ELO's songs: 11 of their greatest hits and the meanings behind them
The Electric Light Orchestra have provided us with some timeless classics
Last updated 19th Feb 2024
Legendary rock bank The Electric Light Orchestra have an incredible catalogue of songs, bringing us huge tracks such as 'Last Train To London', 'Mr. Blue Sky' and 'Evil Woman'. With huge worldwide sales since they formed in 1970, it's a hard task for any fan to pick just one favourite track.
Now called Jeff Lynne's ELO, through the years the band have released a total of 15 albums, as well as an impressive 40 compilation albums. We've whittled down 10 of their best tracks, and delved into the meanings behind some of their most well-known lyrics.
'Last Train To London'
Featuring as the fifth track on their eighth studio album 'Discovery', ELO's funky track 'Last Train To London' has become one of their most popular. The song was released in the UK on 9th November 1979, and quickly entered the Top 10 in the charts.
Frontman Jeff Lynne has described the song as being about ELO's frequent commute from Birmingham to London in their early days. With the studio being in London, the band was often travelling to and from their hometown.
Within the funky beats and catchy rhythms, Jeff can he heard referring to his love, who he had to leave when travelling to London to record. Showing the struggles of leaving her behind, the lyrics read: "But I really want tonight to last forever, I really wanna be with you", and: "Time was still but hours must really have rushed by, I didn't realise, but love was in your eyes".
WATCH: Electric Light Orchestra - 'Last Train to London' (Official Video)
Adding to the track's monumental success, in 2002 the popular British girl group Atomic Kitten sampled the hook in their single 'Be with You'. The track was a huge hit, peaking at Number 2 in the UK.
LISTEN: Atomic Kitten 'Be With You'
'Mr. Blue Sky'
'Mr. Blue Sky' featured on the ELO's seventh studio album 'Out of the Blue'. The album was released in 1977, with the song being released as a single in January 1978.
Jeff wrote the song while he locked himself away in a Swiss chalet, he said: "It was dark and misty for 2 weeks, and I didn't come up with a thing. Suddenly the sun shone and it was, 'Wow, look at those beautiful Alps.' I wrote Mr. Blue Sky and 13 other songs in the next 2 weeks."
Speaking about the quite literal meaning behind the song, he said: "I remember writing the words down. I was at a chalet in the mountains of Switzerland and it was all misty and cloudy all the way around. I didn’t see any countryside for the first four days or so, and then everything cleared and there was this enormous view forever and the sky was blue."
Becoming a signature song for ELO fans, it comes as no surprise that the song has been used in plenty of films. Titles include the likes of Megamind, Role Models, The Magic Roundabout, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Invention of Lying and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, to name a few.
WATCH: Electric Light Orchestra - 'Mr. Blue Sky' (Official Video)
'Evil Woman'
The band's 1975 'Evil Woman' is a standout hit for ELO, with one of the most recognisable intros of all time. It featured on their fifth studio album 'Face the Music' and hit the Number 10 spot in the UK Chart.
The song has a quite literal meaning, referring to a woman that has played with the narrator's emotions and his somewhat pleasure in seeing her 'feeling pain'. This can be heard in lyrics like: "You made a fool of me", "you broke me up", and: "You destroyed all the virtues that the Lord gave you, it's so good that you're feelin' pain".
Despite knowing that she is just using him and has nowhere else to turn, Jeff also alludes to the fact he will always be there for her when she cries. The lyrics read: "You made the wine, now you drink a cup. I came runnin' every time you cried, thought I saw love smilin' in your eyes. Ha, ha, very nice to know that you ain't got no place left to go".
LISTEN: Electric Light Orchestra 'Evil Woman'
'Evil Woman' is another track by ELO that was later sampled in another hit track. The Pussycat Dolls and will.i.am's hit 'Beep' was released in 2005, and directly sampled the 'Evil Woman' hook/riff. The melody that can be heard at around 2 minutes 40 seconds of 'Evil Woman' is sampled throughout 'Beep'.
LISTEN: The Pussycat Dolls ft. will.i.am 'Beep'
'Livin’ Thing'
Arguably one of their most recognisable songs, 'Livin' Thing' was released back in October 1976. With its distinct opening melody, the song is new certified Silver in the UK.
Discussing the track, Jeff Lynne described the 'living thing' as being love itself, with the lyrics alluding to the loss of love. He said: "The song is just about love, love being a living thing." This can be heard in the lyrics: "It's a livin' thing, it's a terrible thing to lose. It's a given thing, what a terrible thing to lose".
Despite this, the initial inspiration behind it was allegedly a bout of food poisoning. Laughing about the song's inspiration, Jeff told Hi-Fi News & Record Review in 2014: "You'll never be able to listen to it the same again. I wouldn't want anyone to think it's about a bad paella on a Spanish holiday."
WATCH: Electric Light Orchestra 'Livin' Thing' (Official Video)
'Strange Magic'
'Strange Magic' featured on ELO's fifth studio album 'Face the Music', which was released in 1975. The song was released as a single the following year, and despite only charting at 38 in the UK, has become one of their most popular and famous tracks.
The song refers to his fascination with a particular woman, describing the feeling you get when you first fall in love, with lyrics such as: "You're walking meadows in my mind, making waves across my time. I get a strange magic".
Describing this love as walking meadows is thought to refer to this person taking up all of his thoughts, with the scale of the meadows indicating they're walking through them constantly.
The infectious beat of the song also mirrors the exciting spirit that comes with falling in love.
LISTEN: Electric Light Orchestra 'Strange Magic'
'Don't Bring Me Down'
An incredibly popular track, 'Don't Bring Me Down' is easily classed as one of ELO's most memorable and popular songs. Upon its release in August 1979, the song reached the Number 3 spot on the UK Singles Chart, becoming their second-highest-charting hit in the UK. Hitting Number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, it is also their biggest hit in the US.
The song is thought to be dedicated to the NASA Skylab space station, which reentered the Earth's atmosphere in July 1979. It was also played to the astronauts on the Space Shuttle Columbia in July 1996, serving as their wake up call.
Do they sing "Bruce"?
Another point of discussion around the song is the ambiguous word "Bruce" which is thought to be sang throughout the track. ELO engineer Reinhold Mack told Sound on Sound: "As there was a plan for ELO to start a concert tour in Australia, the song was originally titled 'Don't Bring Me Down, Bruce'. This was meant to be a joke, referring to how many Australian guys are called Bruce."
He elaborated: "We couldn't leave it like that, so eventually we replaced it with 'gruss,' based on the Bavarian greeting Grüß Gott - 'greet God'. Gruss, not Bruce, is what you hear in the song immediately following the title line."
WATCH: Electric Light Orchestra 'Don't Bring Me Down' (Official Video)
'10538 Overture'
Released in 1972, '10538 Overture' served as ELO's debut single. The song was actually first recorded as an intended B-side single for the Move - Jeff Lynne's previous group. After ELO released the song, it hit the Number 9 spot in the UK.
As for the song's meaning, band members have confirmed it is about an escaped prisoner, hence the character in the song having a number, instead of a name. After Jeff assigned the character the number 1053 - commonly thought to be the serial number of the mixing desk he was using at the time - it was the Move and ELO member Roy Wood who suggested adding an 8 in order to fit the melody better.
In 1976, the band's drummer Bev Beven told Trouser Press that the escaped prisoner was actually based on a real person: "The original idea was taken from a neighbour that Jeff’s parents had. He was a bit lacking in the brains department. He was a really weird guy - he thought that he could fly. You’d hear crashes from next door - he’d taken off from the ceiling or something. He used to walk around the streets with this weird dome cap on and a propeller on his head.
"He used to have letters and numbers written across his forehead, and Jeff got the idea from that. It flowed nicely."
The song can be heard touching on this with the lyrics: "Did you hear the news came across the air today? Someone has been found on the rocks down in the bay," and: "Did you see that man running through the streets today? Did you catch his face, was it 10538?"
LISTEN: Electric Light Orchestra '10538 Overture'
'Confusion'
ELO's 1979 release 'Confusion' served as their second single from their eighth studio album 'Discovery', and hit the Number 8 spot in the UK Chart.
The song is someone losing their love, which can be heard throughout the lyrics as they portray the confusion and darkness one can experience, despite the 'sun shining' across the world. This can be heard in lyrics such as: "Everywhere the sun is shining. All around the world it's shining. But cold winds blow across your mind."
The lyrics continue: "You've lost your love and you just can't carry on. You feel there's no-one there for you to lean on."
WATCH: Electric Light Orchestra 'Confusion' (Official Video)
'Sweet Talkin' Woman'
'Sweet Talkin' Woman' was released in 1978, and climbed the UK Chart to reach the Number 6 position. The song featured on ELO's seventh album 'Out Of The Blue', and was actually originally titled 'Dead End Street', however this title was replaced during recording.
When it comes to the meaning behind the lyrics, the theme of the original title can be felt throughout the song. The track is about a man who is trying to find a woman that he previously met. Lyrics alluding to this include: "I was searchin' on a one-way street, I was hopin' for a chance to meet. I was waitin' for the operator on the line, what can I do? Don't know what I'm gonna do. I gotta get back to you".
Alluding to the passionate attempt to find his 'sweet talking woman', they sing: "You gotta slow down, sweet talkin' woman. You've got me runnin', you've got me searchin'".
In what could be interpreted as the previously mentioned 'dead end street', the lyrics refer to the worry that they might not find the woman again, singing: "Hold on, sweet talkin' lover. It's so sad if that's the way it's over."
LISTEN: Electric Light Orchestra 'Sweet Talkin' Woman'
'Shine a Little Love'
This song is the first track on ELO's album 'Discovery', and was released as a single in 1979. Reaching the Number 6 spot in the UK Singles Chart, the fast and funky disco beat also shot the song to the Number 3 spot on the UK Dance Chart.
The album as a whole follows the highs and lows of being in love, with 'Shine a Little Love' definitely being a high, with Jeff Lynne even saying: "I must have been in a very good mood when I wrote it!"
Describing the ongoing love he has, the lyrics read: "It's been a year now and it's getting so much better. You came home without a word. Though everybody said you'll soon forget her, they couldn't see and they just didn't understand. And lookin' in the mirror there were fools at either hand. You shine a little love on my life".
WATCH: Electric Light Orchestra 'Shine a Little Love' (Official Video)
'Showdown'
The 1973 track peaked at the Number 12 spot in the UK Chart, written and produced by Jeff. Serving as the last contemporary recording to be released on their label at the time, Harvest, 'Showdown' was featured on their third album 'On the Third Day' in the US. Here in the UK, however, the song was left off the album and instead featured on their first compilation album a year later (also titled 'Showdown').
The track has been described as having a funkier backbeat to their previous material, showing a change in style for the band - so it's no surprise that it was a personal favourite track of John Lennon's.
It is widely thought that the lyrics to the song outline an impending breakup, with the sadness becoming an all-consuming feeling. His sadness is so great, it feels like the whole world is raining. This can be heard in the lyrics: 'It's unreal, the suffering. There's gonna be a Showdown. And it's rainin' all over the world'.
The song also airs a sense of relatability, with Jeff writing: 'Looks like we're ridin' on the same train. Looks as through there'll be more pain.' Many fans have expressed how they relate to the track, with the song bringing up various emotions, from sadness to anger.
Speaking about the song, Jeff Lynne said: "On the early songs like 'Showdown,' we were still trying to find our way musically, but I can still listen to these tracks and smile and think how important they seemed at the time, even though at some of our shows we outnumbered the audience!"
On top of the track's popularity, it has been featured in a number of popular films - most notably Kingpin, starring Bill Murray. On the track's feature, one fan commented: 'whenever i hear this song i can't help but think of Bill Murray's hair in the bowling showdown scene', continuing: 'it went well in that scene.' (sic)
LISTEN: Electric Light Orchestra 'Showdown'
Scroll through ELO's impressive career timeline:
1968: The group members first came together
Roy Wood, who at the time was the front-man for a Birmingham band The Move along with Bev Bevan, initially had an idea in 1968 of wanting to create music like no other artist, combining violins, cellos, string basses, horns and woodwinds to change the sound of rock and carry on the pop success of The Beatles.
However, it wasn't until 1969 until Roy Wood approached Jeff Lynne, the front-man of the fellow Birmingham-based band Idle Race, to join him after one of The Move's band members quit. Having initially been excited about the project, Jeff Lynne declined Roy Wood's invitation, adding he wanted to focus on finding success with Idle Race.
Yet, just one year later in 1970, Jeff Lynne changed his mind after his fellow band-mate Carl Wayne quit, joining forces with Roy Wood. It was Jeff Lynne's suggestion that they formed a new band producing the new music rather than remaining The Move, thus, the Electric Light Orchestra was born.
1971: ELO's first album and first live performance
ELO's first album was released in December 1971, after a year of testing and producing melodies with the instruments Roy wanted to use. Their first single titled '10538 Overture', from their debut album 'The Electric Light Orchestra', reached Number 9 in the UK charts. The debut album charted at Number 32 in the UK Albums Charts.
The group then had their debut concert in April 1972 as their fame levels grew and their music began to be recognised more widely. By this performance, Bill Hunt, Andy Craig, Mike Edwards, Wilfred Gibson, Hugh McDowell and Richard Tandy had all joined the group. Yet, it wasn't meant to be as Roy Wood, Andy Craig, Bill Hunt and Hugh McDowell all quit to form another group, leaving Jeff Lynne to front the band.
1973: ELO's second album
Following the shock of four band members leaving, Mike de Albuquerque and Colin Walker joined the band ahead of the release of ELO's second album 'ELO 2.' Their second single, 'Roll Over Beethoven' rose to Number 6 in the UK and scored them Number 42 in the US's Billboard Hot 100.
1974: Dominating the US
In 1974, ELO released their fourth studio album 'Eldorado', releasing 'Can't Get It Out of My Head' as their first single. The record stormed the US charts, peaking at Number 9. However, it failed to make a success in the UK, failing to chart completely.
The success of the single in the US boosted them to the forefront of the music industry, becoming regular bookings for arena and stadium concerts, as well as becoming the most featured band in history on The Midnight Special TV show.
1977: Setting new world records
After releasing two more albums between 1974-1977, spawning hits like 'Strange Magic', ELO released the double-LP 'Out of the Blue' in 1977, which included the singles, 'Wild West Hero', 'Mr Blue Sky' and 'Sweet Talkin' Woman', which charted at Number 6 in the UK charts.
In 1977, it was announced the band was also set to perform 'The Big Night', a 92-date world tour which would take nine-months to complete. The concerts on this tour were their largest they had ever performed, with 62,000 seeing them at Cleveland Stadium in just one night!
'The Big Night' became the highest-grossing live concert in music tour history of all time up to that point (1978.) And it wasn't just world records they were setting over the pond, the band played at London's Wembley Arena for eight straight sold-out nights during the tour, setting yet another world record at that time.
1979: First ever Number 1 album
Following the huge success of their 1977 tour, ELO then released 'Discovery' in 1979, which reached Number 1 in the UK Albums Chart. This album brought to us the iconic and the band's biggest song 'Don't Bring Me Down', which peaked at Number 3 in the UK and Number 4 in the US.
1980: Moving into the film industry
In 1980, front-man Jeff Lynne wrote half of the soundtrack for the musical film 'Xanadu', which featured Olivia Newton-John. Despite the film performing badly at the box office, the soundtrack went double platinum, creating hits like 'Magic', 'I'm Alive' and 'All Over The World.'
The title track, performed by ELO and Olivia Newton-John topped the UK charts - their only single to ever do so. The soundtrack's success then lead to a musical based on the film opening under the same name, premiering on Broadway in 2007, and in London in 2015.
1983: What happened to ELO?
In 1983, Jeff Lynne decided to end ELO, following a dispute with their record label and falling out with the band's manager Don Arden. However, it was in 1986 when the band officially disbanded, after ELO were made to make another album due to contractual agreements.
1991: ELO Part II
Keen to still keep ELO's legacy ongoing, the band's drummer Bev Bevan agreed with Jeff Lynne to reform the band as ELO Part II in 1991. At first, no other ELO members would take part in the new venture with Bev Bevan. Instead, Eric Troyer, Pete Haycock, and Neil Lockwood joined the original member and released their debut album 'Electric Light Orchestra Part Two' in May 1991.
During a tour for their first album, Mik Kaminski and Kelly Groucutt joined the band, with Pete Haycock and Neil Lockwood leaving three years later. Phil Bates replaced these two members and the five members of ELO Part II toured for another five years, releasing songs like 'Rockaria', until Bev Bevan retired. The group is now called The Orchestra.
2014: Jeff Lynne's ELO
In 2014, Jeff Lynne performed at a Children In Need concert, which led to an outcry from ELO fans to make a comeback. This led to Jeff Lynne listening to his fans, creating 'Jeff Lynne's ELO', who ended up performing at The Grammys in 2015. This consisted of Jeff Lynne and his touring band.
Following their performance, they signed with Columbia Records to produce another ELO album and have since released several more albums, including 'From Out of Nowhere' in 2019, under 'Jeff Lynne's ELO.' The band even performed at Glastonbury in 2016 to critical acclaim.
2015: Jeff Lynne receives Hollywood Walk of Fame Star
The frontman of ELO was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in April 2015. His is the 2,548th star to be added to the Hollywood Boulevard.
Jeff was also honoured in his home town the year before when he received a place on the Birmingham Walk of Stars.
2016: 'Alone in the Universe' tour
In April 2016, Jeff Lynne's ELO started their 'Alone in the Universe' tour. The most memorable of their performances was at Wembley Stadium in June 2017, and included a giant spaceship, a light show and a two-hour set list of their best songs performed to 60,000 people.
The band released a live album and concert DVD from the performance called 'Wembley Or Bust'. The tour continued across the USA and Europe in 2018.
2017: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction
In 2017, ELO members Jeff Lynne, Roy Wood, Bev Bevan and Richard Tandy were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for their 'boundary-breaking approach to rock' by British singer Dhani Harrison.
Dhani has since performed with the band and was supposed to join them on their 'From Out Of Nowhere' tour in 2020, but it was cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions.
2019: Jeff Lynne receives ASCAP Award
In May 2019, Jeff Lynne was awarded the ASCAP Founders Award for his 'pioneering contributions to music by inspiring and influencing their fellow music creators'.
Previous recipients of the award include Sir Paul McCartney, Desmond Child, Stevie Wonder, Tom Petty, Patti Smith, and Billy Joel. Jeff was presented the award by Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh.
In November 2019, ELO released their 14th studio album 'From Out of Nowhere', their first in four years.
2021: 50th Anniversary and Wembley Or Bust Book
On 2nd November 2021, Jeff Lynne announced the release of his book Wembley Or Bust, which looks back at the band's memorable 2017 Wembley Stadium performance and talks through the production of the concert as well as providing behind the scenes photos and details.
ELO celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2021, and Jeff said: 'It means so much to me to release this book during the 50th anniversary of ELO, and four years on from our Wembley Or Bust concert. It was an unforgettable night and I'm excited to relive it with all of you again inside these pages.'
2022: Jeff Lynne is nominated for Songwriters Hall of Fame
In November 2022, it was announced that Jeff Lynne had been nominated for the Songwriters Hall of Fame alongside artists like Blondie, Bryan Adams, and Patti Smith.
The key songs listed from his music catalogue on the Songwriters Hall of Fame website are 'Mr. Blue Sky', 'Don't Bring Me Down', 'Evil Woman', 'Livin' Thing', and 'Telephone Line'.
2023: Jeff is officially inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame
In June 2023, Jeff was officially inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, with Eagles legend Joe Walsh presenting him with the honour. They wrote: 'Congratulations @jefflynneselo! Best known as a founder and leader of Electric Light Orchestra, pop-rock luminary Jeff Lynne was a writer of such hits as "Can't Get It Out of My Head", "Livin' Thing", "Mr. Blue Sky" and "Don't Bring Me Down". He wrote, arranged and produced virtually all of ELO's string of 15 hit singles that rose to the Top 10 record charts in the UK 10 LPs during the 1970's and 1980's, including its most successful album, Out Of the Blue, a double LP. He later co-founded the Traveling Wilburys with George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison and Tom Petty, and had a writing hand in their hits "Handle with Care" and "End of the Line".'
You can hear songs by The Electric Light Orchestra on Greatest Hits Radio!
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