Lately, I’ve wondered, “Whatever happened to so-and-so artist?” and while listening to John’s Monday music from The Sound of One Hand Typing when the same thing popped into my head. That’s when I had the bright idea to create a series of posts bearing the title Whatever happened to.
It was John’s feature song Mister Blue Sky that got me thinking about today’s group and like the bright idea it is, it’s only fitting my first selection is none other than Electric Light Orchestra (ELO).
I often wonder how the group came up with its name. Is there a connection with the bands’ name and electricity? The group did a play on words electric light as in a light bulb which was used on an album cover and “electric” rock instruments and the use of a few cellos and violins to producing their signature light orchestra backing I came to love in their style of music.
In the late 60s, Roy Wood (from the group, The Move) guitarist, singer/songwriter conceived an idea for a new sound concept for a band that excited Jeff Lynne. It took Wood’s second invitation to hook Lynne to join with the general agreement they’d focus on the intended direction of the band proposed by Wood’s earlier.
The concept finally became a reality in July 1970 after Wood added multiple cellos to Lynne’s first penned song, “10538 Overture” (UK top-ten hit) for the new group, Electric Light Orchestra with founding members: Lynne, Wood, and Bev Bevan releasing their 1971 début album, The Electric Light Orchestra, in the UK and the US the following year. You can listen to all of their songs featured from their début album.
ELO seemed to pound out the hits in the 70s and Lynne was asked to write the music for the movie Xanadu. Although the musical did poorly at the box-office the soundtrack did exceptional well going double platinum spawning hit singles for both Olivia Newton-John and ELO. This is one of my favorite all-time albums!
Although Wood left the band in the early 70s, the Electric Light Orchestra as most of us knew them as began disbanding the mid to late 80s and before the new millennium Bevan sold his ELO rights to the last founding member, Lynne.
In 2000, Lynne’s ELO comeback with the remastering of tracks, outtakes, and unfinished works in a 3-disc retrospective box-set entitled Flashback. It was 15 years, since the last album released until 2001 with billing and marketing of the first new album of the 21st century by ELO. The only returning original band member was Jeff Lynne and Richard Tandy – bass player (did only one song) along with guest musicians, Ringo Starr and George Harrison (former Beatles band members).
After Zoom’s production, Lynne reformed ELO with all new band members including his then girlfriend, Rosie Vela and Tandy rejoined to do a few live performances.
Over the next six years the music label Harvest and Epic/Legacy reissued ELO remastered unreleased or out-take album tracks. One such song written 30 years before released in 2006 to make it to the UK singles chart at 81 with Surrender.
The other unreleased (remastered) song surfaced in 2007 from the Out of the Blue album.
More revitalizing of old music continued from 2010 through 2014. I could go in to lengthy detail telling you the relaunch of each, but I didn’t see that helping a lot. Finally, in September 2015 billed as Jeff Lynne’s ELO the release of the album, Along in the Universe.
Since the release of this album, Lynne did a small promotional tour and made a few rare special U.S. TV appearances. Jeff Lynne’s events include a few here in the states, which you might want to check out.
What’s your favorite ELO song? Did you know about the newest ELO album?
Let me know what you thought of this edition and who you wonder about. That’s it for this time of What ever happened to…? Be sure to join me tomorrow for not-so Wordless Wednesday. 
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Hi, Cathy!
I love ELO’s classical + Beatlesque sound. I enjoyed all of the songs offered in this post along with the background info on the band. My favorite ELO single is “Telephone Line.” I collect vinyl records and own the special edition 45 pressed on green wax:
http://10538overture.dk/ELO/ELO%20Covers/cover_elo_telephone_line_4a.jpg
Thanks, dear friend Cathy!
Tom, I think that’s totally retro. I remember when CDs came out and I thought for sure you’d never another vinyl, but then a few years passed with news of people collecting old records. I thought that was interesting. We have a bunch of old albums and singles in storage at my in-laws. We ought to get those and sell them on ebay. lol I’ll check out the link and thanks for popping by for a visit, my friend! PS: I just did. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a record like this before. What’s the purpose of it being pressed on green wax?
Hi again, Cathy!
I have actually collected quite a few vinyl records on colored wax. Please scroll down through this old post of mine and you will see a few of my other vinyl collectibles:
http://shadydell.blogspot.com/2013/07/five-years-in-shady-and-i-get-high-with.html
Record companies sometimes issue limited edition pressings of 45s or albums on colored vinyl because they are instant collector’s items and, if kept in near mint condition, increase in value over the years. Ever since the 1950s records have been stamped in a rainbow of colors including green, blue, red, yellow, brown, pink, purple, orange, white and even designer color schemes with marbling streaks through them. That blue vinyl Rolling Stones 45 in the post I linked to cost me $75. I bought two colored wax Rolling Stones 45s at that price and that was some 20 years ago. I often wonder how valuable they would be by now.
Thanks, Cathy!
Tom, I do recall seeing different colors for vinyls, but didn’t know the importance of it until now. I’m not sure, if we ever had any or not. That would be interesting to know, especially since it bumps the value. I will visit your blog in a few to check out the link you sent me. Whew, I bet those blue vinyls are worth a lot by now. You ought to have them appraised.
That would be so cool to know!
I look up people from the past all the time–musicians, actors, guys I dated in high school. I’m a very curious person.
Love,
Janie
Janie, I look up celebrities from time to time, too. However, not often enough and I think this is fun direction to go more to not only satisfy my curiosity, but to share my findings with my readers, like you.
I love ELO and bought most of their records! I loved Evil Woman but there are many I love. My 3 favourite that always listened to and bought all their albums was ELO, ABBA and The Moody Blues. I knew Jeff Lynne was part of the Travelling Wilburys which I also love. I’m glad you talked about them and I like his latest song.
This was interesting and informative, and the end result here is, I am now listening to The Traveling Wilburys… That is always a good thing.
Myke, you’re not the first person in recent months to mention The Traveling Wilburys and I can’t recall if I’ve ever heard their songs. I often do not connect a band with a song unless I VERY familiar with the group. Anywho, now you got me curious so I will go to YouTube for a bit music education. Thanks for popping over! PS: Holy Smoke, Myke! I wanted to jump back to tell you that I went to YouTube in a few seconds learned a lot about a band I don’t remember anything about. Why Jeff Lynne is one of the singers in the group! Now, I gotta go listen to more tracks by The Traveling Wilburys. A big thank you for reminding me of them!
Happy to be of service, M’am.
?You rock, Myke, have a good day!
I really enjoy ELO. I like most of their songs from ‘back in the day’.If I were forced into a corner to choose a favorite, I would have to say it would be “Don’t Bring Me Down”
Great post. Loved the update on what happened to them.
Mary
Jingle Jangle Jungle
Mary, I’m like you on trying to figure out a favorite tune by them. They had so many good ones that it’s hard to choose. I loved finally knowing what became of the group and that now Jeff Lynne is sorta a lone wolf carrying on the ELO music. Thanks for stopping in, my friend.
I’ve never thought of ELO as an actual rock band as much as a collaboration of artists with a parade of hired musicians through the years. I’ve always enjoyed the music of ELO but I think that music works as well when recorded under the moniker of Jeff Lynne and not ELO.
I like to try to find what happened to groups and artists. Fortunately the internet has made such quests far easier. Still some artists seem to vanish without much of a trace. For others I’ve found some surprising places where past artists have ended up and things they did along their ways.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
Lee, I never thought of this group as a collaboration of artists, but then my brain didn’t think that way. Knowing the group as a band is how I best will remember ELO. I’m glad Jeff Lynne is keeping the ELO connection with his name, but his music is somewhat different. I like the new album Alone in the Universe more than I thought I would. The internet makes everything SO much easier. I love that I can find out stuff like this and not wonder what became of or what do you call this or how do I make that? The world-wide web takes the guess work out of most things today. I hope to continue this series as artists or actors pop in my mind and hopefully others will enjoy being entertained by whatever I come up with.