Eldorado (subtitled A Symphony by the Electric Light Orchestra) is the fourth studio album by the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). It was released in the United States in September 1974 by United Artists Records and in the United Kingdom in October 1974 by Warner Bros. Records.

Concept Eldorado is the first complete ELO concept album; bandleader Jeff Lynne conceived the storyline before he wrote any music. The plot follows a Walter Mitty-like character who journeys into fantasy worlds via dreams, to escape the disillusionment of his mundane reality. Lynne began to write the album in response to criticisms from his father, a classical music lover, who said that Electric Light Orchestra's repertoire "had no tune".

Recording Eldorado marks the first album on which Jeff Lynne hired an orchestra; on previous albums band members would play strings using multitracked overdubbing.Wild, David. "The Story of a Rock and Roll Band and the Pop Genius Who Dared to Go Baroque." Flashback. Louis Clark co-arranged, with Lynne (and keyboardist Richard Tandy), and conducted the strings. The group's three resident string players continued to perform on recordings, however, and can be heard most prominently on the songs "Boy Blue" and "Laredo Tornado". Mike de Albuquerque departed early on in the recording process, as touring made him feel separated from his family. Lynne plays most of, if not all, the bass tracks and backing vocals for the album, but de Albuquerque still featured on the final release as well as getting credited. Kelly Groucutt replaced him for the subsequent tour, when cellist Melvyn Gale also joined (replacing the departing Mike Edwards). "Eldorado Finale" is heavily orchestrated, much like "Eldorado Overture". Jeff Lynne said of the song, "I like the heavy chords and the slightly daft ending, where you hear the double bass players packing up their basses, because they wouldn't play another millisecond past the allotted moment."Casey Kasem's American Top 40 from March 19, 1977 & May 6, 1978

Cover design The cover, designed by John Kehe, was taken from a still slide from the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, and is of Dorothy's ruby slippers with the Wicked Witch of the West reaching for them.

Release, reception and aftermath

Critical reception Bruce Eder of AllMusic, giving a five-out-of-five-star retrospective rating, opined that "Eldorado was strongly reminiscent in some ways of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Not that it could ever have the same impact or be as distinctive, but it had its feet planted in so many richly melodic and varied musical traditions, yet made it all work in a rock context, that it did recall the Beatles classic." Ken Barnes of Rolling Stone said that "The Electric Light Orchestra has sometimes swamped itself in grandiose conceptions, and Eldorado (A Symphony) sounds like a prime opportunity to do it again. But thanks to strong original songs, Eldorado emerges as something of a triumph for the group."

Chuck Hicks of PopMatters wrote in his retrospective review that "Eldorado (named for the mythical, gilded king of a golden kingdom) struck a responsive chord, breaking through like sunlight on the buried desires of the discouraged and disillusioned ’70s audience. Thankfully, Sony's Epic/Legacy label has reissued a gorgeous digital remaster of this album, which will carry its timeless message to another lost generation." He continued that "Eldorado was the first of many successful ELO albums"

Commercial reception "Can't Get It Out of My Head" was released as a single (with "Illusions in G Major" as the B-side) and was a success in the US.

Accolades In July 2010, the album was named one of Classic Rock magazines "50 Albums That Built Prog Rock".Classic Rock magazine, July 2010, Issue 146.

On 17 June 2015, the album was ranked No. 43 on Rolling Stones "50 Greatest Prog Rock Albums of All Time" list.

Track listing

Personnel Jeff Lynne – lead & backing vocals, electric & acoustic guitars, bass, Moog, production, orchestra & choral arrangements Bev Bevan – drums, percussion Richard Tandy – piano, Moog, clavinet, Wurlitzer electric piano, guitar, backing vocals, orchestra & choral arrangements Mike de Albuquerque – bass & backing vocals (credited; departed during the recording of the album) Mike Edwards – cello Mik Kaminski – violin Hugh McDowell – cello

Additional personnel Peter Forbes-Robertson – spoken word Louis Clark – orchestra and choral arrangements and conducting Al Quaglieri – reissue producer (2001)

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1974–1975)PeakpositionAustralian Albums (Kent Music Report). 40 Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts) 18US CashBox Top 100 Albums 16

Year-end charts Chart (1975)PeakpositionUS Billboard Year-End30

Certifications

References