cg
Junior Member
Posts: 30
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Post by cg on Jan 11, 2022 23:12:53 GMT
Is this new book actually worth it? I don't mean to disparage the book, I am just curious whether this publication has anything confirmed and concrete as fact with regards to ELO. I'm a bit conflicted on this aspect, as the author is a self-described ELO superfan, yet in a recent interview he also admitted to not being aware of the band ever covering Eleanor Rigby until a recording surfaced just a few weeks ago, even though this detail had been clearly documented on Rob Porter's JL Song Database for years under the ANWR Tour page. (At this point, I reckon the next "holy grail" to surface will be a Time Tour version of Ticket To The Moon...) Sure, the guy has put in a degree of original research and was inspired to write this book after contacting the publishers behind the On Track series, but it all seems like a product created to fill a gap in the market. I nearly made the same mistake by initially proposing a volume of Bloomsbury's 33 1/3 that would only look at the history behind Secret Messages, when in reality what the world needs is a more comprehensive read giving a perspective of ELO's history that isn't just mostly repeating what little Jeff himself is prepared to say these days. Much like with John Van Der Kiste's efforts, Song By Song or Before And After, I'm sure it will be a perfectly serviceable introduction for the casual audience and may even have a few genuinely new scraps of information. However, I fear that Barry Delve is another writer who has fallen into the mainstream-catering trap rather than daring to scrape too far below the surface. Alas, the format doesn't suit itself to that kind of exhaustive treatment, which is probably why the aforementioned website remains such an invaluable resource.
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Post by soonerorlater on Jan 12, 2022 10:10:37 GMT
I finally got a hold of a copy of On Track and I've read it from cover to cover. Here are my thoughts.... Firstly, this is a book to read from cover to cover, not just a point of reference to dip into from time to time. Having read it, I'm sure I will now use it as an occasional point of reference but its a fascinating read and I thoroughly enjoyed both its style and content. As a fan of over 45 years, I thought that I knew pretty much all of the ELO story but this forum and now this book certainly prove that I don't and that I probably never will. That's what's so fascinating about following a band with such a deep and complex history. Each album is explored chapter by chapter with an extremely well written background piece to introduce them, followed by a track-by-track analysis. From the outset I thought that the analysis element might perhaps grate with me. After all, it's just someone's opinion about each song - but that's the point. It would be very dull indeed if we all agreed with each other about every song so I've embraced the analysis as a challenge to my own opinions. That's what makes this book so valuable to me. On some songs (and albums) I find myself in complete agreement with the author, on others I am at odds with everything said. That's exactly how it should be! Barry Delve has challenged me to listen again to certain songs and albums and reappraise whether my own entrenched opinions need dusting down after all these years. A couple of examples: is Discovery " the band's most diverse and well-produced album" that " sounds amazing" or does my feeling still hold that it was a crushing post- Out Of The Blue disappointment and that side two in particular is the worst side of any ELO album, in their entire history? For now, I'm sticking with my take. However when it comes to Balance Of Power, my fossilized 36 year old point of view that the middle four songs push the album down into the realms of the very ordinary, has been shattered. Having read the analysis of the songs, I've listened to them again (and again) and I see where I've got it wrong! I actually now view the album in a new and better light. And that's the point of this book for me. I've been listening to these songs for decades but at times, have I really been listening? It's time to review and enjoy the entire catalogue, album by album and song by song, all over again. If only they'd put out a complete and freshly remastered set to celebrate the 50th anniversary. What a novel idea! I know that Barry has dipped into this thread now and again so if you're reading this, thank you for your efforts in putting this book together and making this ELO 'old timer' sit up and take notice again! It's a superbly structured and thoroughly engaging walk through a catalogue of music that has meant more to me than that of any other artist. If people want to dive in and nitpick over any minor inaccuracies as if they were studying a train timetable, then fine but I think they're missing the point. It's all about the love of the music and that means something slightly different to each of us. This book articulates that love and simply challenges us to do the same. One final thing though (I couldn't resist!).... is Don't Wanna' from Moment Of Truth really " the highlight of the album"?! I mean really?........
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Post by Timeblue on Jan 12, 2022 12:40:16 GMT
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Post by lasttrain929 on Jan 12, 2022 20:16:36 GMT
A very fair review soonerorlater, I haven’t got round to reading my copy yet so thanks for the feedback. One thing I was pleased to read in your review was you seeing BOP in a better light as I rate it highly. This album always seems to be propping up the table in rank the ELO albums lists.
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Post by Horacewimp on Jan 12, 2022 20:42:47 GMT
I’ve also finished reading my copy, it’s a great read and I would recommend it to any ELO fan.
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Post by pelo on Jan 13, 2022 10:39:45 GMT
Same here. I've nearly finished and would recommend the book as well. I am glad the author talked to the artist who designed the handshake poster, and that he was able to contact Bill Bottrell. (Although I managed to interview Dick Plant; Colin Owen, Tom Thiel, Richard Goldblatt and Mack for my own book, Bottrell never replied to the questions I sent to him?!) What I didn't know was that The Lights Go Down was the second song recorded in LA - I've always thought it was Another Heart Breaks!
Of course, there are many ways of approaching a song analysis. Personally, I would have preferred a more neutral presentation of the songs since there are so many different opinions among the fans as to what is a good or bad ELO song. For example, I think Letter From Spain is a fascinating piece of music. Also, Balance of Power doesn't stick out like a sore thumb in my opinion. It's just a natural follow-up to SM, and I've always loved it. To me, ELO was just as much about using electronic keyboards (listen to OTTD) as it was about experimenting with strings. Don't forget that "Discovery" was a very influential album for people like Jean Michel Jarre.
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Post by fluffy on Jan 27, 2022 13:50:21 GMT
I just got notification from Amazon indicating my book was shipped out today, I should have it by 3 of February.
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Post by fluffy on Jan 27, 2022 16:02:54 GMT
now it says i am getting it tomorrow
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Post by fluffy on Jan 28, 2022 20:59:06 GMT
I got my book today
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Post by kingofthehours2 on Jan 31, 2022 23:01:45 GMT
I v much enjoyed the book. Not sure I like some of the criticism it has received which has been unfair..if you don't like it write your own book. Of course I didn't agree with some of the opinions but so what. An enjoyable light read which covers a lot in only 160 pages. Well done.
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Post by orangefiltersky on Feb 1, 2022 22:59:04 GMT
I am just in the middle of reading the book, but so far I think it is really well written and full of interesting information. As others have hinted at, the book sometimes holds opinions that could come across as rather odd. The author f.e. would have preferred "Julie Don`t Live Here" (a song that was just a b-side and in my ears quite rightly so) as a choice for a single over "Twilight" (which is one of the great E.L.O. masterpieces in the 80es imo). But hey, if that`s what the author thinks he can write it down as he likes and it`s my problem if I don`t share his views. At other times the texts are really funny, f.e. when the writer introduces the song "Four Little Diamonds" with the following words: "Jeff bumps into the Evil Woman again, and this time she fleeces him of his titular diamonds." I really had to laugh out loud when I read that. The history of Jeff and his Evil Woman is really a never ending story (see "Dirty To The Bone"). I can`t wait to read on tomorrow. Well done!
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Post by orangefiltersky on Feb 7, 2022 12:18:16 GMT
Seven days went by and I have been reading every single day in this wonderful book. By now I must have read about 80% of the content. I had been hoping that it was good but I was really not expecting a book that good: Not only is it very well-researched, it is written wittily and entertainingly throughout. I have learned so many things about the songs it´s unbelievable. The author even found and interviewed the guy who read the news-section in "Here Is The News" after all those years. He also hints at some recording flaws (bum notes, muffled channels f.e.) which I had never noticed before. And it took me forty years to find out that the choir in "Jungle" is singing a section in my native language German. Why didn`t I hear that before?!
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