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Rating: As a kid, I enjoyed a type of "sophisticated" music. I considered "easy" music unworthy of my ears... maybe I was taking myself too seriously.
My genuine love for Pink Floyd, early Genesis, and all that "serious" music made me look with scornful arrogance at records like this one that filled the air during the distant 1979 days. Now that I'm a little older, I've happened to listen to it again and I've fallen in love with it.
Could it be because it reminded me of my 15 years when I felt too grown-up for these little records and on my turntable albums by Pink Floyd effortlessly played, from Bee Gees to Jefferson Airplane? From Michael Jackson to Mozart? Could it be that I've become completely daft? I don't know, and truthfully, I don't care.
While never abandoning my passion and immense respect for so-called Rock music, I don't mind at all inserting this CD into my car's player and finding myself in this shy spring driving on Saturday morning through the Piedmont countryside with the peach trees in bloom. The record is perhaps (in my opinion) the most immediate of Electric Light Orchestra. Listening to it, you find yourself pleasantly overwhelmed by positive energy. Their music is an unpretentious orchestral pop made with class and enthusiasm. Drums and the nervous strumming of electric guitars coexist and mix with falsetto choruses, synth basses, and expansive swathes of violins. You can smell the scent of the Beatles, the Bee Gees, but you can also sense an unmistakable aroma, that of Electric Light Orchestra.
The fast tracks burst with freshness from every (virtual vinyl) groove. The slow tracks are so sugary, but so sugary, that they will put you in a good mood with their candid innocence. A masterpiece in its genre, which I keep at home and in the car as you would a box of aspirin for a potential headache. And every time I take myself too seriously, every time I get lost in the dark and hidden universes of my beloved Pink Floyd, every time I forget that outside there's a simple and carefree world waiting for me. I put on "Last Train To London" and take a little break from my "serious records."
Can you also feel the fresh spring wind coming through my car window? I hope so, it's nice to share the joys with friends.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Shine a Little Love (04:44)
Although the things you've done I wouldn't criticize,
I guess you had your way.
You see I've gotta make you understand.
I know it sounds a foolish thing to say,
But it don't matter baby, 'cos today's another day
CHORUS
You shine a little love on my life.
You shine a little love on my life.
You shine a little love on my life and let me see...
Remember, tonight we're gonna run till dawn
Remember, tonight we're gonna say it.
We'll never stop, we got a good thing goin' on.
I know you've heard it all before,
But I realy need you, darlin', every day I need you more...
CHORUS
Can you understand (Yes I understand)
Can you feel it's right (I know it is)
Will you be the same (I'll do it all again)
It's been a year now and it's getting so much better,
You came home without a word.
Though everybody said you'll soon forget her,
They couldn't see it and they just didn't understand,
And lookin' in the mirror, there were fools at either hand,
CHORUS
Can you understand (Yes I understand)
Can you feel it's right (I know it is)
Will you be the same (I'll do it all again)
How many days had I been waiting there to tell you,
I really can't believe,
We're walkin' out into the world tonight,
We'll do it all again until the break of night,
And the feelin' in your heart will soon be shinin' in your eyes.
CHORUS
02 Confusion (03:43)
Everywhere the sun is shining
All around the world, it's shining
But cold winds blow across your mind
Confusion -- it's such a terrible shame
Confusion -- you don't know what you're saying
You've lost your love and you just can't carry on
You feel there's no one there for you to lean on.
Every night you're out there, darling
You're always out there running
And I see that lost look in your eyes
Confusion -- I don't know what I should do
Confusion -- I leave it all up to you
You've lost your love and you just can't carry on
You feel there's no one there for you to lean on.
Dark is the road you wander
And as you stand there under
The starry sky, you feel sad inside
Confusion -- you know it's driving me wild
Confusion -- it comes as no big surprise
You've lost your love and you just can't carry on
You feel there's no one there for you to lean on.
Confusion, confusion
Confusion, confusion
04 The Diary of Horace Wimp (04:21)
Monday (Monday)
Late again today,
He'd be in trouble though he'd say he was sorry.
He'd have to hurry out - to the bus.
Tuesday (Tuesday).
Horace was so sad,
He'd never had a girl that he could care for.
And if he was late once more,
He'd be out
Chorus
Don't be afraid, just knock on the door,
Well, he just stood there - mumblin' a-fumblin'
Then a voice from above, said,
Horace Wimp, this is your life,
Go out and find, yourself a wife
(Come on Horace)
Make a stand, and be a man,
and you will have a great life planned.
(You can do it, come on Horace)
Wednesday.
Horace met the girl.
She was small and she was very pretty.
He thought he was in love,
he was afraid - uh oh.
Thursday.
Asked her for a date,
the cafe down the street, tomorrow evening.
His head was reeling, when she said yes, ok.
Chorus
Friday,
Horace this is it!
He asks the girl if maybe, they could marry.
When she gladly, Horace cries - boo hoo.
Sunday
Everybody's at the church,
When Horace rushes in,
and says "now here comes my wife,
for the rest of my life"
and she did.
Chorus
Don't be afraid, just knock on the door,
Well, he just stood there - mumblin' a-fumblin'
Then a voice from above, said,
Horace Wimp, this is your life,
Go out and find, yourself a wife
(You can do it)
Make a stand, and be a man,
and you will have a great life planned
(Horace Wimp)
Horace, Horace, Horace, Horace, Horace, Horace,
Horace, Horace, Horace, Horace, Horace, Horace,
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday
repeat to fade....
07 On the Run (03:57)
Whatever I do, wherever I go,
The same afterglow is keepin' me low,
Don't wanna lose it, but don't wanna stay here too long
They see you go by, I tell you no lie,
You're up in the sky, make everyone cry,
Don't wanna lose it, but don't wanna stay around here
I'm on the run again, I'm on the run again,
But it's like what they say when it happens this way
You gotta do it again and again
I hear them talkin' and they go on and on,
They think that nothing is wrong, and so they just carry on about you,
Don't wanna lose it, but I gotta move out of here
I see them waiting there for most of the day,
I know you asked them to stay, but they just won't go away
Don't wanna lose it, but I gotta do it again
I'm on the run again, I'm on the run again,
But it's like what they say when it happens this way
You gotta do it again and again
I know it ain't real, but when you are near,
You're saying the things that I wanna hear.
Don't wanna lose it, but I gotta do it again
I'm on the run again, I'm on the run again,
But it's like what they say when it happens this way
You gotta do it again and again
09 Don't Bring Me Down (04:05)
You got me running, going out of my mind
You got me thinking that I'm wasting my time
Don't bring me down, no, no, no, no, no
I'll tell you once more before I get off the floor:
Don't bring me down.
You wanna stay out with your fancy friends
I'm telling you it's got to be the end
Don't bring me down, no, no, no, no, no
I'll tell you once more before I get off the floor:
Don't bring me down.
CHORUS
Don't bring me down, Grooss
Don't bring me down, Grooss
Don't bring me down, Grooss
Don't bring me down.
What happened to the girl I used to know?
You let your mind out somewhere down the road
Don't bring me down, no, no, no, no, no
I'll tell you once more before I get off the floor:
Don't bring me down.
You're always talking 'bout your crazy nights
One of these days you're gonna get it right
Don't bring me down, no, no, no, no, no
I'll tell you once more before I get off the floor:
Don't bring me down.
REPEAT CHORUS
You're looking good, just like a snake in the grass
One of these days you're gonna break your glass
Don't bring me down, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
I'll tell you once more before I get off the floor:
Don't bring me down.
You got me shaking, got me running away
You got me crawling up to you everyday
Don't bring me down, no, no, no, no, no
I'll tell you once more before I get off the floor:
Don't bring me down, down, down, down, down, down
I'll tell you once more before I get off the floor:
Don't bring me down.
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Other reviews
By Breus
Discovery already implanted the precursors of the themes dear to the '80s, alternating a melodic vein with a synthpop vein, seasoned with solid rock’n’roll structures and with a splash of electronics.
This record... never aged and is cherished by many experts in innovative rock who own it and won’t part with it.
By Valeriorivoli
When I hear these songs again, I get emotional like a fool, a big crocodile with a little tear.
Those golden nights of sleepy love, glimpses of transcendence in profane loves, the promise that the gods are giving you everything.
By RRDN
When they ask you how symphonic rock and disco can blend, just let them listen to this more than memorable album.
This album deserves more than what it has received.
