ELO have quite a pedigree, comprising initially of three main members, Roy Wood, Jeff Lynne and Bev Bevan who were all part of The Move (remember 'Flowers in the Rain', 'Fire Brigade', 'Blackberry Way').
They got together while The Move were still performing and released their first album, the eponymous 'The Electric Light Orchestra' in 1971. It was released in the US in early 1972 as 'No Answer'. When the US label United Artists rang to find out the name of the album nobody picked up the phone and when someone wrote down 'No Answer' they took that to be the album title.
Roy Wood left in 1972 and formed Wizzard, releasing one of my favourite singles of 1973 'See My Baby Jive'. The new core line-up for ELO now included keyboard player Richard Tandy and stayed that way until they disbanded (for the first time) in 1983. They were under contract to do one more album, so went back into the studio in 84-86 but then went their separate ways.
In the meantime, in 1981, they recorded my favourite album, 'Time'. It's a concept album about a time-traveler going from the 1980's to 2095. In the song 'Yours Truly, 2095' there's a glimpse of the 1980's view of the future when Jeff sings about someone he's met, but she was built by IBM ..
"She is the latest in technology,
Almost mythology, but she has a heart of stone,
She has an IQ of 1,001,
She has a jump suit on and she's also a telephone."
I'm sure by 2095 everyone will be hybrid telephones.
'Time' contains one of their rockingest rollingest tracks ever .. 'Hold On Tight'. I defy anyone to sit still while it plays.
At last count ELO had released around 14 compilation albums, but this early one from 1979 has most of the stuff I like. About the only one of the old favourites that's missing is 'Don't Bring Me Down'. One bonus is that 'Ma-Ma-Ma Belle' is on here, notable if for no other reason than Marc Bolan plays guitar on it !!
After ELO Jeff Lynne made more of his ability as a songwriter and producer, specifically working with George Harrison, Tom Petty and Roy Orbison on their respective albums. With the addition of Bob Dylan they all got together in 1988 as the incredible Traveling Wilburys.
Plenty to choose from, lots of hits and good album tracks, all-in-all, ELO should be in every collection.
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