. That song does nothing for me, and I happily skip it. There are two that woud be added - Buildings Have Eyes and the one about the old mate. Couldn't not have that.
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jimm64
Junior Member
Posts: 14
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Post by jimm64 on May 13, 2020 19:29:56 GMT
Here is Billboard Magazine's review of Secret Messages, from July 2, 1983. Its interesting Billboard was almost anticipating the band's decline in popularity, "After the disappointing response to "Time"...this new set will be watched closely."
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 13, 2020 19:51:01 GMT
This one was harder than I thought it would be, and I'm still not completely satisfied with what I settled on. I might update it. Each side is about 22 1/2 minutes.
Side 1 Secret Messages Bluebird Stranger Train Of Gold Take Me On And On
Side 2 Four Little Diamonds Danger Ahead Loser Gone Wild After All / Hello My Old Friend
I wish I could have come up with a more concrete running order, but I was having a hard time choosing between Loser Gone Wild, Train Of Gold, & Buildings Have Eyes. Ultimately, I cut Buildings because it was just a little too quirky and stood out. I also wish there was space for Letter From Spain, but maybe it would be more fitting as a b-side anyway.
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Post by Timeblue on May 13, 2020 19:54:17 GMT
My choices are similar to jimm64 's: Side 1: Secret Messages Loser Gone Wild Bluebird Buildings Have Eyes Rock 'n Roll Is King Side 2: Four Little Diamonds Stranger Danger Ahead After All Hello My Old Friend I didn't mess with the running order much compared to the original single album--I've never listened to SM in its full double album glory, so I don't have a basis for comparison, but I'm pretty happy with the single album version and its running order even though it's not one of my favorite albums (unpopular opinion, I know). Unlike OOTB, I think I could've been content with a single album as long as Hello My Old Friend was included, it's practically a crime that it wasn't... I know that Mr Blue Sky is often compared to A Day In the Life since it borrows certain elements, but if you ask me, Mr Blue Sky is ELO's Twist and Shout or I Want to Hold Your Hand; it's Hello My Old Friend that deserves to be ELO's A Day In the Life. When I thought about this I basically came up with the same list as yours @grroosss with the exception of putting After All next to HMOF (just my opinion but i don't think it works) I had Stranger 2nd last and After All on side 1 after Bluebird with RRIK on side 2. Confused? yep,me too....
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Post by BSJ on May 13, 2020 20:06:18 GMT
Rock And Roll Is King is the most annoying ELO song ever. (Tie me up and play Battle Of Marston Moor endlessly. Go ahead.) Letter From Spain can get lost in the mail without any great grief. Now it gets hard: Train Of Gold and Mandalay are my very tough choices for taking the scissors to two more tracks, but I have tears in my eyes as I do so. Hey, a 12 track album is a 12 track album. So, we begin with Secret Messages and we end with Hello My Old Friend. Even Donald Trump would agree with this.
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Post by Timeblue on May 13, 2020 20:11:27 GMT
Rock And Roll Is King is the most annoying ELO song ever. (Tie me up and play Battle Of Marston Moor endlessly. Go ahead.) Letter From Spain can get lost in the mail without any great grief. Now it gets hard: Train Of Gold and Mandalay are my very tough choices for taking the scissors to two more tracks, but I have tears in my eyes as I do so. Hey, a 12 track album is a 12 track album. So, we begin with Secret Messages and we end with Hello My Old Friend. Even Donald Trump would agree with this. But it's got a great video....
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Post by Horacewimp on May 13, 2020 20:29:56 GMT
Not much love for Mandalay it would be one of my first picks on any running order.
Side 1: Secret Messages Loser Gone Wild Bluebird Buildings Have Eyes Mandalay
Side 2: Four Little Diamonds Stranger Danger Ahead After All Hello My Old Friend
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Post by lasttrain929 on May 13, 2020 21:09:34 GMT
Changed my mind a few times on this one, but here goes
Side one 1 Secret messages 2 Loser gone wild 3 Blue bird 4 Take me on and on 5 Stranger Side 2 6 Danger Ahead 7 Time after time 8 Buildings have eyes 9 Hello my old friend 10 Four little diamonds
Good thread this, enjoyed seeing everyone’s take on this with the almost full double album to choose from. Wonder would anyone have picked Beatles Forever!!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 13, 2020 21:20:55 GMT
This one was harder than I thought it would be, and I'm still not completely satisfied with what I settled on. I might update it. Each side is about 22 1/2 minutes. Side 1Secret Messages Bluebird Stranger Train Of Gold Take Me On And On Side 2Four Little Diamonds Danger Ahead Loser Gone Wild After All / Hello My Old Friend I wish I could have come up with a more concrete running order, but I was having a hard time choosing between Loser Gone Wild, Train Of Gold, & Buildings Have Eyes. Ultimately, I cut Buildings because it was just a little too quirky and stood out. I also wish there was space for Letter From Spain, but maybe it would be more fitting as a b-side anyway. In proper ELO tradition, I thought I'd try to create some kind of storyline following my track-listing, and make it more of a concept album. It follows the heroes journey of a man leaving town to seek a better life, finding love and being heartbroken, all the while being tormented by "secret messages" that threaten to ruin his life. "Secret Messages" sets the stage, introducing our character and concept, a man receiving "secret messages" from an unknown source. "Bluebird" shows that our main character finds his current life unfulfilling, wishing to "fly away," with the messages he receives (the "signs that point one way") convincing him to do so. He leaves his home and friends in "Stranger," eventually finding a new life and love in a new town. Living with his new love, he eventually proposes, but she leaves him behind on a "Train Of Gold." Our protagonist laments his heartbreak in "Take Me On And On." Fast-forwarding in time (by changing sides), "Four Little Diamonds" finds our protagonist's depression has been has been replaced by fierce anger, performing a song about his bitterness from being abandoned. The "secret messages" return in "Danger Ahead," with the messages taunting that his former love would somehow return to make his life an inescapable hell, and our main character descends into mania and paranoia. Eventually however, he realizes that he's become nothing but a "Loser Gone Wild," showing disdain and embarrassment for his state and his actions. Making up his mind, he decides he won't let the "secret messages" affect him "After All," and he returns home to say "Hello My Old Friend", determined to start a better life.
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Post by BSJ on May 13, 2020 22:25:35 GMT
Works for me @chesteranobody.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 13, 2020 22:45:05 GMT
But it's got a great video.... Ah yes. That special 83-86 phase of videos where Bev stood up.
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Post by queenofthehours on May 20, 2020 15:54:03 GMT
I'm not 100% happy with the running order but this will do for now -
1. Rock 'n' Roll Is King 2. Secret Messages 3. Take Me On and On 4. Bluebird 5. Danger Ahead
1. Four Little Diamonds 2. Stranger 3. Letter From Spain 4. Train of Gold 5. Endless Lies
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