Electric Light Orchestra

After Birmingham-formed psychedelic adventurers The Move folded, Jeff Lynne, Ron Wood and Bev Bevan morphed into the Electric Light Orchestra. Lynne and Wood shared a desire to produce pop songs with classical influences while both were also huge Beatles fans, especially the lush arrangements and structures of the Magical Mystery Tour era. When they first began performing as ELO the band had a real string section, fulfilling the ‘O’ part of their name. Roy Wood left early, forming his own band Wizzard. (Remember “See My Baby Jive”?) Lynne took over the conductor’s baton and guided the band to world-wide success, with hit singles including “Can’t get it out of my head” and “Do ya” (a Move song). The albums A New World Record and Discovery were massive hits in many countries. Out Of The Blue is a double album with some of their finest music.

A version of the band, called Jeff Lynne’s ELO, re-appeared some years after the band disappeared, releasing two new albums in the 2010s. Meanwhile, the double LP The Very Best Of The Electric Light Orchestra gathers the 20th century hits.