Jeff Lynne is a British singer best known as the voice of ELO.  He's had an accomplished career that's made him a legend around the world.  This is his story ...



THE MOVE

The Move was formed in the 60s by Roy Wood.  They had already had many hits in the UK prior to Lynne joining the band.  'Brontosaurus' was the first single in which he appeared

YEAR 1970 1971 1971 1972 1972

SONG TITLE Brontosaurus Tonight Chinatown California Man Do Ya

UK #7 #11 #23 #7 -

USA - - - - #93

CAN #36 - - - -



ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA

Formed by Lynne and Roy Wood.  More or less, The Move just changed their name to ELO.  Roy Wood left the group shortly after to form Wizzard

YEAR 1972 1973 1973 1974 1974 1975 1976 1976 1976 1977 197719771977197819781978197819781978197919791979 1979 1979 1980 1980 1980 1980 1980 1981 1981 1982 1983 1983 1983 1986 1986 1986 2006

SONG TITLE 10538 Overture Roll Over Beethoven Showdown Ma-Ma-Ma Belle Daybreaker Can't Get it Out of My Head Evil Woman Strange Magic Showdown <re-issue> Livin' Thing Rockaria! Do Ya Telephone Line Turn to Stone Mr. Blue Sky Wild West Hero Sweet Talkin' Woman It's Over The ELO EP Shine A Little Love The Diary of Horace Wimp Don't Bring Me Down Confusion / Last Train to London Confusion Last Train to London I'm Alive All Over the World Don't Walk Away Xanadu <w/ Olivia Newton-John> Hold on Tight Twilight Here is the News / Ticket to the Moon Rock 'N' Roll is King Secret Messages Four Little Diamonds Calling America So Serious Getting to the Point Surrender

UK #9 #6 #12 #22 - - #10 #38 - #4 #9 - #8 #18 #6 #6 #6 - #34 #6 #8 #3 #8 - - #20 #11 #21 #1 #4 #30 #24 #13 #48 #84 #28 #77 #97 #81

USA - #42 #53 - #87 #9 #10 #14 #59 #13 - #24 #7 #13 #35 - #17 #75 - #8 - #4 - #37 #39 #16 #13 - #8 #10 #38 - #19 - #86 #18 - - -

CAN - #19 #47 - #57 #25 #6 #18 #25 #8 -#13#1#9#27-#12--#4-#1 - #20 #28 #10 #5 - #9 #2 - - #5 - - #28 - - -



TRAVELING WILBURYS

A supergroup consisting of Lynne, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan and George Harrison.  When Orbison passed away, rumours surfaced that Del Shannon was considered to be his replacement, but his sudden death forced the group to continue on as a foursome

YEAR 1988 1989 1990 1990 1991 1991

SONG TITLE Handle With Care End of the Line Nobody's Child She's My Baby The Wilbury Twist Inside Out

UK #21 #52 #44 #79 - -

USA #45 #63 - - - -

CAN #6 #29 - #13 #86 #50



TOM PETTY (FULL MOON FEVER)

Many consider Tom Petty's 1989 album 'Full Moon Fever' to be the unofficial 2nd Wilbury's album as all of the Wilburys appear on the record.  This could be why there was no 'Traveling Wilburys - Volume 2' album


YEAR 1989 1989 1989 1990

SONG TITLE Free Fallin' I Won't Back Down Runnin' Down A Dream A Face in the Crowd

UK #64 #28 #55 #93

USA #7 #12 #23 #46

CAN #5 #5 #23 #20



JEFF LYNNE (As a solo artist)

And last but not least, the man himself as a solo artist ...


YEAR 1984 1990 1990

SONG TITLE Video Every Little Thing Lift Me Up

UK #87 #59 -

USA #85 - -

CAN - #8 #37

ELO is one of my very favorite bands. They have such a unique sound to them, and I love all of their songs!

Weren't they one of the first rock bands to use synthesizers alot? Even their late '70s songs sound new wavey and futuristic in general. I like that entire Balance of Power album (which I only heard recently) as well as "Twilight" "Don't Bring Me Down" and "All Over the World" the most.

I'm a moderate Tom Petty fan too, but I never really cared for the Wilbury's or Full Moon Fever that much.

^ Some of their late 70s work was actually influenced by disco.  Their 1979 album 'Discovery' which included the singles from 'Shine A Little Love' to 'Last Train to London' was a disco album, hence it's clever pun title.  Disco? Very! LOL

Preaching to the converted here. I have ELO's Greatest Hits CD in the car at the moment. Hard to believe that Xanadu (of all songs) was their only UK #1 and they had no #1's in the US. Canada was a bit kinder. Australia was the same...no #1's at all but three of their albums made it to #1.

Love ELO !

Jeff Lynne also produced and contributed final material for both Del Shannon and Roy Orbison.  He produced Orbison's posthumus 1992 hit 'I Drove All Night', which would later become a bigger hit for Celine Dion

It's interesting comparing Jeff's early compositions when he fronted a band called The Idle Race with some of hs early ELO work...

The Idle Race promised so much, but sadly delivered so little. Their abject failure eventually prompted Jeff to join The Move (after many requests from Roy Wood), which led almost immediately to the ELO venture, where Jeff's songwrting really began to develop...

It's interesting comparing Jeff's early compositions when he fronted a band called The Idle Race with some of hs early ELO work...

The Idle Race promised so much, but sadly delivered so little. Their abject failure eventually prompted Jeff to join The Move (after many requests from Roy Wood), which led almost immediately to the ELO venture, where Jeff's songwrting really began to develop...


It's a shame The Idle Race never became popular.  In a way though, it worked out for the best.  ELO were loved by many the world over