Contemporary film and television have much love for Electric Light Orchestra. Whether your first indoctrination into the Jeff Lynne-led spaceship funhouse was Doctor Who or Guardians of the Galaxy is neither here nor there. A band which has erupted in popularity for a generation not exposed to their glory days on stage – but with a chance to see them on the horizon following the announcement of a tour, what better reason than to look back? To reflect on what came before we were born? A New World Record may not edge its way out of the Out of the Blue-shaped shadow, but it is a worthy album worth engaging with. E.L.O., like many bands of the 1970s, hide their best works in the lesser-remembered albums. Everyone accepts Mr. Blue Sky, but what the heart truly wants is Tightrope.
Does it deserve to be in the shadow of E.L.O.’s best record? Yes. But A New World Record is not without merit. Those violins on opener Telephone are a new direction for the band – something Time would try and fail to exploit later with slick guitar instead of sharp strings. A lightness to the efforts of E.L.O. certainly presents the band as a blur of surface-level psychedelic and progressive rock potential on A New World Record. It is an overlap which works well, leaving room for the orchestral arrangements, that crucial third of the band, intact. Telephone Line keeps this alive. Not only does it provide a slick instrumental bed, but it keeps in mind the vocal talents Lynne brought to the group. Credible hooks and the hopes of a callback feel as modern as needed. We still wait for calls and the advancements of tech have not made Telephone Line, or the wider reach of A New World Record, redundant by any stretch.
E.L.O. has a cohesive example on their hands. Separated from the rest of the album, the likes of Rockaria! or Mission (A World Record) fall apart. But listen through in full, as you should be anyway, and they feel like essential pieces of stitching in a fabric richer down the line. Livin’ Thing maintains the joys E.L.O. had with their standalone efforts but the preceding tracks like So Fine are integral for the build-up they provide. Would you go out of your way to listen to it when removed from the rest? There are better options from the band – but there is filler and there is experimentation and songs for the sake of a rewarding segue or break.
These are the experimental scribbles of a band on the cusp of something excellent. Sit in awe at the vision Lynne and the late Richard Tandy had. The latter is an essential component of A New World Record. Exemplary efforts all around and much of it based on the slight pangs Tandy can get in, the acoustic guitar of Livin’ Thing or the Moog work on the opening of Telephone Line. Whatever the case he is of a rare form and so too is Lynne, whose vocal balance is a wonderfully broad and daring experience. A New World Record sits in the shade of other E.L.O. projects but it marks the first truly great record from the band. A triple bill like the one E.L.O. carried out with A New World Record, Out of the Blue and Discovery is remarkable. Listen to where it all starts. Right here.
Will be going to see ELO (again) in Houston 10*16*24. With my wife. Saw them 1978 with my fiance. We just love it and wish it would slow down a little. Married 43 yrs and going to another ELO concert.
Saw ELO pre covid in Liverpool -Absolutely blown away ❤️
Remember buying out of the blue. So disappointed after the superb new world record.
I had too much fun in the 70s, and I’m glad ELO was part of it, along with the rest of the bands of the era.
‘Face The Music’ is a great album that gave the world the sound that made ELO so popular. And ‘Eldorado’, prior to FTM, is a work of musical genius.
My very first album of elos and I still have it ,as with many of their albums but it’s by far my favourite one of the lot and played every day still out of the blue is still in its original sleeve double blue vinyl bought as a present in 1970s . One more Album of jeff lynes elo is alone in the universe and is a decent album too
I live in The United Kingdom, spiritual home country of Jeff Lynne, and ELO. I’ve been listening to ELO since 1970, shortly before I entered the military, and have been listening ever since. I would love to see ELO before I leave this mortal coil but alas it appears that ELO won’t be playing in the UK again. It’s a shame that we military Veterans aren’t held in as high esteem as our US brothers and Sisters, by ELO. All that said ELO are Brilliant!
You think you’ve got problems… here in Australia we have a snowflake’s chance in hell of Jeff Lynne’s ELO ever touring. I was too young to catch the one and only tour they did down here in the seventies. I did at least catch Bev’s ELO Part 2 in 1995
Boasted by a extremely massive advertising campaign there was no doubt this album was going to fail. Face The Music had finally locked in a solid line-up and ANWR prove that line-up was perfect for the task. Even the cote unit of Jeff Lynne, Loius Clark, Richard Tandy and engineer (rheimhold) ‘Mack’ was such a key to thr formidable construction of the final product.
If you haven’t seen the 2017 “WEMBLEY OR BUST” concert, you’re missing out on something special.
My wife and I are big fans of ELO seen them in the uk twice and we are off to new york to see them at maddison Square gardens both nights we carnt wait
OLE ELO….ELO Greatest Hits @1975.
A great overview of most everything ELO prior to A New World Record..
ANWR and FTM are probably ELOs best albums with Eldorado and Out of the Blue,
the next best after that.
A humble opinion.
Cheers,
Marty H.
USA
My favourite ELO album. A perfect blend of the teamwork of Jeff Lynne, Richard Tandy and Louis Clark, especially songs such as The Mission and Tightrope.
The old ELO with Kelly Groucutt Bev Bevan Mik Kaminski were ELO the new one is a bunch of session people good in there way but not the same Kelly did most of the backing singing overdubbed ,I played in his first band and he had a brilliant voice in 1959 when we started and he got better RIP the great man
Will we all, all of us everywhere who have always loved and will always return to ELO, just simply turn to stone, once they are gone ??
Still have my “Out Of The Blue” at! I see them every chance I get! First concert: The Twilight Tour!!! Can never get tired of that era!
My favorite ELO era was “On the Third Day” through their half of “Xanadu.” I will also note that “Time” is better heard all the way through… one of those rare albums where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.
I have seen ELO twice live: 1981 in Omaha, Nebraska and last week in Boston, Massachusetts. Both outstanding shows!!!
As for “A New World Record,” it is my second favorite ELO album, just behind “Out of the Blue” and just ahead of “Face the Music” & “Discovery”. You didn’t mention tracks “Fire on High” and “Above the Clouds,” which are two of my favorites.
The genius of Jeff Lynne (or part of it) is that he didn’t develop a sound and then rest… he kept working, kept creating and changing and moving toward something new. There may be a song or three of his that you are less fond of but that song is someone’s favorite. And Jeff’s lesser works are better that most people’s best. THAT is greatness!
Just saw them in Washington DC on Wednesday and it was a Great show..!! Came all the way from Green Bay Wi and we’ll worth the trip…!!
I’d argue that A triple bill like the one E.L.O. carried out with Face the Music, A New World Record and Out of the Blue and Discovery is remarkable. Listen to where it all starts. With Face the Music since I felt that “DiscoVery” was a less satisfying record post-peak of their creative high point.