Electric Light Orchestra, or ELO as they're more affectionally known, strove to merge classical with pop music and when they realized disco rhythms were in style, found a natural fit for their music to go platinum. By the end of the 70s this curiously high-brow yet highly ear catching outfit- a rather large one I might add- conquered the charts in such a way that even Randy Newman was inspired to wrote a mockumentary song about the group and its fans in 1979 (and it was called "The Story of a Rock & Roll Band.") Oh and their logo looked like a giant flying, glowing electric hamburger... other people's words not mine!
Whenever you want to call a friend or loved one be it near, here or far, we have the modern luxury of picking up a neat little device and dialing a number. Then voila, we're instantly connected. Yes they call it the telephone and over the course of contemporary music's history it has figured into many a classic composition. As a device for communicating, the telephone has appeared in several great love songs or has even been used humorously as a prop or to describe calls that don't quite go the way they were planned. So why not unite them all onto one themed podcast? Bingo, here's your answer for that. It's all part of this monthly themed podcast show entitled Sound & Groove.
And if you're new to this podcast: Every month there will be a theme that the selection of music is centred around. It will be jam packed with my analysis, synopses, breakdowns, anecdotes and other witticisms you might enjoy. And not to worry, each month will contain a different theme than the last. This is the first of two episodes this month of June going by the theme of "Give Me a Ring: Telephone Tunes." All killer, no filler... other than when I talk and introduce the tunes and recap the ones before it. But aside from that? 100% juicy meat! Below I've also provided information and links relevant to the matters discussed in this particular edition of Sound & Groove.
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Hear it on itunes now! http://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/evan-dowbiggins-podcast/id523032956
Track Listing:
1. Call Me Up- Gang of Four (1982)
2. Please Call Home- The Allman Brothers Band (1970)
3. Calling Elvis- Dire Straits (1991)
4. Girl on the Phone- The Jam (1979)
5. Get off the Phone- The Heartbreakers (1977)
6. Long Distance Operator- Bob Dylan & The Band (1967)
7. 634-5789- Wilson Pickett (1966)
8. Telephone Line- Electric Light Orchestra (1976)
Info of note:
Intro- "No Surprises" by Radiohead (1997)
Outro- "I Might Be Wrong" by Radiohead (2001)
All comments, questions and feedback are greatly welcomed and appreciated! I encourage participation. Even though I drain an hour off your life by listening to the podcast then checking through the links, at least you don't have to fork over your money to me... though if you feel like, you know... But in all seriousness, let me now what you'd like to hear or see and I'll consider it. Popular approval doesn't always sway me but having fans or listeners get their input would be just grand!
