Electric Light Orchestra, also known as ELO, were a rock group from Birmingham, England who released eleven studio albums between 1971–1986 and another album in 2001. ELO (the brainchild of Roy Wood) were formed to accommodate Roy’s burning desire to create pop songs with heavily classical overtones. The band’s direction for most of their existence was by Jeff Lynne who, after the band’s debut record, wrote all of the group’s original compositions and produced every album.

For the band’s fourth album, Eldorado, A Symphony, a concept album about dreams, Lynne was finally able to stop overdubbing strings, and hire an orchestra and choir. Louis Clark joined the band as string arranger. The first single off the album,”Can’t Get It Out Of My Head”,  became their first U.S. Billboard charts Top 10 hit, and Eldorado, A Symphony became ELO’s first gold album.

Face the Music was released in 1975, producing the hit singles “Evil Woman” and “Strange Magic.” 

A New World Record was followed by another platinum selling album, the double-LP  Out of the Blue,in 1977. Out of the Blue featured the singles, “Turn to Stone”, “Sweet Talkin’ Woman”,  “Mr. Blue Sky,” and “Wild West Hero”, each becoming a hit in the United Kingdom. 

ELO – Strange Magic

ELO –  Do Ya

ELO – Sweet Talkin’ Woman

ELO – Turn To Stone

ELO – All Over The World

ELO – Living Thing 

Can’t Get It Out Of My Head

deletereply welshdoug wrote on Mar 7, ’08 My all-time fave ELO song is “Living Thing”, but a lot of their songs are great. Jeff Lynne went way up in my estimation when he was part of the Travelling Wilberrys, at the Concert For George, and for producing George’s last album “Brainwashed”.

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Mar 7, ’08 Yeah, George Harrison really knew the best musicians to work with. I actually didn’t even know who Jeff Lynne was until I found out who made up the Travelling Wiberrys. Jeff Lynne is very talented. I’ll go over and find Living Thing on You Tube. Maybe I’ll add it to this post if I like it enough. Thanks.

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Mar 7, ’08 It sounds like they have a mellotron on the track Strange Magic. I wonder if Mike Pinder knew them. There are parts of that song that remind me of Strawberry Fields.

deletereply terryridgway wrote on Mar 7, ’08 Roy Wood was recently presented with a honorary degree by the University of Derby ( where he now lives) and is now officially a Doctor of Music, he is still gigging regularly and on friday 13th of June is playing my local club  (The Robin, Bilston,UK)

deletereply welshdoug wrote on Mar 7, ’08 Roy Wood was Annie Haslam’s husband for a long time, and wrote and produced songs for her “Annie In Wonderland” solo album in 1978-ish.

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Mar 7, ’08 Thank you for that bit of information, terry. That’s great that you’ll be able to see him at your local club, wow ! I wish I could go, LOL!

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Mar 7, ’08 Doug, I’ll go check out Annie in Wonderland. Never heard of it, thanks. Doug I just added Living Thing. I played it over on You Tube. I forgot I liked that song.

deletereply stillybee wrote on Apr 12, ’08 I just hit pay dirt! ELO was one band I listebed to & bought EVERYTHING they made. Those alblums are now in storage lol. But the music LIVES on in my heart 🙂 Awesum collection of videos here .. except the DO YA one wont work anymore boo hoo. I hate that You Tube does that grrrr.

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Apr 12, ’08 Thanks for your comment, stillybee. I think I have a crush on Jeff Lynee, LOL!!!

deletereply stillybee wrote on Apr 12, ’08 Oh yea!!! Now it works 🙂 Thank ya Very Much!!! My favorite song fromm ELO…well one of em anyways lol. You too huh.. his voice sounds like butta! hmmm mmmm groovy 🙂

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Apr 12, ’08 Thanks for telling me, stillybee, I think I’ll go over and listen, too !

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Dec 27, ’08 I started listening to them again !

deletereply caramonmajere wrote on Dec 27, ’08 I like Strange Magic.

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Dec 27, ’08 That’s my favorite, too ! It really sounds great live.