Q: Would YOU buy a book on the making of Secret Messages?
Feb 27, 2015 19:28:00 GMT
Horacewimp, queenofthehours, and 8 more like this
Post by ShardEnder on Feb 27, 2015 19:28:00 GMT
After a recent discussion on the subject of the original Secret Messages double album over at the Steve Hoffman forum, I was privately contacted by two different publishers about the possibility of putting my knowledge to good use and writing a book. Realising this might end up being just what it takes to convince Jeff Lynne, Rob Caiger and the powers that be at Legacy Recordings to finally issue this masterpiece in its originally intended form, I have already submitted a proposal to one (despite their not officially accepting new offers for ideas until later this year) and I also accepted the alternative offer in the event the other falls through for some reason.
Briefly covering the history of ELO from its inception through to the Time Tour, I'll mostly be focusing on what is known about the so-called Garden Reheasals, Wisseloord sessions and how the album was reduced to a single disc, even giving a comprehensive guide on how interested fans can assemble their own restoration of the complete 18 track sequencing, including the best sources for each song along with any necessary editing instructions. Along with referencing various interviews from back in the day, I've also secured an exclusive interview with Bill Bottrell, who is also "honored" to be contributing a foreword on his recollections of engineering this album.
Furthermore, I am currently waiting to hear back from Dave Morgan for his insights as well, and as if all of this wasn't enough, I'm considering a Kickstarter to raise funds so I can have the cover designed by none other than fellow Leeds artist Hag, who probably needs no introduction here since it is his photography that served as the basis for the final sleeve of Secret Messages. After years of dreaming, my desire to become a professional writer has just taken another great step in the right direction - now I won't be ashamed to admit to friend or family that my only printed work was for a culture magazine and then later the in-house publication for an obscure charitable organisation!
Thank you to everyone who has supported me as both a member here and previous ELO message boards, and if you have any relevant questions for either of my intended interview subjects then please don't hesitate to get in touch. Secret Messages has been perhaps the single most intriguing album that I've ever known, and I truly believe it is long overdue a reappraisal as the '80s equivalent of similarly unreleased/truncated records from other decades such as The Beach Boys' Smile and The Who's Lifehouse, the latter eventually reworked into the seminal Who's Next while Brian Wilson's masterpiece saw the light of day as Smiley Smile before finally receiving the treatment it deserved.
Briefly covering the history of ELO from its inception through to the Time Tour, I'll mostly be focusing on what is known about the so-called Garden Reheasals, Wisseloord sessions and how the album was reduced to a single disc, even giving a comprehensive guide on how interested fans can assemble their own restoration of the complete 18 track sequencing, including the best sources for each song along with any necessary editing instructions. Along with referencing various interviews from back in the day, I've also secured an exclusive interview with Bill Bottrell, who is also "honored" to be contributing a foreword on his recollections of engineering this album.
Furthermore, I am currently waiting to hear back from Dave Morgan for his insights as well, and as if all of this wasn't enough, I'm considering a Kickstarter to raise funds so I can have the cover designed by none other than fellow Leeds artist Hag, who probably needs no introduction here since it is his photography that served as the basis for the final sleeve of Secret Messages. After years of dreaming, my desire to become a professional writer has just taken another great step in the right direction - now I won't be ashamed to admit to friend or family that my only printed work was for a culture magazine and then later the in-house publication for an obscure charitable organisation!
Thank you to everyone who has supported me as both a member here and previous ELO message boards, and if you have any relevant questions for either of my intended interview subjects then please don't hesitate to get in touch. Secret Messages has been perhaps the single most intriguing album that I've ever known, and I truly believe it is long overdue a reappraisal as the '80s equivalent of similarly unreleased/truncated records from other decades such as The Beach Boys' Smile and The Who's Lifehouse, the latter eventually reworked into the seminal Who's Next while Brian Wilson's masterpiece saw the light of day as Smiley Smile before finally receiving the treatment it deserved.