Out Of The Blue

ELO is a n amazing band and this is one of their best!!

it's nice, addicting in a way

Another album of songs I have never listened to - except "Mr. Blue Sky". The layers in every song are just mind blowing. I cannot even imagine the work that went into the recording of this collection of songs. Oh dude, I wish the first 12 seconds of “Birmingham Blues” was a whole song. So gorgeous.

70 minutes of pure magic!! It doesn’t matter that the vocals are not perfect because the sound of the album is exquisitely perfect. The hit singles are perfectly placed among the album making sure there is no lull at all. I don’t want to name check tracks as there are so many I love but the experimental ‘the whale’ I mean the fact I could picture in my head a couple of whales in the sea in love whilst listening just shows the power this band has. Just like ‘jungle’ takes you into the middle of the Amazon. Fave track- as to be ‘mr blue sky’ however strong calls for many more especially ‘Wild West hero’ just missing out! Least fave track- ‘starlight’ for me I’m afraid but it was hard to pick one! 10/10 for me !

Incredible ride.

One of my favorites, but then almost everything by ELO and Jeff Lynne is among my favorites.

Full circle with this thing. Listened to it repeatedly with my dad, and my son listened to it with me this go round. Son gives it a 5, and I don't even think he knows how much his grandpa likes this album. Is this hereditary or a learned behavior? 5 because it's good and because I got to have the same special time with my son that my dad had with me. 5/5

Super great vibe, queen and the beach boys energy

Such joy hit me when I saw this album pop up on my list. It’s just an all time classic with such a warm inviting sound

I listened to Night in the City in a packed Philadelphia subway car during the World Cup and it was a delightfully visceral experience. This whole album is awesome. I get why ELO has its haters. I will not be one of them.

An instant 5 stars really. Pure opera, with bits that remind me of playing on the old Mega drive. Could have been 3 hours and I wouldn't have minded

I have loved ELO since I was a pre-teen. Had the double LP and always listened to the entire thing. It's been decades since I have given it a full listen. I forgot how awesome the whole thing is.

A great throwback album with some really catchy tunes.

Album #102: Out of the Blue - Electric Light Orchestra Genre (W): Progressive pop, orchestral pop, art rock Singles: Turn to Stone, Mr. Blue Sky, Sweet Talkin’ Woman, Wild West Hero, It’s Over I have not listened to this album before. Thoughts?: This is an amazing album. I love the versatility of the music. The varying influences used within them, and Concerto for a Rainy Day is such an amazing piece. I’m proud of Jeff Lynne’s ability to craft hits and songs! Favorite songs: All of it!!

Que genio Jeff lynne

Beyond "Mr. Bluesky" my experience with these guys is next to nil, which is ironic, as they were one of Dad's favourite bands. Immediately blown away by "Turn to Stone"; hugely fascinating musical arrangements and variation in vocal delivery; they're like a cosmic marriage of Queen and The Beatles to my ears. "It's Over" was simply gorgeous, with it's strings and pianos and guitars and that sonically distinct recorded vocals of the 70s all blends into something that I just want to listen to forever. I read somewhere that in the 70s there was still little chance to edit any recordings in-post, meaning that bands had to nail the performances with well-placed mics and professionally tuned instruments. This fact elevated my appreciation of the music considerably and will going forward for this decade and older. "Across the Border" with it's mariachi style mixed among ELO's signature sound was a big surprise and "Night in the City" with it's suave guitar licks at the beginning make it sound a decade ahead of it's time, then to surprise with it's cowbells and psychedelic sounds. "Starlight" shows a softer side of the album and "Jungle" proves, again, how they were capable of producing a sound so far ahead of their time. This band is incredible and I am annoyed I slept on them for so long. More favourites: "Steppin' Out", "Standin' In The Rain", "Summer and Lightning", "Mr. Bluesky", "The Whale", "Wild West Hero"... Yeah, this album was just a masterpiece for me. Just regret not listening to more ELO sooner.

I really liked this album. Just so upbeat and groovy. They remind me a lot of Queen.

This is perfection

🚀👽🎤🤩🪐

5 Listened to this once years ago and thought it was mid but listening again now and it's honestly amazing, front to back every song is great

A sweet talkin’ masterpiece full of joy!

Incrível. Todas as músicas são muito boas

Since the reviews indicated the album was lengthy, I listened to it while paging through "One Thousand Recordings to Hear Before You Die" which I just got from the library. Still shaking my head that Lady Gaga is omitted from it as well as this site. What the actual f*ck? I liked this album though. 5 stars

Guardianes de la Galaxia siempre un 10/10

GOAT album

What a surprise ? I'm typically down for a fun rush, but what the hell ? I knew Mister Blue Sky, (I ain't a monster) but I never got around to listen to the album it came from, and man, am I glad I did. That particular song makes so much more song in context. I think it has most things I like, ambition and a point of view, a coherent play-trough, diversity in sounds. Obviously, I hear a bit of the Beatles, Queen, even the Alan Parsons Project, therefore I don't know if there are mining their own sound. However, I don't really care, cause what I hear mostly is dramatic fun, vigour, and an humph let's go after it. It's incredibly lively to me, and I definitely went along for the ride. I even got inspired to go outside walking, and I don't know if I would have loved it as much had I received it on not the sunniest of Fridays, but I did, and it was incredible. It's quite long, but it flows so easily, it's so polished and goes down so smooth I didn't really mind. After listening to it, there ain't much I'd get rid of (aside from Birmingham Blues which is the only one I wasn't invested in.) I am half convinced people that don't like this are either lying for clout or miserable, or probably vampires, cause it's pure sun harvest.

I love my star lord Funko pop nah but fr this is GOATED big 5

Wonderful album by a wonderful band. Total banger with no track outstaying its welcome

I don't think I've ever disliked an ELO song.

An all timer

In the first song with that the fast lyrics of yes I’m turning into stone cause you ain’t coming home goes so hard. Standin’ in the rain production is so well done. let the orchestra cook! Nah this whole album got such a phenomenal production holy shit.

Super !!

this already is a 5 stars, electric light orchestra is just that bitch aaand i ended up listening to it 3 times!

I love ELO so much. Jeff Lynne gets called “the 5th Beatle” so often, but I don’t think it’s really a fair comparison because he’s just so much better at writing interesting songs. 10/10

Honestly, every song is a banger.

Love it. Definitely my favorite album so far. ELO is so good.

A perfect album in every sense of the word. It could have gone on for another hour and I would not have minded. Electric Light Orchestra is the closest thing to The Beatles that the 70s ever had. I give this a six out of five.

first electric lights orchestra album i've listened to, lyrics had me bouncing between thoughts of what has happened and what could've been, very transcendental album that speaks to your mind directly, and flows beautifully.

Goddamn that was somehow better than I could have possibly expected There’s so many bangers on this one, Turn to Stone’s a fantastic opener, just great energy and might be some of the best use of strings I can think of in rock. Steppin’ Out feels like a fusion of Pink Floyd and Bowie, just some really powerful chords in that one with great vocals. Mr. Blue Sky is probably a top 25 song of all time, just objectively a super happy song that’s got everything from great vocals, a memorable solo, and of course the awesome orchestral part at the end (which i now have even more appreciation from, considering some of those motifs show up in other songs in this album). Birmingham Blues was yet another standout, really just showcases their range. I think the variety on this album is outstanding, where no two songs sound the same. There’s so many cool instruments in here, obviously headlined by their signature strings, but there’s all sorts of great, rarely used instruments like clavichords and fire extinguishers (yes, really). Jeff Lynne’s a great vocalist on this one and really does make this one feel epic and special. I don’t think every song on this album is life changing, but considering it’s a double album that’s kinda expected; there’s no real stinkers in this one and the average ones are more than passable. There’s just so much this album does right that other groups don’t, really just feels like so much heart was put into this one. Would be pretty surprised if I found 10 albums that I liked more than this one by the time we’re done with this list, so this is probably in the upper echelon of what this list has given us with Cosmo’s Factory and Zeppelin II.

Wow! They really have a unique style, feels very retro at times, reminds me of Paul McCartney actually, but then you have this really fun instrumentation and strings and sounds and its a wonderful blend. Mr. Blue Sky is one of the most well known songs that everyone has heard hundreds of times. And I will say, that despite how often I have heard it, it's still one of the best songs ever. I could never get sick of it. Great album!

The variety in this album is off the charts. No two songs sound the same and they are all so fantastic and fun to listen to. I could go on about how much I enjoyed this album, but a lot of people already share this opinion, so I'll not do that.

Where has this been all my life? Was very excited to see this pop up because I do just love ELO, but I have never actually listened to this full album, so there's new stuff here that I didn't have a opinion on before going in. ELO is just good fun, and I think this whole album fits that definition. Each track is an awesome blend of orchestra, synth, harpsichord, guitar, and (usually) electronic vocals. I can understand the vocals not being to everyone's taste, but they fit so well. They also share a distinct similarity with Queen when it comes harmonies, which is always a compliment. I don't think there was a single track that I wasn't actively enjoying. Pleased to say that I enjoyed every track, including all of the ones I had never heard before. Definitely gained a whole bunch of playlist additions.

This was awesome. I am a big ELO fan and have heard (and love) a few of these tracks before (Turn to Stone, Sweet Talkin' Woman, and Mr. Blue Sky), but most of the rest of the album was a first listen for me. It really felt like a cohesive suite of music rather than a collection of disparate tracks. I heard so many influences and flavors of other artists, particularly The Beatles (strong John Lennon vibes), Freddie Mercury, and Elton John. If I had any criticism, it would be that the music sounds a little samey after a while, but honestly, the rich, warm feel and sound are so nice, I really didn't mind much. Five stars.

loved it!

What a surprise find for me! Cool, energetic rock. Great music and vocals. They sound like so many other bands at once, which makes them sound even cooler.

Groupe culte et feel good s’il en est, trop bien

The album was great, all the melodies, the singing.. perfect! Would definitely recommend listening to it

Very good

Legendary, timeless and such a great ending considering the song combinations.

Easy 5

what a great album

An easy 5. Even though I like El Dorado better.

Awesome!

This is another one of those album me that could be a greatest hits collection almost on its own. Not a bad track. The writing is phenomenal, Jeff Lynne is a musical genius and I’ll die on that hill. If Sir Paul is a fan, it can’t be bad. If fact he had said before that if The Beatles had survived into the 70’s he imagined they would’ve sounded a lot like ELO.

Great way to start this project. What an electro-symphonic rock masterpiece. Extremely fun listening

Massive album at 17 songs and about every single orchestral arrangement you can think of. Saw some reviews that were like "Jeff, we get it. You like the Beatles." haha. Generational talent and some quality bangers. I thought this would have been closer to the 60's than 80's, so a little later than expected. The song "Believe me Now" is THE most Daft Punk song I've heard from the 60's or 70's. Super creative, awesome album.

turn 2 stone - cool chords!! i like the synth shit i 4got abt the notes um starlight - very good, very jazzy (?) n groovy jungle - quite the jungly vibe steppin' out - abit boring idk. still good tho mr. blue sky - HEY IVE HEARD THIS SONG B4 got distracted n didnt even realise i finished the album anyway very good i like it

You can't go wrong with ELO

What can I say? I'm a sucker for that psychedelic-ass mid-70s stadium rock sound.

Etwa 2016 bin ich zum Bahnhof, dort in einen Zug gestiegen, von dort zum Flughafen wo ich ein Flugzeug bestieg, dort in eine U-Bahn mit Umstieg zu einer S-Bahn, in Wembley raus, um für einen absurden Preis die greisen Überreste von ELO zu sehen. Und ich beschwere mich nichtmal. So gut sind die immer noch.

Absolute banger

Probably in my top 25 of all time. Classic.

Possibly the first album I actually fell 8n l9ve with as a complete work. Still sounds amazing and very positive.

Very interesting, gotta think about this one...

I'm of course familiar with some of ELO's breakout hits, and both of my parents were/are fans of the band, so I had high hopes going into this. They were more than surpassed. This is precisely my kind of grand, larger than life prog pop; it's epic without falling susceptible to cheesiness, it's not virtuosic / overly show-off like (which I'm not against by any means if it's substantiated), it's cheerful at every turn, the vocal/instrumental harmonies are sumptuous, the orchestral arrangements are colossal, and more or less every song here feels like a vital piece of the jigsaw. My only minuscule criticism is that there is a slight drop off towards the end of the first disc ("Believe Me Now" and "Steppin' Out" are somewhat limp compared to the banger run of tracks that precede them), but "Standin' In The Rain" onwards is a hell of a second wind. You could also argue that this very much sounds of its era, but there's nothing wrong with that in my eyes as it forms the core of Out of the Blue's character. An absolutely stunning album. The next one I'll be purchasing.

Mr Blue Sky is a legit banger.

Very fun. More like a 4.5 but rounding up.

Las voces me recuerdan mucho a Queen en su etapa de su disco Jazz, suenan bien bastante frescos y con ritmos muy digeribles y elegantes

This album manages to simultaneously remind me of predecessorial artists like the Beatles, contemporary artists like Queen (at times), and subsequent artists like MGMT. It somehow feels both naturally derivative and incredibly influential, and to me this sort of artistic iteration is what music is all about. Taking something you love and putting your individual spin on it to create something new and unique. Man, what a soundscape. I had to double check what year this album came out. It sounds so ahead of its time and displays a surprisingly wide variety of sonic experiences across its 80 minute runtime. It often really does sound like a light orchestral piece, especially with the heavy use of grand piano and strings, but the electricity of the guitars, synths, and layered vocals all shine through bringing this project into the modern era. It succeeds in both juxtaposing musical instruments used throughout different parts of modern history and creating a harmonious blend of old and new sounds. Jeff Lynne is a visionary and this is a masterpiece. Absolutely loved!

Favorite song: Was a huge fan of the transition between Standin’ in the Rain/Big Wheels Would rate 4.5 if I had half stars. Thank you to the Beatles for another great album! I don’t necessarily mean that as a criticism. ELO’s music feels like a direct continuation of the Beatles’ experimental studio approach. Their infusion of orchestral elements and synthesizers feels directly inspired, but the way they use them is successful in iterating on the groundwork they laid in an interesting way. This album also reminded me of their contemporaries Queen, with the theatrical orchestration and polished harmonies. The spacey, psychedelic atmosphere feels similar to Dark Side of the Moon at times as well. Both bands are also heavily inspired by the Beatles, so I see them as sort of cut from the same cloth in a way. My favorite part of this album was how successful it was in blending classic rock with futuristic elements. It’s like pure retrofuturism as an album, and I really enjoyed the aesthetics and soundscape. It feels like a sort of bridge between its predecessors and a lot of more modern music I enjoy today. I appreciated the heavy infusion of synthesizers and their use of talk boxes. The electronic elements definitely feel more progressive than the way they were used in rock previously. I know a lot of my review is kind of calling ELO derivative and then giving them a 5, but I think there is a case for the value of iteration, and they were certainly original enough for their work to be worthwhile. While I thought a lot about who influenced ELO while listening to this album, I also couldn’t help but notice that Daft Punk is clearly influenced by them, lol. I did actually know the most prominent sample in Face to Face is ELO, but I didn’t know they were doing all that with the vocoders back then.

Absolutely brilliant. A genuine masterpiece.

good.

Is the WHOLE album worth a five? Maybe not, but blue sky and turn to stone are enough, and I LIKE all the tunes fine

yeah that's that good stuff

So excited. This album was pretty good; not all are bangers, but really good.

Is this really the only ELO record in this project?

Absolutely fantastic album. I love the hits, and everything in between is still really enjoyable.

almost a perfect album. not a bad song on it. In another century, Jeff Lynne is composing symphonies

Did not expect to give this a 5 at all, but man this is a fantastic album. Jeff Lynne is somewhere up there on my personal list of genius songwriters/arrangers and his talents are on full display here. It's ornate, it's layered (some might say overstuffed but I won't), the production is excellent, it clearly references the Beatles and Beach Boys (in my book this is good, not a downside), just generally ticks all the boxes. It was (and probably still is) desperately uncool to like ELO but I have no qualms reveling in the near-perfection of some of these songs. The mini-weather-suite on side 3 is so cool, culminating in Mr. Blue Sky which is just a monumental song. Some really quirky and offbeat moments like Jungle that also caught me by surprise, as well as the horns on Across the Border. I think this one has become more well-regarded as time has passed but I just found it an overall listen that brought a smile to my face.

Struggling to give this anything other than 5 stars tbh!

Back to back bangers - zero skips This album was goated when I was 20 months old and my parents made me listen to ELO, and it's still goated now.

Peak

I’ve loved ELO for a long time, this album is their core with a majority of their most popular songs. The rest of their discography has a lot of interesting work as well. Never going to complain much about an ELO album.

gonna be a 5 from me, dawg

A double album full of deep cuts from my fourth favorite Traveling Wilbury? Sign me up!

Chef d’oeuvre

An album of bangers!

This was my 1st album that I bought with my own money. Amazing double album. Pitchfork: 8.1 Rolling Stone: n/a Best Songs (so many more...) Turn to Stone Across the Border Starlight Jungle Big Wheels Summer and Lightning Mr. Blue Sky Sweet Is the Night Wild West Hero

Surpirsingly good, after all these years they still satisfy!

Absolute marvelous, perfection, magnificent, godly tunes.

This is where orchestral ambition meets pop perfection — and somehow still feels effortless. From your perspective, this album sits right in that sweet spot between melodic craftsmanship and sonic architecture — the kind you later gravitate toward in Depeche Mode, just built with strings instead of synths. Driven by Jeff Lynne’s obsessive studio vision, Out of the Blue is less a collection of songs and more a fully constructed world — a double album that never collapses under its own weight. Tracks like Mr. Blue Sky and Turn to Stone don’t just play — they shine, built on layered harmonies, phased vocals, and that unmistakable ELO fusion of Beatlesque warmth and futuristic gloss. Historically, it lands at a crucial moment: when analog studio maximalism reaches its peak — just before punk strips everything back. And yet, it doesn’t feel excessive. It feels optimistic. This album gives me pure melodic light wrapped in grand design. A reminder that complexity doesn’t have to feel heavy — sometimes it just floats.

Primera vez escuchando el disco. Un disco desbordante en creatividad y júbilo, donde cada sonido no pasa desapercibido y cada canción es una obra orquestada de forma única. Una obra maestra. Si tuviera que escoger una canción favorita, serían 2, porque es imposible en escoger solo una, Sweet Talkin' Woman y Mr. Blue Sky.

Wonderful album

After one listen, yeah it's a really good album. I'm not sure any one song stood out. That might be a good thing that means every song is a 10/10. Maybe so. There's just so much to take in with one sitting. We'll see how I feel tomorrow.

First ELO listen outside of Mr. Blue Sky. Fantastic listen. Lush, layered arrangements and performances. Catchy songs. The best compliment I can give is it makes me want to check out more ELO.

Pretty cool album.

9/10. Fav Tracks - Turn To Stone, Jungle, Summer and Lightning, Mr Blue Sky What an absolute ray of sunshine this album is.

Phenomenal! It's complex but accessible, clever without showing off and the production and mix are superb. It's every genre at once and it pulls it off completely, it's just pure music

Just a joy to listen to. You can see why many consider them a continuation of The Beatles sound.

It's like a long and thrillsome journey, and I don't want to finish it yet

My goodness, that took me back, and made me realize why I like the modernish groups I like.

Classic Rock

The best feels good album out there.

I grew up listening to ELO as my dad was a big fan. This album was a standout one for me and I always loved the artwork as well. Great album.

Чудово

This is the first record I purchased in 1977, and it is still one of my favorites. This album is what defines ELO and Jeff Lynne's songwriting talents. I mean, who writes a double record in two weeks that would go on to sell 10M+ copies? This one gets an 11!

1. Electric Light Orchestra - Out of the Blue (1977) Вывод: Ощущение простоты при сложной многослойной записи Это моё первое прослушивание. Сначала сложно было слушать из-за того, что появлялись треки в стиле диско, сбивая с толку и о боже, 'Jungle', которая как-то не вяжется с общим тоном Так как альбом состоит из 4 сторон, я рассматриваю каждую пластинку отдельно и замечаю чёткое разделение как произведения 1️⃣Первая часть: 'Turn to Stone' началось активно: очень фанк и рок-н-ролл, позитив, мило и задорно, насыщенно и сложно, и на второй ('It's Over') я уже заметила некоторый намёк на будущие части, где будет другое настроение, этакая червинка Они гармонично подали и намекнули и вплели 2️⃣Вторая часть начинается с красивой более классической 'человеческой мелодии', а затем приходит шикарная интерлюдия (люблю это явление если честно), мне понравился этот проигрыш и продолжение в виде песни длиннее Хорошее продолжение, 'Starlight' шедевр 3️⃣Третья часть про погоду, мне вообще стоит говорить про 'Mr. Blue Sky'? Её все знают, ода солнцу Наиболее запомнилась 'Big Wheels', лёгкие мелодии и в то же время, разнообразные 4️⃣Ну и 4 часть, это прям олицетворение обложки - холодное звучание, более космическое, это как раз то, о чем весь альбом - довольно пафосно в какой-то мере, но чувствуется что сделано с намерением и душевным порывом, а не желанием показать крутость и что мол 'смотрите, это технически сложно' Это сложно, да, но и приятно, легко считывается И заканчивается альбом рок-н-роллом как и начался, с БОЛЕЕ СЛОЖНЫМ построением и бриджами 'Birmingham Blues' вернуло меня к воспоминаниям о битлз, песня 'Taxman' битловская с их особым пением и построением ритма, но не похожи вставками Последняя песня это пианино, красивое и чистое, классическое Даже удивительно какая изящная простота, окончание звучит как оно и должно быть В этом мне ELO зашли - они делают контраст между человеческим вокалом и темами, перемежая это высокотехничными вещами и гармонией инструментов Жанры типа кантри, диско, рок-н-ролл, которые очень человечные они смогли красиво и органично сочетать с футуристичными напевами и проигрышами Могу сказать что весь альбом пропитан любовью к миру Дают полетать высоко, но недолго - Земля с ее солнцем все же прекраснее, чем космическая синева

ELO walked so Queen could run Second album on this list I've listened to so far which I would consider "most perfect" - no corners cut throughout the production process, makes you wish for more in the best way possible. Can't begin to imagine how revolutionary this album sounded back when it released in 1977

What an absolute peach of an album. I never felt like it outstayed it's welcome and it's packed full of belting songs, including a few stone cold classics. This has to be five stars

ELO is a like a doughnut: so sweet that you sometimes can't consume so much. This exceptional album is the exception. This album has it all, some highs, some lows, some songs that run together beautifully. 'Out of the Blue' is not only the best ELO album; it is also my fave album of 1977. Top tracks: "Jungle," "Mr. Blue Sky," "Turn to Stone," "Standin' in the Rain," "Steppin' Out," "The Whale," "It's Over"

--Turn to Stone...production masterclass --It's Over...cheesy but wonderful --Sweet Talkin' Woman...the hits keep comin'. reminds me of "You're Going to Lose That Girl" --Across the Border...booty shaker with a great build --Night in the City...didn't love it starting out but the back half is nice --Starlight...feels like I'm playing the night levels from Sonic the Hedgehog --Jungle...we got a stomp-clapper! a good one! --Believe Me Now...spacey instrumental --Steppin' Out...feels like one of John Lennon's solo songs --Standin' in the Rain...weird. I appreciate weird --Big Wheels...starts slow but soon soars --Summer and Lightning...another one that takes a while to get going but the Righteous Brothers back half is fun --Mr. Blue Sky...I'm convinced Wes Anderson was birthed from this song. Venus out of the sea foam shit --Sweet Is the Night...bless you, Jeff Lynne --The Whale...tasty instrumental --Birmingham Blues...this is a brilliant dude having fun and it's infectious --Wild West Hero...this was a great experience

Impossible to not catch the good vibes. Accessible and catchy but with plenty of variance

Mint. Blusey and beatlesy.

Out of the Blue was beautiful. The first few minutes were simple fun pop rock with a unique catalog of instruments and layering. But as the album progressed, it showed emotion, complex orchestration, and beautiful arrangements that gave the album engaging variety. What a colorful album to go with a perfectly fitting design cover. Perfect 5.

Turn to Stone remains one of the GOAT opening tracks

A classic.

love these songs, classic album

This I think is the most complete and consistent double album ever. Double albums almost all have the same problem, which is that they're too long and didn't exercise enough quality control, which is how come they ended up as double albums. So there's some where I think the strongest single-album you could cull from that material is better (e.g. Physical Graffiti, Use Your Illusion, Mellon Collie, White Album [although The Beatles sort of get a pass because they clearly knew WA2 was kind of crap, that's why they stuffed all the junk into it], even Europe 72 [where they stuffed all the 20 minute space jams noodles into the 2nd album]), but there are none that have as high a floor as this. Partly that's because it's not THAT long for a double - at 70 minutes it's about as long as the most bloated single-albums from the CD era, so relative to e.g. Mellon Collie, which runs over 2 hours, it's more like a 1-and-a-quarter album. Partly it's because it has so many instrumentals and long instrumental sections, which functions better as filler. Partly it's because it's so strong on the back half, with several of the best tracks (notably "Wild West Hero" and the title track) closing the album, so it doesn't feel like a slog. And partly it's because there's such a strong continuity of sound - it doesn't seem like it's explicitly a concept album, but the palette is very consistent, and there's even a theme that they play a couple time (e.g. the beginning of "It's Over" and the end of "Mr. Blue Sky"). And this really does have just a remarkable sound. ELO plays with a massive sound that covers the whole range, with Lynn's falsetto and the orchestral instruments (or their mellotron equivalent) at the high end, enormous backing vocals on basically every track, and thumping drum and bass. They do a really nice job blending blues-rock with their sort of default-mode music-hall style sound, the way the Beatles did, e.g. on "Wild West Hero" or "Birmingham Blues". They've just got a ton of catchy hooks too - in addition to those listed about, each of the first three tracks on the CD has a killer hook. It's just beautifully done - catchy melodies, clever harmonies, wonderful instrumentation.

I remember the release of this album very well. My musical heritage up to then (Beatles progressing into Prog) meant that I should have embraced this album. However I had foolishly abandoned my music principles in favour of a brief dalliance with punk and ska and this album arrived bang in the middle of that. So initially I never gave this album the time I should have. It was only after the release of Mr Blue Skies that I came to my senses. One of the happiest and uplifting tunes you are ever likely to hear. A song which also reminds me of one of the happiest times of my life attending a five week advanced driving course. Odd thing to say but still personal to me. I never bought this album for reasons above but after listening to it today still feel I know every note. I really do need to right this wrong and I am about to go onto Music Magpie to purchase along with other ELO classics I also missed. 5/5 9/2/26

Special.

just pure joy

It may be a tad too long and a few songs maybe aren't the best, but I love ELO from this era and this is probably their best album.

Impossible to feel bad when listening to this album!

Turn to Stone // Sweet Talkin’ Woman // Night in the City // Starlight // Steppin’ Out // Mr. Blue Sky //

Phenomenal album. Excellent listen. Such a perfect product of the time. A really unique sound overall and very enjoyable. Favorite tracks ended up being, "Steppin' Out" and of course "Mr Blue Sky."

Was very excited to see this pop up because I do just love ELO, *but* I have never listened to this full album, so there's new stuff here that I didn't have a preformed opinion on. ELO are just good fun, and I think this whole album fits that definition. Each track is an awesome blend of orchestra, synth, harpsichord, guitar, and (usually) electronic vocals. I can understand the vocals not being to everyone's taste, but they fit so well. I don't think there was a single track that I wasn't subconsciously either foot-tapping or head-bobbing along to. Pleased to say that I enjoyed every track, including all of the ones I had never heard before. Definitely gained a whole bunch of playlist submissions. Highlights: - Across The Border* - I mean, was that a mariachi band?! - Night In The City* - lots of different stuff going on in this one, even deeper layers than a lot of the others, somewhat darker tone. - Jungle* - really different vibe, yet somehow still very ELO. Just stands out as a really cool experiment. - Summer and Lightning* - Mr. Blue Sky - classic, obvious all time great - Birmingham Blues* - awesome vibe, great musically, loved it - Wild West Hero* - another quite different one. Incorporated some country aspects but also shifted about in terms of atmosphere a lot. Easy, no regrets, proud 5. * = Never heard the track before

Мне безумно понравилось звучание альбома, казалось бы многие треки на нем были мне известны, но вцелом он открылся по другому. Он наполнен множеством мелких деталей, прислушавшись к которым начинаешь любить этот альбом еще сильнее.

Great!!

A strong opening with Turn to Stone, ELO has an awesome and totally distinct sound. Sweet talking woman, a banger. Mr. Blue Sky? One of the most iconic songs ever. How could one dislike this album?

Top 10

It’s a lot of music and it’s brilliant. Not perfect but amazing just the same.

Masterpiece in album making just flows and shows off their style so well

I am confused as to how I missed this album, but it does not matter that much I guess. Maybe it just refreshed before it says it is supposed to and the current album is actually tomorrow's album. Either way, I am listening to the other one tomorrow. Track 1 of this album is pretty good, I have heard "Mr. Blue Sky" by this band before and I like it a lot. Track 2 is also pretty good, I think I like it more than track 1. Track 3 is also really good, I am liking this album a lot so far. It just sounds like they translated the joys of dopamine into music. I do not like track 4 as much, but it is still good. Track 5 is good. Track 6 is also pretty good, I feel like I do not have much to critique about this album. It is just a nice, easy listen. Track 7 was okay, definitely not one of my favorites but still good. Track 8 was short with little to no lyrics, but I still enjoyed it a lot. Track 9 is definitely my favorite song on the album so far. Honestly, I am exhausted today but I like this album a lot. Definitely 5 stars.

Mr. Blue Sky is a classic

I love ELO. I love this album. Some of their greatest hits but also some album gems too. Incredible listen.

I loved it 10/10

Wow this was so good. Such an upbeat 70s sound.

no i absolutely love this album, songs are great, im actually speechless 🫨🫨

Riktigt bra album!! Gillar verkligen ELO och denna känns som ett skolboksexempel på en platta från dem!

Proper album, a moment in time that i didn't think I'd enjoy as much as i have. Topped off with Mr blue sky

Brilliant way to start off my journey! I sure hope the next album is just as good...

Super album, I didnt realise it would have so many songs im familiar with.

This feels massive in a way I can’t ignore. The layering is almost orchestral, with strings, harmonies, and synths all stacked in a way that feels carefully constructed rather than just decorative. It’s very polished, sometimes almost too clean, but the ambition carries it. A lot of these songs feel bigger than they should, like they’re reaching toward something more expansive than standard pop structures. It doesn’t have weight in a heavy sense, but the scale and arrangement give it a kind of depth I keep coming back to.

My only impression of this album was “Mr. Blue Sky” from Guardians of The Galaxy and it did not disappoint! I saved every track, I will definitely get more into their discography, 5 stars ⭐️

j'ai adoré, vraiment super moment

Great album

Классный, жизнерадостный альбом. Ощущение, как будто наблюдаешь за всеми яркими и позитивными моментами главного героя какого-то фильма.

What a great album. Just fun. Super production. Shades of the Beatles, shades of Heros and Villians Beach Boys, 70’s orchestral, tight, so much to like. It almost tips too orchestral or classical for my liking but enough balance and restraint to keep it out of that relm. Another great Brum band.

I love this record. This is one where I heard it a lot as a kid because my parents liked ELO and it still holds up now that I'm an adult.

This was sick. Kind of reminded me of a more spacey experimental Queen with a touch of Pink Floyd. Cool synths and keys, fun poppy melodies. I enjoyed this thoroughly!

It's amazing!!!

9/10 !!!! Deep Space Disco. Starlord on the dancefloor. MUSIC UFO.

hell yeah ♡: Sweet Talkin’ Woman, Latitude 88 North

so good. every song was just great and it felt like really fun to listen to. i just enjoyed every song and it stayed entertaining while still being over an hour long. i can't choose favorites because it was just so solid all around. 10/10

I LOVE ELO!! it doesn't sound like the Beatles you guys are crazy. I love the orchestral instruments included throughout, and it's beautifully complex. I could listen to this album over and over.

Loveeeee

Turn to Stone - 5/5 It's Over - 5/5 Sweet Talkin' Woman - 4.5/5 Across the Border - 4/5 Night in the City - 3/5 Starlight - 3.5/5 Jungle - 5/5 Believe Me Now - 2/5 Steppin' Out - 3/5 Standin' in the Rain - 4/5 Big Wheels - 3.5/5 Summer and Lightning - 3.5/5 Mr. Blue Sky - 5/5 Sweet Is the Night - 4/5 The Whale - 2/5 Birmingham Blues - 4/5 Wild West Hero - 4.5/5 Latitude 88 North - 4/5

I knew this album was good but damn. Easy 5 stars.

I went into this expecting it to be a too-long, cheesy prog album that inexplicably shoehorns Mr Blue Sky into the mix I liked it far, far more than I thought I would or wanted to. It’s like Queen and The Wall-era Floyd got together, listened to The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway for hours and attempted to make a more ambitious and less insane epic concept rock opera of their own. Somehow, don’t ask me how, it just bloody works. It’s totally overblown and it IS too long and bordering on ludicrous but I loved it and smashed my way through it three or four times this week. AND it also inexplicably shoehorns Mr Blue Sky into the mix. It’s one of the most shamelessly fun records I’ve heard in this challenge.

10/10

holy peak. amazing album. so joyous and luscious. favourite track might be jungle or the whale, but they’re all really good. this album reminds me of phantom island by king gizzard but only better

Groovy and fun and nostalgic for me since mum and dad used to listen to ELO a lot when I was a kid. Highlights: Turn to Stone, Sweet Talkin' Woman, Across the Border, Steppin' Out, Mr Blue Sky (obvs)

This was such an interesting album to listen. I just only knew one song from it tho but i liked the vibes overall.

This sounds even better than I remember from the last time I fell into the ELO rabbit hole. 4.5

Automatic 5! One of my all-time favorites!

Once you hear the resemblance between ELO and pre-disco Bee Gees you can't unhear it, but that just adds to its appeal. Brilliant, if a little bloated.

Favorite record of all time. Side 3 is a masterpiece

YES Have you ever found yourself wondering: What would it have sounded like if the Beatles kept making music together in the 70s? This album is the answer.

As a fan of ELO I will say that this album is great and worth listening to... though it's a big uneven with it's length and there are better ELO albums that could have been included in this list instead.

Amazing

Surprised I loved this as much as I did bc I don't rly listen to stuff like this

10/10

Miiisteeer Bluueee Skyyyyy-ayyyy

i think i'm biased because i grew up with mr blue sky and sweet talking woman (thank u dad) but also this is so fun from start to finish. will be listening a lot!

Outstanding album. Has a couple of their classics in Mr Blue Sky and Sweet 🦜 Ng Woman, and the album is high quality from beginning to end. Jungle, Turn to Stone and Standin' in the rain are my picks.

Wall to wall bangers

Tremendous feel good album. Used to play this one when I wanted to boost a low mood when I was at Uni. Great.

A pop masterclass. Orchestral, hooky and effervescent.

No. 33 Good album with a ton of interesting sounds and ideas.

Has anyone ever internalized The Beatles' influence more than Jeff Lynne? Maybe, but you can make a strong case for him. The production is so lush and the arrangements are brilliant. From all reports, it seems he recreates this live impeccably, which is pretty damn impressive.

A huge variety of sounds, themes, and instruments throughout this excellent album.

Another really fun album! The influence from the Beatles is very clear, but I can also hear similarities with acts like Queen and Boston. I love the mix of guitars, drums, piano/synth and the string section. I really enjoyed the whole album so it was hard to pick which tracks to put on my playlist but I went with Turn to Stone and Sweet Talkin' Woman, since I've heard Mr Blue Sky enough.

Buckle up, it's time for an incredibly Jeff Lynne experience!

Un clásico. Todo bien.

The best produced, most consistent ELO album. This is a keeper. 4.5

The first record I bought with my own money. I loved this record at the time it came out and I still do. Such good memories and the music is very good.

Is this album basically just The Beatles with 70s disco instrumentation? Yes. Did I love it? Also, yes.

ELO is the quintessential synth pop/rock! Always good listen

Maybe a little dated, but packed back-to-back with singalong goodness, great harmonies, inventive marriage of strings and rock, supreme melody and hit-making by Jeff Lynne

Come back on, ELO, and carry on playing!

So different but original

First 5, incredible

Si hay una definición de lo que significa “disfrutable” esa es “Out Of The Blue”. De principio a fin, este doble álbum te proporciona las endorfinas necesarias para unas cuantas horas de sobrellevar las rutinas de nuestras anodinas vidas. Aquí tienes el pop y el rock and roll dándose la mano mientras disfrutas de los arreglos de cuerda, los teclados y guitarras estratégicamente diseñados para epatar y las armonías vocales y las melodías más pegadizas. Y puedes bailar si así lo deseas. Un disco que solo puede contribuir a nuestro buen humor y bienestar mental. Ponéoslo una vez al mes, es medicina.

absolute banger, one of my favorite albums of all time

Wow. Was not expecting this at all. I've only heard a couple of hits before, and realise they do not do ELO justice. This is fuck all like Telephone Line and shit. This is incredible. Really loved this, especially - this sounds so ridiculous - the orchestra parts! Fabulous!

Sounds like space travel meets the 70s jazz rock crowd Sweet talking woman gets overshadowed by the singles but it's a banger too

Side 3 is perfect

Remember the Childhood

Electric Light Orchestra is such a good name for their giant sounds produced by synth and rock instrumentation. The subject being frivolous just adds to the fun.

ELO music makes me travel in time and space. First time listening to this album end to end and is just amazing.

Banger album, slaps front to back. Good variety and songwriting shine through despite it being a longer record.

ELO is so underrated

Holy hell, this thing is a masterpiece of unhinged, polished-up pomp-rock. The energy is massive and the sheer scope of the instrumentation is absolutely dazzling. It’s orchestral pop perfection. A genuinely perfect and uplifting listen. Spins: 2 Playlist Additions Turn to Stone It’s Over Sweet Talkin’ Woman Across the Border Summer and Lightning Mr. Blue Sky

Album 942 of 1089 Electric Light Orchestra - Out Of The Blue (1977) Rating : 4.49 / 5 I’m still listening as I type this, trying to sort out how I feel about it - not because it’s difficult, but because there’s just so much to take in. I’ve read comments about it being “too long,” but I can’t agree with that. Four sides and just over an hour feels about right when every side has its own personality. In fact, side three, known as Concerto for a Rainy Day, ties together four tracks into a mini-suite around the theme of weather - and it works beautifully. The whole album flows nicely, me thinks. ELO is one of those rare bands that truly has their own sound. I know that can sound cliché, but in their case it’s accurate. The strings, the harmonies, the spacey effects -it all comes together into something instantly recognizable. Some say the songs start to sound alike, but I don’t hear it as repetition; I hear it as cohesion. That’s the sound of ELO. Jeff Lynne continues to impress me more as the years go by. Back in the day, I probably passed them off as just another band on the radio, but revisiting their work now really highlights how much craft and musicianship went into what they did. Out of the Blue is ambitious, melodic, and flat-out enjoyable. It’s proof that “radio rock” can also be smart, layered, and beautifully put together.

Fabulous album, amazing band

I love this album- I will listen to it again today. Starlight, Mr Blue, jungle

How the times are changing. This is a double album with a total play time of 70 minutes. Today, that would be one of the shorter albums. Please remember that this double album had to be split into 4 parts, and E.L.O. did that really well. Those tracks fly by so swiftly, as they are written, arranged, and produced so perfectly fitting. It's just a lot of fun listening to this.

Some of the best production of the 70's, I really love the string arrangements. There are a couple of songs here I am not crazy about, but there is enough great music that it balances out. Low 5.

ELO was always a band i wanted to dig in more and the more i listen to, the more i like them,by now i'm a huge fan!I also adore vocoders so..,I can clearly hear their German synth influences in this one,maybe that's why they finished this album in Munich. Favourites(all but mostly): Turn To Stone,Queen choir vibes at some point,amazing song, It's Over,when you know how to use the vocoder properly and blend it perfectly in your thing!Fantastic, Night In The City,their genius sampling reminded me of Kraftwerk Autobahn ones, Believe Me Now blends orchestral parts with vocoder as a passage to next Steppin' Out song,genius, Steppin' Out is an astral Beatles balad sung by David Bowie in Mars,absolutely fantastic, Standing In The Rain is just epic! Mr Blue Sky,another epic song especially towards the end,starts as a solid rock number and ends like a symphony with strong choir elements,magic, Sweet Is The Night, The Whale,how creative this band is,amazing, Birmingham Blues. Overall not a single song sounds the same,it was such a pleasure to my ears,such a creative and interesting album. Easy 5/5

this is the original more cowbell album. Great songs great vibe.

One of the great 70’s rock albums. Eric, progressive, cinematic, while maintaining the connection to classic rock and its other influences, including disco. I love disco. Favorite Track: Mr Blue Sky

Great

pretty chill did not expect this will grow on me prefer this to the smiths more movement

🙏

I thought each song was Mr. Blue Skies. Imagine my surprise that none of them were! ELO is an interesting band to me. They remind me a lot of the Ben Folks in Concert series where he performs with orchestras. Both do something that I think is much harder than it seems, which is make music thrilling, surprising, and playful. The chord shifts, the key changes, the auditory experimentation that is so clearly analogue, it's overwhelming in the best way--that I could listen 10 times and find new things to delight me. I remember hearing an NPR story that talks about how popular music gets less complicated every year, and I while I know they're right, these types of albums being today's inheritance I think informs the lushness of the pop girlies we've been blessed with in recent years. so anyway i think I liked this album

If Beatles were to continue being together, they'd sound like ELO, maybe, according to some. Just fantastic.

Just pure 70’s greatness. What a vibe

Man, could ELO create a full, well-orchestrated sound! This album was long, but crafted so well, with numerous hits, that I could keep listening.

Some of the best constructed pop music ever. Some say it’s overproduced, but I think it’s only overproduction when the production’s too big for the music, but these songs were written for this sound. Despite many of these songs having a very grand nature, it doesn’t get tiring, and the big moments are still impactful. The whole Concerto For A Rainy Day section of the album is amazing, and Mr. Blue Sky is one of the best examples of the “construction” I mentioned, I’m not quite sure how to describe it other than that. 5/5

Albums like this is when the band should break up. Too great to try to follow up.

Great album. All props to Jeff Lynne. (Not for his Beatles work, though. lol) Always a good time, listening to this classic collection.

4.8/i terrorize my girlfriend with this album. it's perfect until we hit wild west hero. the best way to listen to this album is to start on standin' in the rain, listen until wild west hero, skip it, then start at the beginning and finish on steppin' out. vinyl in collection.

Is this album 20 minutes too long? It sure is! Is there a bad song on the album? There sure isn’t! And the highs are so high and numerous enough that this is an easy 5 for me. Sweet is the night, turn to stone, sweet talkin woman, big wheels, stepping out… so many moments that make you make little noises and say to yourself “oo that’s nice”

Can’t say many bad things about this album, can’t help but smile listening to it. Can imagine doing a roadtrip in a spaceship to this album. Great arrangements and a good rifle through the musical toolbox - excellent use of cowbell and vocoder

Jeff Lynne is a maniac

Honestly hard to be in a bad mood when you listen to this album. Infectious Beatle-esque power pop/rock at its finest. Before listening to this, I would’ve said I like the hits, but post-listen, I have to admit that the entire album is banger after banger. I don’t know which are hits and which are the “filler.” Great record.

Fantastic! ELO doesn't miss

Good memories - one I’d listen to on my rotation.

I wanted to be stingy with star ratings, but this is so polished it practically comes gift-wrapped in glitter. it’s camp, joyous and melodic… and the last time I was stingy with my stars I ended up giving Queen 4 instead of 5 so… full marks from the Birmingham jury.

This is one of my all-time favorite albums.

awesome sounds

Grew up with a father who loved ELO so I’m very familiar with this album. I love it, many happy memories for me.

Such a fun album, if a bit bloated and overly long. So much variety, yet also very clearly ELO - a really good album.

I’ve personally declared ELO to be the most underrated classic rock band of all time. Is this take correct? Is it stupid? Was it accurate at one point in time? Honestly, I have so many silly takes when it comes to pop culture, that it probably doesn’t matter. I consider myself a casual ELO fan, and they have plenty of songs throughout their career that I really love. The only album of theirs that I’ve probably listened to all the way through is Out of the Blue’s predecessor, A New World Record, which I have on vinyl (I assume I fired it up at one point, because what kind of psycho would own this particular album without listening to it). I know three of the songs off Out of the Blue, and they happen to be the first three singles. I’m really excited to listen to this today, because I’m always in the mood to listen to Jeff Lynne. After all, he was Otis *and* Clayton Wilbury… Out of the Blue kicked so much ass. I knew this album would be full of awesome vocals and beautiful string arrangements, but I was really shocked at how varied the string arrangements were. Despite that variation, this album was incredibly cohesive, and all four sides of it were fantastic (side four was the weakest part, but to the be the weakest part of this album is still a hell of an accomplishment). The more rock-oriented songs on this album were incredibly fun, but the songs that were ballads were really beautiful, and kept this album interesting across its entire run time. Just when I was afraid that a song was going to be bland, there would be a change in tempo, or an additional musical element added in, and then I’d be sucked right in once again. Side one was my favorite part of the album. I’ve heard “Turn to Stone” so many times, but I’d never noticed how fuzzed out that bass is, and I loved it. The backing falsetto is perfect as well. The strings, keyboards, pianos, and synths all combine to make an amazing and rich sound. I loved that little vocal echo effect on “It’s Over,” and the strings and the main vocals are outstanding. “Sweet Talkin’ Woman” is great too, and I loved how the vocals reminded me of doo-wop music. It’s such an incredibly fun way to harken back to rock and roll’s roots. “Across the Border” was a great closing track to side one. The strings were awesome, and they’re utilized in such a different way than on the previous three songs. The synths were excellent too, making this a fun and rocking song. The thing that jumped out to me the most on side two was “Jungle.” It had a somewhat goofy and novelty song sound to it, but it was really excellent. I loved the percussion, guitar, and piano. The concerto on side three was excellent. “Summer and Lightning” really rocked. I loved those synthesizers, strings, and storm effects. It had such a bright sound that I loved, and the chorus was the brightest, most shimmering part of the song. Just when I thought I couldn’t have enjoyed this song any more, that shift during the last minute and a half was amazing. What an incredible song. “Mr. Blue Sky” isn’t my favorite ELO song, but it has such an awesome sound, that it’s easy to see why it’s one of ELO’s most popular songs. The little radio announcer in the intro is perfect, and the string arrangements are absolutely infectious. Just an excellent song. I loved the way the strings sounded on “Sweet Is the Night”, especially coming out of the chorus. It was just another example of how varied the string arrangements were on this album. I also loved the guitar on “Birmingham Blues.” Another fun and rocking song as this album comes to a close. Out of the Blue is a fantastic art rock album, full of beautiful strings, excellent vocals, and a fun rock and roll energy. For me, ELO can do no wrong, and I just love listening to their music.

This album is a joyous journey from start to finish

Excellent.

Jeff Lynne is a special talent. The songs on this album are masterfully composed, beautifully arranged and full of feeling.

What a great album! Before now, I only knew Mr. Blue Sky because I sang it in high school choir. I don't know what it is about ELO's sound, but the vibes are excellent. They've got "orchestral" elements like strings and piano, cool electronic elements and sound effects, lovely harmonies and falsettos, and a je ne sais quoi. The album is a journey and has a good amount of variety. I have heard good things about this album and now I can see why. 9/10.

Awesome from start to finish, so many banger. Mr blue-sky, need it say more

It’s ELO, you either love them or hate them. But if you hate them you probably hate fun.

Feel good music, love it.

Love love love

Know a few songs of theirs. Enjoy the album

What a carnival of an album, just pure joy. It’s performative in all the right ways. Yea it’s 71 minutes long but it didn’t really feel like that. I imagine they were an absolute spectacular live show at in their prime. It’s an interesting blend of other bands I’m hearing here as well. I hear Queen, I hear some Rush when they’re leaning into the Prog, I hear the Beatles and Beach Boys in the melodies and it all blends together for such a cool trip. Having been a fan of a good portion of the band of Montreal’s work, I gotta imagine frontman Kevin Barnes was heavily influenced by ELO’s theatrical approach. Yea it’s 71 minutes long but I’d argue they made great use of all 71. I’m gonna get gummied up and return to this one some night for sure. 5 stars

One of my mothers favorite band so I grew up listening to this. A lot of nostalgia in this album for me so I might be skewed but its a great album that I gladly listen to many times over.

Jeff Lynne doesn’t get enough credit.

Perfeito 10/10

Excellent

What a flashback this album is! Listened to it a ton as a kid. Had the cd in my car. My closeted gay friend absolutely loved the album and would sing along to every song.

Great album front to back, has some undeniably classic songs. Big Wheels, Turn to Stone, Jungle, Mr. Blue Sky being some personal favorites. 9.5/10, maybe a 10/10... Cool album art too.

Creativity is off the charts with this one! Jeff Lynne is a power house in creative melodic song writing and structures. 17 songs does make it a long album but the songs are so fresh and different, it never feels like a chore. If only people still wrote songs like these!

Sweet Talkin Woman is one of my favorite songs of all time, and Turn to Stone/Mr. Blue Sky are all time hits as well. Those three I think catapult this album to 5 stars regardless, but I also think that ELO doesn’t get enough appreciation for their impact as a whole. The songwriting, production, performances, and just general vibes of this album I think are all attributed to the genius minds behind one of the most iconic and influential bands of all time.

It was hard for me to decide but I think this is a really good album.

Loved this. Yes, I'm an ELO fan.

Great album! Consistent theme, some real bangers.

En underbar album

Swebrawl-favorit av en anledning!

I was raised on this, and I love it. There's a constant drive, the harmonies are excellent, songwriting is intelligent and vibrant. Great, great record.

I don't why we bother rating these albums. None of us can say if an album is objectively good music or bad music. Ultimately, were just sharing how much an album matches up to our personal preferences. We're all just here screaming into the void how much we like or dislike something, hoping to find other people like us - people who like the same things as us; other members of our tribe that time or distance won't allow us to meet. So, for anyone who likes this ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ much, I'm out there

I hear harmonies and I press like.

Great album

GOD como dice el piberío, me pareció excelente sin caer en lo repetitivo, una experiencia musical futurista espacial

Legendary album, one of my favourites.

Magical. I like how some intros mimic Classical music. Vocals are sublime, instruments masterfully layered. Nothing more that I can ask for.

Classic rock album.

Magnificent from start to finish. Bursting with energy, fun and variety. The orchestration and great vocals make it a joy to listen to. It has that Beatles and Queen vibe. How could you not love it?!!

I’ve always loved ELO’s singles. This album is upbeat and gives good vibes. A great album to listen to on a sunny day.

Is this what Queen wishes they sounded like? I loved this. Really cool transitions between songs, larger than life feel, and great vibes. I've heard all of their radio singles but never a full album. I really enjoy ELO now.

So happy to have discovered this band! Beatles with an orchestral integration? Will definitely explore more of their music Tracks to Track: Mr. Blue Sky

Great album

This was just great all the way through. Mr blue sky is a certified classic but this album was filled with nothing but joy. Loved it.

10 STARS, welcome to the human race

Fantastic double album.

Fuck yeah

If my soul could make music it would sound like this.

Five stars, don't even have to listen, ELO is just a five star band.

I wanted to give it a 5 but it’s… maybe I’ll give a five. A weak five

Brilliant!

This is one of those border albums for me. It’s a classic but there are some downsides that make it a full 5/5. But I’ll round up for this site.

Every track has this wonderful energy about it that drives the music forward, resulting in multiple satisfying payoffs per song. There’s a great sense of unity between the tracks too, but that doesn’t stop them from have a good mix of timbre and varied vocal approaches throughout! Songs lead into one another beautifully and with intention, lending the record a great flow between highs and lows from start to finish. It’s great, or at least it’s right up my alley.

This all started sounding the same after a while, but I gotta give 'em credit... pretty much a masterpiece. 5

Jeff Lynn = Musical genius.

Fab

(Que Mr Blue Sky Intro). This album is amazing! I had listened to one of ELO’s previous albums, and it blew me away! So I figured I’d get another album I liked from them, and I did! The main thing I love about this album is its variety. It has slow ballads like It’s Over, upbeat pop numbers like Mr Blue Sky and Turn to Stone, groovy rockers like Across The Border and Wild West Hero, and everything in between. Jeff Lyne’s writing and production on this album are great, with all the songs feeling like they have their own distinct sound. Bev Bevamn’s drum grooves are always a welcome surprise, and Roy Wood, the other multi instrumentalist on this album, works well off of Lyne’s parts. Overall, this is a great album fusing orchestral pop and rock, and I would highly suggest checking it out.

Let’s get weird

9.5/10 holy

One of my fave albums ever!

Jeff Lyne is so obsessed with wanting to be in The Beatles, he seems to have forgotten he was in the 70s pop/rock masterclass of an outfit in ELO. Here he shows off a range of styles but never forgetting the hooks. If you want a lesson in classic 70's pop/rock, you need not look any further. A double album that's worth the time - half of these tracks are easily certified bangers. Best Tracks: Turn To Stone; Sweet Talkin' Woman; Mr Blue Sky

I have a soft spot for this kind of audacious 70s rock music. An overstuffed double album, the first half would have been a classic in its own right, and does feel like a complete song cycle, ending with the wonderful “Stepping Out”, but then you are lead into the second half by the “Concerto for a Rainy Day”, a sweet small song cycle that ends with “Mr. Blue Sky”, arguably ELO’s best track. The rest of the album is just as enjoyable as anything that came before it, and explores enough new and interesting sounds to make the long run time worth it.

I must admit nostalgia is a big factor in how much I am enjoying this album. ELO have such a distinctive style, somewhat "Beatle's like"and Dylan's narrative style with Queens grand layered production giving it a special touch. " Mr Blue Sky" has been a favourite for a long time, and "Sweet Talking Woman" & "Turn to Stone" both made me smile and turn up the volume. It feels very much like a group of very talented artists decided to have fun and push technical boundaries. Love it

I'll rate it straight away, I own it, loved it when it came out, saw it performed live, still love it!

Fantastic album

Classic. One of my first purchased albums.

that was a fun ride!

Didn't even have to think if it's a 4 or 5 Masterpiece Exactly my kind of music

you know what? that was fucking awesome. it’s so ambiguous, so all over the place (but in a good sense)

The Whale holds a special place in my heart. This album is golden

4.6 - This was so much better than just having Mr Blue Sky

A classic!

wow so fun, love!!!