Post by goindowntorio on Sept 4, 2022 11:15:49 GMT
Hello everybody...
Skyclad1904 (An active member on your forum) often sends me links to various discussions on here ... his latest being this "Unreleased ELO" thread. Just reading the header to this thread alone was the final push that I needed to sign on the dotted line and join this forum.
Rob Caiger: "the tapes are degrading and it would be great to see all of it out there in the future".
That says it all really … It would be nice to see it all out there … the sooner the better. As I always joke to anybody that will listen, I've probably single handedly paid for Jeff Lynne's mortgage over the years (seemingly to me, anyway). It would be nice to see some returns on my investment….
I tend to stay in the background for the most part … a few of you will be aware of me … and I can hear you all now … "Oh God! … He's back!".
I have a "modest" ELO Collection … and as the years pass … It gets harder and harder to find the odd pressing here and there that I don't already have in my collection (And there are a few!). But … to be fair … you can't have everything … and it is always nice that any rarities that are out there are shared amongst the dedicated ELO collectors who still have the "ELO Fever". Which leads me nicely into the question being asked…
What would I like to see regarding 'Unreleased ELO'?.
First and foremost the line 'I wasn't expecting the Spanish Inquisition!' came to mind … as I gave the question more than a little bit of considered thought.
So … let's take stock … what do we (as ELO collectors) already have on our tables that got us salivating upon release?.
Well … we have "The Electric Light Orchestra" (The First Light Series) (2001 30th Anniversary Expanded Edition) … right up to say … Zoom (with the Japanese Edition having "Long Black Road" as a bonus track). Not forgetting the 1990 'Afterglow' Box Set and the 2000 'Flashback' Box Set of course. Most of you will already be aware of that lot (And all that has followed since) so I won't insult your intelligence any longer.
It's been quite fashionable for quite a long time now for bands of Jeff Lynne's generation to release box sets with tons of extra goodies on them … and some have been quite pricey too! … And I should know … because I've bought quite a few of them! ... but it's a price the fans are willing to pay (I certainly would be as far as ELO are concerned).
It's something that is long overdue … and something that the likes of my good friend Skyclad1904 and I would cherish until the end of time … If you'll pardon the expression.
So … what would I like regarding The Electric Light Orchestra?
As my good friend skyclad kindly posted for me…
"As a collector of everything Jeff Lynne / ELO for a VERY long time ... anything and everything would be more than welcome .... the more the merrier ... I have been waiting (and hoping) for news like this since TIME began! (sorry about that!) ... Yes please, Jeff ... I'll take the lot ... and don't spare the horses!"
Away from ELO … there is a myriad of stuff that Jeff Lynne has had a hand in ... I've got most of the official releases (you know who and what they are!).
Looking at the unreleased stuff … and from a personal point of view … I would love to own physical copies of "You'll Never Walk Alone" from the Longwave era (As a Liverpool supporter that one has a special place in my heart) ... The Rossif Sutherland session recordings ... and even The Infinite Monkey Cage Sessions ... to name but three.
I would regard the good people on this forum especially ... who clearly have a love for everything that Jeff Lynne brings to our tables ... as bona fide guardians of his music in whatever form it is presented in...
So ... It doesn't matter if it's the "Wild West Hero" Alternate Bridge Home Demo (For example) ... Let's face it ... Jeff Lynne could fart into the microphone and it would easily top anything that Leonard Rossiter achieved in the short film "Le Petomane"....
My answer would still remain the same...
Yes please, Jeff ... I'll take the lot ... and don't spare the horses!