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~
Discography
Electric Light Orchestra (No Answer):1972
1.10538 Overture
2.Look At Me Now
3.Nellie Takes Her Bow
4.Battle Of Marston Moor (July 2nd 1644)
5.First Movement (Jumping Biz)
6.Mr. Radio
7.Manhattan Rumble (49th Street Massacre)
8.Queen Of The Hours
9.Whisper In The Night
Electric Light Orchestra II:1973
1.In Old England Town. (Boogie No. 2)
2.Momma
3.Roll Over Beethoven
4.From The Sun To The World (Boogie No. 1)
5.Kuiama
On The Third Day:1973
1.Ocean Breakup/King Of The Universe
2.Bluebird Is Dead
3.Oh No Not Susan
4.New World Rising/Ocean Breakup Reprise
5.Showdown
6.Daybreaker
7.Ma-Ma-Ma-Belle
8.Dreaming Of 4000
9.In The Hall of The Mountain King
Eldorado A Symphony By ELO:1974
1.Eldorado Overture
2.Can't Get It Out Of My Head
3.Boy Blue
4.Laredo Tornado
5.Poor Boy (The Greenwood)
6.Mister Kingdom
7.Nobody's Child
8.Illusions In G Major
9.Eldorado
10.Eldorado - Finale
11.Eldorado Instrumental Medley
12.Dark City
Face The Music:1975
1.Fire On High
2.Waterfall
3.Evil Woman
4.Nightrider
5.Poker
6.Strange Magic
7.Down Home Town
8.One Summer Dream
A New World Record:1976
1.Tightrope
2.Telephone Line
3.Rockaria
4.Mission (A World Record)
5.So Fine
6.Livin' Thing
7.Above The Clouds
8.Do Ya
9.Shangri-La
Out Of The Blue:1977
1.Turn To Stone
2.It's Over
3.Sweet Talkin' Woman
4.Across The Border
5.Night In The City
6.Starlight
7.Jungle
8.Believe Me Now
9.Steppin' Out
10.Standin' In the Rain
11.Big Wheels
12.Summer & Lightning
13.Mr Blue Sky
14.Sweet Is The Night
15.The Whale
16.Birmingham Blues
17.Wild West Hero
Discovery:1979
1.Shine A Little Love
2.Confusion
3.Need her Love
4.The Diary Of Horace Wimp
5.Last Train To London
6.Midnight Blue
7.On The Run
8.Wishing
9.Don't Bring Me Down
10.On The Run
11.Second Time Around
12.Little Town Flirt
Xanadu:1980
1.ELO - I'm Alive
2.ELO - The Fall
3.ELO - Don't Walk Away
4.ELO - All Over The World
5.ELO/ONJ - Xanadu
6.ONJ - Magic
7.ONJ/Cliff Richard - Suddenly
8.ONJ/Tubes - Dancin'
9.ONJ - Suspended In Time
10.ONJ/Gene Kelly- Whenever You're Away From Me
TIME:1981
1.Prologue
2.Twilight
3.Yours Truly, 2095
4.Ticket To The Moon
5.The Way Life's Meant To Be
6.Another Heart Breaks
7.Rain Is Falling
8.From The End Of The World
9.The Lights Go Down
10.Here Is The News
11.21st Century Man
12.Hold On Tight
13.Epilogue
14.The Bouncer
15.When Time Stood Still
16.Julie Don't Live Here
Secret Messages:1983
1.Secret Messages
2.Loser Gone Wild
3.Bluebird
4.Take Me On and On
5.Time After Time
6.Four Little Diamonds
7.Stranger
8.Danger Ahead
9.Letter From Spain
10.Train of Gold
11.Rock 'n' Roll is King
12.No Way Out
13.Endless Lies
14.After All
Balance Of Power:1986
1.Heaven Only Knows
2.So Serious
3.Getting To The Point
4.Secret Lives
5.Is It Alright?
6.Sorrow About To Fall
7.Without Someone
8.Calling America
9.Endless Lies
10.Send It
Zoom: 2001
1.Alright
2.Moment In Paradise
3.State Of Mind
4.Just For Love
5.Stranger On A Quiet Street
6.In My Own Time
7.Easy Money
8.Really Doesn't Matter At All
9.Ordinary Dream
10.A Long Time Gone
11.Melting In The Sun
12.All She Wanted
13.Lonesome Lullaby
14.Long Black Road