Electric Light Orchestra — Fire On High
Album: Face The MusicAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 2112
Length: 5:30
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Reversed:
The music is reversible,
But time is not
Turn back
Turn back
Turn back
Turn back...
The music is reversible,
But time is not
Turn back
Turn back
Turn back
Turn back...
Comments (269)add comment
Anyone remember this song from CBS Sports Spectacular on Saturday afternoons I believe? Damn, I’m old! But I love ELO.
asilbuch wrote:
Great idea !
I just love this song. Haters will hate, but it makes me feel. I want to see an epic ice skater do something awesome to this music.
Great idea !
I just love this song. Haters will hate, but it makes me feel. I want to see an epic ice skater do something awesome to this music.
I remember listening to this on 8-track waaaaay back. The 8-track order had ‘Poker’ come up right after ‘Fire on High’ a great segue.
jahgirl8 wrote:
much like Journey of the Sorcerer by The Eagles not a "Typical" sound by the band. AND quite refreshing i remember loving this song in the 70's and likely haven't heard it in 30 years
Thanks for playing this Bill. Most people haven't even heard many ELO songs, but if they have, this is the crowd pleaser for sure. One day you may relisten to this album and select a song that surprises you that no one will even recognize as ELO... there are a couple like that. Play what you want boss, but your job is listening to music (sure wish mine was) and playing the good shit for those of us who pay you to do your job. You do it well as surely all tell you already but I did so again... you rock!
much like Journey of the Sorcerer by The Eagles not a "Typical" sound by the band. AND quite refreshing i remember loving this song in the 70's and likely haven't heard it in 30 years
That beginning is super creepy, I love it 
1975, after the party, I stumble home at 2:00 am, go downstairs and put on the headphones. Put this album on the turntable and crank it up.
msymmes wrote:
Ah hem,
"number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9,..."
Bumping this to a TEN. I know. You folks think I am crazy. But this piece backs up my claim that J L is a music genius of our time.
Ah hem,
"number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9,..."
cayenne wrote:
The beginning of this sounds like it's from the soundtrack of an Ed Wood movie about Satan in outer space (Plan 9 meets The Omen or something.)
Given Ed Wood's production budgets, it would've had to have been done on kazoo...
Tony in NJ
W.A.S.T.E.
I threw out my shoulder switching from air guitar to air drums.
Clicked over the browser quickly, absentmindedly looked at the album cover and thought, "Face Time Music??"
Between the cover art and the date of the album I don't think I could be any farther off point.
Between the cover art and the date of the album I don't think I could be any farther off point.
nitsirk90 wrote:
I can definitely hear that. FfaF is one of those few songs (GYBR is one of those albums) I have to put on once or twice a month and crank up. I might have to add this to the mix...
c.
Great song. Always reminded me of Funeral for a Friend meets Pinball Wizard, though.
I can definitely hear that. FfaF is one of those few songs (GYBR is one of those albums) I have to put on once or twice a month and crank up. I might have to add this to the mix...
c.
Oooh...scary music
I find ELO particularly to be one of those bands (and there are a lot of them) that affects me differently each time I hear them. In the past I have enjoyed this but today it's neither enjoy or hate . Maybe next time it will be good.
msymmes wrote:
Totally agree
Bumping this to a TEN. I know. You folks think I am crazy. But this piece backs up my claim that J L is a music genius of our time.
Totally agree
indulgent, awful and those are just the good points ..... yum, yum, TOT ZIENS
Quixx_II wrote:
It was also played at midnight on WMYK — served the Tidewater VA area from deep in the Dismal Swamp, as they’d tell you — in the late 70s through mid 80s. Can’t hear it without thinking of the dawning of a new day on K-94.
A DJ friend of mine spliced out an excerpt from this epic cut for my first professional radio station's sign-off ID cart. Played it every night at 1 a.m. after a six hour shift alone in a small rural FM station in SW Va. Just imagine hitting the power off switch at the end of the song. Good times.
It was also played at midnight on WMYK — served the Tidewater VA area from deep in the Dismal Swamp, as they’d tell you — in the late 70s through mid 80s. Can’t hear it without thinking of the dawning of a new day on K-94.
Thanks for playing this Bill. Most people haven't even heard many ELO songs, but if they have, this is the crowd pleaser for sure. One day you may relisten to this album and select a song that surprises you that no one will even recognize as ELO... there are a couple like that. Play what you want boss, but your job is listening to music (sure wish mine was) and playing the good shit for those of us who pay you to do your job. You do it well as surely all tell you already but I did so again... you rock!
njswede wrote:
I didn't think your post was *that* bad.
This is the very definition of pretentious!
I didn't think your post was *that* bad.
rhlrstn wrote:
I suppose by 'we' you meant 'you' - cuz I am having a great morning and this ELO track helped a lot!! It's a 9...and Long Live RP!!
Ugh, PSD from Neil Young's After the Gold Rush (which makes my ears bleed) to this dissonance. We're not having a good morning here...
I suppose by 'we' you meant 'you' - cuz I am having a great morning and this ELO track helped a lot!! It's a 9...and Long Live RP!!
The CBS Sports Spectacular....
Talk about music placing memories.
Talk about music placing memories.
Great song. Always reminded me of Funeral for a Friend meets Pinball Wizard, though.
ray_killeen wrote:
and Boston "Long Time"
Funeral For A Friend
and Boston "Long Time"
This is the very definition of pretentious!
maboleth wrote:
said short attention span man ; >
Like many of 70's pieces, pretentious, boring and over the top. Luckily it wasn't so endless in length.
said short attention span man ; >
rhlrstn wrote:
muahahahahah...... diferent strokes . all though evangalists might say ......
could it be Satan !? !! (LOL)
Applies not to Neal but spooky E.L.O backwards masking !
(Caveat) Neils voice is an aquired taste ... but oohh so Angelic!
Ugh, PSD from Neil Young's After the Gold Rush (which makes my ears bleed) to this dissonance. We're not having a good morning here...
muahahahahah...... diferent strokes . all though evangalists might say ......
could it be Satan !? !! (LOL)
Applies not to Neal but spooky E.L.O backwards masking !
(Caveat) Neils voice is an aquired taste ... but oohh so Angelic!
Funeral For A Friend
Ugh, PSD from Neil Young's After the Gold Rush (which makes my ears bleed) to this dissonance. We're not having a good morning here...
Like many of 70's pieces, pretentious, boring and over the top. Luckily it wasn't so endless in length.
ciarataylor wrote:
What was the last "original chord" used in popular music?
Didn't all bands who struck it big "get lucky"?
Maybe you should have just stuck with "I hate this". (Or more broadly, given your ratings, "I hate everything".)
Not their best work. Filler song on album, using repetitive auto orchestra soundtrack, without any original chords. We were fooled in the '70's and ELO now going for another round in the 00's. There were better bands out there without the presumptuous moniker of "orchestra". They were a band that got lucky.
What was the last "original chord" used in popular music?
Didn't all bands who struck it big "get lucky"?
Maybe you should have just stuck with "I hate this". (Or more broadly, given your ratings, "I hate everything".)
Long Live Radio Paradise
My rating is still: 8 - Most Excellent
My rating is still: 8 - Most Excellent
SO does not work for me - ah...PSD
Derivative junk with no personality.
ciarataylor wrote:
So name at least 2 bands...
Not their best work. Filler song on album, using repetitive auto orchestra soundtrack, without any original chords. We were fooled in the '70's and ELO now going for another round in the 00's. There were better bands out there without the presumptuous moniker of "orchestra". They were a band that got lucky.
So name at least 2 bands...
used to work next to an amusement park and this tune was used in the enclosed
astrosphere ride on endless repeat repeat repeat repeat still like it, somewhat
astrosphere ride on endless repeat repeat repeat repeat still like it, somewhat
Not their best work. Filler song on album, using repetitive auto orchestra soundtrack, without any original chords. We were fooled in the '70's and ELO now going for another round in the 00's. There were better bands out there without the presumptuous moniker of "orchestra". They were a band that got lucky.
Wish my speakers went to 11.
Had forgotten this track. so many influences and styles in one 5 minute track. JL is a genius
nickshortie wrote:
Sorry but Jeff Lynne and ELO were not Prog Rock - more like Prog Pop if there was such a thing.
Very fine Prog Rock from the early days of that style of Music!
Sorry but Jeff Lynne and ELO were not Prog Rock - more like Prog Pop if there was such a thing.
I love the big orchestra production sound of ELO...About 40 years ago I remember my aunt telling me that ELO was the 2nd largest traveling show in the U.S.after the Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey Circus. We've come a long way...and the circus is dead now but ELO must have been a helluva show back in the day!
A DJ friend of mine spliced out an excerpt from this epic cut for my first professional radio station's sign-off ID cart. Played it every night at 1 a.m. after a six hour shift alone in a small rural FM station in SW Va. Just imagine hitting the power off switch at the end of the song. Good times.
I increase my rating from 7 to 8 - Most Excellent
MY MIND! 
nickshortie wrote:
No knock on Jeff Lynne and company, but 1975 certainly isn't the early days of prog rock. Lots of proggy stuff in the late 60s. And maybe Mozart's contemporaries would say he started it all ...
Very fine Prog Rock from the early days of that style of Music!
No knock on Jeff Lynne and company, but 1975 certainly isn't the early days of prog rock. Lots of proggy stuff in the late 60s. And maybe Mozart's contemporaries would say he started it all ...
msymmes wrote:
I actually do think you are crazy… this song deserves 4 at best.
Bumping this to a TEN. I know. You folks think I am crazy. But this piece backs up my claim that J L is a music genius of our time.
I actually do think you are crazy… this song deserves 4 at best.
Love it. I'm 20 years old and wearing OD green old living in Pacific Grove, Ca.
Very fine Prog Rock from the early days of that style of Music!
Not overwrought and pretentious enough for me.
dc_zee wrote:
Having done this manually...I recall 'Turn back! Turn back! The music is not reversible.' ...but perhaps you make leetle joke.
"The music is reversible, but time... Turn back! Turn back! Turn back!"
Having done this manually...I recall 'Turn back! Turn back! The music is not reversible.' ...but perhaps you make leetle joke.
"The music is reversible, but time... Turn back! Turn back! Turn back!"
The music is reversible, but only time will tell. Go back! Go back!
good for you folks, enjoy ( I'm psdin' my way out of this snarky glee-club : (
msymmes wrote:
What took you so long? This is epic shit.
Bumping this to a TEN. I know. You folks think I am crazy. But this piece backs up my claim that J L is a music genius of our time.
What took you so long? This is epic shit.
Where are the cast of thousands?
I thought this was Night on Bald Mountain at first...
Bumping this to a TEN. I know. You folks think I am crazy. But this piece backs up my claim that J L is a music genius of our time.
Pike wrote:
Having done this manually...I recall 'Turn back! Turn back! The music is not reversible.' ...but perhaps you make leetle joke.
Turn back, this record is reversible... Happy days
Having done this manually...I recall 'Turn back! Turn back! The music is not reversible.' ...but perhaps you make leetle joke.
fredriley wrote:
I read recently that vinyl sales last year equaled vinyl sales of 1988, sounds like a comeback for vinyl
these days now that vinyl is an endangered format...
I read recently that vinyl sales last year equaled vinyl sales of 1988, sounds like a comeback for vinyl
GeorgeMWoods wrote:
Tedious
Exceedingly.
Turn back, this record is reversible... Happy days
so many fond memories of their concerts, and awesome good times Tedious
They're coming to the Hollywood Bowl this summer for three nights... I can't wait!!! 
Big drums frantic rythm guitar classic Jeff Lynne.
To this day, (from Back In The Day) the intro still FREAKS me out!!
Happy Halloween!!
Happy Halloween!!
treatment_bound wrote:
I sure hope you mean 1976 instead of '67, since this album came out '75 and "On the Border" was released in early '74. If it was 1967, you had yourself TWO "futuristic copies" of those two records!
Perhaps the old Bug was a 1967?
I sure hope you mean 1976 instead of '67, since this album came out '75 and "On the Border" was released in early '74. If it was 1967, you had yourself TWO "futuristic copies" of those two records!
Perhaps the old Bug was a 1967?
Bobert_ParkCity wrote:
WNEW-FM & WPLJ-FM ! Boy, that sure brings back memories for this former north Jersey guy.
Back in NY, in the day, this was the theme song for concert/club happenings on WNEW? WPLJ? One of those.
Shoot, getting old....
Shoot, getting old....
WNEW-FM & WPLJ-FM ! Boy, that sure brings back memories for this former north Jersey guy.
Back in NY, in the day, this was the theme song for concert/club happenings on WNEW? WPLJ? One of those.
Shoot, getting old....
Shoot, getting old....
My rating button is broken. It won't register zero.
Steely_D wrote:
I sure hope you mean 1976 instead of '67, since this album came out '75 and "On the Border" was released in early '74. If it was 1967, you had yourself TWO "futuristic copies" of those two records!
Yeah. It's 1967 and I'm in Steve's old VW bug and we're cruising across southern Louisiana heading to check out LSU, which we start in a few months. We've got a couple of 8-tracks that we're playing over and over - this one, and Eagles' "On the Border."
I sure hope you mean 1976 instead of '67, since this album came out '75 and "On the Border" was released in early '74. If it was 1967, you had yourself TWO "futuristic copies" of those two records!
Yeah. It's 1967 and I'm in Steve's old VW bug and we're cruising across southern Louisiana heading to check out LSU, which we start in a few months. We've got a couple of 8-tracks that we're playing over and over - this one, and Eagles' "On the Border."
Singing "James Dean" and "the HA HA song" (Evil Woman) over the noise of the engine.
Life was good - and I knew it at the time. That's the best combo.
Singing "James Dean" and "the HA HA song" (Evil Woman) over the noise of the engine.
Life was good - and I knew it at the time. That's the best combo.
Yeah. It's (edit) 1976 and I'm in Steve's old VW bug and we're cruising across southern Louisiana heading to check out LSU, which we start in a few months. We've got a couple of 8-tracks that we're playing over and over - this one, and Eagles' "On the Border."
Singing "James Dean" and "the HA HA song" (Evil Woman) over the noise of the engine.
Life was good - and I knew it at the time. That's the best combo.
Singing "James Dean" and "the HA HA song" (Evil Woman) over the noise of the engine.
Life was good - and I knew it at the time. That's the best combo.
WonderLizard wrote:
Actually, the traditional caution is against ending a sentence with a preposition. What's the world coming to?
I've often wondered from where did that silly rule come. There are many other grammatical abuses with which to be concerned. Now don't get started on split infinitives - to boldly go where no man has gone before.
Actually, the traditional caution is against ending a sentence with a preposition. What's the world coming to?
I've often wondered from where did that silly rule come. There are many other grammatical abuses with which to be concerned. Now don't get started on split infinitives - to boldly go where no man has gone before.
But it still sounds good to me......
memories of old sports show intro's and parents scared we are listening to satanic music,,,,,,,
Shades of Psycho and the 'Bob' dream sequences in Twin Peaks. Uncharacteristically disturbing for ELO, but certainly intriguing.
The old 'record played backwards' thing is rather more difficult to do these days now that vinyl is an endangered format...
The old 'record played backwards' thing is rather more difficult to do these days now that vinyl is an endangered format...
oldfart48 wrote:
gold at $10 bucks an oz $114 a lb. " panama red " slightly HIGHER
Man, you are old!
Still paying attention to weed markets? Those pro-pot referendums in WA state and Colorado really gave the BC bud industry a hard body blow.
Wrought more damage on the BC bud industry than billions spent on interdiction in the last 50 years.
gold at $10 bucks an oz $114 a lb. " panama red " slightly HIGHER
Man, you are old!
Still paying attention to weed markets? Those pro-pot referendums in WA state and Colorado really gave the BC bud industry a hard body blow.
Wrought more damage on the BC bud industry than billions spent on interdiction in the last 50 years.
sandpebble wrote:
I remember a Formula 1 car seem to jump straight up out of the pack and flip backwards. I bet Jackie Stewart remembers!
The Manic Scotsman. That was my name for him and his high-pitched babble right after a car crash during a televised race. Hearing him pronounce "Emerson Fittipaldi" was a treat.
I remember a Formula 1 car seem to jump straight up out of the pack and flip backwards. I bet Jackie Stewart remembers!
The Manic Scotsman. That was my name for him and his high-pitched babble right after a car crash during a televised race. Hearing him pronounce "Emerson Fittipaldi" was a treat.
Apparently if you play this backwards, it's forwards.
any louder and something is going to blow!
Tales me back so much backgammon. So many bongs
Divine music to the ears.
There is something spooky about language spoken in reverse..perhaps it is the fear of not knowing what my subconscious is being exposed to. 
lattalo wrote:
When good weed was $35 an ounce, can you imagine that. I saw this band live and they played this song and the crowd went wild. Ah memories of youth!!!
gold at $10 bucks an oz $114 a lb. " panama red " slightly HIGHER
When good weed was $35 an ounce, can you imagine that. I saw this band live and they played this song and the crowd went wild. Ah memories of youth!!!
gold at $10 bucks an oz $114 a lb. " panama red " slightly HIGHER
tg3k wrote:
When good weed was $35 an ounce, can you imagine that. I saw this band live and they played this song and the crowd went wild. Ah memories of youth!!!
Hearing this song brings back happy flashbacks of strawberry incense, Mexican dirt weed, and Coors. Put a lot of miles on this album back in the day. Cool to hear this cut again. Thanks, Bill.
When good weed was $35 an ounce, can you imagine that. I saw this band live and they played this song and the crowd went wild. Ah memories of youth!!!
This is really just decent, and I'm a big prog rock fan....it just does not get better with exposure. Just MHO
vicariance wrote:
times one billion.
"groundbreaking work" can suck my balls. This is not music. This is scraps of music put in a blender and peed on.
times one billion.Still get thrills at the beginning...kinda sounds like he's saying 'Latimer Kaiser Soce!' but I seem to recall that when we were all cueing it up on turntables at home it sounded like he said something like 'Music is reversible, but Time isn't' backwards...It was COOL in its time!
msymmes wrote:
Uh... maybe not.
Jeff Lynne is a genius.
Uh... maybe not.
I take it he drank the blook like it was lemonade? Not that the blood was like lemonade? As an embolism is some serious sh1t.
this sounds like porcupine tree on ecstacy... awesome
I agree !!
msymmes wrote:
Jeff Lynne is a genius.
Intro STILL scares the shit outta me. Had to turn it off!!
If you put the needle down on the original vinyl LP of this opening track and manually spun it backwards, the "gibberish" in the intro. actually turns into a sentence. If I recall correctly, it's something like "The music is reversible" or "The music is backwards". It's been years since I did this. Can anybody back me up on this with additional info./input?
msymmes wrote:
I remember a Formula 1 car seem to jump straight up out of the pack and flip backwards. I bet Jackie Stewart remembers!
The theme for CBS Sports Spectular in the 1970's. I kid you not.
I remember a Formula 1 car seem to jump straight up out of the pack and flip backwards. I bet Jackie Stewart remembers!
lemmoth wrote:
Fortunately for you the band with the most talent and the best songs one.
I taint the best with words out there... but I caught this won.
Fortunately for you the band with the most talent and the best songs one.
I taint the best with words out there... but I caught this won.
jocelynsart wrote:
Mantovani on drugs.
And not very good ones at that.
horrid :-(
Mantovani on drugs.
And not very good ones at that.
Love it. Always have.
Dear PT,
This is how you do portentious prog.
Sincerely,
HJ.
This is how you do portentious prog.
Sincerely,
HJ.
Jeff Lynne is a genius.
tutakea wrote:
this record and the one before; Eldorado, certainly have a conceptual timbre that lends itself to a more musically deliberate context
when the entire albums are listened to. A cursory familiarization with the band bio might also be most interesting to music lover such as yourself. By the way, is that "horrid" as expressed by, say, Edvard Munchs The Scream, or more say, the intense emotion experienced by the virtual image of runny eggs languishing on a tepid stack of rocks? ;)
there is a lot of argument for calling this "horrid", yes.
the shamelessly profanising use of classical music themes, here transformed to total kitsch, is so over-the-top you can either hate this or laugh out aloud. to call this "eclectic" is really too harmless...
otherwise, i have to admit that i really like the outcome, on an emotional level, although my "intellectual self" is saying "horrid! keep away! this is barbaric!" my feelings say "whow!"
the shamelessly profanising use of classical music themes, here transformed to total kitsch, is so over-the-top you can either hate this or laugh out aloud. to call this "eclectic" is really too harmless...
otherwise, i have to admit that i really like the outcome, on an emotional level, although my "intellectual self" is saying "horrid! keep away! this is barbaric!" my feelings say "whow!"
this record and the one before; Eldorado, certainly have a conceptual timbre that lends itself to a more musically deliberate context
when the entire albums are listened to. A cursory familiarization with the band bio might also be most interesting to music lover such as yourself. By the way, is that "horrid" as expressed by, say, Edvard Munchs The Scream, or more say, the intense emotion experienced by the virtual image of runny eggs languishing on a tepid stack of rocks? ;)
there is a lot of argument for calling this "horrid", yes.
the shamelessly profanising use of classical music themes, here transformed to total kitsch, is so over-the-top you can either hate this or laugh out aloud. to call this "eclectic" is really too harmless...
otherwise, i have to admit that i really like the outcome, on an emotional level, although my "intellectual self" is saying "horrid! keep away! this is barbaric!" my feelings say "whow!"
the shamelessly profanising use of classical music themes, here transformed to total kitsch, is so over-the-top you can either hate this or laugh out aloud. to call this "eclectic" is really too harmless...
otherwise, i have to admit that i really like the outcome, on an emotional level, although my "intellectual self" is saying "horrid! keep away! this is barbaric!" my feelings say "whow!"
vicariance wrote:
your caption seems to belay your insight...
"groundbreaking work" can suck my balls. This is not music. This is scraps of music put in a blender and peed on.
your caption seems to belay your insight...
time machine
horrid :-(
The intro reminds me of "Scars" by Basement Jaxx- which I've actually been thinking would be fun to hear again.
I liked this album and its predecessors, but they started to lose me real fast with the subsequent ones.
The theme for CBS Sports Spectular in the 1970's. I kid you not.
Had this as a '45 on purple vinyl once upon a time. Thank for throwing it out Mom and Dad.
evrything is good in that song ! the quicky played guitar , the aerial atmosphere , the breaking drums, the frightening intro, please ENCORE ! 
too bad , jeff Lynne is way out underrated in the pop rock history ...
too bad , jeff Lynne is way out underrated in the pop rock history ...
efaulkjr wrote:
Fortunately for you the band with the most talent and the best songs won
.
This brings back memories. In 1975 I was wavering between Queen, Sweet & ELO. Queen ultimately won out. I was only 13.
Fortunately for you the band with the most talent and the best songs won
.
WonderLizard wrote:
...that's why "up yours" is considered proper grammar...
Actually, the traditional caution is against ending a sentence with a preposition. What's the world coming to?
...that's why "up yours" is considered proper grammar...
"groundbreaking work" can suck my balls. This is not music. This is scraps of music put in a blender and peed on.
treatment_bound wrote:
D'oh! My apologies to Brent.
Somehow you've mistaken Musburger with this guy...
D'oh! My apologies to Brent.
treatment_bound wrote:
You bite my back and I'll . . .
You are looking LIVE at Soldier Field in Chicago!
You bite my back and I'll . . .
Just because you can doesn't mean you should.
rabbi_phil wrote:
Actually, the traditional caution is against ending a sentence with a preposition. What's the world coming to?
I want to apologise to my 7th grade english teacher,Mrs Nardone, for starting sentences with a preposition. Yude-ah thunk she'd learned me more better.
Actually, the traditional caution is against ending a sentence with a preposition. What's the world coming to?
Flashbacks and memories aside, I find this a seriously uninspired mishmash of musical phrases evoking a picture of someone bundling together a basketful of rejected clips without any overall coherence.
David Bowie was reputed to have written down collections of unrelated words, thrown them into a bin, and written songs based on the order in which they came out... If true, at least he did it with imagination.
This is sadly mediocre.
David Bowie was reputed to have written down collections of unrelated words, thrown them into a bin, and written songs based on the order in which they came out... If true, at least he did it with imagination.
This is sadly mediocre.
Hearing this song brings back happy flashbacks of strawberry incense, Mexican dirt weed, and Coors. Put a lot of miles on this album back in the day. Cool to hear this cut again. Thanks, Bill.
What was the last "original chord" used in popular music?
Didn't all bands who struck it big "get lucky"?
Maybe you should have just stuck with "I hate this". (Or more broadly, given your ratings, "I hate everything".)
It's unfortunate that the original poster's uncalled-for post gets promoted to the top of this comments section because everyone likes the great response.