ELO Albums in Order: The Complete Discography Journey

Electric Light Orchestra, better known as ELO, stands as one of rock music's most innovative and influential groups. Founded by Jeff Lynne and Roy Wood in 1970, the band masterfully blended classical orchestration with rock and pop sensibilities to create a sound that was truly ahead of its time. I shall explore the ELO albums in order, highlighting the key artists involved and the evolution of their distinctive sound. All these are covered in my ELO music map art print - a perfect gift for ELO fans

The Early Years (1971-1973)

Electric Light Orchestra (1971)

The self-titled debut album marked the beginning of ELO's musical journey. The album featured key founding members:

• Jeff Lynne - vocals, piano, guitar
• Roy Wood - vocals, cello, classical instruments
• Bev Bevan - drums, percussion
• Richard Tandy - piano, harpsichord
• Hugh McDowell - cello on the first 4 tracks
• Mike de Albuquerque - bass, backing vocals

Standout tracks included "10538 Overture," which showcased the band's unique fusion of classical and rock elements. The album set the foundation for what would become ELO's distinctive sound.

ELO 2 (1973)

By the second album, Roy Wood had departed, leaving Jeff Lynne as the primary creative force. The lineup featured:

• Jeff Lynne - vocals, guitar, piano
• Bev Bevan - drums, percussion
• Richard Tandy - piano, synthesiser
• Mike de Albuquerque - bass, backing vocals
• Mike Edwards - cello
• Wilfred Gibson - violin
• Colin Walker - cello

This album featured ambitious arrangements, including their 11-minute rendition of "Roll Over Beethoven" that perfectly demonstrated their classical-rock fusion approach.

On the Third Day (1973)

The band's third album continued to refine their sound with the lineup now including:

• Jeff Lynne - vocals, guitar, piano
• Bev Bevan - drums, percussion
• Richard Tandy - piano, Moog
• Mike de Albuquerque - bass, backing vocals
• Mike Edwards - cello
• Mik Kaminski - violin
• Colin Walker - cello

The Classic Era (1974-1977)

Eldorado (1974)

Often considered ELO's first true masterpiece, this concept album featured:

• Jeff Lynne - vocals, guitar, piano
• Bev Bevan - drums, percussion
• Richard Tandy - piano, Moog
• Mike de Albuquerque - bass, backing vocals
• Mike Edwards - cello
• Mik Kaminski - violin
• Hugh McDowell - cello

The album also featured Louis Clark leading the orchestra and choir, which helped create the rich, symphonic sound. "Can't Get It Out of My Head" became their first US Top 10 hit.

Face the Music (1975)

This album brought ELO closer to mainstream success with hits like "Evil Woman" and "Strange Magic." The lineup now included:

• Jeff Lynne - vocals, guitar, piano
• Bev Bevan - drums, percussion
• Richard Tandy - piano, keyboards
• Kelly Groucutt - vocals, bass
• Mik Kaminski - violin
• Hugh McDowell - cello
• Melvyn Gale - cello

A New World Record (1976)

With this album, ELO achieved global superstardom. Featuring hits like "Telephone Line," "Livin' Thing," and "Do Ya," the record showcased Jeff Lynne's unparalleled ability to craft perfect pop songs with complex arrangements. The band's lineup remained stable:

• Jeff Lynne - vocals, guitar, piano
• Bev Bevan - drums, percussion
• Richard Tandy - piano, keyboards
• Kelly Groucutt - vocals, bass
• Mik Kaminski - violin
• Hugh McDowell - cello
• Melvyn Gale - cello

Out of the Blue (1977)

This double album magnum opus is often regarded as ELO's definitive work. Featuring the hits "Turn to Stone," "Sweet Talkin' Woman," "Mr. Blue Sky," and the "Concerto for a Rainy Day" suite, the album represented the absolute peak of the band's orchestral rock sound. The classic lineup was still together:

• Jeff Lynne - vocals, guitar, piano
• Bev Bevan - drums, percussion
• Richard Tandy - piano, keyboards
• Kelly Groucutt - vocals, bass
• Mik Kaminski - violin
• Hugh McDowell - cello
• Melvyn Gale - cello

The Transition Years (1979-1986)

Discovery (1979)

Often referred to by fans as "Disco Very" due to its more dance-oriented sound, this album gave the band some of their biggest hits, including "Don't Bring Me Down" and "Shine a Little Love." The lineup was:

• Jeff Lynne - vocals, guitar, piano
• Bev Bevan - drums, percussion
• Richard Tandy - piano, keyboards
• Kelly Groucutt - vocals, bass
• Mik Kaminski - violin
• Hugh McDowell - cello
• Melvyn Gale - cello

Xanadu Soundtrack (1980)

This soundtrack for the film starring Olivia Newton-John featured ELO on half of the tracks, including the title song "Xanadu." The musicians involved were:

• Jeff Lynne - vocals, guitar, piano
• Bev Bevan - drums, percussion
• Richard Tandy - piano, keyboards
• Kelly Groucutt - vocals, bass
• Mik Kaminski - violin
• Louis Clark - string conductor
• Olivia Newton-John - lead vocals (on soundtrack album)

Time (1981)

This science fiction concept album about a man transported from the 1980s to the year 2095 marked a significant shift toward synthesiser-driven music. The core band had contracted to:

• Jeff Lynne - vocals, guitar, piano
• Bev Bevan - drums, percussion
• Richard Tandy - piano, keyboards
• Kelly Groucutt - vocals, bass

Additional contributions came from:

• Louis Clark - string arrangements
• Dave Morgan - additional backing vocals
• Bill Bottrell - engineer
• Rainer Pietsch - string conductor
• Christian Schneider - saxophone

Secret Messages (1983)

The album continued the band's evolution with a lineup consisting of:

• Jeff Lynne - vocals, guitar, piano
• Bev Bevan - drums, percussion
• Richard Tandy - piano, keyboards
• Kelly Groucutt - vocals, bass
• Louis Clark - string conductor
• Dave Morgan - backing vocals
• Bill Bottrell - slide guitar

Balance of Power (1986)

ELO's final studio album before a long hiatus featured a stripped-down lineup:

• Jeff Lynne - vocals, guitar, piano
• Bev Bevan - drums, percussion
• Richard Tandy - piano, keyboards
• Various session musicians contributed to the album

The Revival (2001-2019)

Zoom (2001)

After a 15-year hiatus, Jeff Lynne revived the ELO name for this album, which featured guest appearances by former Beatles Ringo Starr and George Harrison. While technically an ELO album, it was primarily a Jeff Lynne solo project with:

• Jeff Lynne - vocals, guitar, bass, piano, keyboards
• Richard Tandy - piano on "Moment in Paradise"
• George Harrison - slide guitar on "A Long Time Gone" and backing vocals on "All She Wanted"
• Ringo Starr - drums on "Moment in Paradise" and "Easy Money"
• Marc Mann - rhythm guitar on "Moment in Paradise"

Alone in the Universe (2015)

Released under the name "Jeff Lynne's ELO," this comeback album was met with critical acclaim and commercial success. It maintained the classic ELO sound while bringing it into the 21st century. The album was almost entirely performed by:

• Jeff Lynne - vocals, guitars, bass, piano, drums, keyboards
• Richard Tandy - piano on a few tracks

From Out of Nowhere (2019)

The most recent ELO album continued the successful formula of its predecessor, with Jeff Lynne writing, producing, and playing most instruments. The album featured:

• Jeff Lynne - vocals, guitars, bass, piano, drums, keyboards
• Richard Tandy - piano on selected tracks
• Engineer Steve Jay assisted with production

The Key Artists Behind ELO's Success

Jeff Lynne

As the band's primary songwriter, producer, vocalist, and lead guitarist, Lynne has been the creative force behind ELO from nearly the beginning. His vision of combining classical music with rock created the band's unique sound, and his production techniques were revolutionary for their time.

Bev Bevan

The drummer and founding member provided the rock-solid foundation for the band from 1970 until 1986. His powerful drumming was crucial to balancing the orchestral elements with rock energy.

Richard Tandy

The keyboardist joined in 1972 and became essential to the ELO sound, providing distinctive piano, synthesiser, and Mellotron parts that helped define the band's sonic landscape.

Roy Wood

Though he left after the first album, his initial vision of creating "a fusion of rock and classical music with no compromises on either side" set the template for what ELO would become.

The String Section Players

Various string players contributed to ELO's classic sound:

• Mik Kaminski (violin) - joined in 1973 and became known for his distinctive blue violin
• Hugh McDowell (cello) - played on the debut album, left, then returned in 1973
• Mike Edwards (cello) - known for his theatrical performances
• Melvyn Gale (cello) - joined in 1975
• Colin Walker (cello) - an early member who contributed to the classical sound
• Wilfred Gibson (violin) - an early member who helped establish the string section

Vocalists and Additional Musicians

• Kelly Groucutt - joined as bassist and vocalist in 1974, adding rich harmonies
• Louis Clark - orchestral conductor who arranged and conducted strings from Eldorado onwards
• Mike de Albuquerque - early bassist who contributed backing vocals
• Dave Morgan - additional backing vocals on later albums
• Olivia Newton-John - collaborated on the Xanadu soundtrack

Legacy

Electric Light Orchestra's innovative blend of classical and rock elements influenced countless artists across multiple generations. Their meticulously crafted productions set new standards for studio recordings, while their spectacular live shows, featuring elaborate lighting and effects, raised the bar for concert experiences.

Jeff Lynne's songwriting and production work, both with ELO and in his later career producing artists like Tom Petty, George Harrison, Roy Orbison, and the Travelling Wilburys, has left an indelible mark on popular music. The band's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017 cemented their status as one of rock's most essential and innovative groups.

From their progressive rock beginnings to their pop chart dominance and eventual resurgence in the 21st century, ELO's musical journey spans five decades of creativity, innovation, and timeless songs that continue to captivate listeners worldwide.