Monday, August 9, 2010

EARLY YEARS, EARLY REVIEWS

Hey, UK fans!  How's the DVD?

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I would have liked to be the first to let you know how the DVD is, but...
I went into the HMV Shop not long after it opened, and enquired at the counter :
"Do you have a copy of the ELO DVD released today on stock please, it's called 'Early Years'...."
"It is listed, but we don't have a copy on stock...."
(Disappointed pause........)
"OK, can I order one, and pay for it now, please ??"
"I'm sorry, we can't do that - you will have to order it at hmv.com..."
I thought I am in HMV - one of the biggest music outlets in the country, and ELO are still fairly popular, why are there not at least six copies of this in the shop ??
HMV - hang your heads in shame !!!
It would appear ELO don't warrant the same attention they once did, or is the DVD going to sink without trace through lack of advertising / interest ??.
Tried a couple of the bigger supermarkets, nobody had a copy....
A very poor show, and a very disappointed fan !!!.
I did manage to order a copy online (not with HMV) - I guess I will just have to wait a little longer for my copy.....
I am sure there are plenty of other ELO fans out there who have had the same problems today too....

Jerry said...

Let me know what Region it is... Lynn Hoskins at Showdown says it Region 0, but Amazon UK lists it was Region 2... I'm curious, I'd get a UK version if it's region-free...

Anonymous said...

My copy of "Early Years" has just been pushed through my letter box...

The DVD has a running time of 111 mins, and is region 0.
There is an insert with a write up and a good selection of stills.
Here is a brief review.....

The navigation is set out very well and is user friendly.
It is a fantastic insight into the early years of ELO - hence the title !!!

There is a lot of stuff that most fans would be familair with, but just to
touch on a couple of stand out features (!!) :

Brunel University 1973
Jeff Lynne pulling off (in great style might I add) a fantastic impression of Captain Caveman !!

Fusion 1976
"Strange Magic"
Particularly prominent on the curtain behind Bev Bevans drum kit - a somewhat familiar
image (bearing in mind this is 1976) a prototype of a certain album cover Character
who would make another appearance in 1979 ????

Would it not be interesting to find a link between the two ??

From the sleeve - "2010 Arden Enterprises exclusively licensed to Eagle Rock...."
I assume "Arden Enterprises" is David Arden - I wonder what other "ELO goodies"
Mr Arden has tucked up his sleeve.....
When Jet Records went boom (for example) and for whatever reason, are there any ELO
studio session recordings hiding in a cupboard (bursting to get out !) ??
I for one still wonder to this day....
I wouldn't mind asking David Arden that question myself !
(And if there aren't any - what happened to them ??)
I wasn't even going to mention David Arden until I read that.....

I don't suppose this release has the full blessing of Jeff Lynne, having not
made an appearance on "Face The Music" (not as active as you would like, almost DORMANT)
previous to release, or ELO.BIZ........ (lets ignore the former band members and buy a t shirt
or a cap - a lot of thought has gone into the t shirt / cap designs don't you think ?)
In fact a lot of thought has gone into the site to be blunt - truly, truly AWFUL....
The fan sites have more of an ELO feel than ELO.BIZ !!!! (to date anyway)

Back to the DVD....... (got a bit sidetracked / emotional there, sorry....)
Sound and picture quality is good - imagine if the quality available to a band on a live stage
these days was available to ELO back then (visuals and audio) - as good as these live
concerts were / are - if ELO were afforded todays "live on stage" technology they would have
been a couple of notches up from AWSOME :
Remembering that Jeff sorted the 'concert audio' for the "Concert For George" DVD release
and a great job he did too. If Jeff had all that technology available back then.........
Having said that - no complaints, it is all part of the ELO history and as a fan I am
more than happy with the DVD - a lot easier than fast forwarding / rewinding a video tape !!.
A recommended addition to your ELO collection, and worth a revisit or two.....
Buy it !!

Anonymous said...

My copy of "Early Years" has just been pushed through my letter box...

The DVD has a running time of 111 mins, and is region 0.
There is an insert with a write up and a good selection of stills.
Here is a brief review.....

The navigation is set out very well and is user friendly.
It is a fantastic insight into the early years of ELO - hence the title !!!

There is a lot of stuff that most fans would be familair with, but just to
touch on a couple of stand out features (!!) :

Brunel University 1973
Jeff Lynne pulling off (in great style might I add) a fantastic impression of Captain Caveman !!

Fusion 1976
"Strange Magic"
Particularly prominent on the curtain behind Bev Bevans drum kit - a somewhat familiar
image (bearing in mind this is 1976) a prototype of a certain album cover Character
who would make another appearance in 1979 ????

Would it not be interesting to find a link between the two ??

From the sleeve - "2010 Arden Enterprises exclusively licensed to Eagle Rock...."
I assume "Arden Enterprises" is David Arden - I wonder what other "ELO goodies"
Mr Arden has tucked up his sleeve.....
When Jet Records went boom (for example) and for whatever reason, are there any ELO
studio session recordings hiding in a cupboard (bursting to get out !) ??
I for one still wonder to this day....
I wouldn't mind asking David Arden that question myself !
(And if there aren't any - what happened to them ??)
I wasn't even going to mention David Arden until I read that.....

I don't suppose this release has the full blessing of Jeff Lynne, having not
made an appearance on "Face The Music" (not as active as you would like, almost DORMANT)
previous to release, or ELO.BIZ........ (lets ignore the former band members and buy a t shirt
or a cap - a lot of thought has gone into the t shirt / cap designs don't you think ?)
In fact a lot of thought has gone into the site to be blunt - truly, truly AWFUL....
The fan sites have more of an ELO feel than ELO.BIZ !!!! (to date anyway)

Back to the DVD....... (got a bit sidetracked / emotional there, sorry....)
Sound and picture quality is good - imagine if the quality available to a band on a live stage
these days was available to ELO back then (visuals and audio) - as good as these live
concerts were / are - if ELO were afforded todays "live on stage" technology they would have
been a couple of notches up from AWSOME :
Remembering that Jeff sorted the 'concert audio' for the "Concert For George" DVD release
and a great job he did too. If Jeff had all that technology available back then.........
Having said that - no complaints, it is all part of the ELO history and as a fan I am
more than happy with the DVD - a lot easier than fast forwarding / rewinding a video tape !!.
A recommended addition to your ELO collection, and worth a revisit or two.....
Buy it !!

Anonymous said...

Apologies Jerry - after typing in the word verification on here it came up that I had typed in the wrong word - twice !
I assumed the post would not be posted so decided to post it on your later item - it has done the same there too (twice)
Apologies to any readers !
Buy the DVD !! : )

Anonymous said...

Thats realy sad .these music stores have been going on for years because of bands like these