Elo - Live at Winterland 76 (10 tracks) +Album Reviews

Crackling live performance captures ELO at peak

Dr. Emil "Tom" Shuffhausen | Central Gulf Coast | 11/21/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Until the ZOOM TOUR LIVE 2001 album finally comes out, this CD remains perhaps the best overall ELO concert document. LIVE AT WINTERLAND '76 captures ELO as they were nearing their peak artistically and commercially. This nicely mixed, high-quality recording crackles with electricity, in contrast to the disappointing LIVE AT WEMBLEY '78 CD. At WINTERLAND, not every note is hit, and some of the licks miss their targets. There are even a couple of moments of feedback. All of these elements actually enhance this recording, however, giving it an intimacy and immediacy that quickly make the listener forget that this particular concert took place nearly 30 years ago. "Fire On High" is perhaps the penultimate progressive rock instrumental by anyone, anywhere, and it loses none of its excitement and vitality in this live recording. The "Eldorado Suite" captures some of the highlights from the brilliant 1974 ELDORADO album. WINTERLAND performance showcases Kelly Groucutt's outstanding vocals, which nicely compliment Jeff Lynne. Several times here, Kelly steps out of the shadows and takes the lead without missing a beat. There's some interesting between-song banter and instrument tuning between the various ELO mates. I'm glad it's included. The outstanding "10538 Overture/Do Ya" Medley pre-dates the re-recording of "Do Ya" for A NEW WORLD RECORD, and was a favored staple of ELO concerts of that era. All of the lovely bits that you would expect from ELO are here; what's surprising is the intensity and effectiveness of the rockers. "Poker," "Ma-Ma-Ma Belle" and "Roll Over Beethoven" pack a wallop in this live recording, even perhaps beyond their studio counterparts. (Though "Beethoven" is perhaps a bit chaotic.) All ELO fans will be thrilled with this one; fans of great live rock and roll will enjoy it as well. We want more live ELO! (Stay tuned for the ZOOM TOUR album coming out soon.)"

Grab a cello and start duck-walking across your living room

Dark Star-The Other One | The Bus To Never Ever Land | 12/12/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a really nice live release from a band that I always didn't expect much from live. I was really surprised at how good it is. The first impression is what a good drummer Bev Bevan is and my next is what a good keyboard player Richard Tandy is. I was impressed with Jeff Lynne's guitar playing. This was a band blacklisted for supposed lip synching. The only place I notice that is on some parts that couldn't be performed live ie the beginning of the Eldorado medley,ect. It's very brief and also obvious when it happens. This is a live performance. I wouldn't list any of the players as being heavyweights in their field(Jeff Lynne is no Eric Clapton for example)however this release is a blast and if you like ELO grab it. The only thing that might bug fans is that the strings are under amplified"

ELO - The Heavy Metal Version

D. Jansing | Rome, New York United States | 07/20/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It was often said that the Beatles couldn't actually perform any of their later stuff live, and the same could be said of ELO, although they gave it one hell of a try. The result is, less cellos and more guitars.

I never knew this band could be so LOUD. OK, so this isn't the best tape of a live performance in existence. Big deal. It's raw, it's loud, there are a few easily spotted goofs in the performance that would not be found anywhere in their studio work, and it's easily as heavy as any Black Sabbath recording, and I can't stop listening to it."

Symphony of Riffs

PHILIP S WOLF | SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA. USA | 06/30/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"For decades the only document of live Electric Light Orchestra was the poor sounding import record: "The Night The Lights Went On In Long Beach". It was never available in the USA, I found my copy in The Philippines in 1978. The Long Beach Show is from 1974, and includes music from the first three ELO records. Under the sludge of a lousy source tape, there is some amazing music, that proves ELO were a force in concert that few other groups could ever match.

Moving onwards to 1998, not one but THREE CD's of live ELO were brought forth. Concerts from: 1976, 1977 & 1978 of medium to very good quality sound would unlock more of the live mysteries of The Electric Light Orchestra.

Here is the 1976 ELO concert from: Winterland, San Francisco. The night was: Feb 3, 1976. The band was in the middle of the: "Face The Music" tour. The difference between the Long Beach show and this night in San Francisco, is a World apart. ELO, was on the brink of super success {the next record released before the end of the year would make them one of the biggest selling bands on Earth}. The sound here is not of multi-track professional quality, it sounds like it was taken from the soundboard for playback of the show for Jeff Lynne and never intended for an official release. There are plenty of bootlegs of worse quality out there to choose from and: "Live At Winterland '76", DOES beat the 'Boots'.

There is 60 minutes of ELO music here, 10 tracks from all their records. I own the 1977 & 1978 concert CD's as well as this, but for me this one edges out those two because of the band's performance here...This was a good night. With the hits: "Evil Woman", "Strange Magic" and "Showdown" played with the X-Factor Plus, these live versions add much more weight than their studio cousins gave us. The: "Eldorado Suite" is the concert cornerstone, it is the perfect merger of Classical and 50's Rock 'N' Roll music, as is the encore: "Roll Over Beethoven".

Maybe someday Jeff Lynne WILL release a 4 CD Box Set of live ELO music of great performances and stellar sound. But, for now this is the CD to own of live Electric Light Orchestra, on fire and on stage.

Four Stars !!!"

Electric Light Orchestra-'Live At Winterland '76'(Cleopatra)

Mike Reed | USA | 04/20/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Even though I've never been THAT big of an ELO fan,I tend to like their first five lp's the best.Must admit this here archive performance that's been officially released on 'Live At Winterland '76' should give all TRUE ELO fans a head rush they soon won't forget.Jeff Lynne and crew tends to sound nothing short of top notch through out the entire ten track/hour long set.Tunes that sort of took me back a bit were "Poker","NightRider","Eldorado Suite","Evil Woman" and of course their timeless encore of the Chuck Berry cover "Roll Over Beethoven".Superb sound mix.Well worth checking out."

Search - Elo :: Live at Winterland 76

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