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"On
the Third Day'
is a very experimental mixture of slightly strange things.
I was trying to make music that was melodic and different.
I must admit I quite like listening to it. As songwriter -
producer I was learning my trade."
Jeff Lynne, 2006 |
ELO
DO IT WITH THE LIGHT ON: 1973 - 1974
On
The Third Day
was Jeff Lynne's first attempt at linking songs conceptually
and musically and ELO's first commercial breakthrough
in the USA during 1973. As power blackouts plunged the UK
into darkness during the UK's enforced three-day working week,
ads began to appear in the music press heralding "Let
There Be Light!" While the government tried to keep
Great Britain running on reduced power, the ad campaign showed
Jeff Lynne was operating on full voltage, masterminding the
Electric Light Orchestra and new album 'On
The Third Day'.
Lynne's first attempt at linking songs conceptually and musically
saw side one of the original LP devoted to themes loosely
based on the Creation and life and death, mirroring the album's
conception during initial rehearsals in March, recording sessions
in April and eventual release nine months later on December
14 1973.
Though the album was ignored chart-wise in the UK, in America
it was to be one of the most important LP's ELO ever made… |
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Top:
Original 1974 UK press ad Below:
US billboard (1974)
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It
contains the hits 'Ma-Ma-Ma Belle'
and 'Showdown', the latter a favourite
of John Lennon and prompting him to dub ELO "son
of Beatles". 57 minutes of digitally remastered
music by Jeff Lynne with engineer Jeff Magid in Los Angeles
contains over 17 minutes of rare and unreleased bonus material,
including a session with Marc Bolan recorded at Air Studios
in 1973.
This full colour booklet restores the out-of-print original 1973
UK album artwork for CD release worldwide and includes new liner
notes by both Jeff Lynne and ELO archivist Rob Caiger.
There are complete musician credits for each track for the first
time ever.
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