Cloud Nine (1987)
1. Cloud Nine
2. That's What it Takes
3. Fish on the Sand
4. Just for Today
5. This is Love
6. When We was Fab
7. Devil's Radio
8. Someplace Else
9. Wreck of the Hesperus
10.Breath Away From Heaven
11.Got My Mind Set On You
 
Who would have thought George could
pull off something like this? This is just about the least likely thing
that anyone could have possibly expected. George really hadn't done
anything significant in almost fifteen years. Every solo album he had
released had either had a lukewarm critical reception, poor sales, no
interest, or a combination of all. Word was, around the time of this
release, that George simply didn't care. So how did he, out of the
blue, come up with what would closely rival the best thing he'd ever
done as a solo artist or as a Beatle?
The answer, I think, was a simple two word solution: Jeff Lynne. Jeff Lynne was
best known for fronting the mammoth 1970's syntho-disco-string group The
Electric Light Orchestra and was largely responsible for every aspect of
success that his group achieved. At first, the pairing between Lynne
and Harrison seemed a bit of an odd choice, but for those who know
E.L.O., they can attribute that Lynne changed the style of the band
dramatically once the eighties took hold and they were a much different
band once the new decade began. Sadly, no one was buying their records by this point, and
Lynne simply retired the whole project to pursue what he really
loved to do, and that was producing other people's material.
This wasn't his first job, but by far his first successful gig as
a producer. The music on this album seemed to define a "Jeff Lynne"
sound that would be prevalent as he would produce other well known
artists such as Tom Petty, Paul McCartney, The Traveling Wilburys, Ringo Starr and
Roy Orbison. It also helps that George has many "pros" helping him make this record
including Eric Clapton, Elton John, and even Ringo.
The whole album plays as simple, straight forward pop. The variety of
the tunes is enough to keep the listener interested, as he goes through
normal pop ditties, sad heartbreak tunes, a couple of heavy guitar laden
songs, and probably the best reminiscent track of The Beatles ever
(When We Was Fab). The album is pure enjoyment, with George even
enjoying a successful video that accompanied the first, and best song on
the album, Got My Mind Set On You.
As mentioned, the guitar work is stellar, and at times I can't tell if
it's Harrison or Clapton (or maybe even Lynne, himself) playing on such
great songs as Just For Today, Someplace Else or the
incredible title track that leads off the record. Amazing how just when
anyone "writes off" a former member of The Beatles during lulls in his
recording career, he always manages to bounce back with something
brilliant.
Things do get a tad too heavy near the end of this record with the horn crunching
Wreck of the Hesperus and the slightly mystic Breath Away From
Heaven, yet the whole album plays very well and has a timeless
quality that probably endures better than just about anything else in
his catalog. It was nice to have George back.
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