A New World Record

john cocks (October 9, 2006)

The album what got me into E.L.O. and what an album every track is a gem.From the swirling synthesizers [sounding like a spaceship landing]into TIGHTROPE a upbeat tune with more strings than a yoyo convention ,the the quite brilliant TELEPHONE LINE then ROCKARIA! which were both huge chart hits .Next up is MISSION[A WORLD RECORD]with a haunting guitar from JEFF LYNE .next up is SO FINE an fine song,LIVIN`THING next another chart hit ,ABOVE THE CLOUDS slows the tempo down a bit, then its up again with the rockin DO YA with a great guitar riff [borrowed from MA MA BELLE i think] then the superb SHANGRI-LA with a nod to JEFF LYNES hero`s THE BEATLES .A classic album thats never dated in any way in 30 years a masterpeice.

Andrew Raeth (Mean_Mr_Mustard) (February 10, 2006)

Great Album my favorite by ELO, And Shangri-la is my favorite song, You cant beat a great song that talks about the Beatles in it. :D

B.Wind (August 10, 2004)

Issued mere months after "Ole Elo" (their first greatest hits collection), "A New World Record" demonstrates Jeff Lynne's full commitment to pop music. It now can be considered a de facto "Greatest Hits II" LP/CD for this groundbreaking group. With the possible exception of "Shangri-La," each song stands on its own -- and could have been a Top 40 hit had it been released as a single.

It's an embarrassment of riches. "Tightrope" and "So Fine" are excellent table setters; "Telephone Line" (a hit with Paul McCartney-like vocals), "Do Ya" (a remake of a song Lynne and Bevens recorded with the Move), and "Living Thing" were all major hits; and "Rockaria!" (buried as the B-side of "Telephone Line") was guaranteed to bring a smile, if not for the false start.

The ELO spaceship is now flying high, and it would stay up there for about five years.