Electric Light Orchestra fans are calling the “underrated” album Secret Messages a “masterpiece”.
Fans of the Jeff Lynne-fronted band are praising the album as an “underappreciated” piece of work from the band’s initial run. Though listeners say they “really love” the album, it was the last of ELO’s original run of albums to hit the Top Forty. A fan posting to the r/ELO subreddit wrote: “Secret Messages masterpiece? Just listened to Secret Messages from 1983. It’s way too underappreciated, right? I mean, Secret Messages, Bluebird, Take Me On and On… I really love that album, especially the title track Secret Messages.” Many fans are in agreement and recalled their first listening experiences with the album.
Another user wrote: “I remember when this came out – was a freshman in college. It actually has grown on me as I get older. Find myself playing it most weeks. I love the strange laughs and what sounds like dogs barking – really brings the entire album together.”
A third added: “I really love this album. All the songs you mentioned. It gets hate because of no orchestra, BUT Train of Gold is great too, Loser Gone Wild.” The original poster replied: “Loser Gone Wild has a weird musical change in the chorus but apart from that, great song too!”
Some users who were initially unimpressed with Secret Messages say the album is now starting to grow on them after some more time spent listening to the underrated Jeff Lynne-led creation. One wrote: “I never really liked Secret Messages but it’s starting to grow on me. Loser Gone Wild is a masterpiece and the title track is very ELO.”
Another wrote: “I don’t think it’s a masterpiece and it has its flaws (I really hate the percussion on some of the songs), but it definitely has a lot of great songs. Stranger is one of my favourite ELO songs.”
A third added: “Secret Messages was (and still is) underappreciated because it was released as just one LP instead of the intended two, having ten tracks instead of the intended eighteen (nineteen if you count Beatles Forever). If I had listened to this album in ’83 as it was released, then I would have also put it lower than I do now with the 2018 2LP release.”
Other users who assessed the long-term legacy of Secret Messages say it is as good and important a release from ELO as their 1981 classic, Time. One wrote: “I’d be lying if I said Secret Messages is not up there with Time for me.” Another added: “I excitedly waited for this album to come out. It didn’t disappoint and still doesn’t. A superb album.”
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