[.ca] Performing ELO's Greatest Hits Live

ELO Part II Does Live Better Than Regular ELO!!!:
I have been a fan of classic rock and ELO for most of my adult life. As a kid in the 1970's I was mezmorized by the polished orchestrated pop of gems like "Turn To Stone" and "Can't Get It Out Of My Head". The band's leader (some would say THE band) Jeff Lynne was a live performer recluse. He spent practically all his time in the studio arranging and creating. And he did this brilliantly. Like Steely Dan and Alan Parsons, we thought (and were wrong) that ELO would never do the consumate live album. To pull it off, they'd need more than the reclusive Lynne and his cast of help mates. Then comes the break up. Lynne goes into semi-retirement following his tourless stint with the Traveling Wilburys, opening up the opportunity for the band's drummer and an assembly of partially affiliated co-workers to hit the road with an ELO "show". They skirted the legalities (kind of) by calling themselves ELO Part II. Not the catchiest of band names, but ELO was in the title! They embarked on a nostalgia tour with the occasional full orchestra. The fruit of this tour is borne out on Greatest Hits Live. For ELO purests this whole idea is an insult. Jeff Lynne was incensed to the point of employing legal assistance. He lost. ELO II won. Lynne later reclaimed his territory on 2001's "Zoom" with the original ELO moniker. But there's no denying how good this live collection is. The album begins with the classic ELO overture(performed with the Moscow Symphony) that blossoms into an amazing take of "Turn To Stone". The band's grouping of "poser" musicians including violinist Mik Kaminski do some incredible vocalizing on this overdub only-can't-do-it-live ELO radio staple. They pull it off, and it sends a jolt of "electricity" through the audience. The band keeps the hits rolling fast and hard with "Evil Woman", "Showdown", "Living Thing" and "Hold On Tight". By that time the listener is ready for a musical break of sorts and the band slips in an ELO II original-"Thousand Eyes". Perfect timing, and not a bad song for a bunch of replacements. The band resumes with a dreamy "Can't Get It Out Of My Head" followed by "Telephone Line" and "Roll Over Beethoven". The latter being the real show finale. The song list in this set could have included "Fire On High", "Don't Bring Me Down" or "Do Ya". But the band or the label decided to condense it to these ten tracks. For those who want more you can check out "Live In Australia". I was still very impressed with the energy, the creativity, the vocalizing and the solid mix of orchestration and rock elements. This is no accident. It's well rehearsed, well executed art rock by a bunch of guys (minus Bev Bevan) who were likely in diapers when ELO started out. This is one of my all time favorite live albums. Buy it and enjoy (with headphones).

• Overture
• Turn to Stone
• Evil Woman
• Showdown
• Livin' Thing
• Hold on Tight
• Thousand Eyes
• Can't Get It Out of My Head
• Telephone Line
• Roll Over Beethoven