Eloy Is AMAZING

Quote Davesax1965

Thanks(0)

Quote

Posted: September 16 2019 at 06:08

Incidentally, the lead guitar from "Castle in the Clouds" is just about at the limit of my sausage finger capacity.

kenethlevine View Drop Down

Special Collaborator

Prog-Folk Team

Joined: December 06 2006
Location: New England
Status: Offline
Points: 9093

Post Options

Thanks(0)

Quote

Posted: September 16 2019 at 07:57

according to the German charts, Silent Cries was their biggest by both chart position and number of weeks on chart. Colours spent the most weeks on the chart. Ocean and Time to Turn all did very well. What's hard to understand is how Planets didn't chart, coming after a run of chart albums and followed by Time to Turn which did chart well...unless these charts are not very accurate

The Classic Years Trilogy03.05.2019weeks: 1 peak: 78The Vision, The Sword And The Pyre - Part I01.09.2017weeks: 1 peak: 22Reincarnation On Stage31/01/2014weeks: 2 peak: 34RA21.03.1988weeks: 1 peak: 62Performance09.05.1983Weeks: 1 Peak: 65Time To Turn17.05.1982weeks: 10 peak: 38Colors30.06.1980weeks: 17 peak: 28Silent Cries And Mighty Echoes26.02.1979weeks: 14 peak: 17live01.08.1978Weeks: 1 Peak: 35Ocean01.02.1978weeks: 7 peak: 28

Edited by kenethlevine - September 16 2019 at 07:59

Lewian

Prog Reviewer

Joined: August 09 2015
Location: Italy
Status: Offline
Points: 15169

Post Options

Quote Lewian

Thanks(0)

Quote

Posted: September 16 2019 at 10:36

kenethlevine: I think it's accurate, because I followed the German charts at the time and remember having seen Colours, Time to Turn and Performance but not Planets listed. The reason might be that Planets is the most homogeneous album of these and didn't have a song that worked as a stand-alone single (arguably one could find one but their record company may have thought differently). Although Eloy never was a band who would get a single in the charts, having a single would help them to get into radio and TV and in turn promote the album. Surely the song Time to Turn alone had quite a bit more airplay than anything from Planets. Colours and Performance have a number of songs that can stand on its own and appeal to a radio audience. Before Colours the landscape was a different one anyway, prog was still more popular, and Eloy a crowd favourite for some time. Also Planets was an unfinished double album and Time to Turn actually finished it. Some people may have bought Planets only after having listened to TTT.

kenethlevine View Drop Down

Special Collaborator

Prog-Folk Team

Joined: December 06 2006
Location: New England
Status: Offline
Points: 9093

Post Options

Thanks(0)

Quote

Posted: September 16 2019 at 12:16

Thanks for the insights, also into Frank's treatment by critics.

It is true what you say in that album sales are often driven by the popularity of individual songs even if the song is not a hit single. Would you happen to remember which songs were most popular from Colours? Perhaps "Silhouette"?

Rednight

Forum Senior Member

Joined: January 18 2014
Location: Mar Vista, CA
Status: Offline
Points: 4812

Post Options

Quote Rednight

Thanks(0)

Quote

Posted: September 16 2019 at 14:23

First got into Eloy with Chronicles Vol. 1 & Vol. 2. A worthy prog band who I wish I'd seen live.

"It just has none of the qualities of your work that I find interesting. Abandon [?] it." - Eno

kenethlevine View Drop Down

Special Collaborator

Prog-Folk Team

Joined: December 06 2006
Location: New England
Status: Offline
Points: 9093

Post Options

Thanks(0)

Quote

Posted: September 16 2019 at 15:31

Rednight wrote:

First got into Eloy with Chronicles Vol. 1 & Vol. 2. A worthy prog band who I wish I'd seen live.

chronicles 1 is amazing! The clarity is incredible. Chronicles II didn't really seem worth it given that most of the tracks had already been produced with modern production. But more importantly, the material is just a whole lot weaker

kenethlevine View Drop Down

Special Collaborator

Prog-Folk Team

Joined: December 06 2006
Location: New England
Status: Offline
Points: 9093

Post Options

Thanks(0)

Quote

Posted: September 16 2019 at 15:42

just noticed that "The Vision The Sword and the Pyre Part II" is now out. I really didn't like Part 1 so I have low expectations for Part II. Has anybody heard it?

verslibre

Forum Senior Member

Joined: July 01 2004
Location: CA
Status: Offline
Points: 18643

Post Options

Thanks(0)

Quote

Posted: September 16 2019 at 15:57

^I do not yet have it, but I will get it. I like Part I.

eBay

Lewian

Prog Reviewer

Joined: August 09 2015
Location: Italy
Status: Offline
Points: 15169

Post Options

Quote Lewian

Thanks(0)

Quote

Posted: September 16 2019 at 17:27

kenethlevine wrote:

Thanks for the insights, also into Frank's treatment by critics.

I remember having heard Silhouette, Illuminations and Giant on the radio at the time, maybe also Child Migration, however surely not all of these were singles. I'd guess Illuminations was the one they promoted, but I'm not sure.

kenethlevine View Drop Down

Special Collaborator

Prog-Folk Team

Joined: December 06 2006
Location: New England
Status: Offline
Points: 9093

Post Options

Thanks(0)

Quote

Posted: September 16 2019 at 20:50

those are all great. Child Migration might be my favorite Eloy track. A monster riff for those like me who normally don't go for riffs! Just an epic piece with so many great parts

richardh

Prog Reviewer

Joined: February 18 2004
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 29577

Post Options

Quote richardh

Thanks(0)

Quote

Posted: September 17 2019 at 00:20

kenethlevine wrote:

just noticed that "The Vision The Sword and the Pyre Part II" is now out. I really didn't like Part 1 so I have low expectations for Part II. Has anybody heard it?

Not in the UK , still a week or so away and too expensive for me going by the price on Amazon UK. Bloody Brexit!

Frenetic Zetetic View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: December 09 2017
Location: Now
Status: Offline
Points: 9233

Post Options

Thanks(0)

Quote

Posted: September 17 2019 at 02:57

Lewian wrote:

Frenetic Zetetic wrote:

They're amazing, and they've still got it all these years later. They were Germany's #1 rock band until the Scorpions took the title.

WOW, I never knew that! That's actually quite impressive, and harkens back to my point about me being clueless of their popularity over there. That's HUGE!

Surely Dawn, Ocean, Live and Silent Cries sold very well, and for some time they could sell out pretty big venues. The Live album is a good document of their most popular period. Not sure whether #1 rock band is accurate, but I can't think of anyone who did clearly better at the time (let's say Kraftwerk don't qualify as rock band).

Interestingly they were regularly slaughtered by the German music press, which made the band and particularly Frank very bitter at times. He regularly complained about this in interviews. Not sure whether you find any other band who was at the same time that successful and that hated by the home music press as Eloy in the second half of the seventies. The music magazines at that time wanted to be cool and forward looking and that meant from 1976 glam, punk or at best electronic. Eloy represented everything they were against. On top of that take Frank's German accent when singing in English... as I know very well of myself, Germans who want to feel international hate the German accent passionately, because this is what they want to get away from. (I have observed this in people from other countries as well such as Italy, Czech Republic, Poland, France... they all tend to hate their own accent most.)

I've got to say by the way that I'm not that keen on Frank's singing and many of the themes of their lyrics (Colours and Performance are best in that respect, in my opinion), and not even on his guitar playing. I was much more into that when I was much younger. On the other hand he clearly has always been the man with the vision and drive, and he comes over as a very warm accessible person live and in interviews. Certainly he always put 100% passion into everything he did, and I think among German musicians he is very well respected and has friendships with many (of the now older generation at least).

Interesting note about the accent! It did distract me the first few times I heard Eloy (over a decade ago now), but now it's part of the charm of their sound. I'd imagine 99% of the planet attempting Arnold's Austrian accent doesn't help the opinions of that accent, yeah? LOL!

Frank is an excellent musician, and artist first and foremost.

verslibre wrote:

Frenetic Zetetic wrote:

HESITATION HINDERS; AND TAKES IT'S TOLL!

SWAYING AND FALLING; WITH NO CONTROL!

The elements...of the future...

Transcends into...aimlessness...

Klaus' bass work is on another level. He appears to play fretless with a pick...just like myself! I didn't think that combo existed elsewhere, ever. His sound is very prominent and his style is definitely above average.

KPM plays fretted. Frank speaks very highly of his talent, and has said he's "second only to Geddy Lee."

I may be mistaken but I thought I read he was credited with fretless on Ocean and/or Planets? They guy is excellent. Prog rock has all the best "secret" bass players (like Ray Shulman).

"I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021

verslibre

Forum Senior Member

Joined: July 01 2004
Location: CA
Status: Offline
Points: 18643

Post Options

Thanks(0)

Quote

Posted: September 17 2019 at 14:31

Frenetic Zetetic wrote:

I may be mistaken but I thought I read he was credited with fretless on Ocean and/or Planets? They guy is excellent. Prog rock has all the best "secret" bass players (like Ray Shulman).

I checked and you are correct. KPM plays Fender and Thunderbird fretless basses on Ocean.

In this 2012 live concert, you can see him playing fretted.

eBay

Frenetic Zetetic View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: December 09 2017
Location: Now
Status: Offline
Points: 9233

Post Options

Thanks(0)

Quote

Posted: September 18 2019 at 02:57

verslibre wrote:

I checked and you are correct. KPM plays Fender and Thunderbird fretless basses on Ocean.

In this 2012 live concert, you can see him playing fretted.

You gotta have a keen eye to spot that stuff (I always check first, being a fretless 5 string bass player that uses a pick, none the less LOL). Bass gets so overlooked so easily! Someone's gotta be on the lookout for those fine, important details that contribute so heavily to bands sounds!

I was listening to Colors yesterday in the car on my way in, and I'll be damned if the track Giant doesn't scream "German Pink Floyd"...in all the GOOD AND RIGHT way (IMHO)!

"I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021

verslibre

Forum Senior Member

Joined: July 01 2004
Location: CA
Status: Offline
Points: 18643

Post Options

Thanks(0)

Quote

Posted: September 18 2019 at 10:36

Check out Tony Franklin's YouTube channel if you enjoy fretless bass. He has a series of improvs he's dubbed "Bass Noodles." He's one of the best electric bassists out there. So is Michael Manring.

eBay

Frenetic Zetetic View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: December 09 2017
Location: Now
Status: Offline
Points: 9233

Post Options

Thanks(0)

Quote

Posted: September 19 2019 at 01:28

verslibre wrote:

Check out Tony Franklin's YouTube channel if you enjoy fretless bass. He has a series of improvs he's dubbed "Bass Noodles." He's one of the best electric bassists out there. So is Michael Manring.

I'll absolutely do just that. Thank you, my friend. Always looking for good bass players, past, present, and future. There aren't enough, lol.

"I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021

verslibre

Forum Senior Member

Joined: July 01 2004
Location: CA
Status: Offline
Points: 18643

Post Options

Thanks(0)

Quote

Posted: September 19 2019 at 10:29

Frenetic Zetetic wrote:

I'll absolutely do just that. Thank you, my friend. Always looking for good bass players, past, present, and future. There aren't enough, lol.

I fully agree! Clap

eBay

Frenetic Zetetic View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: December 09 2017
Location: Now
Status: Offline
Points: 9233

Post Options

Thanks(0)

Quote

Posted: September 20 2019 at 03:21

Man, I really must say, this band is continuing to blow me out of the water. Colours is incredible. It's like German Pink Floyd at certain parts. The band keeps reinventing their sound a bit with each album. Eloy is a true gem amongst the heaps of classic prog!

"I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021

Lewian

Prog Reviewer

Joined: August 09 2015
Location: Italy
Status: Offline
Points: 15169

Post Options

Quote Lewian

Thanks(0)

Quote

Posted: September 20 2019 at 06:43

Frenetic Zetetic wrote:

The band keeps reinventing their sound a bit with each album.

That's actually true, no album sounds like the one before. Gotta say though that I haven't given the stuff after Metromania much time. However following their work from the first album to Metromania, tracking the developments is fascinating, and remarkable how they managed to change and at the same time keep their signature elements to always sound like Eloy (this actually also holds for Ra and Destination; problem is, the development there is a sharp drop in quality).

I never could make that much of the Pink Floyd comparison that keeps coming up... sure there are some connections but in my view not more than for example to Tull and Genesis; I think there are many bands that are much more appropriately described as "location XXX's answer to YYY".

miamiscot

Forum Senior Member

Joined: April 23 2014
Location: Ohio
Status: Offline
Points: 3625

Post Options

Quote miamiscot