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.
Four Little Diamonds
Electric Light Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I really cared, gave her a diamond ring
She said she'd rather die than ever leave me
Well I never saw her face since then
And if the law don't get her then I will
Four little diamonds
She must be somewhere on the open road
She gets you down with her tales of woe
She took me for everything
And if the law don't get her then I will
Four little diamonds
I looked around I climbed up high into the dawn
But she was gone with the night
I thought about the things she said
And all the things we'd done
But where could she run- she ran away
There's just no answer to give
I keep wonderin' about her, day and night
She probably thinks I was a fool- she's right
She don't know it
But I'm gonna keep on searchin' for that woman
I'm gonna search everywhere
And if the law don't get her then I will
Four little diamonds
I looked around I climbed up high into the dawn
But she was gone with the night
I thought about the things she said
And all the things we'd done
But where could she run- she ran away
There's just no answer to give
I still hear her callin' out to me
I still listen for her endlessly
But it never even crossed my mind she was a cheater
I gotta find where she hides
'Cause if the law don't get her then I will
Four little diamonds
Electric Light Orchestra's "Four Little Diamonds" is a song that mixes rock and pop genres featuring Jeff Lynne's signature sound. The song is about heartbreak, betrayal, and revenge. The lyrics tell the story of a man who is abandoned by his lover after giving her a diamond ring. Although she promised never to leave him, the man hasn't seen her since she took off with everything he had. He is determined to find her, even if it means taking the law into his own hands.
The chorus "Four little diamonds" is a metaphor for the value of what she took from him. The man believes that she must be somewhere on the open road, and he is constantly haunted by her memories. He recalls their conversations and the things they did together, but he is left with no answer to why she ran away. The song has a great guitar riff, piano accompaniment and harmonies throughout.
The song is metaphorical, and the message captures a human experience. It is a story behind how love, trust, and faith can be shattered in a relationship. It gives us a glimpse into how heartbreak can lead to intense emotions, and sometimes people can be blinded by the pain. The song is relatable to many people who might have gone through a similar experience.
Line by Line Meaning
I used to think she was the greatest thing
The singer used to believe that the woman was amazing.
I really cared, gave her a diamond ring
The singer had strong feelings for the woman and even proposed to her with a diamond ring.
She said she'd rather die than ever leave me
The woman claimed that she would rather die than break up with the singer.
Well I never saw her face since then
The artist has not seen the woman since she made the above statement.
And if the law don't get her then I will
The artist plans to track down the woman and take justice into their own hands if necessary.
Four little diamonds
This is a recurring phrase that seems to represent the idea of searching for something of value.
She must be somewhere on the open road
The singer believes that the woman is traveling and on the move.
She always said she was a lonely one
The woman frequently expressed her feelings of being alone.
She gets you down with her tales of woe
The woman's sad stories tend to have a negative effect on people's moods.
She took me for everything
The woman cheated the artist out of all their possessions.
I looked around I climbed up high into the dawn
The singer is trying to scout out the surrounding area in order to find the missing woman.
But she was gone with the night
The woman has cleverly slipped away under the cover of darkness.
I thought about the things she said
The singer is analyzing the woman's past comments to try and gain insight into her mindset.
And all the things we'd done
The singer is reflecting on their previous experiences with the woman.
But where could she run- she ran away
The singer is questioning where the woman could have gone after leaving.
There's just no answer to give
Despite much pondering, the artist is still unable to determine the woman's location.
I keep wonderin' about her, day and night
The artist is constantly thinking about the missing woman, both during the day and at night.
She probably thinks I was a fool- she's right
The singer believes that the woman probably thinks they were gullible for believing her lies, and admits that this is true.
She don't know it
The woman is unaware of the fact that the singer is still looking for her.
But I'm gonna keep on searchin' for that woman
The artist is determined to find the woman.
I'm gonna search everywhere
The artist intends to leave no stone unturned in their pursuit of the woman.
I still hear her callin' out to me
The artist is haunted by the woman's voice.
I still listen for her endlessly
The singer is constantly straining to hear any sign of the woman's presence.
But it never even crossed my mind she was a cheater
The artist is shocked and disappointed to learn that the woman betrayed them.
I gotta find where she hides
The singer is motivated to find the woman's hiding place by any means necessary.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JEFF LYNNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MiKe-nl7np
GTA Vice City opened this gem up to a whole new generation of listeners.
@kenklein9120
It is indeed an ELO gem.
@iSmokeALoT19
100% facts!!!
@milehighgambler
The remake will introduce even more generations to these classics, and hopefully, inspire a new era of music
@mikee6220
@MileHigh Twin on point
@ManyTriangles
Yup and I’m glad it did.
@michaelnorman3393
Under the radar tune from a ridiculously under appreciated musical genius
@stephenhammontree1127
John Lennon once called Jeff Lynne a musical genius. Pretty good reference don't you think....
@michaelnorman3393
stephen hammontree Well said!
@coltondacoolkid5242
Indeed✨