They incorporated the sounds of string ensembles, vocoders and dub echos into rock songs, thereby creating a very sophisticated studio version of rock. The musical content of ELO songs often went far beyond usual chord structures, mixing pop songwriting with classical romanticism and synthesized sounds. The band claim that their music "picks up where The Beatles' 1967 song I Am the Walrus left off."
Formed in 1970 by Roy Wood, Jeff Lynne and Bev Bevan (the remaining members of the 1960s rock group The Move). The band used cellos, violin, horns and woodwinds to give their music a classical sound. This was an idea Roy Wood initially had while with The Move, to take rock music in a new direction. In 1970 when Carl Wayne left the The Move, Jeff Lynne, front man with fellow Brum band Idle Race, responded to Wood's second invitation to join the line-up, with the lure of starting the new band. To help finance the fledgling project, two more Move albums were released during the recording of their eponymous first album in 1971 which produced the UK hit 10538 Overture. In the US this album was released with the mistaken title of No Answer, due to a mix-up with an uncompleted telephone call to the American label and subsequent secretarial message.
However, tensions soon surfaced between Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne. With most of the media attention focused on Roy Wood, differences in musical direction, and a disastrous first live outing, it was no surprise when the band went through the first of its many line-up changes as Wood took Hugh McDowell and Bill Hunt with him to form Wizzard. Despite the music press's predictions that the band would fold without Wood, Jeff Lynne stepped up to lead the band, with Bevan remaining on drums, bassist Richard Tandy switching to moog synthesizer, Michael d'Albuquerque on bass, Mike Edwards, Colin Walker (cello) and Wilfred Gibson replacing Steve Woolam on violin. They released ELO 2 in 1973, from which came their first U.S. chart hit, a hugely elaborate version of the Chuck Berry classic Roll Over Beethoven. After their second album, violinist Gibson was dismissed and replaced by Mik Kaminski. They also released On The Third Day in 1973, with Mike Edwards playing all the cello parts due to Colin Walker leaving the band. Later that same year saw the return of Hugh McDowell, who had jumped ship the year previous, to replace cellist Colin Walker.
In 1974 Lynne hired a thirty-piece orchestra, choir and Louis Clark, then began work on the next LP Eldorado, A Symphony, a concept album about dreams, scoring their first U.S. Top Ten hit with Can't Get It Out Of My Head in 1975. Eldorado would become ELO's first gold album.
After the release of Eldorado, bassist and vocalist Kelly Groucutt and cellist Melvyn Gale joined, replacing de Albuquerque and Edwards respectively.
The band split in 1983. In 1985, Lynne, Tandy and Bevan reunited and recorded the album "Balance of Power". This reunion was short lived and the band split once more in 1986. Bev Bevan and Louis Clark, with the consent of Lynne, toured and recorded as ELO Part II from 1988 until Bevan's retirement in 1999. In 2000, Lynne and Tandy reformed Electric Light Orchestra and released a new record, "Zoom". "Zoom" proved to be a commercial failure, and the duo split once more in 2001.
In 2014, following support from BBC Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans, Lynne and Tandy reunited as a part of BBC Radio 2's "Festival in a Day" to perform under the new billing, "Jeff Lynne's ELO", a name Lynne devised as a response to ELO tributes, imitation bands, and offshoots who used ELO to promote their own tours.
In February 2015, Jeff Lynne's ELO performed at the Grammy Awards with Ed Sheeran, and in September of that year they announced a new album would be released under Columbia Records. Jeff Lynne's ELO - Alone in the Universe was released on November 13, 2015, and was ELO’s first album of new material in almost 15 years.
The second album under Jeff Lynne’s ELO, Jeff Lynne's ELO - From Out of Nowhere, was released on November 1, 2019.
There is more than one artist with the name "ELO". The vast majority of scrobbles to "Electric Light Orchestra" are for the rock band from England.
ELO, is a South Korean singer, who debuted with the album, 8 Femmes, on August 26, 2016.
05.Roll Over Beethoven
Electric Light Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's a jumping little record I want my jockey to play
Roll over Beethoven
Gotta hear it again today
My temperature's rising, the juke box's blowing a fuse
My heart's beating a rhythm, singing out rhythm and blues
Roll over Beethoven
Well, if you feel you like it
Go get your lover and reel and rock it
Roll it over and move on up now
Go for cover and reel and rock it
Roll it over
Roll over Beethoven, tell Tchaikovsky the news
Early in the morning I'm giving you my warning
Don't you step on my blue suede shoes
Hey, diddle diddle, gonna play my fiddle
I ain't got nothing to lose
Roll over Beethoven, tell Tchaikovsky the news
She wiggles like a glow worm, dances like a spinning top
She got a crazy partner, you should of seen her reel and rock
Long as she got a dime
The music will never stop
Roll over Beethoven, roll over Beethoven
Roll over Beethoven, roll over Beethoven
Roll over Beethoven, dig these rhythm and blues?
Roll over Beethoven, roll over Beethoven
Roll over Beethoven, roll over Beethoven
Roll over Beethoven, dig these rhythm and blues?
Roll over Beethoven, roll over Beethoven
Roll over Beethoven, roll over Beethoven
Roll over Beethoven, roll over Beethoven
Roll over Beethoven
The lyrics of Electric Light Orchestra Part 2 / ELO's song Roll Over Beethoven pay tribute to the legendary composer Ludwig van Beethoven while also celebrating the power of music to bring people together and inspire dancing and joy. The song begins with the singer writing a letter to a DJ, asking him to play a particular record that is so infectious that he needs to hear it again immediately. The music is described as causing the singer's temperature to rise and his heart to beat with the rhythm of the blues.
The second verse turns to a warning to anyone who might step on the singer's blue suede shoes, culminating in a fanciful fiddle-playing interlude. The third verse returns to the dance floor, where a woman is wiggling and spinning like a top with a partner who matches her wild moves step for step. The song ends with a crescendo of repetition, as the phrase "Roll over Beethoven" is chanted over and over again alongside the joyful declaration "Dig these rhythm and blues." Through its infectious energy and joyful spirit, Roll Over Beethoven encourages listeners to let go and dance to the rhythm of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Gonna write a little letter, gonna mail it to my local DJ
I'm going to compose a letter and send it to my DJ, asking him to play a record I really like
It's a jumping little record I want my jockey to play
The song I want to hear is really upbeat and lively, perfect for dancing
Roll over Beethoven
This phrase is a call-to-action for Beethoven's music to make way for more modern and contemporary tunes
Gotta hear it again today
I can't get enough of this song and I want to hear it played again as soon as possible
My temperature's rising, the juke box's blowing a fuse
The excitement and energy of the music is getting me worked up to the point that even the jukebox is struggling to keep up
My heart's beating a rhythm, singing out rhythm and blues
The song is causing an emotional response in me, making my heart beat in time with the music and my soul sing the melody of the blues
Rocking in two by two
The music is so good that everyone is dancing along, moving in pairs to the beat of the song
Well, if you feel you like it
If this music is speaking to you and you're enjoying it, then...
Go get your lover and reel and rock it
Grab your partner and join in the fun, swaying and dancing to the rhythm of the song
Roll it over and move on up now
Keep the momentum going and continue dancing, moving up and down to the beat of the music
Go for cover and reel and rock it
Keep dancing and enjoying yourself, without worrying about anything else but the music
Roll it over
Keep dancing to the rhythm of the song
Roll over Beethoven, tell Tchaikovsky the news
The message is that classical music is taking a back seat to rock and roll, and it's time for composers like Beethoven and Tchaikovsky to make way for new styles
Early in the morning I'm giving you my warning
This is a warning that first thing in the morning, when the song is played again, I'll be up and dancing once more
Don't you step on my blue suede shoes
A playful warning to others not to step on my shoes while we're dancing
Hey, diddle diddle, gonna play my fiddle
A nod to a nursery rhyme, this line means that I'm going to play my part in the music, just like the fiddle in an orchestra
I ain't got nothing to lose
I have nothing to hold me back from letting loose and enjoying the music to the fullest
She wiggles like a glow worm, dances like a spinning top
This line describes how the girl is moving to the music with such energy and enthusiasm, twirling around like a spinning top and glowing with excitement like a worm
She got a crazy partner, you should of seen her reel and rock
Her dancing partner is just as wild, and the two of them are having a great time together
Long as she got a dime
As long as the girl has some spare change, she can keep dancing all night long to the music
The music will never stop
As long as the music keeps playing, people will keep dancing and having a great time
Dig these rhythm and blues?
Do you appreciate and enjoy this style of music?
Roll over Beethoven
Once again, it's time for Beethoven and other classical composers to make room for the new age of rock and roll
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
TheMichaelmc99
Somebody needs to start a petition to get ELO in the Hall of Fame. They made clearly quality stuff.
ABSHER, CHARLES P
I've loved ELO's version of Chuck Berry's rhythm and blues for around 50 years now.
stevew1904
Been listening to this song since the day it came out. This has got to be the best cover of a song ever made. ELO you absolutely nailed it with this song. And all credit to Chuck Berry for awesome tune and lyrics. You were a legend Chuck.
Richard Raffanello
And also The Beatles.
Liam.A King
I been listening this track since the day it came......
And probably will untill I go out.😌
Jeff lynes contribution to music over 50 years is almost of biblical proportions,let alone legendary...
I also live very close to his home here in Birmingham,England........
And have met him many times 😉
Stanley Mays
This is the best version !
bill laffrey
@Stanley Mays AGREED
LongHairedFreakyDude
This is by far one of the GREATEST songs ever! That pianist and violinist just BLOW MY MIND!
Randall McDonald
I loved all of their songs and still do. My favorite band. Jeff Lynne is the best.
Tom Tom
This is the finest rock song ever and this is the finest renditions of it ever. The discordant violin solo is necessary along with every part of the original recording.