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The English rock band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) recorded over 190 songs from 1971 to 2019. The band's music is characterised by their blending of Beatlesque pop, classical arrangements, and futuristic iconography. [1]
In 1971 the band released their self-titled debut album, The Electric Light Orchestra (No Answer in the US), the songwriting duties were split between band members Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne, Wood's songs were more classically influenced than Lynne's art rock influenced songs. [2] Before the release of ELO 2 (1973, Electric Light Orchestra II in the US) Wood left the band, making Lynne the sole songwriter. [3] The album contained a cover of the song "Roll Over Beethoven", the single would be a hit in the US. [3] Later in 1973, On the Third Day marked when the band developed its sound and improvements in Lynne's songwriting. [4] The concept album Eldorado (1974) saw the first time that an orchestra was used, where previously Lynne would overdub strings. [5] The presence of an orchestra would be a common part of future ELO albums. [5] The 1975 album Face the Music moved away from symphonic concept elements of Eldorado in favor of more radio friendly songs. [6] The lead single from the album, "Evil Woman", became ELO's first worldwide hit. [7]
Song | Writer | Intended release | Year recorded | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
"Beatles Forever" | Jeff Lynne | Secret Messages | 1982 | [48] |
"Rat up a Drain" | Jeff Lynne | Face the Music | 1974 | [49] |
The Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) are an English rock band formed in Birmingham in 1970 by multi-instrumentalists Jeff Lynne and Roy Wood and drummer Bev Bevan. Their music is characterised by a fusion of pop and classical arrangements with futuristic iconography. After Wood's departure in 1972, Lynne became the band's sole leader, arranging and producing every album while writing nearly all of their original material. During their first run from 1970 to 1986, Lynne and Bevan were the group's only consistent members.
Face the Music is the fifth studio album by Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). It was released in September 1975 by United Artists Records and on 14 November 1975 in the United Kingdom by Jet Records. The album moves away from the large-scale classical orchestrated sound of the previous album, Eldorado, in favour of more "radio-friendly" pop/rock songs, though the string sections are still very prominent. The new sound proved successful for the group, for Face the Music was the first ELO album to go platinum.
ELO 2 is the second studio album by the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), released in 1973. In the US, the album was released as Electric Light Orchestra II. It was the band's last album to be released by the Harvest label, the last on which the band used the definite article The in their name, and the one that introduced their abbreviated name 'ELO'.
Out of the Blue is the seventh studio album by the British rock group Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), released on 24 October 1977 in the United States and four days after in the UK on 28 October. Written and produced by ELO frontman Jeff Lynne, the double album is among the most commercially successful records in the group's history, selling about 10 million copies worldwide by 2007.
Time is the ninth studio album by English rock band Electric Light Orchestra, released in July 1981 on Jet Records. It is a concept album about a man from the 1980s who is taken to the year 2095, where he is confronted by the dichotomy between technological advancement and a longing for past romance. The record topped the UK Albums Chart for two weeks, though it attracted mixed reviews for its heavy use of synthesizers and stylistic shift away from the orchestral rock of previous ELO albums. It has since gained a cult following, particularly among retrofuturist enthusiasts.
Secret Messages is the tenth studio album by Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), released in 1983 on Jet Records. It was the last ELO album with bass guitarist Kelly Groucutt, conductor Louis Clark and a full orchestra, and the last ELO album to be released on the Jet label. It was also the final ELO studio album to become a worldwide top 40 hit upon release.
Kelly Groucutt was an English musician and the bassist for the rock band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) between 1974 and 1982.
"Can't Get It Out of My Head" is a song written by Jeff Lynne and originally recorded by Electric Light Orchestra.
Electric Light Orchestra Part Two is the debut album by ELO Part II, released in 1991. In June 1991, the single "Honest Men" charted at number 36 on the Dutch Single Top 100 chart. The track "Kiss Me Red" is a cover of the theme to the short-lived TV series Dreams.
"Eldorado" is the title track from the 1974 album of the same name by the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO).
Eldorado is the fourth studio album by the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). It was released in the United States in September 1974 by United Artists Records and in the United Kingdom in October 1974 by Warner Bros. Records.
"Boy Blue" is a song written by Jeff Lynne and performed by the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) which first appeared as track number 3 from their 1974 album Eldorado.
"Mister Kingdom" is a song in the symphonic rock genre written by the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO).
Moment of Truth is the second and final album by ELO Part II, released in October 1994. The cover illustration by Graham Reynolds depicts an incandescent light bulb shattering. The light bulb image continues a visual theme that began with the light bulb depicted on the cover of Electric Light Orchestra's debut album. Moment of Truth and the single "One More Tomorrow" would determine if ELO Part II would continue re-establishing themselves in America. "The Fox" was originally from the 1985 Kelly Groucutt EP, We Love Animals.
Earthrise is a concept album originally released in 1985 in the UK, written by former Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) member Richard Tandy and David Morgan, both from Birmingham, UK. Morgan also wrote songs for 1960s band The Move. The album was inspired by the iconic photo of the Earth taken during the 1968 Apollo 8 mission.
From Out of Nowhere is the fourteenth studio album by British rock band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), and the second credited to Jeff Lynne's ELO. The band's first studio album in four years, it was released on 1 November 2019 through Big Trilby and Columbia Records. The title track was released as the lead single on 26 September 2019. Lynne played most instruments on the album. Keyboardist Richard Tandy returned to play on one track, marking his final appearance on an ELO album prior to his death in 2024.
Wembley or Bust is a live album and concert film by Jeff Lynne's ELO. It was recorded during the Alone in the Universe Tour at Wembley Stadium. The album peaked at number 8 on the UK Albums Chart and at number 12 on the Billboard Top Rock Albums. The album was also certified silver in the United Kingdom.
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