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.
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's "Roll Over Beethoven" is about the power of rock and roll music and the effect it has on the singer of the song. The singer is writing a letter to a DJ, asking him to play a "jumping little record" that will make him feel alive and energized. The song they want to hear is "Roll Over Beethoven" because it is so catchy and upbeat that they're willing to listen to it over and over again.
The singer's temperature is rising, and they can't help but move to the rhythm of the music that's playing. They compare their heartbeat to the rhythm and blues, indicating how deep they're into the music. They want to feel the same sense of release and freedom that rock and roll offers, and they're willing to do whatever it takes to get there.
The singer urges the audience to join in and embrace the power of rock and roll. They want the listeners to dance, reel, and rock it out with their lovers, and "move on up now" to get even more into the music. They want to spread the word about the infectiousness of rock and roll and even shout the news to the classical music composer Tchaikovsky. The different metaphors used in the lyrics capture the essence of how rock and roll takes over the mind and body, and the singer urges the audience to let go and enjoy it.
Line by Line Meaning
Gonna write a little letter, gonna mail it to my local DJ
I am planning to write a letter to my local DJ today and request him to play a specific record of mine.
It's a jumping little record I want my jockey to play
I am requesting my DJ to play this specific exciting record for me.
Roll over Beethoven, Gotta hear it again today
I need to listen to 'Roll over Beethoven' again today.
My temperature's rising, the juke box's blowing a fuse
I am getting more and more excited, and the jukebox's fuse might blow anytime.
My heart's beating a rhythm, singing out rhythm and blues
I am feeling the rhythmic beats in my heart and singing them out along with the music.
Roll over Beethoven, Rocking in two by two
I want to listen to 'Roll over Beethoven' and rock along to its beats with a partner.
Well, if you feel you like it, Go get your lover and reel and rock it, Roll it over and move on up now
If you like the music, then get your partner, start dancing, and intensify your moves.
Go for cover and reel and rock it, Roll it over, Roll over Beethoven, tell Tchaikovsky the news
Start dancing wildly while I notify Tchaikovsky that we only play rock music here.
Early in the morning I'm giving you my warning, Don't you step on my blue suede shoes
I am warning everyone not to step on my blue suede shoes early in the morning.
Hey, diddle diddle, gonna play my fiddle, I ain't got nothing to lose, Roll over Beethoven, tell Tchaikovsky the news
I don't care and have nothing to lose by playing my flute. So, let Tchaikovsky know that rock and roll is still alive.
She wiggles like a glow worm, dances like a spinning top, She got a crazy partner, you should have seen her reel and rock
She has smooth moves like a glow worm and can dance energetically like a spinning top. She dances with her enthusiastic partner, and you should have seen them dance together.
Long as she got a dime, The music will never stop, Roll over Beethoven, roll over Beethoven, Roll over Beethoven, dig these rhythm and blues?
As long as she has coins to keep playing music, the party will keep going, and I want to listen to more rhythm and blues by listening to 'Roll over Beethoven.'
Roll over Beethoven, roll over Beethoven, Roll over Beethoven, roll over Beethoven, Roll over Beethoven, dig these rhythm and blues?
I want to listen to 'Roll over Beethoven' again and enjoy its beats.
Roll over Beethoven, roll over Beethoven, Roll over Beethoven, roll over Beethoven, Roll over Beethoven,
I am enjoying this song so much and want to listen to it repeatedly. So, let's play it again and again.
Lyrics © ENTERTAINMENT ONE U.S. LP, Royalty Network
Written by: Chuck Berry
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.