Eloy Profile
Eloy was one of Germany’s top prog rock bands, but at the same time, they often received a lot of criticisms as well, especially with leader Frank Bornemann, and the fact he always sung in English. Anyway, here’s a discography of the band, and my reviews on each on them:
– Eloy (1971)
Debut with Frank Bornemann on guitars, Manfred Wieczorke on guitar, Erich Schriever on vocals and keyboards, Wolfgang Stöcker on bass, and Helmuth Draht on drums. I hadn’t heard this album, but said to be straightforward hard rock in the Deep Purple/Black Sabbath/Uriah Heep vein, complete with politically-oriented lyrics (presumably with a left wing bent).
– Inside (1973)
Draht and Shriever now out of the picture, new drummer Fritz Randow comes in, Frank Bornemann now also handles vocal duties, and Wieczorke switches to organ. Bornemann was, without a doubt, not too happy with the political direction of their first album, so he turned the band in to a full-blown prog rock band, complete with sci-fi oriented lyrics. Without a doubt, the side length “Land of No Body”, and the Jethro Tull-ish “Future City” are that album’s high points. Definately one of Eloy’s best early albums.
– Floating (1974)
Bassist Wolfgang Stöcker out of the picture, replaced by Luitjen Janssen. Anyway, the band goes for a more jam-oriented direction here. I have this album reviewed on Hippyland. Both Inside and Floating received American releases on the Janus label (these were their only two LPs to ever receive an American release), but were on Harvest in Germany (as all their albums from 1973 to 1984).
– Power and the Passion (1975)
Same lineup as before, but with the addition of Detlef Schwaar on rhythm guitar. This is the band’s first concept album, on time travel. Weaker than their previous albums, but Manfred Wieczorke started adding more keyboards, like string synths, Mini Moog, clavinet, etc. giving the album a spacer sound than before. Not as bad as some say it is, but they do have better albums. The band broke up after this, leaving Frank Bornemann to continue on the Eloy name with new musicians.
– Dawn (1976)
This time, Bornemann hired some new musicians to better realize his vision. These musicians were keyboardist Detlev Schmidtchen, bassist Klaus-Peter Matziol, and drummer Jürgen Rosenthal, who previously played on the Scorpions’ Fly to the Rainbow (which happened to be produced by Frank Bornemann, but didn’t get credit due to some legal bullshit). Definately a much better produced album, enhanced with orchestra. I thought there was excess baggage here, but great stuff, only to get better with their next album.
– Ocean (1977)
Eloy at the top of their game here. I have this reviewed on Hippyland.
– Live (1978)
Recorded during their Ocean tour.
– Silent Cries and Mighty Echoes (1979)
They just keep dishing out great albums at this point. I have this reviewed on Hippyland as well. Last album with Jürgen Rosenthal and Detlev Schmidtchen (who recorded an album as Ego on the Rocks with the album Acid in Wounderland).
– Colours (1980)
New members now include Hannes Arkona on guitar, Hannes Folberth on keyboards, and British born Jim McGillivray on drums. The band here starts going for a more harder-edge, direct approach. Surprisingly the string synths, Mini Moogs, and Hammond organ are still being used. Usually regarded as one of their better albums.
– Planets (1981)
Same lineup as Colours. Concept album on the Planet Salta. Incredible album, in my book, one of the greatest prog albums of the 1980s, and Hannes Folberth really gives it his best in the synth department! I especially love the stereophonic quality he’s giving his keyboards at this point. Some early ’80s sounding polyphonic synths are beginning to appear, but Folberth still uses plenty of ’70s synths (like Mini Moog, string synths, etc.). The orchestra makes its first appearance since Dawn. High points on this album include “Point of No Return”, “Mysterious Monolith”, “At the Gates of Dawn”, and “Sphinx”. Essential album, regardless of what might be said.
– Time to Turn (1982)
McGillivray is gone, replaced by a returning Fritz Randow on drums. This is the conclusion of “Planets”. People tend to regard “End of an Odyssey”, “Say, Is it Really True”, and “Behind the Walls of Imagination” as the album’s high points.
– Performance (1983)
Supposed to be a more aggressive-sounding album.
– Metromania (1984)
Without a doubt, the band now sounds totally ’80s, so if you’re bothered by that sound, you might want to stop at Time to Turn. If not, continue on. The band breaks up after this album. By the way, all the albums from Planets right up to this one received British releases on the Heavy Metal International label (while still remaining on Harvest in Germany). The British versions of Planets and Time to Turn feature different covers (by Rodney Matthews, rather than Winfried Reinbacher, who did the German originals). The British version of Time to Turn was said to be lacking “Through a Somber Galaxy”, and was sometimes replaced by “Illuminations”, which originally appeared on Colours, so obviously, get the German version.
– Codename: Wildgeese (1984)
Soundtrack to the film of the same name, with Ernest Borgnine. Frank Bornemann had nothing to do with this, and often not offically considered an Eloy album, but Hannes Folberth, Hannes Arkona, and Fritz Randow all ran off with the Eloy name to score this film. The only way you can get this album is on LP as it was never reissued on CD (and it wasn’t even recorded on Harvest Records, the label the band recorded for from 1973 to their 1984 breakup).
– Ra (1988)
Now it’s basically Frank Bornemann with new keyboardist Michael Gerlach, with a bunch of anonymous musicians helping. Reactions are apparently mixed, given the presence of drum machines.
– Destination (1992)
Another Bornemann/Gerlach project, usually considered weaker than Ra. Klaus-Peter Matziol guests on a couple of pieces.
– Chronicles I (1993)
Re-recordings of songs from Ocean up to Time to Turn with various musicians, past and present.
– Chronicles II (1994)
Re-recordings and remixes of songs from Metromania to Destination, although I can’t see why the need to do that to what was then, such recent material?
– The Tides Return Forever (1994)
Matziol returns full time, and this album is generally considered an improvement over Destination.
– Ocean 2 – The Answer (1998)
Eloy returns to being a full band, with the inclusion of ex-Michael Schenker Group drummer Bodo Schopf. Sequel to their 1977 classic, although if you’re expecting a clone of the original, you might be disappointed. They sound much more modern here, choir is present on many of the pieces, but luckily the band also includes analog synths (and it’s nice to know Hannes Folberth includes some Mini Moog, as a guest).
Eloy truly fascinates me, but the problem is you have to find many of their albums at specialty dealers (most of their titles are, or had been reissued on CD, and only available as imports), also trying to figure out where to start. Well, for me, my favorites are Inside, Floating, Ocean, Silent Cries and Mighty Echoes, and Planets. Opinions will vary, but try the albums I mentioned first.