Electric Light Orchestra II

Electric Light Orchestra II

Electric Light Orchestra

Jet / Epic Records, 1973

REVIEW BY: Eric E5S16

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 05/01/1998

Electric Light Orchestra, led by Jeff Lynne, is most popular for their pop-sounding records, like "Turn To Stone", "Evil Woman", and "Can't Get It Out Of My Head". But if you observe their album tracks, you will notice that they have experimented with orchestral and classical music. Their second album, Electric Light Orchestra II, has that experience, more ways than one.

On that topic, one thing I have always emjoyed about ELO, is how they used instrumentation in various songs. One song in particular, is "Fire On High", from their 1975 release, Face The Music. This song was heavily used for introductions to various radio and television programs. Like this song, the opening track from ELO II, "In Old England Town (Boogie #2)", is anything BUT a boogie. The beginning of this song is heavily instrumental, and could be easily used for a mystery/horror flick. This piece has you sitting back and visualizing something from such a movie.

"Mama" also has instrumentation of an orchestra-type fashion, which has been heard in the band's most popular songs. Using cellos, violins and strings, this song is a typical ELO song, a slow-paced tune in the standard pop vein.

Probably considered the only well-remembered song from this album is their cover version of Chuck Berry's "Roll Over Beethoven". What makes this version so great, is that ELO mixes rock and roll with classical music. Since Beethoven was a popular classical music composer, the beginning of this song sounds like basic classical music, as ELO begins playing Beethoven's 5th Symphony. Then, they rip into the familiar opening guitar riff Chuck Berry used in his song. Throughout the song, it's rock and roll, as they use the familiar riffs from Beethoven's 5th Symphony. This is a great way of experimenting with two different sources of music.