Album of the Month

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October, 2023

Eldorado (1974)

by Electric Light Orchestra

Listen to it Here.

Released: September, 1974
Recorded: February–August, 1974
Genre: Progressive Rock
Length: 38 min 42 sec
Producer: Jeff Lynne
Recommended by: Me!

It's only fitting that the first Album of the Month for Wax & Wane be one of my favorite albums of all time, Eldorado by Electric Light Orchestra. This 1974 concept album is easily one of my most-played records- it's easy to lose yourself in the dreams and drama the songs invoke.

I first heard Eldorado after my aunt Nikki lent it to me in 2015 or so. I was a Beatles fan long before I was collecting any vinyl, and at that point the only records I'd actually bought were Beatles albums, despite already having them all on CD. It was something both Nikki and Keith, the owner of the record store we frequented most often, both teased me about (and rightfully so, admittedly). Nikki brought over Eldorado one afternoon and insisted I give it a shot, citing its Beatle-esque sound, promising I'd like it. Reluctantly, I gave it a shot a couple days later in the quiet of my room. And then I replayed it so much that Nikki gave up on getting it back and resolved herself to buying a new copy.

It's good stuff, and probably my first exposure to a concept album (besides Sgt. Pepper's- honestly, though, this album has much more of a story to it that Sgt. Pepper's, in my opinion). With all the layered force of an orchestra fueling heavy chords and rich, sweeping melodies, the songs are smooth and full. You flow seamlessly from one dream into the next, all carried by the storytelling and strong imagery of the lyrics.

Eldorado is an album that isn't focused on its individual songs, but presents the arrangement as a whole. While each song can (and does) stand on its own, the real magic is in listening to the entire album, from overture to finale, in one go. This isn't one you'll want to put on shuffle. Seeing as the experience of a whole album, in order, is one that I'd like to emphasize on this website, Eldorado makes a lovely first-ever Album of the Month.