ELO 2

Infobox Album | Name = ELO 2
Type = Studio album
Artist = Electric Light Orchestra


Released = January 1973
Recorded = May-October 1972, Air Studios London
Genre = Progressive rock, Rock
Length = 41:48 (Original)
Label = & Epic/Legacy (reissue)
Producer = Jeff Lynne
Reviews =
* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:0ifixqt5ldse~T1 Allmusic.com] Rating|2.5|5| Last album = "The Electric Light Orchestra" (1971)
This album = "ELO 2" (1973)
Next album = "On the Third Day" (1973)
Misc = Extra album cover 2
Upper caption = US alternate album cover
Type = studio

"ELO 2" is the second album by Electric Light Orchestra, released in 1973 (see 1973 in music). In the US the album was released as "Electric Light Orchestra II" and is sometimes known as "ELO II".

Overview

Originally to be titled "The Lost Planet", but that concept was quietly dropped (see below), it was during the initial recording sessions for this album that Roy Wood left the band and formed Wizzard in early 1972. Although uncredited at the time Wood performed on two tracks, playing cello and bass on "In Old England Town" and "From the Sun to the World". Classically trained cellists Colin Walker and Mike Edwards replaced Wood, and Wilfred Gibson played on violin. Richard Tandy made his ELO debut on the album although he had earlier performed Live with the original lineup.

The British and American sleeves differed, as did the title; in the UK it was released in a gatefold sleeve titled "ELO 2" with a painting of a light bulb floating through space, while in the US the cover featured a more ornate light bulb against a night sky and was titled "Electric Light Orchestra II". For reasons unknown "Roll Over Beethoven" was slightly edited in length compared with its US counterpart, and the second track "Momma" was retitled "Mama".

All five pieces are longer than standard rock songs, and feature multi-layered orchestral instruments that create a dense, complex sound. Along with its predecessor it is the least commercial sounding album the band released, although ironically it did reach the British Top 40 album chart, whereas its more concise follow-up "On the Third Day" did not; an edit of "Roll Over Beethoven" was a Top 10 hit in Britain and received radio airplay in America too. In 2006 the album was remastered and expanded with a slightly different running order to the UK 2003 EMI version with both versions sharing the same Hipgnosis album art for the first time.

Chart Positions, Chart Runs

* US: #62 Billboard 200, 22 weeks
* UK: #35 UK Albums Chart, 1 week
* AUS: did not chart
* CAN: #17 RPM Albums Chart, 22 weeks

Track listing

All songs written by Jeff Lynne unless otherwise indicated.

ide one

# "In Old England Town (Boogie No 2)" – 6:56
# "Mama" – 7:03
# "Roll Over Beethoven" (Chuck Berry) – 8:10, 7:03 (UK edition)

ide two

# "From the Sun to the World (Boogie No 1)" – 8:20
# "Kuiama" – 11:19

US Bonus Tracks (2006 reissue)

6. "In Old England Town" (Instrumental) – 2:43
7. "Baby, I Apologise" – 3:43
8. "In Old England Town" (Take 1, Alternate mix) – 6:56
9. "Roll Over Beethoven" (Take 1) (Berry) – 8:15

ELO 2 (First Light Series)

Infobox Album | Name = ELO 2 First Light Series
Type = Studio album
Artist = Electric Light Orchestra
Recorded = 1972 - 1973 Air Studios
Released = 2003


Label = Harvest Records, EMI
Genre = Progressive rock, Rock music
Producer = Jeff Lynne
Reviews = * [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:8c2tk60xtkra Allmusic.com] Rating|4|5
Last album = "The Electric Light Orchestra (First Light Series)" (2001)
This album = "ELO 2 First Light Series" (2003)
Next album = For compilation album chronlogy see "Showdown" (1974)
Misc = Extra album cover 2
Upper caption = CD 2 The Lost Planet
Type = studio


Lower caption = The Lost Planet CD cover

ELO 2 First light Series is an expanded edition of Electric Light Orchestra's second album

The second in the EMI "First Light Series" released in 2003 to mark the albums 30th anniversary and features Glam rock superstar Marc Bolan on double lead guitar playing on tracks 10-12. The second disc utilises the original albums working title "The Lost Planet" and features out takes and rarities including songs recorded with original Move lead vocalist Carl Wayne. On CD one the first five tracks include the original ELO 2 album.

CD one ELO 2

#"In Old England Town (Boogie No. 2)" (Jeff Lynne) – 6:56
#"Momma..." (Jeff Lynne) – 7:03
#"Roll Over Beethoven" (Chuck Berry) – 7:03
#"From the Sun to the World (Boogie No. 1)" (Jeff Lynne) – 8:20
#"Kuiama" (Jeff Lynne) – 11:19Bonus tracks:

6. "Showdown" (Jeff Lynne) – 4:11
7. "In Old England Town (Instrumental)" (Jeff Lynne) – 2:43
   *B-side of Showdown single
8. "Baby I Apologise" (Jeff Lynne) – 3:42
   *Session outtake, 1 June 1973
9. ""Auntie" (Ma-Ma-Ma Belle Take 1)" (Jeff Lynne) – 1:19
10. ""Auntie" (Ma-Ma-Ma Belle Take 2)" (Jeff Lynne) – 4:03
11. ""Mambo" (Dreaming Of 4000 Take 1)" (Jeff Lynne) – 5:02
12. "Everyone's Born To Die" (Jeff Lynne) – 4:40
13. "Roll Over Beethoven (Take 1)" (Chuck Berry) – 8:16

*Tracks 9–13 previously unreleased.

CD two The Lost Planet

# "Brian Matthew Introduces ELO" – 0:22
# "From The Sun To The World (Boogie No. 1)" (BBC Session) (Lynne) – 7:25
# "Momma" (BBC Session) (Lynne) – 6:57
# "Roll Over Beethoven (Single Version)" (Chuck Berry) – 4:35
# "Showdown (Take 1)" (Lynne) – 4:18
# "Your World (Take 2)" (Lynne) – 4:55
# "Get a Hold of Myself (Take 2)" (Lynne) – 4:43
# "Mama (Take 1)" (Lynne) – 4:59
# "Wilf's Solo (Instrumental)" (Wilfred Gibson) – 3:39
# "Roll over Beethoven" (BBC Session) (Chuck Berry) – 7:40
*Lead vocals on tracks 6–8 by Carl Wayne.
*BBC session material recorded at BBC Langham Studio 1, November 1st 1972.

Personnel

*Jeff Lynne – Vocals, Guitar, Moog Synthesizer
*Bev Bevan – Drums, Percussion
*Richard Tandy – Keyboards, Moog Synthesizer
*Mike de Albuquerque – Bass, backing vocals
*Wilfred Gibson – Violin
*Mike Edwards – Cello
*Colin Walker – Cello
*Marc Bolan - Guitar on "ELO 2" tracks 10-12
*Roy Wood – Bass, Cello on "ELO 2" tracks 1 and 4
*Carl Wayne – Lead Vocals on "The Lost Planet" tracks 6–8

Links

* [http://www.ftmusic.com/elo2/index.html ELO II Remastered info]