Jeff Lynne reportedly regards this album and its follow-up,
Out of the Blue, as the high points in the band's history. One might be better off opting for
A New World Record over its successor, however, as a more modest-sized creation chock full of superb songs that are produced even better. Opening with the opulently orchestrated "Tightrope," which heralds the perfect production found throughout this album,
A New World Record contains seven of the best songs ever to come out of the group. The
Beatles influence is present, to be sure, but developed to a very high degree of sophistication and on
Lynne's own terms, rather than being imitative of specific songs. "Telephone Line" might be the best
Lennon-
McCartney collaboration that never was, lyrical and soaring in a way that manages to echo elements of
Revolver and
the Beatles without ever mimicking them. The original LP's second side opened with "So Fine," which seems like the perfect pop synthesis of guitar, percussion, and orchestral sounds, embodying precisely what
Lynne had first set out to do with
Roy Wood at the moment
ELO was conceived. From there, the album soars through stomping rock numbers like "Livin' Thing" and "Do Ya," interspersed with lyrical pieces like "Above the Clouds" (which makes striking use of pizzicato bass strings).