ELO, The #77 Artist of the Rock Era, Part Two

 

 

In 1979, ELO released the album of their career, Discovery.  By this time, the string section of Gale, Kaminski and McDowell was dropped as the group's sound reflected more that of a traditional rock band.  "Shine A Little Love" rose to #1 in Canada, #2 in France, #4 in Ireland, #6 in the U.K. and #8 in the United States.

 

"Don't Bring Me Down" proved to be the best song on the album, however, and the top song of ELO's career, catapulting to #2 in Canada and Austria, #3 in the U.K., #4 in the U.S., #5 in West Germany and #6 in Australia and Ireland.

Discovery reached #1 in the U.K., Australia and Norway and sold over two million copies.   "Confusion" reached #5 in Austria and the Netherlands and #6 in West Germany and France.

 

"Last Train To London" hit #3 in France but only #37 in the United States, yet another underrated song by the group.

Striking while the iron was hottest, the band released ELO's Greatest Hits later in the year and it sold four million units in the U.S. alone.

In 1980, Lynne was invited to write songs for the movie Xanadu, starring Gene Kelly and Olivia Newton-John.  The movie bombed, but Xanadu became one of The Top Soundtracks of the Rock Era*.  "I'm Alive" hit #7 in Canada, #9 in France, #10 in Ireland and #16 in the U.S.

 

The movie's title song, "Xanadu", was a collaboration between ELO and Newton-John that topped charts in the U.K., West Germany, Ireland, Austria and the Netherlands and reached #2 in Australia, #3 in France, #6 in Canada and #8 in the United States.

 

"All Over The World" helped Xanadu sell over two million copies, reaching #3 in Canada, #4 in France, #10 in the Netherlands, #11 in the U.K. and #13 in the U.S., giving ELO another of The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era*.

 

In 1981, ELO evolved once again with the album Time, a science fiction concept album.  Synthesizers ruled the album and the group went on a successful world tour to promote it.  "Hold On Tight" became another of the band's biggest career hits and secured a spot at #2 in West Germany and Austria, #4 in Canada and Ireland, #5 in Australia and #10 in the U.S. and Australia.

Time went Gold and topped Album charts in the U.K., West Germany and Sweden.   "Rock 'n' Roll Is King" peaked at #4 in Canada and Ireland and #8 in the Netherlands.

Lynne wanted the group to release a double album but eventually settled for the single disc Secret Messages in 1983.  However, the group announced that there would be no tour, as Bevan was playing drums for Black Sabbath and Groucutt left the band, leaving Lynne to once again fill in the bass parts.

 

ELO was beginning to splinter, but their contract demanded another album, so Lynne, Bevan and Tandy combined to record Balance of Power, released in 1986.  "Calling America" became the group's final big hit, going to #10 in France and #18 in the U.S.

Kaminski, Clark and Morgan rejoined the group for a few live performances that year in England, Germany and the U.S.  Bevan organized The Birmingham Heart Beat Charity Concert, in which George Harrison joined Lynne and others onstage for "Johnny B. Goode".  Lynne later produced Harrison's album Cloud Nine and the two added Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and Roy Orbison to form the group Traveling Wilburys.

ELO performed July 13, 1986 in Stuttgart, Germany in their last live show for several years and disbanded afterward.

In 2000, the compilation box set Flashback was released and Lynne reformed the group with completely new members.  In 2001, ELO released Zoom, their first album in 15 years.

Tandy has joined Lynne occasionally for projects but the group is now known as Jeff Lynne's ELO.  In 2015, the group released Alone in the Universe, a Top 10 album in several countries including #4 in the U.K.

In 2016, the Electric Light Orchestra was elected to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in a 2017 ceremony.

 ELO has sold over 50 million records. They scored 26 career hits with seven Top 10 songs. The group holds the record for most Top 40 hits in the U.S. (20) without a #1.