Music fans are hoping to hear some “underrated” songs from Electric Light Orchestra.
Listeners turned to the r/ELO subreddit as fans picked apart the Jeff Lynne-fronted band’s discography. There were more than a few suggestions from listeners who shared some of the best songs buried by hits like Mr. Blue Sky and Evil Woman. A listener asked: “What are some lesser-known or underrated ELO songs to check out?” Members of the public shared their suggestions in the subreddit, with the likes of Kuiama, Starlight, and Latitude 88 North all shared by fans who say the band has more than their hit tracks. While the Lynne-fronted band has more than a few hits, the rarities were of interest to fans who hoped ELO would play the songs through the Over and Out Tour.
One fan suggested: “Older songs like Kuiama, From the Sun to the World. Fire on High (instrumental). Also, Tightrope and anything else from A New World Record. Don’t Walk Away from Xanadu.” Another fan agreed with the Xanadu soundtrack, and also noted the film was worth a watch.
They wrote: “This, both in general and in specific. Both musically and as a film. I’d call it a guilty pleasure of a film, but I don’t feel guilty about it. There are some great non-ELO tracks on that soundtrack as well, especially that song that mashes up the Tubes and the ’40s swing band. Also, Olivia Newton-John, ’nuff said.”
Others turned to the band’s return albums, particularly Zoom and its song, Alright. A fan wrote: “Alright from Zoom. A nice, crunchy bluesy rock track. About as far away as it could be from what I would consider the quintessential ELO sound.” Another merely wrote: “Latitude 88 North.”
The Out of the Blue deep cut was hailed by fans in a separate thread on the same subreddit. Those who remember the song, which did not feature on Out of the Blue, say they “enjoy” it but can see why the song never made it onto the full release. They 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 user asked: “Was it supposed to be on Out of the Blue?” A third replied: “I assume so, it was an Out of the Blue bonus track on the 2007ish remaster.” The song did chart in Iceland, and the lyrical context may be a reason as to why, with fans quoting the song in the replies.
One user wrote: “It’s so cold. Cold as hell!” Another wrote: “Thirty-five below and falling. How I wish that she was calling me.” It prompted a third to suggest the song was “funny” but “very warm” as a song.
Though it took some time to release the song, Lynne later shared the track was near completion for some time. It was not until remastering Out of the Blue that he figured out the missing pieces for the song.
He said: “When I first sang the Latitude 88 North words, Richard thought it sounded like a travel documentary. He was right, it was all frozen wastes and howling winds. 20 years later I dug it out of the vault and immediately came up with the answer… All I had to do was sing ‘It’s Like’ in front of ‘Latitude 88 North’ and it all made sense.”
