Electric Light Orchestra fans have decided on what may be the group’s “most underrated” songs.
Jeff Lynne fans flooded the ELO subreddit, deciding on those songs that are not “talked about enough”. One user asked which tracks from the band are their most underrated, and suggested a Face the Music deep cut. They wrote: “I personally think that waterfall doesn’t get talked about enough, it’s such a beautiful song! Anyways what do you think is the most underrated song?” Another fan tipped off a “hidden gem” and was left confused at why it was left off the band’s 1981 effort, Time.
One user suggested Julie Don’t Live Here, which prompted another fan to call it “one of the best three songs” from Time. They wrote: “Hidden gem. How it wasn’t on the released Time album is beyond me. It’s one of the best three songs on it!”
Fans believe they have figured out why it was never featured properly, and it could be to do with how similar it sounds to another song on the album.
A user replied: “It’s been a while, but I remember reading that it was too similar to The Way Life’s Meant To Be, so they relegated Julie to a B-Side.” Another user suggested Rain is Falling as an underrated track, with one user saying it was an “excellent choice”.
A third added Latitude 88 North was a “literal hidden gem”. The song, which failed to chart anywhere but Iceland, was released in 2007 as part of an expanded edition of Out of the Blue.
Fans of the track in a separate thread figured the song was not featured because it did not quite fit the Out of the Blue sound. One fan wrote: “I enjoy it, but I see why it wasn’t on the finished album. Now, give me Surrender or the original cut of Heaven Only Knows, those are some cuts.” Another added: “Yeah, love it. One of the first songs that got me into ELO lol.”
It comes as ELO fans decided on the band’s most “emotionally intense” song. The top reply for this question was Shangri La, a song ripped from the band’s classic album, A New World Record. One user shared: “For me, first to come to mind is the end of Shangri Lai with the ‘I will return to Shangri La’ back and forth between Jeff and the opera singer.”
Another user agreed, dubbing the end of the song “a religious experience.” A third added: “That ending of Shangri La is superb – first thing that came to my mind as well.” Some users have suggested other songs which have been recontextualised by the recent Over and Out tour, which is set to be the band’s farewell. It has been confirmed ELO will play their final ever show at Hyde Park later this year.
My favourite ELO hidden gem is “Hello My Old Friend”, this was another out-take track from the proposed “Secret Messages” double album after it was cut to a single disc issue.
I’ve never been keen on the album, that’s possibly due to the fact that the released single album wasn’t what Jeff Lynne had intended to be released. The double album would have fully completed Lynne’s concept.
I agree. Great song about the group’s home of Birmingham. If Jeff had his way, Secret Messages not only should have been a double like you said, but should have ended the group then. Hello would have been a great coda to that era of ELO. Instead, the not as great Balance of Power was the last with Jeff, Bev and Richard.
Did you know the double Secret Messages is available to download now? Sans “Beatles Forever”.
Waterfall by a country mile. Seriously, I cannot understand why Jeff has ignored this song, probably his most beautiful. Never played it live. Unlike Last Train to London and Shine A little Love which are included in the last tour but shoulc not be.
Having listened to ELO every week since 1978, my vote for the two most underrated unreleased songs are One Summer Dream (Face the Music) and Midnight Blue (Discovery).
I would say One Summer Dream and Confusion are the two ELO songs I would consider most underrated
“Above The Clouds” is one of my favorites. And I still believe that “Time” is the best concept album EVER!! each song is a part of the whole story.
Love <ove LOVE Secrey Messages as my favorite ELO album…honorable mention to Balance of Power.
There is one tune on there that doesn't get enough love… Secret Lives.
Love any song from Jeff he’s a genius songwriter and wordsmith