This album is a bit of an exposed nerve to me, because it was one of the first albums I ever bought. As time has gone on, I've decided that its' predecessor, "Face The Music", is a better and more relevant album today; but that doesn't mean this album doesn't have a lot to offer a budding ELO fan.

The opening track, "Tightrope" is one of the best ELO has produced, starting with a heavy dose of synthesizers, followed by an orchestral prelude to the main tune, and then drifting into a catchy, cool song. In many ways, this song is a giant autobiography, showcasing the full range of their skills as a band. The next two songs are clever and charming pop songs, with the top 10 hit "Telephone Line" and the hilarious "Rockaria!", the story of a rocker trying to convert an opera singer to the glories of rock and roll.

The rest of the disc is so-so. While I love "Do Ya", it's actually an old Move song, and the original (arguably) is better. "So Fine" is a wonderfully produced rock song, but "Livin' Thing" is kind of bland and is a pretty good indicator of the future direction of the band.

The first three songs are worth the price of the disc and more; but there is such a dropoff after these three tunes that the end result is a bit frustrating. Still...if you want to know ELO well, you simply must have "Tightrope" and "Rockaria!", because these songs are this great band doing their very best work.

I heard this album in the first time, in this first issue, a vinil record, in 70's. It was from a friend o' mine, and he said that the songs was like a Beatles song. I agree. The people who have ELO's "the best of" albuns, must buy this catalogue album, because the entire album have the same level songs.

I had the vinyl for this album when it came out in the '70s and loved both the songs and the 'sound' of it. I felt the need to buy the CD about a decade ago and was really disappointed with it - I thought "I could have sworn this was a great record...Jeff Lynne? Great producer?! Blah!" It sounded sort of like they were playing behind a door. Anyway, turns out it was a nasty bit of mastering to CD - not Jeff Lynne's fault at all.

I usually tread carefully when I see the word 'remastered' but this release makes it sound closer (in my opinion) to the original. It's like 'the door' has been opened. This album is a pleasure to listen to once again.

This is what remaserting should be about. A great album with much cleaner, transparent sound quality. Add a few interesting extra tracks into the pot to make a must buy for ELO fans. This album was great in it's time and stands up well for me. I am a big Jeff Lynne fan and love ELO.

If it's an "acquired taste", then I guess I've acquired it... to say the least!
Here, in 1976 (though as surreal and futuristic as this group ever was), the crossing of Chuck Berry, Beethoven, and a dash of Star Wars (which, ironically, had yet to be created, apt a description as it is of the band) met its pinnacle. Eldorado and, Face the Music would be tied for second place in my opinion, and THEN, the epic, Out of the Blue; but that is digression... that last thing needed in an ELO review. To head into the track-by-track low-down:
1. Tightrope- This is the reason people who love ELO do: great orchestral and choral arrangements create an introduction every bit as strong as Fire on High, or the Eldorado Overture. This evolves into some of the catchiest, most brilliant rock 'n' roll I have ever heard; lyrically, musically, arrangment and production-wise, this has to be amongst the best I've ever heard of this group. It's 5:06 of shear,uninterrupted, unrequited R&R brilliance, fun, engaging, exciting and gears you up for a great evening with this album. 5/5, no 'ifs', 'ands', or 'buts'!
2. Telephone Line, is one of those numbers growing on me just now. A real heartbreaker, deeper than your average ELO, and inherently engaging, lyrically and musically, it continues the strong beginning of this album. 4.5/5
3. Rockaria! Just try to create something so fun, so genre-defiant, so indescribably FAB: classical rock 'n' roll. While some would call that, even the very concept of it, pretentious if not offensive, it's a good thing in my book; it's a stimulis for experimentation, exploration...GREATNESS. 5/5
4. Mission (A World Record). Though the parenthetical statement does seem to have been shoehorned in to force a semi-title track on to the album, this track has grown me incredibly: haunting, with great melody, arrangement, and production, and some lyrics worth listening to, slight and propsoterous as they may at first seem, this track is just as great as anything that has come before on the album. 5/5
5. So Fine; there is a call some cheering up after the philosphical musings and meanderings of Mission, and this is just the track for the job! Joining pure rock 'n roll joyfulness and fun with that unique ELO sound (exemplefied so brilliantly in the middle section), this track starts off half two with brilliant strength. 5/5, easily; grows on you with each listen.
6. Livin' Thing is hardly worth commenting in detail on; oh, that's not a criticism, it's just that it's such a big (and such a deserved) '70s R&R hit, that I'd assume anyone worth his/her salt won't need reassurance of its greatness... and this even though I've found it's never safe to assume with this band. 5/5
7. Above the Clouds; great, catchy music, with lyrics to accompany; it's just frustratingly short, and regardless is probably the weakest cut (though certainly not "weak" at all) on the album. 4.5/5
8. Do Ya; see the entry for, Livin' Thing... and multiply it about 10--or even 100--fold. 5/5
9. Shangra-La is as great, emotional, and soaring (and orchestrally so!) finnale one could ask for. Not as strong as some of the other tracks, but still more than great and worth a good listen; 5/5, awarded mainly for the great string parts, though with respect to the haunting melody and lyrics present if one cares to listen.
All in all, a five of five album on its own, easily...
.... AND ABOUT THE REMASTER:
Great sound quality aside, the booklet is a phenomenal read for any big fan: Lynne's sleeve notes, and the those of ELO expert Rob Caiger (especially Lynne's, though) are worth a look. He fascinatingly speaks about the writing and recording process of the songs, and about the meanings of several. Great photos also abound, with equally entertaining captions (did you know, for example, that over a thousand panicked LA residents phoned the city police with reports of a UFO invasion... after seeing lazers shot into the sky during an outdoor ELO concert!).
On a merry sidenote, "Surrender" is a WONDERFUL and catchy tune, and upt to Lynne's normal lyrical stanards. I can't understand some folks' skepticism regarding it. The instrumental/alternate versions are interesting too: particularly those for "Tightrope", and "So Fine"... enchating stuff all of it: 5/5, I simply couldn't award less for such a deserving and put-upon-band.
Farewell, and peace and goodwill to all!