If you’re a fan of Jeff Lynne from his days as the lead singer
of and creative force behind 1970s super-group Electric Light Orchestra (ELO),
or from his work as a producer on the solo albums of his fellow Traveling
Wilburys George Harrison, Roy Orbison, and Tom Petty in the late 1980s/early
1990s (this is how I first learned of Lynne), then this album is an absolute
must-have.
This CD is a collection of covers of 11 early rock and pre-rock
standards that influenced Lynne over long-wave radio when he was growing up in
Birmingham, England, from artists as diverse as The Everly Brothers, Chuck
Berry, and Rodgers and Hammerstein.
The disc is a testament to Lynne’s formidable studio production
prowess, as evidenced by the fact that Lynne performs lead and background
vocals and plays electric and acoustic guitars, bass, keyboards, and drums (as
he also does on Mr. Blue Sky: The Very
Best of Electric Light Orchestra, his recently released rerecording of
ELO’s greatest hits). Additional musicians contribute strings and shakers and
percussion.
Every track is brilliant, but Lynne’s renditions of Charles
Aznavour’s “She,” “Smile” (co-written by Charlie Chaplin), “Love Is a Many
Splendored Thing,” and “Beyond the Sea” are simply stunning. My favorite is
“Love Is a Many Splendored Thing,” which is truly a revelation. Lynne’s vocals
are as sprightly as ever (especially amazing considering that Lynne was 63 to 64
years old when he recorded the CD two to three years ago) and the guitar work
is superb. Overall, the album proves how underrated Lynne is as a passionate,
earnest vocalist and sensitive, thoughtful guitarist.
Even if you’re not a fan of or are not acquainted with Jeff
Lynne, you should strongly consider adding this CD to your playlist. It is
captivating, enthralling, and mesmerizing. It is one of the best albums of all
time.
--Raj Manoharan
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