Sunday, December 3, 2023

Electric Light Orchestra - BBC Sessions, Volume 4: ICAA Benefit, Wembley Empire Pool, London, Britain, 6-2-1978

This is the same concert as the one presented on the official Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) album "Live at Wembley '78." However, this has much better sound quality.

Instead of trying to explain the situation myself, I'm going to quote the Wikipedia entry on this album at length, since it does a good job:

"The sound on this album has led to accusations of the band lip syncing, as did the earlier video from which this CD was taken. However it has come to light that the sound used on the television broadcast... in 1978 was a poorly mixed effort in mono sound that used a lot of the backing tapes that were used admittedly by the band due to sound problems caused by the huge metal and fibreglass stage set. The tapes were for the band's ears only, to help them keep time, and should not have been heard by the audience."

In 2006, a new DVD version of the concert was released. This used the original tapes from the concert, presenting it in true stereo for the first time. Furthermore, all the overdubbed backing tapes and other problems were removed. Unfortunately though, this new version has never been released on CD.

So that's where I came in. I made sure this recording was based on the superior 2006 DVD. But even then there was a problem, because I noticed the vocals were way too low in the mix. This may have been a deliberate choice of singer-songwriter Jeff Lynne, I don't know. But regardless, I boosted the vocals relative to the instruments, and I think it sounds a lot better that way.

This actually was a benefit concert that was broadcast by the BBC at the time. ICAA stands for Invalid Children's Aid Association. The band was introduced by actor Tony Curtis, and some British royals attended. This also isn't the complete concert, just the portion that was broadcast. The rest is not in public circulation.

This album is 53 minutes long.

01 Standin' in the Rain (Electric Light Orchestra)
02 Night in the City (Electric Light Orchestra)
03 talk (Electric Light Orchestra)
04 Turn to Stone (Electric Light Orchestra)
05 Tightrope (Electric Light Orchestra)
06 Telephone Line (Electric Light Orchestra)
07 Rockaria (Electric Light Orchestra)
08 Wild West Hero (Electric Light Orchestra)
09 Showdown (Electric Light Orchestra)
10 talk (Electric Light Orchestra)
11 Sweet Talkin' Woman (Electric Light Orchestra)
12 Mr. Blue Sky (Electric Light Orchestra)
13 Do Ya (Electric Light Orchestra)
14 Livin' Thing (Electric Light Orchestra)
15 Roll Over Beethoven (Electric Light Orchestra)

https://www.upload.ee/files/16011022/ElectrcLghtO_1978_BBSessonsVolum4ICAABnefitWemblyEmpirPoolLondnBrtain__6-2-1978_atse.zip.html

The cover photo of band leader Jeff Lynne was taken in London just a week after this concert, on June 9, 1978.

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