Electric Light Orchestra is considered a pop, classical, and futuristic blend of music. They received massive success around the world in the 1970's. They were formed in Birmingham, England in 1970. The band consists of Roy Wood, Jeff Lynne, Rick Price, and Bev Bevan. They came together to make the sounds that many people embraced when they first heard them over the radio.

Electric Light Orchestra

"Did you see your friend crying from his eyes today, Did you see him run through the streets and far away"

Electric Light Orchestra is considered a pop, classical, and futuristic blend of music. They received massive success around the world in the 1970's. They were formed in Birmingham, England in 1970. The band consists of Roy Wood, Jeff Lynne, Rick Price, and Bev Bevan. They came together to make the sounds that many people embraced when they first heard them over the radio.

The Beginning of a New Career

They went on to record their debut LP album, No Answer. They added the French horn player Bill Hunt, and also violinist Steve Woolam to put a more classical feel to their originally melodic rock. Months between each recording session, the albums eventual release proved to be a good one when they hit the top ten. They went on their farewell tour, letting loose of their cellists Andy Craig and Hugh McDowell, violinist Wilf Gibson, and bassist Richard Tandy.

The new album sold strongly through out the world, but that was not the problem. The band would eventually break apart, making new bands from the members of the old one. The band Wizzard was formed with Hunt and McDowell. Price and Craig left as well, and since the new additions of bassist Michael D'Albuquerque, cellists Mike Edwards and Colin Walker, and keyboardist Richard Tandy. Lynne would have to assume vocal duties since there was no one else to take over the singing.

Moving on in the Career

In 1973, they came out with a top ten album. One of their first American hits, Roll Over Beethoven, was on this album. In 1974, they came out with their top ten hit Can't Get It Out of My Head. They had success with their albums, but they remained relatively faceless, due to the ever changing of band members, and Lynne and Bevan's elaborate stage performances. Their 1975 album Face the Music went gold, giving everyone hits such as Evil Woman and Strange Magic.

The follow up album, A New World Record was one of the best selling records; it sold five million copies internationally. The platinum double LP came out in 1977 titled Out of the Blue. The success of the record was over shadowed due to a lawsuit that was filed by ELO against their former distributor, United Artists; they charged the flooded market with defective copies of the album. They went on to issue their own Jet Records label imprint, this began with their album Discover in 1979. It made the top ten on the charts. It included songs such as Shine a Little Love and Don't Bring Me Down. They started working on one of their greatest hits album with a mixture of their best selling songs, and more new ones.

Moving on to the End

The next album Time, released in the 1980's generated the final top ten hit that they made titled Hold on Tight. After the release of this album, Bevan left the group to pursue a career with Black Sabbath. Although returning for the next album, Balance of Power in 1986. This album received little interest from fans, and anyone else listening to the radio. Their career started going downhill, and Lynne started being sought out as a producer, receiving great feedback from different artists in that time such as George Harrison.

Once re teamed with Bob Dylan and Tom Petty, Lynne made a solo debut in 1990 with Armchair Theatre but spent a decade or more out of the star light. He worked on producing the Beatles' Anthology project as well as material for Joe Cocker, Tom Jones, and Paul McCartney. In 1988, Bevan formed ELO Part II with a different vocalist, Neil Lockwood, keyboardist Eric Troyer, and bassist Pete Haycock. Lynne filed a law suit against the new group. A self titled LP was released in 1991, with live collections that were recorded with the Moscow Symphony Orchestra appearing in it a year later.

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