Electric Light Orchestra Live: The Early Years

Sure to delight ELO fans, this release presents the rock-classical fusion band (Malcolm Dome's liner notes describe their music as “prog pop”) onstage in three performances from the 1970s: a 1973 concert at the UK's Brunel University, a 1974 show for German TV's Rockpalast broadcast, and a 1976 appearance at the Fusion concert at London's New Victoria Theatre as part of the “Face the Music” tour. The sequence follows a progression from smaller to larger venues, but without the laser-illuminated staging the group would later embrace; nevertheless, certain eccentricities are in place from the start, including the towering platform heels, singer/guitarist Jeff Lynne's halo of hair, violinist Mik Kaminski's vampire cape, and the way Hugh McDowell plays his cello like a guitar for the “Great Balls of Fire” cover. The songs here are also longer than the radio-ready numbers for which ELO would become known, although Lynne had a feel for appealing melodies early on (time spent with The Move can't have hurt). During the 25 songs, ELO performs hits such as “Ma-Ma-Ma Belle,” “Showdown,” “Can't Get It Out of My Head,” “Strange Magic,” and “Evil Woman.” Although the Brunel and Rockpalast sets duplicate three songs, including Grieg's “In the Hall of the Mountain King,” they're better showcases for Lynne's tenor (he yells more during the New Victoria gig). Presented in DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1 and stereo, DVD extras include a short interview with the musicians and sound engineer Rick Pannell. Recommended. (K. Fennessy)