I think Jeff Lynne was in Love when he put this together,certainly not with ELO as a major touring attraction though ,This was the start of things to come with the string section being pensioned off and down to a four piece. To be fair as comercial pop albums go (and this is Pure Pop) it is amongst the best of its kind from the period. but overall compared to the sound Lynne had captured from Face the Music through Out of the Blue, this was a bit of a let down.

What can I say about this that has not already been said? This was the Peak period for Lynnes imagination and enthuisiasm, Some of the bands finest output is to be found on this Long player.

For me the highlight is undoubtably the conceptual four song 'Concerto For a Rainy Day' starting off with the truly wonderful Standin in the rain through to the evergreen Mr. Blue Sky. This album would propel ELO in to the mega star status, but unfortunately all too brief with the impending doom of Discovery/Xanadu on the horizon.

Personally I love this brute! Roy Woods brainchild takes shape ,Not an album for the beginner this, but more an aquired taste more for the Prog rock enthuisiasts! a very bold and original concept. The UK EMI released 2 disc version is a must have!

A marvelous recording! honed to perfection with every track a winner! Better produced than Out Of The Blue. If you wanted to introduce someone to the the ELO catalogue then you start here!

Jeff lynnes best effort from the formative years

So why is this live album by ELO PART II (the Orchestra) here and not Time and Zoom?
A fairly competent Live effort from the Lynneless ELO part II tribute band but it really does not belong here!

Jeff lynne himself admited this was merely a contractual obligation, his heart had gone out of this project years before and it shows! The Orchestra is now dead , No real strings at all on this and although Bev Bevan is credited with Drums he actually did not play drums on too many tracks! Jeff Lynne and Richard Tandy run riot on this with electronic percussion and reducing one of rocks finest drummers to bashing the odd cymbal in time!