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Electric Light Orchestra
The Night The Light Went On In Long Beach
Somewhere between obscurity and fame - i.e. their third and fourth albums -
ELO recorded this California gig which is one of the most energetic and
unusual performances the band ever put on. If the track list for this album
looks unusual, that's because, aside from Roll Over Beethoven, it's the
only evidence on record that ELO was a decent cover band prior to their
ascension to superstardom. Jeff Lynne's influences
- the Beatles and Jerry
Lee Lewis (what a combo!) - receive an homage from the respective (and, I
might add, very good) covers of Daytripper and Great Balls of Fire. Not
used to the thought of him singing other people's material, I was surprised
at how well Lynne could carry off Jerry Lee Lewis' vocal style. And there
are three outstanding instrumentals - one, Daybreaker, is an ELO original
from On The Third Day; another, Mik's Solo / Orange Blossom Special, runs
the gamut from classical to hoedown in a matter of a few hilarious minutes
(courtesy of ELO's resident virtuoso Mik Kaminski); and the third, a heavy
metal cover of Grieg's In The Hall of the Mountain King (also recorded on
Third Day), segues abruptly into the aforementioned Jerry Lee Lewis rocker.
This ranks up there with the Winterland CD and ELO
Part II's One Night as yet another example
that, at least some of the time, ELO was a damn fine live band.
- Daybreaker (5:36)
- Showdown (6:54)
- Daytripper (6:40)
- 10538 Overture (5:44)
- Mik's Solo / Orange Blossom Special (2:28)
- In the Halls of the Mountain King / Great Balls of Fire (8:35)
- Roll Over Beethoven (4:25)
Released by: Epic/Sony U.K.
Release date: 1974 (reissued on CD in 1997)
Total running time: 40:25
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