Electric Light Orchestra, the #77 Artist of the Rock Era, Part One

"Pure genius."

"What a group of talented musicians."

"Absolute legends."

"ELO lifts my sprits.  What a fantastic group!"

"A timeless band."

"One of the greatest bands of all-time."

"I love all of their music."

"They were so unique."

"Best symphony rock band ever."

"Truly great music that never ages."




Baroque and Roll, there has never been anything like this amazing band.

Jeff Lynne, Roy Wood and Bev Bevan formed this supergroup in 1970 in Birmingham, England.  When they began, partially because their music was backed by instruments of the violin family that so characterized the Beatles' songs of the mid-to-late '60s, the Electric Light Orchestra had a Beatlesque sound that reminded listeners of the group which had started about 78 miles (126 kilometers) away in Liverpool.

From the outset, Wood and Lynne wanted to fuse Rock with classical music as their previous band the Move had done, of which Bevan was also a member.  The Electric Light Orchestra started out when Wood added cellos to a song that Lynne had written while in the Move, and the result was "10538 Overture".  To infuse cash into the struggling group, the Move recorded a final album, Message from the Country.

Bill Hunt (horns and keyboards) and violinist Steve Woolam were added to the group.  After much time spent recording, ELO finally had an album to show for it, and their self-titled LP was released in 1971 (released under the name No Answer in 1972).

ELO debuted live on April 16, 1972 at The Greyhound Pub in Croydon, Surrey, England with Wood, Lynne, Bevan, Hunt, cellists Andy Craig, Mike Edwards and Hugh McDowell, Wilfred Gibson on violin and bassist Richard Tandy.  However, Craig left soon after, and while recording the group's second album, Wood departed after problems with manager Don Arden and a tour of Italy in which the cellos and violins could not be heard over the electric instruments.  Wood took Hunt and McDowell with him to form the group Wizzard.

Many critics said the band would die after Wood left, since his inspiration had led to the group's creation.  How wrong they were--Lynne stepped up to lead the band to become one of The Top 100 Artists of the Rock Era*!

Tandy switched to keyboards to replace Hunt, and ELO recruited bassist Mike de Albuquerque and cellist Colin Walker.  The group secured proper amplification for the strings and performed at the 1972 Reading Festival.  

 

In 1973, the band released ELO 2, and promoted themselves in the U.S. by appearing on the television show American Bandstand.  Their cover of "Roll Over Beethoven" peaked at #6 in the U.K. and #42 in the United States, making it one of The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era*.

Gibson was fired while ELO recorded their third album with Mik Kaminski joining on violin.  Walker also left because of the strain of touring.  In 1973, ELO released On the Third Day.  "Showdown" led the way at #12 in the U.K.

The group had built up a following thus far, but had not scored a big worldwide hit.  That changed in 1974 with the album Eldorado, a concept album about a daydreamer.  

 

"Can't Get It Out Of My Head" became the group's first Top 10 hit in the United States and Eldorado gave ELO their first Gold album--funny how that works.  Lynne performed much of the bass on Eldorado as de Albuquerque left during the sessions.  

Kelly Groucutt came on board as bassist and Melvyn Gale replaced Edwards on cello.  ELO's star was rising, and they appeared on The Midnight Special four times, more than any other band in the history of that great show.  

 

In 1975, ELO released the album Face the Music.  "Evil Woman" vaulted to #2 in France, #6 in Canada and #10 in the United States, the U.K. and Ireland.

Although "Strange Magic" made it to the Top 10 in France, its peak of #14 makes it another of The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era*.

Face the Music reached #8 in the United States and also went Gold.  "Fire On High" received play as background music on CBS Sports Spectacular.

ELO played 68 shows in the United States, debuted the use of colored lasers that became famous in live appearances.

 

In 1976, ELO released A New World Record, which gave them their first Top 10 album in the U.K.  "Livin' Thing" became one of the biggest career hits for the group, #2 in Australia, #3 in Austria, #4 in the U.K. and the Netherlands, #5 in West Germany, #6 in Ireland, #8 in Canada, #9 in France, and a very underrated #14 in the U.S. 

 

ELO's next single, "Do Ya" stalled at #13 in Canada and #24 in the United States, one of The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era*.

"Telephone Line' did better, reaching #7 in the U.S., #8 in the U.K., #9 in Canada and #10 in Australia and France.

 

A New World Record was the group's first album to go Top 10 in nearly every major country in the world, including #1 in Australia and Sweden, and sold over two million copies.  "Rockaria!" is yet another of the group's unsung hits, although it did reach the Top 10 in three countries, including a high of #9 in the U.K. 

Another undiscovered Top Track* on the album is this gem--"Tightrope".

The group released their first compilation, Ole ELO, which went Gold.

 

The following year, the Electric Light Orchestra released the double album Out of the Blue.  "Turn To Stone" was the choice for the first single, going to #1 in Canada, #9 in France and #13 in the United States.

"Sweet Talkin' Woman" became the star of the album, going to #6 in the U.K., Canada and Ireland; however it's U.S. peak of #17 makes it another underrated song.

 

"Mr. Blue Sky" had pockets of success at the time (#6 in the U.K. and #8 in the Netherlands) but has since become a fan favorite.

ELO toured extensively for the tour billed as The Big Night and audiences were growing, reaching 80,000 in Cleveland Stadium in Ohio.  The tour featured a spaceship stage with fog machines and an elaborate laser display.  The band also played Wembley Arena in London for eight consecutive sellouts.  The Big Night was the top tour of 1978 and the largest in the United States to that point.

 

Out of the Blue also reached the Top 10 on the Album charts of nearly every major country and sold over one million units.  "Wild West Hero" is another song that many ELO fans know, although it reached the Top 10 only in the U.K. (#6) and Ireland (#9).

Join us for Part Two below!