Electric Light Orchestra

created by pingouin

(thing) by pingouin (4.1 y) (print) ? I like it! Sat Nov 13 1999 at 10:07:02

Originally, Roy Wood's change of name and direction for his band The Move; the merging of a light orchestra with a hard rock band. The proof-of-concept was early hits like "Roll Over Beethoven". Wood left to form more diversified projects, like Wizzard. ELO became Jeff Lynne's band, and made some of the more listenable pop of the 70's. Now Lynne is on the Rock Senior Tour with The Traveling Wilburys (ELO II wheezes on without him), and is a Big Name Producer.

(person) by GoodKingNerdnor (1.6 mon) (print) ? 4 C!s I like it! Sat Jun 09 2001 at 5:57:20

When the Beatles began adding orchestral arrangements into their sound in the mid-1960's, they opened up a world of new ideas for musicians trying to blend classical music with rock and roll. Many bands have tried this over the years, but few have done so successfully. ELO had several hits from the late 70's to the early 80's with a series of pop songs that matched an orchestral sound, creating some of the most nifty pop music of that era.

Electric Light Orchestra was created from the dead band Move, an English group known in America for a song called "Do Ya." When they died, Roy Wood, Jeff Lynne and Bev Bevan formed a group that mixed classical ideas with rock music and "pick up where the Beatles left off with `I Am The Walrus'." Wood left after the first album, but Lynne and Bevan continued to produce the classical-rock idea with new pieces. In 1973, they got air time with "Roll Over Beethoven," a Chuck Berry cover that worked in parts of Beethoven's `Fifth Symphony.'

On the Third Day, ELO's next album, included another favorite "Daybreaker." However, they had their breakthrough in 1974 with Eldorado. On this album, the group augmented themselves with a 30-piece string section to present a medieval-themed conceptual opus about a dreamer trying to find his way to paradise. The album became their first Top-10 and also included a hit single in "Can't Get It Out Of My Head." Like the album, it soared into the Top-10.

In 1975, Electric Light Orchestra scored another Top-10 album with Face The Music, with another Top-10 single - "Evil Woman" - a danceable tune built on energetic string riffs. "Strange Magic," a love song built on a harmony and strings, also hit the Top-20. The hits kept rolling for Electric Light Orchestra in 1976 with A New World Record, their first album to hit the Top-5. Filled with hits like "Livin' Thing" and the ornate, "doo-wop-styled balladry" of "Telephone Line." The group also rereleased their past with a Top-30 remake of "Do Ya."

Electric Light Orchestra reached a new creative peak when they released the double-album Out Of The Blue in late 1977. It brought their combination of classical and pop sound to a new level, most notably on "Concerto For A Rainy Day," which brought four songs into one rock/orchestra piece.. It also contained several hits. "Turn To Stone" and "Sweet Talkin' Woman," blended rock with choral and orchestral arrangements. Both made the Top-20. "Mr. Blue Sky," a Beatles-ish rip from the album's "Concerto," also became a Top-40 hit.

In 1979, Electric Light Orchestra continued their success streak with Discovery. The disco-styled "Shine A Little Love" became a Top-10 hit from this album, as did "Don't Bring Me Down." The latter song was also notable because it was their first hit without a string section. 1980 - Electric Light Orchestra releases their first film score for the Olivia Newton-Johnroller skating, bad clothing, musical Xanadu. It led to two hits - "I'm Alive" and "All Over The World,". The title song, featuring Newton-John on lead vocals, became a Top-10 single.

Electric Light Orchestra returned to pop music in 1981 with Time, an album that downplayed strings in favor of a more electronic sound. It gave the band yet another Top-10 single with "Hold On Tight" and was followed by the band's first tour since the early 1970's. Secret Messages was released in 1983 and boasted a Top-20 hit in the oldies-tribute "Rock and Roll Is King." In 1986, the band broke down to a trio of Lynne, Bevan and Tandy to create Balance Of Power. They scored one last Top-20 hit with "Calling America" before disbanding later that year.

Since Electric Light Orchestra split, Jeff Lynne has released a solo album (Armchair Theater) and become a producer who has worked with Tom Petty and Roy Orbison. He also paid tribute to Electric Light Orchestra's original inspiration when he produced the new songs for the Beatles on their Anthology albums. Bev Bevan formed Electric Light Orchestra Part II, a reunion group featuring some of the original band's members. They have become a hit on the international concert (though not much in America), proving that Electric Light Orchestra's rock/classical combination was far enough ahead of its time to remain in style for years to come.

~http://www.yesterdayland.com/popopedia/shows/music/mu1163.php~