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how has electric light orchestra sold out?
By admin | June 27, 2009
Topics: Uncategorized | 4 Comments »
« What Are Your Favorite Top 5 ELO (Electric Light Orchestra) Songs? | Main | Electric Light Orchestra’s song Don’t Bring Me Down? »
By admin | June 27, 2009
Topics: Uncategorized | 4 Comments »
June 27th, 2009 at 8:19 pm
I am one ELO's biggest fans. I answered a question a few minutes ago that asked "has your fave band sold out (by doing commercials)?"
That's the ONLY reason I answered with ELO. Because they are my favorite and they allowed 'Mr. Blue Sky' to be used in several commercials (which I think is fine because ELO need all the attention they can get because several generations just don't know who they are anymore and I think that's sad)….
But, in short, in NO WAY have they sold out! They actually disbanded 'because' the studio wanted Jeff Lynne to produce hit-after-commercial-hit. Which he did but said his heart wasn't in it anymore. He wanted to experiment with each album; not just write hits. When their contract ended after the recording of 'Balance Of Power', ELO disbanded and drummer (Bev Bevin) along with the other current ELO members (they had 8 or 9 different line-ups but always featured 'core' members Jeff, Bev & Richard Tandy) Since Bev owned half the ELO name, he started ELO 2 (not to be confused with their 2nd album:elo II). Later in the 90s, when Bev tired of touring, the band continued as OrKestra with Kelly Groucutt still on-board. In 2000, Jeff bought back Bev's rights to the ELO name and released 'ZOOM' in 2001 under the ELO name, even though the album was mostly just Jeff Lynne with a few appearances by Richard Tandy, Ringo Starr & George Harrison. It's a great album too btw. Sadly though, the new tour was to start the week after 9/11 and was cancelled out of respect for NYC.
Jeff Lynne never got to meet his 'idol', John Lennon. But he DID meet and work with the remaining Beatles when he re-produced a couple tracks for that big Beatles box set that came out a few years ago. And in the late 80s, Jeff was waiting at a red light in Beverely Hills, when Tom Petty pulls up beside him. This is the first time they've ever met. Tom is on his way over to George Harrison's house to "pick something up" (lol: 420?) and ask Jeff if he'd like to come along. Of course he did to meet George. Once they got there, Bob Dylan was already there and this was the beginning of 'The Traveling Wilburys' who released 2 albums, Vol. 1 & Vol. 3. Some believe a Vol. 2 was never released, however, Tom's first solo effort 'Full Moon Fever' was originally going to be Vol. 2 but evolved into Tom's solo instead. So that is/was the real Vol. 2….LOL So Jeff got to meet and play with all his idols. He was at George's bedside playing Ukelele just before his death.
BONUS(LOL): There's been a longrunning rumour that somewhere around 1975/1976 that Jeff Lynne & ELO went into the studio and did an album with Queen AND Cheap Trick!!! No one from these 3 bands will deny nor disclaim this to be a fact. Man, I'd like to hear that!!!
I miss ELO!
;P
June 27th, 2009 at 8:19 pm
I thought ELO disbanded years ago…. what am I missing here? I'll say though that Jeff Lynne did start writing some ultra-top-40 oriented songs toward the later 70's/early 80's that were fairly barf-making.
June 27th, 2009 at 8:19 pm
i disagree. i like all elo music/lyrics. early 80's brought the album "time" and i thought is was a great album..jeff lynne is a great songwriter
June 27th, 2009 at 8:19 pm
The only thing that i can think of would be allowing some of their songs to be used in commercials (i think JC Penney used Do Ya in a commercial a few years ago).
But i never thought of ELO as a sell out band. I love them. I often say that Jeff Lynne is like a god to me lol. Sure some of their songs were popular but who cares! ELO was an amazing band.