Holly HY / 06 July 2025 / Categories: Music, Pop

Out Of The Blue ELO The first album I ever bought 1977

7th Studio Album cost £5.00 from HMV

I don’t really know very much about music. Growing up my Dad listened to radio 2, his favourites Cleo Laine, Opera, The Pearl Fishers by French composer Georges Bizet, Harry Secombe, Howard Keele, musicals like South Pacific and Oklahoma and my mother wasn’t musical, singing in church, so my exposure was niche. Not hip.

I don’t really know why I chose this album in 1977. The first time I went into

HMV with money or what inspired me to buy it. Although I do remember the cover vividly and the cost, £5.00 as it was more than other albums being a double. I also remember trying to impress a boy in my class when I purchased a second copy for him in April, 1978. He shared his birthday with the Queen. The only reason I remember the exact date, the 21st.

I was reminded of the music after watching a brilliant documentary on the BBC about lead singer Jeff Lynne and his work as a producer.

The documentary, Mr. Blue Sky, the story of Jeff Lynne gets to the heart of who Jeff Lynne is and how he has had such a tremendous musical influence on the world. Me included. The story is told by the British artist himself and iconic collaborators and friends, Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Tom Petty, Joe Walsh, Olivia and Dhani Harrison, Barbara Orbison and Eric Idle. The film is magnificent revealing that Lynne is a quiet, humble man of music, for whom his recording studio, often the rooms in his beautiful home, is his greatest instrument. With access to Lynne in his studio home in the Hollywood Hills above LA, the skyline of downtown LA was instantly recognisable for me, this is an intimate peak into the life and work of British pop classicist whose remarkable talent, humour and versatility, learning to play every instrument since starting out on the Birmingham Beat scene in the early 60s, when he told his Mum he didn’t have to get up anymore he was a musician. Moving from the Idle Race to the multi-million selling ELO in the 70s and then, with Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Roy Orbison and George Harrison, as a key member of the Traveling Wilburys this intimate portrait is so well worth a watch. There are some fabulous poignant moments where Jeff remembers cold miserable rainy days, the top deck of the bus and thinking this life isn’t for me. I could relate.

It brought back a musical experience in formative years that was both nostalgic and timeless bliss.

The track list for Electric Light Orchestra Out of the Blue, November 1977 on the album is;

Turn to stone

It’s over

Sweet talkin woman

Across the border

Night in the city

Starlight

Jungle

Believe Me Now

Steppin' Out

Concerto For A Rainy Day

Standin' In The Rain

Big Wheels

Summer And Lightning

Mr. Blue Sky

Sweet Is The Night

The Whale

Birmingham Blues

Wild West Hero

I also discovered by watching the documentary he remastered and produced a new recording of Free As a Bird vocals by John Lennon with the help of Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo star, from an old demo cassette tape and the way his friends spoke about him particularly Joe Walsh was inspiring and uplifting in equal measure.

Even if you’ve never listened to the album Out of the Blue, take the time to have the experience and if like me you had an experience a long time ago, revisit. It really is magic for anyone. As Jeff Lynne says “Nothing better than Pop”