When Electric Light Orchestra’s album El Dorado came out in 1974, it was considered the logical successor to The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper; it was that high a standard of style, vision and ambition. It has aged amazingly well, and it took the band from a cult following (of which I was a member) to world class status. All of the ingredients from their first 3 albums (and one bootleg “live” album) that showed great potential coalesced into this perfect juxtaposition of Beatles-esque rock and classical music.
Vocalist/guitarist Jeff Lynne sounds like a 5th Beatle here, teamed with longtime drummer Bev Vevan and the brilliant concept of a string section with Mik Kaminski/vi and Michael Edwards/ cel, with Richard Tandy on keyboards and adding harmonies with support by bassist Michael de Albuquerque.
The idea of a concept album about dreams a la Walter Mitty was a stroke of genius, with impressionistic pieces like “Can’t Get It Out Of My Head”, the upbeat “Boy Blue”, the smokey nightclub of “Nobody’s Child” and rocking “Illusions in G Major”. Everything ties in gloriously, with sweeping strings on “Mister Kingdom” to the ethereal bookends of “Eldorado Overture/Finale”.
If you’ve never heard this album, you’re in for a treat. It’s one of those albums EVERYONE loves, and never gets tired of, aging like a rich wine.