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 ELOâs first album of new material in almost 15 years.
The second album under Jeff Lynneâs 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.
10538 Overture
Electric Light Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Did you see him run through the streets and far away
Did you see him run, did you see him fall
Did his life flash by at the bedroom door
Did you hear the news it came across the air today
Someone has been found on the rocks down in the bay
Did you see him hide, did you see him crawl
Did you see that man running through the streets today
Did you catch his face, was it 10538
The lyrics of Electric Light Orchestra's song "10538 Overture" seem to be about an individual in distress, possibly even suicidal, and the impact it has on those around them. The opening lines speak to the sight of a friend crying and running through the streets, hinting at potential mental or emotional turmoil. The following lines suggest a possible suicide attempt or tragic accident, with the news of someone being found on the rocks in the bay. The lyrics go on to ask if the person's life means more now that they are gone, and if it's possible that the man running in the streets earlier was the same person.
Line by Line Meaning
Did you see your friend, crying from his eyes today?
Have you witnessed your friend shedding tears today?
Did you see him run through the streets and far way?
Did he hastily escape through the lanes?
Did you see him run? Did you see him fall?
Did he sprint? Did he trip and lose balance?
Did his life flash by on the bedroom door?
Did all his memories race through his mind panic-strickenly?
Did you hear the news came across the air today?
Did you learn that an announcement was transmitted through the airwaves today?
Someone has been found on the rocks down in the bay
A person was discovered lying on the rocks near the bay
Did you see him hide? Did you see him crawl?
Did he take refuge? Did he creep undetected?
Does his life mean more than it did before
Has his existence gained a greater significance than earlier?
Did you see that man running through the streets today?
Did you glance at the man sprinting through the alleys today?
Did you catch his face, was it 10538?
Were you able to recognize his face, did he resemble the person who goes by the name 10538?
Lyrics Š Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JEFF LYNNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@talcoge67
What a Great Song!
Classic.
Did you see your friend, crying from his eyes today
Did you see him run through the streets and far way
Did you see him run? Did you see him fall
Did his life flash by on the bedroom door
Did you hear the news came across the air today
Someone has been found on the rocks down in the bay.
Did you see him hide? Did you see him crawl
Does his life mean more than it did before.
Did you see that man running through the streets today
Did you catch his face, was it 10538
@jphtjoshu1434
Al fin
Did you see your friend, crying from his eyes today?Â
Did you see him run through the streets and far way?
Did you see him run? Did you see him fall?Â
Did his life flash by on the bedroom door?
Did you hear the news came across the air today?Â
Someone has been found on the rocks down in the bay.
Did you see him hide? Did you see him crawl?Â
Does his life mean more than it did before.
Did you see that man running through the streets today?Â
Did you catch his face, was it 10538?
@shannonmiller9872
Quite possibly one of the most important rock songs of all time. Itâs simply a stunning arrangement.
@tristansmyth6802
Let's be honest though, Jeff Lynne and Roy Wood are both fantastic musicians.
@georgemaranville3305
Incredible song.
@easyrolling
This song opened the the door to a new sound.. 2 legends..and one god damn super band!!
@SoulShines4U
Calling it "one of the most important rock songs of all time" makes it sound pretentious as f*ck. 10538 Overture is just a great f'ing song, period.
@tristansmyth6802
@@SoulShines4U We can all debate what and what are not important songs, from the simplest of madrigals to Puccini or Beethoven to the modern rock of any genre, there is a veritable feast of sounds for us to marvel over, and if we are lucky enough to be blessed with the ability to play, guitar, piano, flute or have the best sounding voice talent, it is all there for us to discover, for me, for instance, in this case, it's Roy Wood working with Jeff Lynne, both masters in their own right. I see your point very clearly but consider this, what is important to some, is not to others; I just ask that you consider that, and thank you for taking time to review the comments.
@thedronedownunder3919
That step down guitar riff sends chills up my 55yr old spine. What an amazing creation. Oh how I wish the now-generation could embrace this masterpiece.
@kelleydeclue4100
Anyone in this new generation with any musical taste will appreciate this gemstone !
@pup1008
Some do. I've a 21 year old & he & his mates are right into the Classic stuff from back in the day! đ
@zackmaestri4075
im 14 and literally just played drums to this song. definitely my favorite elo song ever. i started listening to them back in 2019 and got into all bands from abba to anthrax. i absolutely love old stuff from the 70s-90s and also this generations music but the 80s will always be my number one of music bc theres so much emotion and just straight up awesome songs!