ELO Albums Ranked
The Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) are an English rock band formed in Birmingham in 1970 by songwriters-multi-instrumentalists Jeff Lynne and Roy Wood with drummer Bev Bevan. Their music is characterized by a fusion of Beatlesque pop, classical arrangements, and futuristic iconography. After Wood’s departure in 1972, Lynne became the band’s sole leader, arranging and producing every album while writing nearly all of their original material. For their initial tenure, Lynne, Bevan, and keyboardist Richard Tandy were the group’s only consistent members. ELO was formed out of Lynne’s and Wood’s desire to create modern rock and pop songs with classical overtones. It derived as an offshoot of Wood’s previous band, The Move, of which Lynne and Bevan were also members. During the 1970s and 1980s, ELO released a string of top 10 albums and singles, including two LPs that reached the top of British charts: the disco-inspired Discovery (1979) and the science-fiction-themed concept album Time (1981). In 1986, Lynne lost interest in the band and disbanded the group. Bevan responded by forming his own band, ELO Part II, which later became the Orchestra. After a brief reunion from 2000–01, ELO remained largely inactive until 2014, when Lynne re-formed the band again with Tandy as Jeff Lynne’s ELO. During ELO’s original 14-year period of active recording and touring, they sold over 50 million records worldwide and collected 19 CRIA, 21 RIAA, and 38 BPI awards. From 1972 to 1986, ELO accumulated twenty-seven Top 40 songs on the UK Singles Chart and fifteen Top 20 songs on the US Billboard Hot 100. The band also holds the record for having the most Billboard Hot 100 Top 40 hits (20) without a number-one single of any band in US chart history. In 2017 the ELO line-up of Wood, Lynne, Bevan, and Tandy was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Here are all ELO albums ranked.
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10. Electric Light Orchestra (1971)
“This is the only album that Electric Light Orchestra played and produced under the concept of its name. It is a crazy project that replaces electric guitars with wind and string instruments, and also plays them on their own. The cello playing Roy Wood has released the presence of fuzz guitar. I tried putting an orchestra that tends to rock, but it is a monster work where cello and horn are elements of the band.”
9. ELO 2 (1972)
“I think this album is certainly the equal of most Jeff Lynne’s ELO albums–and is actually superior to Lynne’s solo project. There is no bad track on the album; even the bagatelle “Hello” is exceptionally catchy. Great meleodies from beginning to end, with the progressive rock arrangements you’d expect from an ELO protege. And while Bev Bevan’s songs are great on this, particularly impressive is the work by a relatively unknown Eric Troyer, who I hope will be heard of more soon.”
8. Secret Messages (1983)
“In E.L.O’s history, an album that has become a so-called downfall that has passed its peak has come back to life as an augmented revision. As a result, the new score of Lins E.L.O, which was released at the same time, is not limited to this, despite its masterpiece. It can be said that it was completed as a great masterpiece after 35 years.”
7. On The Third Day (1973)
“This is an ELO that makes genuinely great rock for their era, nearly on par with the Led Zeppelin of the era. When things come naturally, the band is a dead pull hitter and swats home runs. For example: Oh No Not Susan, Bluebird Is Dead, New World Rising, King Of The Universe, Showdown. It’s not poppy. It’s not prog. It’s just really good rock, in the same vein as Zep or Sabbath of the era. The strings are intimately played, so this band on this album has a sound like no other.”
6. Discovery (1979)
“In some ways this is the beginning of the end. Jeff turns his back on the American rock audience, or didn’t realize they were still there. An air of exhaustion with ELO hangs over the project. Even to this day, he goes into the studio alone, but the dismantling began here, shedding his string players. Mik Kaminski in particular. The cold embrace of disco never feels quite right, but it never feels quite wrong. The phrase ‘tour de force’ is aptly applied to Shine A Little Love. It is a marvel of human engineering.”
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5. Face The Music (1975)
“But back to FTM. Great songwriting, great orchestration. As for Down Home Town: if you like Dylan/Travelling Wilburys, you will like this too. Did the TWs cover this track? Not sure. But it sure sounds like a pre-cursor to them.
In my opinion, there isn’t a bad track on this album, and you can here how Jeff Lynne’s songwriting is evolving into the tracks on A New World Record and Out Of The Blue. I love it!
I’m now tempted to go back an album, to … Elderado …”
4. Eldorado (1974)
“Great album from ELO, after decades of wanting this album I finally bought it on cd years and years ago. Unfortunately I lost the cd… and bought it again, which is cool, cus now there are bonus tracks (although the one is only .45 seconds long, the instrumental medley is nice)! Viola!”
3. Time (1981)
“This was ELO’s ninth studio album, released in 1981, four years after their immense “Out of the Blue” album.
A lot of the classic ELO feel runs through this album, although it also represented (at that time) a bit of change of direction for Jeff Lynne and the band. Moreover, signaled a departure from the band’s sound by emphasizing electronics over its usual orchestra.”
2. A New World Record (1976)
“I have always been a ELO Greatest Hits fans with a few more songs thrown in. I decided to check out A New World Record and at the same time bought Out Of The Blue. Can’t believe what I have been missing out on all these years. Two great albums! Also bought Zoom when I read a review that said it was the best ELO album you have never heard. I love it. Took me a long time to become more than a greatest hits fan but I am well on my way to going beyond. Jeff Lynne is a genius. Love it!”
1. Out Of The Blue (1977)
“Eldorado showed the maturation of his vision, and thereafter honing it increasingly on Face The Music and A New World Record, his vision converged towards global consensus, a message for everyone. So it was here on Out Of The Blue, with the full toolbox of songcraft, singing, production of rock with symphony, under his firm command, that Jeff Lynne, made the album for all time. It would be the last on which he did so. The album climbs one dizzying height after another, any number of potential #1 hits in its wake. E.g. Sweet Is The Night, South Of The Border, Starlight, Night In The City, Birmingham Blues, were all left as great great songs, undiscovered hits in an AOR format, while Sweet Talking Woman, Wild West Hero, Turn To Stone, and Mr Blue Sky made radio rotation.”
