A deep cut track from Electric Light Orchestra frontman Jeff Lynne has been chosen by fans as his “most beautiful song”.
Spotify and Qobuz do not appear to have the deep cut, though it may be available on other services. It’s a hard song to track down, much to the annoyance of r/ELO members who took to the subreddit and shared their love of the deep cut from Time. Sharing their love for When Time Stood Still, members of the group are still reeling from its absence on Spotify. One user wrote: “So I’ve been poring over Time; the tracks, lyrics, theme. For the most part, I get the general layout, theme, and storyline. (PS I love that this album has a loosely cohesive story), but When Time Stood Still. I know it was a B-Side.
“But I have to wonder. If this was recorded as part of Time, where does it occur? Does it occur in 2095 or 1981? It seems it could possibly fit either time, while he’s in the future or after he returns. What’s the thought on where this song takes place?” Some users did answer the original post on where the B-Side would fit with the narrative laid out by Jeff Lynne, though others pointed out it cannot be heard on popular streaming platforms.
One user wrote: “It’s also one of the most beautiful songs Lynne has ever written, I have no idea why it’s just a B-side.” Another added: “I wish this song was on Spotify so badly.” Others have since called it one of their favourite ELO songs of all, with the B-side to Hold On Tight fondly remembered by fans of the band.
Those who listened to the story told by Time seem to have found the right spot for it too, and say it fits in with the overarching narrative on the 1981 album. One user wrote: “It seems to fit as an alternative Epilogue. In this case, our traveller is seemingly reflecting on all that’s gone down in the span he was taken to 2095. Perhaps a segue from this song into Epilogue might have worked wonders.”
Another wrote: “I’ve always thought of it as a different version of The Way Life’s Meant to Be, personally! It mentions the ivory towers, plastic flowers, and wandering the halls. It’s him reflecting on how he has nothing and how there is nothing in the future, just like The Way Life’s Meant to Be.
“I also think he’s looking around his old home where he and Julie lived, it makes the most sense to me, but because it’s Time, it’s all up to interpretation. I honestly think that’s why When Time Stood Still and Julie Don’t Live Here were cut, because they were too thematically close to the one we got in the album, which is a shame!
The Way Life’s Meant to Be is my second favourite from the album, but When Time Stood Still is just so beautifully haunting. God, imagine we got that double album.”
