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]
Song | Writer | Intended release | Year recorded | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
"Beatles Forever" | Jeff Lynne | Secret Messages | 1982 | [47] |
The Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) are an English rock band formed in Birmingham in 1970 by songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Jeff Lynne and Roy Wood with drummer Bev Bevan. Their music is characterised by a fusion of pop, classical arrangements and 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. For their initial tenure, Lynne, Bevan and keyboardist Richard Tandy 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 from 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 as 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 in October 1977. 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.
Zoom is the twelfth studio album by British symphonic rock band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), released on 12 June 2001 on Epic Records. It was the first official ELO album since 1986's Balance of Power.
"Roll Over Beethoven" is a 1956 hit song written by Chuck Berry, originally released on Chess Records single, with "Drifting Heart" as the B-side. The lyrics of the song mention rock and roll and the desire for rhythm and blues to replace classical music. The title of the song is an imperative directed at the composer Ludwig van Beethoven to roll over out of the way and make room for the rock and roll music that Berry was promoting. The song has been covered by many other artists, including the Beatles and the Electric Light Orchestra. Rolling Stone magazine ranked it number 97 on its list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time".
"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 March 1991, lead single "Honest Men" charted at number 60 on the UK Singles Chart, and 36 on the Dutch Top 40 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).
"Bounce" is a song by German recording artist Sarah Connor, taken from her second studio album, Unbelievable (2002). Written by Bülent Aris, Toni Cottura, and Anthony Freeman, with production helmed by the former, the song samples Mary J. Blige's 2001 song "Family Affair", while featuring guest vocals by Wyclef Jean. "Bounce" was originally released as the album's fourth and final single in Central Europe on 21 July 2003, amid Connor's first pregnancy. It reached the top 20 in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland.
"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 on October 1, 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 Apollo 8 mission.
Alone in the Universe is the thirteenth studio album by British rock band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), and the first credited to Jeff Lynne's ELO. The moniker came out from Lynne as a response to ELO tribute and imitation bands, who repeatedly used ELO for promoting their own tours. Released on 13 November 2015, the album is the first of new original material credited to the group since Zoom in 2001, and the second since the group's original disbandment in 1986. The album was met with generally favourable reviews, peaking at number two on the Billboard Top Rock Albums and number four on the UK Albums Chart, where it has been certified Platinum. It was followed by the album From Out of Nowhere, which was released on 1 November 2019.
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. Despite only playing on one album track, keyboardist Richard Tandy finally returned to Jeff Lynne's ELO as a permanent member.
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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