Cannibal Corpse, Plague Rages just kidding Katrina and the Waves, Walking on Sunshine. Here Comes the Sun, Beatles. Sadabra Cadabra, Black Sabbath (seriously). Beautiful Day, U2.
Some facts about Jeff Lynne (ELO)...First, he is a very humble man, simply because this Music Genius is not interested in fame, the limelight, and money, he just loves to create great music. Jeff Lynne is one of the most versatile musicians ever, this is why he is considered by his peers to be among the greatest. He didn't stick to one style of music because, after decades, it gets boring. Jeff has done progressive Rock, Symphonic Rock - Pop, New wave, and Disco. Everything he does turns to gold. He even flirted with Country music. From 1972 to 1986 (During 14 years) Jeff Lynne's Electric Light Orchestra has had more top 40 hits than any other group in the world... 51 years later they still play in sold-out Arenas, festivals and Stadiums. During Jeff Lynne's ELO 2019 Tour, many reviews agreed in saying they are the best live Classic Rock Band in the world still touring and Jeff Lynne is a Music Genius( From Forbes Magazine and the Washington Post). ELO is in the Rock Hall of Fame. Lynne is on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame and Birmingham Walk OF Fame. Jeff Lynne’s ELO won the Best Classic Rock Band plus Lynne won the best Songwriter award ( ASCAP ) in 2019 for his fantastic contribution over the years. In October of 2020, Jeff Lynne has been made an officer of The Order Of The British Empire for his extraordinary contribution to music. He previously has received three Ivor Novello Awards, which celebrate songwriters and composers, including the award for outstanding services to British music. He created the best Super Group of all time with his best friend George Harrison, The Traveling Wilburys. The Legends in the Music Industry call Jeff Lynne the best overall Musician ever and a Producer Extraordinaire. Jeff Lynne has written and produced many hit songs for music legends like George Harrison, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, Joe Walsh, Brian Wilson, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Bryan Adams, Aerosmith, Del Shannon, the Everly Brothers, The Beatles, and so many others...In June 2023 Jeff Lynne will be inducted in The Songwriters Hall Of Fame ❤👍💯
This is one song that I remember hearing when I was a kid in the late 80's/ early 90's being played by my Dad and while I thought it was alright I didn't really get it. About 5 years or so ago, I was driving the works van, after a very grey week it was suddenly a beautiful blue day and this song came on the radio and I suddenly got the song. It went from an alright song to one of my all time favourites.
Mr. Blue Sky was the song I picked for my wedding to play directly after we said our vows and walked down the aisle as man and wife. Truly one of my favorite songs of all time. Whenever I really need an attitude boost, this is one of the first choice songs. A true classic masterpiece!
Hey, good choice, my wife and I did the same, and weirdly the sun came out just as we emerged from the reception hall so there were blue skies all around!
I think that is another reason that MBS didn't stand out as a singular work...it was part of concerto. For me sweet is the night, sweet talkin' woman Rockaria have been at times happier....even do ya. I also experienced similar sorts of Joy when I listen to The wilbury twist, Los Lobos version of The Georgia Slop, the Bus Boys Johnny Soul'd Out, and a couple others by Tom Petty and The Blasters the titles of which I am currently not recalling
I got Out Of The Blue autographed by the whole band on their tour of Australia in 1978. I liked them so much I went to both concerts in Perth. Concerto For A Rainy Day was my favourite when there was an electrical storm outside.
This is one of the songs i'd like at my funeral, I don't want anyone being sad. ELO was the first group I got into, Time was the album that started me off.
I kinda like that idea....especially if, on the day of one's funeral, it is lashing it down with rain....... Hopefully it will do wonders for the mourners! Make 'em smile at least.
When I was a young teen my brother and I saw ELO at the LA Forum in 1981. It was their Time Album tour but they also played Mr. Blue Sky. What a life-long awesome memory!
I've done live sound for years and Mr Blue Sky is one of the songs I regularly use to ear check the room. If there's a frequency band that's not right it will show up at some point, glaringly.
@@royglennie Find a CD or uncompressed copy of it. Otherwise it could skew your room. Bad Man's Song from Tears For Fears is another one that I use. It's just so friggin tight, even with all that 'verb. And, admittedly, I just love hearing both songs. Great way to get fired up for a show.
Coming from someone who has a very faint idea of what you're saying, it sure sounds cool. Would love to be around to see and hear what exactly it entails.
@@FC-cz6zd check with your local fav sound guy and he'll likely be glad to share the info with you. It's basically the last step in "ringing out a room" where you just listen to the room, without a bunch of extra noise and commotion going on, to make sure that the sound of the room is consistent and satisfying. For me, after all that tech, it's a way to put the human touch back onto the room.
My Dad is a huge fan of ELO, he always played full albums in our road trips on vacation. Last train to London, Mr Blue Sky, Telephone Line, Don't Bring Me Down, Evil Woman... And so many more are just part of my life. I did not realized how much of an influence Jeff genius is for me until one day I played one of ELO's album to my best friend (and best musical friend too) and he said to me "now I understand the way you sing and arrange"... Best compliment ever. Thank you Warren for this incredible document, I feel the love for the band, the man, and of course... THE MUSIC!!! Best wishes from Spain!!!
This is a fantastic track and so uplifting. The orchestral wind down at the end is just perfect. The story of where and how it was written is also interesting. People will still be listening to this in a hundred years time.
Very happy memories of September 2014, when I saw Jeff Lynne and Richard Tandy play Mr Blue Sky live at Hyde Park. Then a few days later in Blackpool I saw Bev Bevan’s band play it live as well. My life was complete! 💙
XTC’s “Ballet for a Rainy Day” always makes me think of “Mr. Blue Sky” (or the whole “Concerto for a Rainy Day” suite). And it’s transition into “1000 Umbrellas” is just awesome!
This song is responsible for the single most profound "OMG that's the song!" moment of my life. I've been a huge ELO fan from before I knew what and who it was that I liked so much. Thanks for running down some of what makes this song, and ELO at large, so special.
ELO were something magnificent! And I was only 7 years old when I first heard them and I loved them! My dad had a couple of their records! To this day, they were from the future! LOL Thanks Warren!
As a young lad I'd go and see Birmingham City FC play at the weekend, starting in 2003. One of the pre-match songs was always Mr. Blue Sky, so I've been very familiar with it for a very long time. It really is a wonderful song, and would always give me a feeling of happiness and appreciation for being in that atmosphere, before we inevitably played poorly and lost haha! It's the perfect song for the team though, fitting our colours and the fact Jeff himself is a local supporter. EDIT: Oh wow you even mentioned it got played at the 2011 Football League Cup Final. That game was Arsenal vs Birmingham City, with the blues winning, which was why the song was played!
FEEL GOOD ANTHEM ELO’s Mr Blue Sky voted ‘happiest song ever’ - beating Bee Gees and Queen to top spot... By Rebecca Calderwood The Sun Published: 26 May 2020.
One of my ex girlfriends had Out of the Blue on vinyl. I had never really listened to it before other than the songs that played on the radio. I loved it so much, I played it every weekend morning in its entirety. She got sick of it, but I never have. Amazing album!
Epic! Cant believe we are discussing a cognitive neuroscience paper on this channel. I hope you never run out of Songs That Changed Music to review. Fantastic one Warren and crew!
incredible track, as a kid I didn't really understand the vocoder voice, thought it was amazing. When I hear the song, it makes me smile, saw Jeff Lynn's Electric light Orchestra in 2017 and they played Mr Blue Sky, brilliant.
Would love a dive into Talk Talk. Their journey from It’s My Life to Spirit of Eden is fascinating I imagine and I’d also imagine you appreciate the orchestral arrangements on Colour of Spring & Spirit of Eden?. Spirit of Eden being probably my number one album.
I'm 44 and I got brought up on bands like this. I love ELO. I've never foisted my own musical tastes on my own kids. In the car we take turns picking tracks. It's comforting when they start liking stuff you do. My youngest asked me to put Mr Blue Sky on and I couldn't remember having played that one. He got it off Tik Tok.
@@Producelikeapro That would be great! Imagine the stories and experiences he has had, given his production experience with other artists, not to mention his ELO work.
I saw ELO late 70s early 80s. It was when wireless mics, vari light etc first came into existence. They walked in to a completely empty stage. No lights, no speakers, amps etc. the speakers were hidden and the lights came up from the floor as did the drum kit etc. amazing show and so unique
They way you speak about Jeff is exactly how I feel about him, I’m so glad you love him too. He’s an all time great as a pop songwriter, but as a producer for me he is peerless. He made Paul McCartney, Tom Petty, George Harrison and Roy Orbison do their best solo work. You Got It is my favourite song and it was only after getting into ELO I found out he produced the song. It all made perfect sense. Thanks so much for making this video, I really enjoyed it.
Great video. I remember back in the day the music teacher allowed us to bring in music we liked. I brought in my Mr Blue Sky record and we spent time analysing it. It was the most enjoyable music class I ever had.
Thanks for doing this classic from ELO. Jeff Lynne has done so many classic songs that puts him in a league of his own. Hope you do many more from this Musical wizard, Jeff Lynne's catalogue is just out of this world and should get more documentaries about his magic touch.
Was lucky to see Jeff Lynne's ELO live in 2018, one of the best shows I've ever been to. Love Mr. Blue Sky and it never fails to bring a smile, I'm just a little worried about overuse like an anthem at a sporting event. To answer your question, Wings' "Listen to What The Man Said" just brings back a lot of happy memories and never fails to raise my spirit.
Dear All. Sorry but I find it a little depressing. However good the day is, it comes to an end. To me it speaks of...death. Here me out. Mr. Blue, you did it right But soon comes Mr. Night creepin' over Now his hand is on your shoulder Never mind I'll remember you this I'll remember you this way It is not the happiest song ever. However great the day is, how ever great the life is, it's gonna end. Mr Night putting his hand on the shoulder is death.
Their album 'Discovery' is my happiest album ever and I love it as much now as I did when I first heard it in 1979 at eight years old on my dad's Hacker Tribune sound centre!
Was years before I realised that the title of the album was a pun. Recorded at the height of disco and with that music style as it’s foundation they got the title. Disco, very.
@@steverosbotham6403 same here, didn't get the pun until years later. It was the first record I ever bought and I played it at least twice every night for the next six months!
WOW! As a 53 year-old American steeped in pop culture who grew up on ELO and loves them to this day... I've never heard this song or seen a single movie or other reference in this video! How is that possible? Now I have to hear this song! I can't wait. Edit: Okay, I'm not seeing it. It's a good song, but the happiest song of all time? Seriously? Where were these polls (pills?) taken? Perhaps it's just the happiest song in England...
Always loved the song. The short melodic guitar solo is a masterstroke! It really establishes the feel-good mood early in the song. And great use of bending notes.
My favorite ELO song is All Over The World. Hold on Tight, Turn to Stone, Living Thing are my other biggest favorites. But Mr Blue Sky is right up there with them. Got to see Jeff Lynne's ELO perform in 2019 with my dad. So glad I did. One of the highlights of my life being in an arena with thousands of other fans singing along to everything.
I always look at this track as if the Beatles were still around they would record music like this. We played it when the students returned to face to face teaching after lockdown last year. It just made everyone feel happy.
There are times when being older is not such a bad thing when you can look back at your youth and remember hearing songs such as this one and Bohemian Rhapsody for the first time in the radio and looking forward to the next time you’d get the chance.
Bought the double LP as soon as I could get it when I was a kid. it remains of my all time favorite albums of all time due in no small part to this incredible song.
The first 45 I ever bought back in 77…it’s just perfect and cheers me up instantly the moment I hear it and I can’t help myself…I just have to join in 👍
Incredible video Warren, thanks so much for that. OOTB was my very first double album purchase, I hadn't discovered the joys of progressive rock at that time...lol. I heard Mr. Blue Sky on the radio and was blown away, so just had to have that album. Luckily, my dad was a big fan of ELO and bought tickets to see the OOTB tour at Wembley Arena. I was 13 years old, it was my first ever concert. It was amazing. The top of the ELO spaceship lifting up to reveal the guys starting to play. One of those moments that'll stay with me forever.
Big ELO fan. Thanks for this episode. When I was graduating from High School, no easy task. Out of the Blue showed up. My local heros Aerosmith, The J Geils band and Boston were the what's happening. ELO took me past Kiss and Thin Lizzy and showed me what more was possible. Just last week I digitised my LP for safe keeping. I hope to be a local DJ soon and ELO will make some shows for sure. Thanks Waren. My uplifting song is Assent by Brian Eno from the Apollo soundtrack LP with Daniel Lanois and Roger Eno. One of my favorite.
Thank you Warren! I absolutely love and enjoy your work on this, your Produce Like A Pro Channel. I grew up listening to music. My mom was an avid music listener and collector. We did not have much. For fun, my father would take my mom and the four of us little ones to a fabulous record store, The Record Theater. The place was huge! For hours my mom would comb through the library of all things music. My sisters and I would play arcade games to pass the time. Often, as I grew, I would likewise grow to love music, and would, like my mom, look at every album in the store. My Mom would leave with an arm full of albums. My dad made sure my mom had the best listening experience. Kef speakers, eventually joined the system. Top notch record players, with the best needles. Back in the day, even ultrasonic remote control to automatically move the arm. Cool. Later in life, I had become a professional mobile DeeJay, and grew a library doing what I loved to do. Watching your production series, Songs That Changed Music is wonderfully enjoyable! ELO is one of my favorites. Growing up, I just was stuck on Boy Blue, from the Eldorado album. If I had to pick one from Out Of The Blue, (and there are many tracks I like), right now, Summer & Lightning. Thanks ever so much for your choice to share your talent and knowledge, bringing more meaning to one of the already great iconic bands and songs of all time, The ELO.
So so pleased that you chose this to examine Warren. If any song were appropriate for your “doing marvellously well” intro then it is this one. concerto for a rainy day” which in itself is a total masterpiece. If you’ve never heard Out of the Blue please do so and get it on vinyl, where you can get the full effect of the rainy day concerto. Lynn is a modern genius arranger producer and songwriter. I just love ELO and always have, even through the “naff” years.
Fact check: Bev Bevan wasn't recruited by Wood and Lynne, he was already the drummer for the Move and he actually helped to finance the project, becoming legal co-owner of the ELO name/brand at the outset. Nice video!
The 70s to 80s albums from Queen, ELO, Floyd and even Eagles are all I listen to nowadays and I was an 80s Duran Duran kid when music was most important..being born in 1970
My favorite positive tune is "Steal My Sunshine" by Len. The wood block (from the "More, More, More" sample) and the piano are infectious. That recording will not let me be unhappy.
I imagine the fact that "Mr Blue Sky" was in so many movies, ads, tv shows, the copyright tentacles that reach far & wide prohibited you from playing snippets of the song, which is unfortunate. Still, a gripping and enjoyable video as always, Warren! Also, that album of redos, "Mr. Blue Sky," is even more impressive when you A/B it with the original recordings. Just incredible.
I fell in love with ELO with the El Dorado album. It was a natural progression from the classical music and opera my parents listened to and the pop music I had just discovered when I got my first clock radio. I saw them first with the spaceship arena concert in Anaheim in August 1978 - what a mind blowing concert that was! Mr. Blue Sky has always been a favorite and I've used it a lot on videos I made of my Camp Fire club (youth club) that I would play for the kids and their parents at the end of the year because it totally exemplifies kids having fun. Thanks for the fun reaction and great info.
Warren, thank you so much for this video. I'm also a Queen nut along with ACDC & Thin Lizzy etc etc but I had to have 'Out Of The Blue'. I also love 'Wild West Hero'. Just pure class.
You are spot-on sir!! Mr. Blue Sky has always been my favorite "feel good" upbeat song. I defy anyone to remain in a bad mood after a complete listen! Another song that will lift just about anyone out of a humdrum mood is Matthew Wilder's "Break My Stride". Both of these songs are MASSIVE earworms!
Had to stop for a bit to give the song a listen... mostly cuz I've never listened to it very closely and like I used to do in high school and all I could really remember was the feel of it. I had no idea how complex it was. Thanks for covering it, you opened up whole new side of it.
I am sure I hear Mr. Blue Sky as a child, but I heard it again during a episode of Doctor Who, and it became a new favorite for me and my entire family.
I’m 100% convinced that, if J.S. Bach had managed to live another 250 years, he would have made music with similar orchestrations and instrumentations to ELO’s recordIngs. He would have absolutely loved using Moogs, Fairlights, Synclaviers, etc., too.
@@cirrus1964 Yes, really, “Dick”, we don’t have better things to do than express our appreciation for great musicians and the culture that influences them. Just about everyone who’s studied J.S. Bach and his music knows he was an exceptional organist, in addition to being an exceptional composer. I’d even say Bach was somewhat of a Prog Rock progenitor who enjoyed experimenting with innovative arrangements and instrumentations, and the pipe organ was essentially the musical instrument most similar to a synthesizer available to him for doing so. The point is that J.S. Bach’s innovative approach towards music composition and technology is at least as relevant and influential to the better musicians and music composers of our lifetime as it was to his own work. I submit that it’s not exactly an accident that a resurgence of Bach’s popularity in the 1960s coincided with the increase in creative applications of technology in music production and performance during the same period. Consequently, I’m convinced Bach would have been delighted to be able to produce his music with the same instruments and technologies bands like ELO were using. Don’t take my word for it, here’s a clip of Leonard Bernstein inadvertently making the case for me: th-cam.com/video/J8sS5NkADBE/w-d-xo.html
This was a HUGE album in my young life at the time, Lynne is a massive influence on my musical sensibility, blending traditional and synthesis in such a fluent way that got under the radar. The Whale is a case in point (and he even uses the old telephone line filter!). It is a very cinematic album and I still have the mind-pictures it evoked from back then. And I still get emotional listening to it.
Anyone who doesn't own Out Of The Blue should buy it immediately. Works as collection of fantastic and varied songs, but also as almost a concept album, especially the Concerto for a Rainy Day sequence mentioned in this film. Oh, and the Time album is even better. Those two are among my most listened albums of all time. Thanks for this appreciation.
I'm so glad I paid very little attention to music paper reviews back in the 70s -- I might have missed out on loads of great songs and bands that they were frequently snooty about. Quality always wins out in the long run, and ELO are very, very good quality. Great video Warren!
Thank you for another interesting and uplifting deep dive into a classic track. I was one of those teenage punks who secretly loved ELO and Queen. I've a few suggestions for future shows; Japan - Ghosts, Talking Heads - Once in a Lifetime, Oxygene 4 - Jean Michel Jarre, Desmond Decker - Israelites, Manic Street Preachers - Design for Life, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers - Beano album, Noel Harrison - Windmills of your Mind, Pulp - Common People, The Tornados - Telstar, Fatboy Slim - Funk Soul Brother. Hope there's a useful idea in that lot.
I second Oxygene 4 - JMJ. Also, how about I hear you now - Jon and Vangelis (RIP). 19 - Paul Hardcastle; a really influential single (sampling/hip hop/EDM)
Thank you for covering this track. Out of the Blue was the first album I ever bought and have just listened to Mr Blue Sky on it: still sounding surprisingly good after so many years. One album or artist I’m not sure you’ve featured is Big Country somewhat out of the limelight now but The Crossing was a brilliant album and the track Chance is just superb. The late lamented Stuart Adamson’s song writing and guitar playing together with the almost military style drumming make this the standout track. The short instrumental section around 2:40 is just such a pleasure to listen to.
Strange Magic is a fabulous song, the quintessence of what you imagine an ELO ballad to be: a catchy, melancholic and slightly haunting melody coupled with soaring string sections and vocal harmonies creating a a dream-like feel . It's the same atmosphere ou get in the verses of Living Thing, surely one of Lynne's finest moments ( well, that's my take on it, anyway). Evil Woman is obviously genius too. Shine a Little Love from the Discovery album is an amazing combination of rock and disco, and All Over The World from Xanadu is also an oft overlooked masterpiece. 1983's Secret Messages is in my view an often overlooked album. Mr Blue Sky, on the other hand, has thankfully achieved the recognition it deserves.
1st concert. 11 yrs. old. Sept. 1 1978. Tarrant County Convention Center, Ft. Worth Texas. Out of the Blue Tour. Giant white "hamburger" shaped UFO onstage. Trickster opened. Lights go down, smoke oozes out and covers everything...strings stirring....building...rising....then that thing...spaceship opened up; top "bun" rises up and inside....Mik, Melvyn, Kelly, Bev, Hugh, Richard, and Jeff! Green lasers stabbing the air everywhere...the sound of thunder..then...the massive Concerto for a Rainy Day. I ain't been the same since.
I officially changed my surname to Blue-Sky 10 years ago after switching on the car radio and the song immediately started playing, and I was suddenly hugely uplifted... true story.
Growing up as a 70s kid, my mom listened to a lot of music that has now become legendary. She had Discovery by ELO, listened to it non-stop. Still, kept saying it wasn’t their best. She may have been referring to this when she said that. By the time I started buying my own records, in the mid-80s, ELO were nowhere to be seen. Still, it will always be a part of the “soundtrack of my life”. Jeff was always there, but ELO was gone. Great to see that the band has lived on. Truly deserved.
A friend gave me the album "out of the blue" at my surprise 17 y.o. birthday party, so it shaped a lot of my musical delights in the late 70's. I also got '"dark side of the moon" (already a classic by then) and a few others -- I wasn't rich, and rarely ever purchased anything, including albums, so the few I had were usually gifts.. But El Dorado was the only other ELO album I had (well, I still have all the albums I've ever owned, and there really aren't that many). Older siblings owned the music of my earlier years -- Deep Purple, Kansas, Chicago, etc., and they all had a disproportionate influence just because they were the music that was available to play on demand! Thanks for the fun discussion, from one ELO music lover to another. I particularly remember the note on the Out of Blue album about someone spending so many thousands of hours over a hot mixer -- surprised you didn't mention that. :-)
I always got a hint of tongue and cheek mixed in to those building layers....which made it cheese-proof...and just undeniably happy....that dude is a black belt in happy, bitter sweet and melancholy...musical candy...
What are some of the happiest songs of all time? Share below!
Alright by supergrass
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da (The Beatles) It's also a bit silly, but that doesn't hurt! 🙂
@@jamesheath7601 Great song from an underrated band
Earth Wind And Fire's " September" and a vastly lesser heralded one but also great is Swing Out Sister's "Breakout" to name two!
Cannibal Corpse, Plague Rages just kidding Katrina and the Waves, Walking on Sunshine. Here Comes the Sun, Beatles. Sadabra Cadabra, Black Sabbath (seriously). Beautiful Day, U2.
Some facts about Jeff Lynne (ELO)...First, he is a very humble man, simply because this Music Genius is not interested in fame, the limelight, and money, he just loves to create great music. Jeff Lynne is one of the most versatile musicians ever, this is why he is considered by his peers to be among the greatest. He didn't stick to one style of music because, after decades, it gets boring. Jeff has done progressive Rock, Symphonic Rock - Pop, New wave, and Disco.
Everything he does turns to gold. He even flirted with Country music. From 1972 to 1986 (During 14 years) Jeff Lynne's Electric Light Orchestra has had more top 40 hits than any other group in the world... 51 years later they still play in sold-out Arenas, festivals and Stadiums. During Jeff Lynne's ELO 2019 Tour, many reviews agreed in saying they are the best live Classic Rock Band in the world still touring and Jeff Lynne is a Music Genius( From Forbes Magazine and the Washington Post).
ELO is in the Rock Hall of Fame. Lynne is on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame and Birmingham Walk OF Fame. Jeff Lynne’s ELO won the Best Classic Rock Band plus Lynne won the best Songwriter award ( ASCAP ) in 2019 for his fantastic contribution over the years. In October of 2020, Jeff Lynne has been made an officer of The Order Of The British Empire for his extraordinary contribution to music. He previously has received three Ivor Novello Awards, which celebrate songwriters and composers, including the award for outstanding services to British music.
He created the best Super Group of all time with his best friend George Harrison, The Traveling Wilburys. The Legends in the Music Industry call Jeff Lynne the best overall Musician ever and a Producer Extraordinaire. Jeff Lynne has written and produced many hit songs for music legends like George Harrison, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, Joe Walsh, Brian Wilson, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Bryan Adams, Aerosmith, Del Shannon, the Everly Brothers, The Beatles, and so many others...In June 2023 Jeff Lynne will be inducted in The Songwriters Hall Of Fame ❤👍💯
This is one song that I remember hearing when I was a kid in the late 80's/ early 90's being played by my Dad and while I thought it was alright I didn't really get it.
About 5 years or so ago, I was driving the works van, after a very grey week it was suddenly a beautiful blue day and this song came on the radio and I suddenly got the song.
It went from an alright song to one of my all time favourites.
Mr. Blue Sky was the song I picked for my wedding to play directly after we said our vows and walked down the aisle as man and wife. Truly one of my favorite songs of all time. Whenever I really need an attitude boost, this is one of the first choice songs. A true classic masterpiece!
What a wonderful story! Thank you for sharing
Hey, good choice, my wife and I did the same, and weirdly the sun came out just as we emerged from the reception hall so there were blue skies all around!
Well, if you ever fed up with it, turn on Oliver, Good Morning Sunshine, and you won't need a wedding!
Fair enough. We chose "All You Need Is Love" by the Beatles.
I think that is another reason that MBS didn't stand out as a singular work...it was part of concerto. For me sweet is the night, sweet talkin' woman Rockaria have been at times happier....even do ya. I also experienced similar sorts of Joy when I listen to The wilbury twist, Los Lobos version of The Georgia Slop, the Bus Boys Johnny Soul'd Out, and a couple others by Tom Petty and The Blasters the titles of which I am currently not recalling
I got Out Of The Blue autographed by the whole band on their tour of Australia in 1978. I liked them so much I went to both concerts in Perth. Concerto For A Rainy Day was my favourite when there was an electrical storm outside.
Jeff is an astounding talent! Thank you for such an interesting & informative presentation Warren.
A truly incredible talent indeed!
I just love the bit that fades in again after its finished. One of my favourite outros ever! Right up there with layla.
ELO's "New World Rising" from 4 years earlier is largely forgotten but pretty cheerful too.
This is one of the songs i'd like at my funeral, I don't want anyone being sad. ELO was the first group I got into, Time was the album that started me off.
That's wonderful to hear! Thanks for sharing!
I kinda like that idea....especially if, on the day of one's funeral, it is lashing it down with rain.......
Hopefully it will do wonders for the mourners! Make 'em smile at least.
Totally agree. This was the first single I ever bought and I want it to be the last song I go out to!
When I was a young teen my brother and I saw ELO at the LA Forum in 1981. It was their Time Album tour but they also played Mr. Blue Sky. What a life-long awesome memory!
Brilliant! ELO has been been one of my favorite bands since the early 70's. Mr. Blue sky is an all time favorite.
Fantastic! Thanks ever so much for sharing Kelly!
The one hit wonder "Beautiful Sunday" is a super happy song. Right up there with Mr Blue Sky.
I've done live sound for years and Mr Blue Sky is one of the songs I regularly use to ear check the room. If there's a frequency band that's not right it will show up at some point, glaringly.
Thanks ever so much J D!
Nice tip, will try that in my room
@@royglennie Find a CD or uncompressed copy of it. Otherwise it could skew your room. Bad Man's Song from Tears For Fears is another one that I use. It's just so friggin tight, even with all that 'verb. And, admittedly, I just love hearing both songs. Great way to get fired up for a show.
Coming from someone who has a very faint idea of what you're saying, it sure sounds cool. Would love to be around to see and hear what exactly it entails.
@@FC-cz6zd check with your local fav sound guy and he'll likely be glad to share the info with you. It's basically the last step in "ringing out a room" where you just listen to the room, without a bunch of extra noise and commotion going on, to make sure that the sound of the room is consistent and satisfying. For me, after all that tech, it's a way to put the human touch back onto the room.
My Dad is a huge fan of ELO, he always played full albums in our road trips on vacation. Last train to London, Mr Blue Sky, Telephone Line, Don't Bring Me Down, Evil Woman... And so many more are just part of my life. I did not realized how much of an influence Jeff genius is for me until one day I played one of ELO's album to my best friend (and best musical friend too) and he said to me "now I understand the way you sing and arrange"... Best compliment ever.
Thank you Warren for this incredible document, I feel the love for the band, the man, and of course... THE MUSIC!!!
Best wishes from Spain!!!
This is a fantastic track and so uplifting.
The orchestral wind down at the end is just perfect.
The story of where and how it was written is also interesting.
People will still be listening to this in a hundred years time.
Fascinating story about "Out of the Blue". I love it. Thanks for these insights.
Our pleasure!
Very happy memories of September 2014, when I saw Jeff Lynne and Richard Tandy play Mr Blue Sky live at Hyde Park. Then a few days later in Blackpool I saw Bev Bevan’s band play it live as well. My life was complete! 💙
XTC’s “Ballet for a Rainy Day” always makes me think of “Mr. Blue Sky” (or the whole “Concerto for a Rainy Day” suite). And it’s transition into “1000 Umbrellas” is just awesome!
Huge XTC fan!
This song is responsible for the single most profound "OMG that's the song!" moment of my life. I've been a huge ELO fan from before I knew what and who it was that I liked so much. Thanks for running down some of what makes this song, and ELO at large, so special.
That's very cool Dave! Thanks ever so much!
One of my favorite people... talking about my favorite artist of all time!
Aw shucks! Thanks ever so much my friend! I hope you’re well
ELO were something magnificent! And I was only 7 years old when I first heard them and I loved them! My dad had a couple of their records! To this day, they were from the future! LOL Thanks Warren!
As a young lad I'd go and see Birmingham City FC play at the weekend, starting in 2003. One of the pre-match songs was always Mr. Blue Sky, so I've been very familiar with it for a very long time. It really is a wonderful song, and would always give me a feeling of happiness and appreciation for being in that atmosphere, before we inevitably played poorly and lost haha! It's the perfect song for the team though, fitting our colours and the fact Jeff himself is a local supporter.
EDIT: Oh wow you even mentioned it got played at the 2011 Football League Cup Final. That game was Arsenal vs Birmingham City, with the blues winning, which was why the song was played!
Thanks ever so much for watching the video and sporting that! I really appreciate it
FEEL GOOD ANTHEM ELO’s Mr Blue Sky voted ‘happiest song ever’ - beating Bee Gees and Queen to top spot... By Rebecca Calderwood The Sun
Published: 26 May 2020.
Thank you!
Can only join you in saluting Jeff Lynne...what a musician. As always...great video Warren...thanks.
One of my ex girlfriends had Out of the Blue on vinyl. I had never really listened to it before other than the songs that played on the radio. I loved it so much, I played it every weekend morning in its entirety. She got sick of it, but I never have. Amazing album!
Jeff Lynne, Rock Legend 🎸🥁🎹🎼. ELO greatest Rock Band ever in my opinion 👍. Just to add, brilliant video 👏👍!!!!!!
70's ELO were HIGHLY under-appreciated. Cheers
Epic! Cant believe we are discussing a cognitive neuroscience paper on this channel. I hope you never run out of Songs That Changed Music to review. Fantastic one Warren and crew!
Thanks ever so much William!
incredible track, as a kid I didn't really understand the vocoder voice, thought it was amazing. When I hear the song, it makes me smile, saw Jeff Lynn's Electric light Orchestra in 2017 and they played Mr Blue Sky, brilliant.
Would love a dive into Talk Talk. Their journey from It’s My Life to Spirit of Eden is fascinating I imagine and I’d also imagine you appreciate the orchestral arrangements on Colour of Spring & Spirit of Eden?. Spirit of Eden being probably my number one album.
Out of the Blue was a mood enhancer for me in the tough times of middle school. Listened over and over again.
This is a fantastic and very objective review. Well done mate!😎👍💯
I'm 44 and I got brought up on bands like this. I love ELO. I've never foisted my own musical tastes on my own kids. In the car we take turns picking tracks. It's comforting when they start liking stuff you do. My youngest asked me to put Mr Blue Sky on and I couldn't remember having played that one. He got it off Tik Tok.
Oh how I love to play Mr. Blue Sky! Always a crowd pleaser!
That’s truly amazing!!
Your report is excellent , you know your music
Thanks ever so much! I really appreciate it
YES! You could do a whole video series on the works of Jeff Lynne👍
We could and should!
@@Producelikeapro That would be great! Imagine the stories and experiences he has had, given his production experience with other artists, not to mention his ELO work.
@@TR4Ajim HUGE fan!
Those moments driving on the road for work with wall to wall blue skies then this comes on the radio… so good
To me Mr. Blue Sky Doesn’t sound musically happy but sad and That’s why I absolutly love it. Lynne is a giant in music. An absolute genius
I saw ELO late 70s early 80s. It was when wireless mics, vari light etc first came into existence. They walked in to a completely empty stage. No lights, no speakers, amps etc. the speakers were hidden and the lights came up from the floor as did the drum kit etc. amazing show and so unique
They way you speak about Jeff is exactly how I feel about him, I’m so glad you love him too. He’s an all time great as a pop songwriter, but as a producer for me he is peerless. He made Paul McCartney, Tom Petty, George Harrison and Roy Orbison do their best solo work. You Got It is my favourite song and it was only after getting into ELO I found out he produced the song. It all made perfect sense. Thanks so much for making this video, I really enjoyed it.
This song came out when I was 10 years old. I bought the 45 and ELO became the first rock band I loved.
Thanks ever so much for sharing
Great video. I remember back in the day the music teacher allowed us to bring in music we liked. I brought in my Mr Blue Sky record and we spent time analysing it. It was the most enjoyable music class I ever had.
Thanks for doing this classic from ELO. Jeff Lynne has done so many classic songs that puts him in a league of his own. Hope you do many more from this Musical wizard, Jeff Lynne's catalogue is just out of this world and should get more documentaries about his magic touch.
Agreed! Such an amazing writer!
Was lucky to see Jeff Lynne's ELO live in 2018, one of the best shows I've ever been to. Love Mr. Blue Sky and it never fails to bring a smile, I'm just a little worried about overuse like an anthem at a sporting event. To answer your question, Wings' "Listen to What The Man Said" just brings back a lot of happy memories and never fails to raise my spirit.
I love ELO and Mr Blue Sky always gives me a euphoric hit!! One of my top ten too!! Great video!
Dear All. Sorry but I find it a little depressing. However good the day is, it comes to an end. To me it speaks of...death. Here me out.
Mr. Blue, you did it right
But soon comes Mr. Night creepin' over
Now his hand is on your shoulder
Never mind I'll remember you this
I'll remember you this way
It is not the happiest song ever. However great the day is, how ever great the life is, it's gonna end. Mr Night putting his hand on the shoulder is death.
Their album 'Discovery' is my happiest album ever and I love it as much now as I did when I first heard it in 1979 at eight years old on my dad's Hacker Tribune sound centre!
Thanks for sharing your story.
Was years before I realised that the title of the album was a pun. Recorded at the height of disco and with that music style as it’s foundation they got the title. Disco, very.
@@steverosbotham6403 same here, didn't get the pun until years later. It was the first record I ever bought and I played it at least twice every night for the next six months!
WOW! As a 53 year-old American steeped in pop culture who grew up on ELO and loves them to this day... I've never heard this song or seen a single movie or other reference in this video!
How is that possible?
Now I have to hear this song! I can't wait.
Edit:
Okay, I'm not seeing it. It's a good song, but the happiest song of all time? Seriously?
Where were these polls (pills?) taken? Perhaps it's just the happiest song in England...
Always loved the song. The short melodic guitar solo is a masterstroke! It really establishes the feel-good mood early in the song. And great use of bending notes.
My favorite ELO song is All Over The World. Hold on Tight, Turn to Stone, Living Thing are my other biggest favorites. But Mr Blue Sky is right up there with them. Got to see Jeff Lynne's ELO perform in 2019 with my dad. So glad I did. One of the highlights of my life being in an arena with thousands of other fans singing along to everything.
ELO made some brilliant records and this is one of the very best!
It absolutely is!
There is actually a strong sense of angst and melancholy riding below as an undercurrent to the happy surface of this song.
I always look at this track as if the Beatles were still around they would record music like this. We played it when the students returned to face to face teaching after lockdown last year. It just made everyone feel happy.
There are times when being older is not such a bad thing when you can look back at your youth and remember hearing songs such as this one and Bohemian Rhapsody for the first time in the radio and looking forward to the next time you’d get the chance.
Bought the double LP as soon as I could get it when I was a kid. it remains of my all time favorite albums of all time due in no small part to this incredible song.
The first 45 I ever bought back in 77…it’s just perfect and cheers me up instantly the moment I hear it and I can’t help myself…I just have to join in 👍
Marvellous! Thanks ever so much for sharing!
One of my (ever) Top 10 Songs too.....I can hear it over and over again - best regards from Hamburg - Sandy
Thanks ever so much for sharing!
Incredible video Warren, thanks so much for that.
OOTB was my very first double album purchase, I hadn't discovered the joys of progressive rock at that time...lol. I heard Mr. Blue Sky on the radio and was blown away, so just had to have that album.
Luckily, my dad was a big fan of ELO and bought tickets to see the OOTB tour at Wembley Arena. I was 13 years old, it was my first ever concert. It was amazing. The top of the ELO spaceship lifting up to reveal the guys starting to play. One of those moments that'll stay with me forever.
I think it really resurfaced in the 90s in the opening credits montage of “Four Weddings and a Funeral” a UK film that had a sizeable US audience.
Big ELO fan. Thanks for this episode. When I was graduating from High School, no easy task. Out of the Blue showed up. My local heros Aerosmith, The J Geils band and Boston were the what's happening. ELO took me past Kiss and Thin Lizzy and showed me what more was possible. Just last week I digitised my LP for safe keeping. I hope to be a local DJ soon and ELO will make some shows for sure. Thanks Waren.
My uplifting song is Assent by Brian Eno from the Apollo soundtrack LP with Daniel Lanois and Roger Eno. One of my favorite.
Looks like I’ll be humming the song all day and reminiscing the good ol, times when it used to get played at every party around.
Thank you Warren! I absolutely love and enjoy your work on this, your Produce Like A Pro Channel. I grew up listening to music. My mom was an avid music listener and collector. We did not have much. For fun, my father would take my mom and the four of us little ones to a fabulous record store, The Record Theater. The place was huge! For hours my mom would comb through the library of all things music. My sisters and I would play arcade games to pass the time. Often, as I grew, I would likewise grow to love music, and would, like my mom, look at every album in the store. My Mom would leave with an arm full of albums. My dad made sure my mom had the best listening experience. Kef speakers, eventually joined the system. Top notch record players, with the best needles. Back in the day, even ultrasonic remote control to automatically move the arm. Cool. Later in life, I had become a professional mobile DeeJay, and grew a library doing what I loved to do. Watching your production series, Songs That Changed Music is wonderfully enjoyable! ELO is one of my favorites. Growing up, I just was stuck on Boy Blue, from the Eldorado album. If I had to pick one from Out Of The Blue, (and there are many tracks I like), right now, Summer & Lightning. Thanks ever so much for your choice to share your talent and knowledge, bringing more meaning to one of the already great iconic bands and songs of all time, The ELO.
"Out of the Blue" was my first ELO album. I listened to it nonstop for months in 77 and 78 on my Panasonic system.
Amazing! Thanks for sharing John!
I love this series so much. It reminds me to listen to a LOT of great songs plus I almost alwsys learn something I didn't know.
So so pleased that you chose this to examine Warren. If any song were appropriate for your “doing marvellously well” intro then it is this one. concerto for a rainy day” which in itself is a total masterpiece. If you’ve never heard Out of the Blue please do so and get it on vinyl, where you can get the full effect of the rainy day concerto. Lynn is a modern genius arranger producer and songwriter.
I just love ELO and always have, even through the “naff” years.
My first LP I ever bought. Since then I love this song until today and beyond 😀
Fact check: Bev Bevan wasn't recruited by Wood and Lynne, he was already the drummer for the Move and he actually helped to finance the project, becoming legal co-owner of the ELO name/brand at the outset. Nice video!
The 70s to 80s albums from Queen, ELO, Floyd and even Eagles are all I listen to nowadays and I was an 80s Duran Duran kid when music was most important..being born in 1970
Queen and ELO are two of my Top 3 rock bands (Beatles being #1). I was also born in 1970.
Fantastic choices!
Completely understand and relate
Had this song in my head for the last few weeks. This came at a great time!
Great. Thanks for sharing.
My favorite positive tune is "Steal My Sunshine" by Len. The wood block (from the "More, More, More" sample) and the piano are infectious. That recording will not let me be unhappy.
I imagine the fact that "Mr Blue Sky" was in so many movies, ads, tv shows, the copyright tentacles that reach far & wide prohibited you from playing snippets of the song, which is unfortunate. Still, a gripping and enjoyable video as always, Warren! Also, that album of redos, "Mr. Blue Sky," is even more impressive when you A/B it with the original recordings. Just incredible.
It was a great album when it came out. I loved ELO and still do. Thanks for making this video.
I fell in love with ELO with the El Dorado album. It was a natural progression from the classical music and opera my parents listened to and the pop music I had just discovered when I got my first clock radio. I saw them first with the spaceship arena concert in Anaheim in August 1978 - what a mind blowing concert that was! Mr. Blue Sky has always been a favorite and I've used it a lot on videos I made of my Camp Fire club (youth club) that I would play for the kids and their parents at the end of the year because it totally exemplifies kids having fun. Thanks for the fun reaction and great info.
Check out Jeff Lynne's ELO Wembley or Bust concert from 2017 on You Tube, incredible show.
Totally hooked on this channel.. forget my sleep to watch all the studio-tours. Last night I slept with Cameron Webb.
Hahaha I'll let Cameron know! Ha
Best video you have ever done. ELO has had a huge impact on my life and continues to do so.
Thanks ever so much
Warren, thank you so much for this video. I'm also a Queen nut along with ACDC & Thin Lizzy etc etc but I had to have 'Out Of The Blue'. I also love 'Wild West Hero'. Just pure class.
You have excellent taste!!
I love these historical nuggets on music history through classic songs .
Thanks ever so much
You are spot-on sir!! Mr. Blue Sky has always been my favorite "feel good" upbeat song. I defy anyone to remain in a bad mood after a complete listen! Another song that will lift just about anyone out of a humdrum mood is Matthew Wilder's "Break My Stride". Both of these songs are MASSIVE earworms!
Had to stop for a bit to give the song a listen... mostly cuz I've never listened to it very closely and like I used to do in high school and all I could really remember was the feel of it. I had no idea how complex it was. Thanks for covering it, you opened up whole new side of it.
I am sure I hear Mr. Blue Sky as a child, but I heard it again during a episode of Doctor Who, and it became a new favorite for me and my entire family.
I’m 100% convinced that, if J.S. Bach had managed to live another 250 years, he would have made music with similar orchestrations and instrumentations to ELO’s recordIngs. He would have absolutely loved using Moogs, Fairlights, Synclaviers, etc., too.
Really? Christ how peoples thought can get them astray. Haven't you got better things to do?
@@cirrus1964 Yes, really, “Dick”, we don’t have better things to do than express our appreciation for great musicians and the culture that influences them. Just about everyone who’s studied J.S. Bach and his music knows he was an exceptional organist, in addition to being an exceptional composer. I’d even say Bach was somewhat of a Prog Rock progenitor who enjoyed experimenting with innovative arrangements and instrumentations, and the pipe organ was essentially the musical instrument most similar to a synthesizer available to him for doing so. The point is that J.S. Bach’s innovative approach towards music composition and technology is at least as relevant and influential to the better musicians and music composers of our lifetime as it was to his own work. I submit that it’s not exactly an accident that a resurgence of Bach’s popularity in the 1960s coincided with the increase in creative applications of technology in music production and performance during the same period. Consequently, I’m convinced Bach would have been delighted to be able to produce his music with the same instruments and technologies bands like ELO were using. Don’t take my word for it, here’s a clip of Leonard Bernstein inadvertently making the case for me: th-cam.com/video/J8sS5NkADBE/w-d-xo.html
Indeed. Just as Rembrandt and Picasso would have LOVED acrylic paints. So many more ways they could have expressed themselves.
@@cirrus1964 He got your feeble mind excited didn't he?
Your theory was proven in the Bill and Ted documentaries during the Beethoven segments.
For me the happiest song ever is Here comes the sun from The Beatles written by George Harrison.
And yes indeed I like Mr. Blue Sky
Marvellous! Thanks ever so much
These video essays are the most amazing aspect of your wonderful channel!
Thanks Steve! Glad you like them!
This was a HUGE album in my young life at the time, Lynne is a massive influence on my musical sensibility, blending traditional and synthesis in such a fluent way that got under the radar. The Whale is a case in point (and he even uses the old telephone line filter!). It is a very cinematic album and I still have the mind-pictures it evoked from back then. And I still get emotional listening to it.
Thanks ever so much for sharing! Yes! Huge fan indeed
Warren this video was amazing!! Once again, thanks for sharing your knowledge and PASSION for these great artists and songs!! 🔝🎶🤩❤️
Thanks ever so much
he's the one they call mr. blue sky. he's the one that makes the weather sunny and dry
Anyone who doesn't own Out Of The Blue should buy it immediately. Works as collection of fantastic and varied songs, but also as almost a concept album, especially the Concerto for a Rainy Day sequence mentioned in this film. Oh, and the Time album is even better. Those two are among my most listened albums of all time. Thanks for this appreciation.
ELOs Time album is a masterpiece, got me into ELO when I was young.
Fantastic!
Me too! I could not stop listening to that and afterwards i bought all the older albums too which bought me to Mr. Blue Sky.
I'm so glad I paid very little attention to music paper reviews back in the 70s -- I might have missed out on loads of great songs and bands that they were frequently snooty about. Quality always wins out in the long run, and ELO are very, very good quality. Great video Warren!
Agreed! The cream rises to the top!
Thank you for another interesting and uplifting deep dive into a classic track. I was one of those teenage punks who secretly loved ELO and Queen. I've a few suggestions for future shows; Japan - Ghosts, Talking Heads - Once in a Lifetime, Oxygene 4 - Jean Michel Jarre, Desmond Decker - Israelites, Manic Street Preachers - Design for Life, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers - Beano album, Noel Harrison - Windmills of your Mind, Pulp - Common People, The Tornados - Telstar, Fatboy Slim - Funk Soul Brother. Hope there's a useful idea in that lot.
I second Oxygene 4 - JMJ. Also, how about I hear you now - Jon and Vangelis (RIP). 19 - Paul Hardcastle; a really influential single (sampling/hip hop/EDM)
Thank you for covering this track. Out of the Blue was the first album I ever bought and have just listened to Mr Blue Sky on it: still sounding surprisingly good after so many years. One album or artist I’m not sure you’ve featured is Big Country somewhat out of the limelight now but The Crossing was a brilliant album and the track Chance is just superb. The late lamented Stuart Adamson’s song writing and guitar playing together with the almost military style drumming make this the standout track. The short instrumental section around 2:40 is just such a pleasure to listen to.
Strange Magic is a fabulous song, the quintessence of what you imagine an ELO ballad to be: a catchy, melancholic and slightly haunting melody coupled with soaring string sections and vocal harmonies creating a a dream-like feel . It's the same atmosphere ou get in the verses of Living Thing, surely one of Lynne's finest moments ( well, that's my take on it, anyway). Evil Woman is obviously genius too. Shine a Little Love from the Discovery album is an amazing combination of rock and disco, and All Over The World from Xanadu is also an oft overlooked masterpiece. 1983's Secret Messages is in my view an often overlooked album. Mr Blue Sky, on the other hand, has thankfully achieved the recognition it deserves.
Thanks ever so much for the great comment
1st concert. 11 yrs. old. Sept. 1 1978. Tarrant County Convention Center, Ft. Worth Texas. Out of the Blue Tour.
Giant white "hamburger" shaped UFO onstage. Trickster opened. Lights go down, smoke oozes out and covers everything...strings stirring....building...rising....then that thing...spaceship opened up; top "bun" rises up and inside....Mik, Melvyn, Kelly, Bev, Hugh, Richard, and Jeff!
Green lasers stabbing the air everywhere...the sound of thunder..then...the massive Concerto for a Rainy Day.
I ain't been the same since.
Wow! Absolutely amazing!
I officially changed my surname to Blue-Sky 10 years ago after switching on the car radio and the song immediately started playing, and I was suddenly hugely uplifted... true story.
It was pretty strange to hear Warren say my name over and over. I'll have to write a song called Mr Hewitt.
Growing up as a 70s kid, my mom listened to a lot of music that has now become legendary. She had Discovery by ELO, listened to it non-stop. Still, kept saying it wasn’t their best. She may have been referring to this when she said that. By the time I started buying my own records, in the mid-80s, ELO were nowhere to be seen. Still, it will always be a part of the “soundtrack of my life”. Jeff was always there, but ELO was gone. Great to see that the band has lived on. Truly deserved.
Jeff Lynne reignited the name ELO in 2013 and have been very successful ever since.
A friend gave me the album "out of the blue" at my surprise 17 y.o. birthday party, so it shaped a lot of my musical delights in the late 70's. I also got '"dark side of the moon" (already a classic by then) and a few others -- I wasn't rich, and rarely ever purchased anything, including albums, so the few I had were usually gifts.. But El Dorado was the only other ELO album I had (well, I still have all the albums I've ever owned, and there really aren't that many). Older siblings owned the music of my earlier years -- Deep Purple, Kansas, Chicago, etc., and they all had a disproportionate influence just because they were the music that was available to play on demand! Thanks for the fun discussion, from one ELO music lover to another. I particularly remember the note on the Out of Blue album about someone spending so many thousands of hours over a hot mixer -- surprised you didn't mention that. :-)
I believe a good competitor for "The Happiest Song of All Time" would have to be "Aquarius/Let The Sun Shine In" by The Fifth Dimension.
That’s an amazing song!
I always got a hint of tongue and cheek mixed in to those building layers....which made it cheese-proof...and just undeniably happy....that dude is a black belt in happy, bitter sweet and melancholy...musical candy...
Me too! I wore this album out. And I never get tired of hearing it. I can't believe it's that old. Now I feel old. Ugh!
Haha I hear you!
The song always makes me emotional and literally well up listening to it.
Three other super-happy feel-good songs:
"Three Little Birds" by Bob Marley & the Wailers
"Happy" by Pharrell
"You Can Call Me Al" by Paul Simon
Thanks ever so much for sharing