EMI delivers best ELO remasters!
Kevin Kunreuther | Dallas TX | 06/08/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The second in EMI's First Light series of remasters showing the formative evolution of the early Electric Light Orchestra, featuring members of ELO and the Move, this beautiful two disc collection is chockful of rare and lost photos, great alternative and missing album tracks, informative and entertaining interviews and essays and more versions of "Roll Over Beethoven" than you could shake an orchestra conductor's baton at! Disc Two titled "The Lost Planet" was the aborted name of ELO's follow up album, until Roy Wood quit the band and shortly starting having hits with Wizzard. This disc features great lost archival recordings that sound fresh today as the day they were recorded. The tracks that feature ex-Move vocalist Carl Wayne sound like singles that should have been in every Brit-pop fan's jukebox. A must have for prog rock and serious ELO fans."
Rob Caiger strikes again with another winner ...
Dark Star-The Other One | 08/18/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"... with this double-disc set, the sequel to the maginficent ELO/First Light 2-CD set of 16 months ago. ELO II was hardly Jeff Lynne's most imaginative (or concise) work, but the high points here equal those of the more ballyhooed ELO I. Yes, it's quite prog. But it's ... catchy prog. Tuneful prog. Not that gloom-and-doom, Roger Waters-oh-woe-is-Syd-Barrett [material] that made Pink Floyd millionaires. The sawing cellos in Jeff's two "Boogies" sound as if they're right on top of you -- thanks, Roy Wood! "Mama" is a heartfelt gem and the best signpost of the direction Lynne would take into the "classic" ELO period in a few years. The extra tracks inserted by archivist/compiler Rob Caiger are interesting, particularly those featured former Move lead singer Carl Wayne, one of the more under-rated voices in British rock. That said, it's a small step down from the remastered ELO I -- but a very, very, very small step, probably because Caiger raised the bar so high 16 months ago. Look. IF YOU BOUGHT THE NEW ELO I, PONY UP FOR THE NEW ELO II. Now, Rob, on to the future -- when are we getting: 1. The remastered "Message From the Country" and 2. The new Idle Race box set? :)"
4 for the music but the cover box is one of the worst I've s
Dark Star-The Other One | The Bus To Never Ever Land | 07/18/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"First, let me say that if you're going to spend the money on this set, take the box that houses the 2 cds and store them away. I have many cds' in cardboard boxes(or digipacks)but this one is the worst. It's made of light material and shows wear very easily. I have an expensive wood cd rack and keep my stuff well but this is not ageing well and now has a small rip in the cover. It is also beginning to tear at the bottom. I've noticed that some of the sellers on here who sell it as new have mentioned having problems with the boxes in the past. The last couple of copies I've noticed on eBay have actually sold without the box. I've stuck mine in Glad lock bags and I would suggest you do the same. Both discs come in their own cover and case so it's not a problem."