Mr. Blue Sky...Jeff Lynne is a GENIUS

[Blue Meanie]

Just finished watching Mr. Blue Sky:The Story of Jeff Lynne and ELO...The man is a musical GENIUS. Probably one of THE producers of the 80's/90's. Only Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno can put up a better run of production in that time period. Here's a Musician/Songwriter/Producer that GETS IT. The man knows music and plays it just as well as he knows it. It would be great if McCartney could somehow put aside his controlling ways and his ego to use Jeff as a producer on his next record...but knowing how McCartney is, it will never happen. Sad because I think he could do wonders with McCartney's faltering vocals. Age has finally caught up with Paul. Anyway, if you haven't caught the special just yet here is a You Tube link to the COMPLETE BBC special...which is about 15 minutes longer than the VH1 version. It also has a bit of language in it that the VH1 bleeped out:

He has 2 albums out now and there is a thirds in the works. The 2 albums/cd's are a new Best of ELO with some re-makes which makes me a little leery of buying it and he has a covers CD out too just in case anyone is interested.

[Mikey]

I never heard his solo stuff but i'm totally in love with ELO

[HumanWolfman]

Loved him in the Wilburys too.

[B-Lister]

I am a big time Wilburys fan, so I already know he's a genius.

[mego maniac mark]

A true musical genius for sure. Incredible arrangements that will delight forever

[MIB41]

I recorded that on my DVR when it first came on VH-1 months ago. Love it. A real master in the studio. I always thought ELO sounded like the Beatles remixed in the 70's. Plus he did those records with George Harrison and Paul mcCartney. That's why I wasn't surprised when they tapped him to assist in recording "Free as a bird" and "Real Love". Although I have to say, those songs sound perhaps more like Jeff Lynne than they do the Beatles. Jeff Lynne took "I am the Walrus" and reworked it 500 ways in his career.

[EmergencyIan]

He still sounds (and looks) exactly like he did all those years ago.

And, I saw the documentary in question, and it's terrific.


- Ian

[Mongoose1983]

Huge fan of Macca AND E.L.O here.

Well, Paul worked with Jeff on his 1997 Flaming Pie album. They had a great time together, don't believe they have any problems with working on together again.

But I don't believe McCartney needs Jeff, or anybody for that matter. I know I love what they did on Flaming pie, though.

[Zemo]

I can't remember, how many top 5 albums or songs did ELO make?

[Mongoose1983]

I can't remember, how many top 5 albums or songs did ELO make?

Here's the detailed list:

http://www.allmusic.com/artist/electric-light-orchestra-mn0000163229/awards

[Zemo]

^Thanks! So 4 albums and 3 singles in the top 5, not bad. "Don't bring me" down is really the only one that sticks out for me.

[Mongoose1983]

^Thanks! So 4 albums and 3 singles in the top 5, not bad. "Don't bring me" down is really the only one that sticks out for me.

Per title, probably, but if you had a chance to go see Jeff Lynne performing live I can guarantee you'll be able to remember at least eight or nine songs. They were really huge the second half of the good ol 70's.

And if you had the chance to sit down and listen a complete album of these guys I truly believe you'll end up thinking how d*mn good they were. The one thing I agree with the OP is how much a genius Jeff Lynne really is. Perhaps the guy did not have a huge Ego to push himself into some celebrity status, but the man is seriously a musical master.

Here's one of the coolest songs from the LP my buddy gave me decades ago:

[MIB41]

For me it was "Telephone line". One night back when it first came out, I waited for that song to cycle back around on the radio so I could listen to it again. It was such a magical song. Kids today don't realize how good they've got it. If they want to listen to a song, they just look it up online. In my day, you had to wait by the radio if you didn't have the 45 or LP.

[boss]

That's a great special. I got the album of ELO "remakes" for Christmas. I dig it.

[megoapesnut]

You might laugh, considering how hokey the movie is, but my favorite ELO material is from the Xanadu album. "The Fall" is my all time fav ELO tune and the others from that album are right up there. My daughter swiped my iTunes material when she first started listening to music and ELo was one of the bands she loved and still loves.