Electric Light Orchestra – Biography, Songs, Albums, Discography & Facts
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Electric Light Orchestra Biography
In 1970, the symphonic rock group Electric Light Orchestra was founded in Birmingham, England. Jeff Lynne (vocals, guitar, various instruments), Roy Wood (various instruments, vocals), Richard Tandy (keyboards, vocals), and Bev Bevan (drums) founded the band. Former members of the psychedelic rock group The Move included Lynne, Wood, and Bevan. Throughout the band’s first version, the lineup would change, but Lynne, Tandy, and Bevan would always be there.
They developed an extremely sophisticated studio version of rock by fusing the sounds of string ensembles, vocoders, and dub echoes into rock tunes. ELO’s compositions frequently strayed far from conventional chord progressions, fusing pop lyrics with classical romanticism and artificial sounds.I Am the Walrus by The Beatles, which was released in 1967, is “picking up where it left off,” according to the band.
Roy Wood, Jeff Lynne, and Bev Bevan founded the group in 1970. (the remaining members of the 1960s rock group The Move). The band’s music had a classical feel because of the use of cellos, violins, horns, and woodwinds. Roy Wood first had the concept to change the course of rock music while he was in The Move. When Carl Wayne quit The Move in 1970, Jeff Lynne, the lead singer of fellow Birmingham band Idle Race, accepted Wood’s second invitation to join the lineup under the promise of helping to form the new band.Two further Move albums were published while their 1971 self-titled debut album was being recorded to raise money for the nascent endeavor. This album yielded the UK smash song 10538 Overture. Due to a mix-up with an incomplete phone conversation to the American label and following secretarial message, this record was mistakenly issued in the US under the name No Answer.
However, Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne’s differences soon became apparent. It was not surprising when the band underwent the first of its numerous line-up changes when Roy Wood left the group to form Wizzard, taking Hugh McDowell and Bill Hunt with him. This was due to the majority of the media’s attention being on Wood, differences in musical direction, and a disastrous first live performance.
Their first U.S. chart-topper, a highly intricate rendition of the Chuck Berry classic Roll Over Beethoven, was featured on their 1973 album ELO 2. Gibson, the violinist, was fired after the release of their second album, and Mik Kaminski took his place. In 1973, they also released On The Third Day, which featured Mike Edwards performing all the cello parts in place of the band’s departing Colin Walker. Hugh McDowell, who had abandoned ship the year before, made a comeback later that year to take cellist Colin Walker’s position.
The second album, Eldorado, A Symphony, a concept album about dreams, was started by Lynne in 1974 when he engaged a thirty-piece orchestra, choir, and Louis Clark. In 1975, they had their first Top Ten hit in the United States with the song Can’t Get It Out Of My Head. ELO’s debut gold album would be Eldorado.
Following the publication of Eldorado, cellist Melvyn Gale and bassist Kelly Groucutt replaced de Albuquerque and Edwards, respectively.
In 1983, the band disbanded. The trio of Lynne, Tandy, and Bevan got back together in 1985 and made the album “Balance of Power.” The band briefly reformed before breaking up again in 1986. From 1988 until Bev Bevan’s retirement in 1999, Louis Clark and Bev Bevan performed as ELO Part II on tour and in the studio with Lynne’s approval. Electric Light Orchestra was revived by Lynne and Tandy in 2000, and their new album “Zoom” was released. The duo broke up once more in 2001 after “Zoom” turned out to be a commercial flop.
Together with Ed Sheeran, Jeff Lynne’s ELO had a performance at the 2015 Grammy Awards in February. In September of the same year, they revealed a new album would be published on Columbia Records. The band ELO released its first album of brand-new music in nearly 15 years on November 13, 2015, with Jeff Lynne’s ELO – Alone in the Universe.
On November 1, 2019, Jeff Lynne’s ELO – From Out of Nowhere, the second album by the band, was made available.
Electric Light Orchestra Discography
| From Out of Nowhere | |
| Alone in the Universe | |
| Zoom | |
| Balance of Power | |
| Time | |
| Out of the Blue | |
| Face the Music | |
| On the Third Day | |
| The Electric Light Orchestra |
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Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Electric Light Orchestra Songs Are There?
There are about 150 Electric Light Orchestra songs.
Which Is Famous Album Of Electric Light Orchestra?
The most famous album of Electric Light Orchestra is undoubtedly “Discovery”, which was released in 1979. The album spawned the massive hits “Don’t Bring Me Down” and “Shine a Little Love”, both of which reached the top 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. “Discovery” remains one of the most popular albums of all time, and is often considered Electric Light Orchestra’s finest work.
What Is The Famous Songs of Electric Light Orchestra?
“Mr. Blue Sky” is Electric Light Orchestra’s most famous song. The song was released in 1977 and became a top five hit in the United Kingdom. The song has been used in numerous films and television shows over the years, and was even featured in a Super Bowl commercial in 2014.
What Is Electric Light Orchestra Genre?
The ELO music genre spans multiple genres, including pop, classical, and roc
Most Searched For Electric Light Orchestra Songs
| Mr. Blue Sky | |
| Don’t Bring Me Down | |
| Livin’ Thing | |
| Last Train to London | |
| Evil Woman | |
| Turn to Stone | |
| Telephone Line | |
| Sweet Talkin’ Woman | |
| Hold On Tight | |
| Do Ya |