Al’s Music of the Day, 3 December, 2024
Big wheels turning
The passing of one of my best friends from my adolescence put me into reminiscing mode, as these things tend to do. While we had been mostly estranged in recent years as he struggled with demons, the connections forged in our youth created a lasting bond.
Reveries, for me, usually involve musical connections, and I thought of one of our favorite bands, whom we saw in concert a couple of times.
The Electric Light Orchestra is to this day one of my favorite musical acts. Their leader, Jeff Lynne, is as close to a rock-n-roll deity as it comes. In addition to writing and orchestrating most (all?) of ELO’s output, Lynne produced and collaborated with many other superstars, including George Harrison, Tom Petty, The Traveling Wilburys, Bonnie Raitt, Joe Walsh, Bryan Adams, and many others.
For me, the quintessential ELO piece is not one song, but four: the 3rd side of the band’s spectacular Out of the Blue double LP.
“Concerto for a Rainy Day” consists of “Standing in the Rain,” “Big Wheels,” “Summer and Lightning,” and concludes with the big hit piece “Mr. Blue Sky.” All are lushly orchestrated, and alternatively passionate and contemplative.
I’m linking to two “Concerto” videos: one for “Summer and Lighting” – what more can be said about a mash-up of kissing, thunderstorms and ELO?
The second is a symphonic rendition of the entire suite.
Travel well, Weez. May the music soothe your soul until we meet again.
I really need to explore ELO outside the confines of the greatest hits compilation I have (I expect there are multiple versions extant now).
Holy cow- I never realized "Mr. Blue Sky" was part of something longer!
Then again, I was also surprised to discover that Chicago's "Make Me Smile" was derived from a longer album piece called "Ballet For A Girl In Buchannon" or some such thing.