Top 10 Best Songs by Electric Light Orchestra

This is the Bohemian Rhapsody of ELO. It's full of tempo changes, vocoders, choirs and even a fire extinguisher used as an instrument. It celebrates the end of a long, gray period and the arrival of the sun. It's a symphony of joy. When the choir comes in at the end, it's impossible not to be happy. A masterpiece of pop perfection.

The first ELO song without strings. It's a stomping rock track with a heavy drum loop (which has since been sampled frequently). Jeff Lynne sings with a tough, lower voice. The scream "Groos!" (a made-up word) is often misheard as "Bruce". It's powerful, simple and irresistible cool.

That violin intro is instantly recognizable. The song has a Spanish flair in the verses and a grand, sweeping chorus. The lyrics are mysterious (is it about love, abortion or just life?), but the emotion is clear. "It's a livin' thing, it's a terrible thing to lose." It's dramatic, sweeping and beautifully produced.

Driven by one of the tastiest piano riffs of the seventies. It's funky, soulful and catchy. The backup singers give it a Motown vibe. The lyrics are a warning about a bad woman (with a wink: "Ha ha, woman, it's good to be a know-it-all"). The song was written surprisingly quickly, but became one of their biggest and most timeless hits.

Fast, frantic and full of layers. The vocal delivery in the verses is blisteringly fast spoken/sung. It sounds like a musical roller coaster. It's about lovesickness that paralyzes you ("turn to stone"). The synthesizers and strings tumble over each other. It's a production highlight that bursts with energy and despair.

The song begins with the sound of a ringing telephone (American tone). Jeff sings through a filter, as if he's really on the phone. It's about the loneliness of calling someone who doesn't answer, or no longer exists. The transition to 'normal' sound in the chorus is a moment of pure emotion.

A perfect pop song with a classic ELO ingredient: the vocoder singing the title. The chorus is an explosion of harmonies. It's about searching for a woman who left him. Despite the sad subject, the music is energetic and upbeat. The strings add a dramatic, almost operatic effect.

From the soundtrack of the film Xanadu. It's a cheerful, uptempo pop song that bursts with zest for life. The cities mentioned give it an international feel. The production is smooth and shiny. It sounds like a sunny day in an amusement park. A song that radiates pure positivity and invites you to dance.

One of their most beautiful dream ballads. It starts soft and builds up to a grand, rolling chorus that sounds like the sea. Jeff Lynne sings about an idealized woman he saw in a dream or vision. The strings are lush and romantic. It's a song to drift away to, soft and comforting.

ELO's foray into disco. The beat is tight and funky, the bass line pumps. It captures the atmosphere of nightlife in the late seventies. It's about saying goodbye after a night out. The train sounds in the rhythm and the futuristic synths make it typically ELO. A danceable song with a melancholic edge.