Product Description

The Electric Light Orchestra was in a precarious position by 1981. Not only was Jeff Lynne's brand of immaculately produced Beatlesque pop out of critical fashion in those new-wave days, there was a new brand of video-friendly bubblegum onthe rise that made such classic radio hits as "Sweet Talkin' Woman" sound passT. The band's heavily hyped participationin the box-office flop XANADU, including the title duet with star Olivia Newton-John, hadn't helped.
Typically, though, 1981's TIME finds Lynne and company ignoring trends and simply doing what they do best: pristine, endlessly-multitracked, ultra-melodic pop. There's a theme of sorts running through the record, a meditation on sci-fi apocalypse that runs through songs like "Yours Truly, 2095" and "From the End of the World". The concept is easy enough to ignore, as the real focus, as always, is on Lynne's immense melodic and production skills. TIME is an underrated gem.

Track Listing

1. Prologue
2. Twilight
3. Yours truly, 2095
4. Ticket to the moon
5. The way life's meant to be
6. Another heart breaks
7. Rain is falling
8. From the end of the world
9. The lights go down
10. Here is the news
11. 21st century man
12. Hold on tight
13. Epilogue
14. The bouncer (bonus track)
15. When time stood still (bonus track)
16. Julie don't live here (bonus track)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2235 in Music
• Released on: 2001-06-11
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered

Amazon.co.uk Review
Time was the last truly great album from the Electric Light Orchestra, released as their world-conquering fame was starting to ebb. A concept album (in itself a brave undertaking by 1981), Time is set at the end of the 21st century and is populated by a host of space-age themes and characters. What's most remarkable about the album is how all this science fiction silliness is salvaged by the overall exuberance of the playing. "Yours Truly, 2095" uses a number of ELO hallmarks--a catchy synth riff, sweeping strings and over-the-top-production--to tell it's tale, of a man in love with a robot, and become the album's highlight (and what should have been a hit single). Other tracks such as the epic "Twilight" and "Hold On Tight"--which practically bounces along like an overexcited puppy--also stand amongst ELO's finest works. Moreover, critical darlings Grandaddy have frequently stated the album's influence on the recording of their excellent The Sophtware Slump, proof that this futuristic concept album was itself years ahead of its time. --Robert Burrow

Customer Reviews

Just grows on you
A grower. Loved Discovery and Out of the blue. This took a while to get into but boy does it pay off. Great melodies.
Can't really see this as a concept album. A few mentions of the future in the lyrics but mostly a collection of great melodies. The singles seem out of place somewhat. Hold on tight and Twilight,Way lifes meant to be are out and out rockers, not among my favourite elo tracks. Here is the news/Ticket to the moon seem more apt and fit in better.The filler tracks on the album are all terrific. Not a bad track among them. From hearing the singles i would never thought of buying the album but the rest of the songs make up for them. Shame no strings but never mind. Great stuff

musical heaven
damn this album is just amazing, pure genius, the fact I'm writing this while I'm drunk dosnt take away from the fact that this album is just awsome, if you really apreciate music then just buy this you won't regret it, my favorite tracks are twilight and 21st century man but to be honest you can just put this album on from start to finish and love every track. What you waiting for buy it already its amazing and damn cheap to, you can't loose here!

Great!
To me this is ELO's best album. Every track is a classic, and it sounds as fresh today as it did 25 years ago.