Search - Electric Light Orchestra :: Electric Light Orchestra - Greatest Hits Live

Enjoyable live tour through ELO's hits

04/02/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Electric Light Orchestra Part Two took a major step for legitimacy with this live release featuring the return of Kelly Groucutt, Mik Kaminski, and Hugh McDowell to the ELO fold, joining drummer Bev Bevan and keyboardist/vocalist Eric Troyer, as well as the soon-to-be-departed Neil Lockwood and Pete Haycock. Kelly's vocals are superb throughout, and the strings swing, thanks to Kaminski, McDowell, and the conducting/arranging of Louis Clark. The "Overture/Turn to Stone" kickoff is very effective. The performance of "Evil Woman" is marred somewhat by tinny keyboards and preening vocals by Neil Lockwood. Pete Haycock does a better job on "Showdown," though again the keyboard sound is a little thin, and the screechy guitars are a bit overdone. Groucutt and Kaminski shine on "Livin' Thing." The background vocals are somewhat weak, however. The arrangement on this particular album for "Hold On Tight" has been controversial among ELO fans...it has a real rockabilly feel here. Personally, I love it, and Kelly sounds invigorated vocally. Troyer's harmony vocals click very well on this cut. Then, Troyer takes a turn with his own "Thousand Eyes," an excellent cut on the studio album that loses none of its effectiveness live. (One major beef I have is that Troyer's superb "Honest Men" was not included in this live collection.) "Eldorado Overture/Can't Get it Out of My Head" sounds great live, as Bev Bevan intones the spoken intro with proper solemnity. Troyer does a very nice job on the lead vocal, and the orchestra sounds rich and full. "Telephone Line" is a tough song to pull off live, but Troyer and Groucutt pull it off with aplomb. The arrangement is very nice, not coming off as an exact carbon copy of the studio recording. Then, the album closes literally with a bang on the kicking version of "Roll Over Beethoven." Here, Jeff Glixman's production really shines, as none of the complex orchestral details are lost in what is a very complex mix. Lockwood's rugged vocals work on this cut, along with Troyer and Groucutt. The Bev Bevan stomp n' swing is in full force here. Instrumentally, this cut cooks. This album is another reminder of how integral Kelly Groucutt was to the original Electric Light Orchestra. Obviously, Jeff Lynne's presence is sorely missed...his genius and spark can never be doubted. But on this album, his former bandmates prove that ELO was not just a one man band. If you're not smiling and jumping just a little bit by the final cannon blast of "Beethoven," better check your pulse."

Bringing it to life

01/10/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If your an E L O fan or not this live cd will make you enjoy and respect this band a whole lot more . The way they mix the classical beats with their own up beat style makes this music one of a kind ! Highly recomended."

This rules!

05/27/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I Like music from the 70's and early 80's and this is the most Da Bomb collection of E.L.O. that I've ever heard before although my classmates would probably disagree."