The Official Electric Light Orchestra Site

I was immediately intrigued with ELO when, as a "show and tell" topic, one of my fellow classmates brought in the album (yes, ALBUM - you remember vinyl...?) "Face The Music". I already thoroughly enjoyed the song "Evil Woman", so afterwards I went a bought the album - after saving enough money from my weekly 25-cents allowance! (Ok, cut me some slack - I was in junior high [circa 1976]. Guess I'm showing my age [sigh]). From there on out it was an all-consuming, life-saving musical love affair...

My boyfriend back then (who is also my husband, to this day!) bought me the album "Out Of The Blue" with money he saved from his paper route because he knew I listened to ELO at every opportunity. My "baby" brother (he's 10 years younger than me) would come into my room when he heard "Mr. Blue Sky", and ask me to play it over and over and over again - and he'd dance himself sick (literally!) to it! It was awesome!!

My boyfriend (hubby) even bought me headphones (remember those huge, insect-like grey ones everyone had!?) so I could listen to ELO late into the night, and an inexpensive necklace with an ELO charm - which I still have!

Over the course of time I purchased Eldorado, Discovery, A New World Record, and Time. And, when I graduated high school and went to Germany to live with my grandparents for a year, I made SURE those albums were the first things I packed into my suitcase - along with taking my violin!

The life-saving part stems from the awkward, "turbulant" teenage years...I played violin in the school orchestra, and was always 2nd or 3rd chair, first section - and of course Orchestra meant "geek squad" back then. (Does it still?) Anyway, when I was either really, really down, or very up, I'd put on an album, pull out my violin, and play along until I figured out the notes. I'd do this for hours on end...and because of this (and "evolution") I've had to replace my albums with CD's. (Oh, the HORROR! Well, actually, they don't "scratch" NEARLY as easily...)

I can honestly say I couldn't choose a favorite "album" even if my life depended on it! Each one has something very distinct and unique to offer. Once I put on a CD, boy, that's all she wrote - I have to listen to EVERY SINGLE NOTE! (I would recognize ELO's sound ANYwhere...even in the beginning measures of Cher's "Believe" (about 18 seconds into the Prologue on the album Time - sounds suspiciously close, doesn't it?)

I really, REALLY miss "GREAT" artists - musicians who were ORIGINAL with their craft. It seems that today's music is a regurgitation of yesteryear, all imposters (who PALE in comparison, by the way) out for the quick buck, and to heck with being GENUINELY good at what they do. It's a tragic shame, I say!! I sure do wish that ELO were still out there, putting their brand of music onto the airwaves for us die-hard fans to hear/share! But on retrospect, I guess they deserve/earned their right to sit back, relax, and enjoy the fruits of their labors!

Well, I don't know if anyone out there will be inclined to read this, but it was fun taking that trip down Memory Lane all the same. And, if you DO read this, I hope you enjoyed it, too! =D