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Although ELO is now remembered for mega-selling albums and sell-out concerts, that wasn't always the case. In 1972, the band played at the Dome, Brighton, which had a capacity of 2,000 people - and fewer than 150 people turned up! Even worse, later the same year, at Sunderland's Locarno, the band found itself outnumbering the audience! Just seven people turned up! The band had eight members at that time! Bev Bevan, ELO's drummer, ruefully remarks in his book, that "[we] felt like applauding [the audience]"! By contrast, just 6 years later, ELO broke all records at Wembley's Empire Pool, selling out 8 consecutive nights. Here's what it was like for those of us lucky enough to attend ... Close Encounters Of The Third Kind had just been released, so the ELO spaceship seemed particularly appropriate: www.youtube.com

The first ELO album, simply titled Electric Light Orchestra, contained a track, The Battle Of Marston Moor, that was regarded as so appalling by the band's drummer, Bev Bevan, that he refused to play on it! Roy Wood, ELO's co-founder (along with Jeff Lynne), who left after the first album was released, played drums on the track in Bevan's absence. Unfortunately - or maybe fortunately! - the track is not available on YouTube, but I have to say that my sympathy is with Bev Bevan on this one. It would certainly rank as my No. 1 Worst ELO Track Of All Time - a dreadful racket! Written by Roy Wood, it goes a long way towards explaining why he and Jeff Lynne were unable to work together for more than one album - Wood favoured "experimental" tracks like this, whereas Lynne favoured a more accessible, pop-based approach. Significantly, the only track from the first album to be a single was written by Lynne: the rather good, "I Am The Walrus"-influenced, 10538 Overture: www.youtube.com

Interesting stuff But surely 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'? Keep 'em coming! I just downloaded Face The Music - sounds as fresh as when I first played it

I like some of the ELO stuff, but I have a much wider musical interest, having "inherited" 3 collections from elder brothers, who went off to Uni or the forces, leaving me in the turmoil of having 96million tracks to enjoy, but can't fault the committment

great info, as mentioned before my dad was a big fan so will keep him up to date on all the useful facts. given that they do not seem like a band likely to reform have you seen any of the spin-offs of past memebers or tributes to ELO?

The ELO spaceship (Standing In The Rain ) amazing effects must of been so exciting to be there ,the intro to that makes you go cold lol ,

I didn't go to any ELO concerts,but I was going to a lot of concerts in the 70s,and some of those bands were influenced by ELO,I'm sure.This info. is very interesting!! Yeah,keep it coming!!

many bands are influenced by ELO. Try closing yr eyes and listening to GOODBYE MR A!

Many thanks to you all for your kind comments! agrumbri - thanks for pointing out my stupid mistake on Close Encounters Of The First Time [sic!], have corrected that now, must have been thinking of Foreigner's Feels Like The First Time! Yes, FTM is a great album ... Hi Zeus - yes, I like a lot of other artists too, but ELO is very special to me, as you've obviously gathered! robms - maybe I (or someone else?!) should do a post here about the ELO spinoff groups. And Vikki and Irene - yes, it was an amazing concert, the actor Tony Curtis gave an introduction, describing ELO as "the most outstanding rock group in the world today [1978]" You can read more about that concert in an old blog of mine: www.absoluteradio.co.uk And finally - Laura, yes you are so right, many bands now openly acknowledge the inspiration they have had from Jeff Lynne/ELO, that Hoosiers track is so influenced by Mr. Blue Sky!

In late 1978, ELO was the biggest band in the world. In the UK alone, they achieved the unique feat of having a single (Sweet Talkin' Woman), EP (Can't Get It Out Of My Head/Strange Magic/Ma Ma Ma Belle/Evil Woman), album (1976's A New World Record), three-album box set (On The Third Day/Eldorado/Face The Music), and a double album (a year after its release, Out Of The Blue), all in the Top 50 at the same time! Here's a track from On The Third Day (part of the box set) - Showdown, which reached No. 12 in the singles chart in October 1973. Does anyone else think it has a bit of I Heard It Through The Grapevine influence in it, btw? A very soulful feel, anyway ...www.youtube.com