2012 documentary Mr. Blue Sky: The Story of Jeff Lynne and ELO highlighted the career of of Electric Light Orchestra, a staple of '70s radio renowned for their powerful symphonic rock sound . Former Beatle Paul McCartney was on hand to give his praise for both the band and the genius songwriter-producer-performer behind them. The band's live concerts were always massive spectacles. Theatrics reached their peak during the 1980-1981 Time tour, when ticket buyers were treated to a bigger-than-life band logo designed to look like a spaceship, which then opened to reveal the band on stage. ELO was among the first musical acts to use lasers in a live concert performance.
The band began in 1970 as the brainchild of Lynne and then-collaborator Roy Wood, who conceived the project as a rock band that incorporated symphonic instruments. After Wood departed, Lynne took over, eventually leading the band to stellar global success, with five consecutive Top Ten albums: Face the Music, A New World Record, Out of the Blue, Discovery, and Xanadu. The soulful single "Telephone Line" reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100; and the rockin' "Don't Bring Me Down" reached number four in 1979. ELO disbanded in 1986. Then in 2001, after a hiatus from his solo work as well as the live scene, Lynne released a brand-new ELO album, Zoom. He followed up the release with a mini-tour, showcasing the single "Surrender," as well as "Just for Love," a song that fits right into the ELO style of yesteryear. Classics such as "Livin' Thing" and "Evil Woman" have been dominating the airwaves for three decades now, and ELO is permanently part of the soundtrack that defined an era. The 1977 single "Mr. Blue Sky," from the epic Out of the Blue, can be heard on several movie soundtracks, as well as TV commercials. ELO is the perfect vehicle for Lynne's masterful songwriting and production. Marked by solid, catchy hooks backed by his trademark crystal clear production, it's the same style that helped him produce many contemporaries of the 1970s era.