The Essential Electric Light Orchestra

iTunes Review

The frothy pomp-rock concoction that was the Electric Light Orchestra became a staple of American radio during the 1970s. ELO maestro Jeff Lynne crossed Beatles motifs and classical themes with obsessive abandon, but he rarely lost his feel for a sure-fire hook along the way. Blatant yet quirky, ambitious yet accessible, the band’s best songs manage to fit the epochal sweep of a film score within the confines of a pop single. The Essential Electric Light Orchestra follows the contours of their chart success, bypassing obscurities in favor of smashes like “Evil Woman,” “Livin’ Thing,” and “Strange Magic.” Lynne sounds alternately giddy (“Don’t Bring Me Down,” “Do Ya”) or angst-ridden (“Telephone Line,” “Can’t Get You Out of My Head”) as he rides atop his band’s swirling arrangements with a showman’s flair. Such early ‘80s hits as “Hold on Tight” and “Rock ‘n’ Roll is King” introduce a rockabilly element that Lynne would later develop as producer of albums by Roy Orbison, George Harrison and others. A measure of wit and an obvious love for their influences keeps ELO’s extravagant sound from sliding into sheer pretentiousness. The essence of their high-flying artistry is in these tracks.