Eldorado, A Symphony
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| Eldorado A Symphony, by the Electric Light Orchestra |
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| Studio album by Electric Light Orchestra | ||
| Released | July 1974 2001 (Reissue) |
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| Recorded | De Lane Lea Studios, London | |
| Genre | Symphonic Rock, Rock | |
| Length | 38:42 | |
| Label |  Warner Bros United ArtistsEpic Records, Reissue |
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| Producer(s) | Jeff Lynne | |
| Professional reviews | ||
|---|---|---|
| Electric Light Orchestra chronology | ||
| The Night the Light Went on (in Long Beach) (1974) |
Eldorado (1974) |
Showdown (1974) |
Eldorado is a 1974 album by Electric Light Orchestra.
Contents |
[edit] Overview
The album is considered by many critics and fans to be one of their greatest creative achievements.[citation needed] On this album Jeff Lynne stopped overdubbing strings, as he had on the first three ELO albums, and instead hired an orchestra. Reportedly, the sound of impatient double-bass players putting away their instruments can be heard at one point during the albums climax track "Eldorado Finale". Eldorado was also the first ELO album to feature Louis Clark arranging and conducting the strings.
[edit] Concept
Conceptually, Eldorado is about a Walter Mitty-like character who mentally journeys into a fantasy world to escape a reality he can't stand (note the lyrics "Robin Hood and William Tell and Ivanhoe and Lancelot, they don't envy me" in "Can't Get It Out Of My Head").
Michael d'Albuquerque departed before recording, so despite the credits (d'Albuquerque was featured in the group photo on the original LP inner sleeve), Lynne played bass and provided all vocals for this album. It was also on this album that allegations of hidden satanic backmasking messages were first voiced, Jeff Lynne responded by including deliberate backwards messages on later albums.
"Can't Get It Out Of My Head" was released as a single with "Illusions in G Major" and was a success in the US, although surprisingly in the UK the album and the singles were completely ignored. The album soon reached Gold status, however. Aside from the success of "Can't Get It Out Of My Head" this has partly been attributed to the front cover, which comprises a still from the hugely popular 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. (Other examples of bands taking inspiration from this film include Toto and Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.)
The album was remastered and reissued in 2001 with two bonus tracks, "Eldorado Instrumental Medley", a symphonic highlight of the album, plus "Dark City" which according to Jeff Lynne was an early idea for the track "Laredo Tornado".
[edit] Chart Position
- #16
#40
[edit] Track listing
All songs written by Jeff Lynne.
- "Eldorado Overture" – 2:12
- "Can't Get It Out Of My Head" – 4:21
- "Boy Blue" – 5:18
- "Laredo Tornado" – 5:29
- "Poor Boy (The Greenwood)" – 2:57
- "Mister Kingdom" – 5:29
- "Nobody's Child" – 3:56
- "Illusions in G Major" – 2:37
- "Eldorado" – 5:17
- "Eldorado Finale" – 1:34
[edit] Bonus tracks (2001 reissue)
- "Eldorado Instrumental Medley" – 7:56
- "Dark City" – 0:46
- Orchestra and choral arrangements - Jeff Lynne, Richard Tandy and Louis Clark
- Orchestra conducted by Louis Clark.
[edit] Personnel
- Jeff Lynne - vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, bass, keyboards
- Bev Bevan - drums, percussion
- Richard Tandy - keyboards
- Michael d'Albuquerque - bass
- Mik Kaminski - violin
- Hugh McDowell - cello
- Mike Edwards - cello
- Peter Ford-Robertson - spoken word "Eldorado Overture"
