Electric Light Orchestra

Jeff Lynne gets his first guitar, an old acoustic that he still owns today, given to him by his father.

Jeff buys his first electric guitar, a second hand Burns Sonic and an old VOX AC30 amp on the “drip” (layaway).

Jeff plays with a few local groups and meets Richard Tandy for the first time.  He also becomes the owner of a brand new Fender Esquire.

Jeff gets the job as lead guitarist with his favorite Birmingham group, The Nightriders; shortly thereafter they change their name to The Idle Race. 

The Idle Race, featuring Jeff, Roger Spencer, Dave Pritchard and Greg Masters, releases its debut album, The Birthday Party, on Liberty Records.

The Idle Race’s second album, Idle Race, is released, with Lynne as producer.

After much soul searching, Lynne leaves The Idle Race and joins Roy Wood and Bev Bevan in The Move, helping shape the band’s sound as co-producer.

The Move plays shows around Britain.

Lynne writes “10538 Overture” which a year later will become Electric Light Orchestra's critically acclaimed debut single.

Electric Light Orchestra releases its first album, No Answer.

Electric Light Orchestra plays its first-ever live show at the Fox & Hounds in Croydon UK. After a few months, Roy Wood leaves the band.

Electric Light Orchestra releases it's second album, ELO II, featuring its first charting single—and what would become the band’s encore song—a cover of Chuck Berry's "Roll Over Beethoven."

ELO appears on American Bandstand, jump-starting its popularity in the US. The band will spend the next nine years touring the US and most of Europe.

Electric Light Orchestra releases its third album, On the Third Day. It features the single, "Showdown," a record that John Lennon says he likes very much.

Electric Light Orchestra releases its fourth album, Eldorado. It is later certified Gold and features the Top Ten charting single, “Can't Get It Out of My Head.”

Electric Light Orchestra releases Face the Music, an album that will go on to be certified Gold, spend 48 weeks in the Billboard Top 200 and spawn the smash hits, “Evil Woman” and “Strange Magic.”

Electric Light Orchestra releases the Platinum-selling, A New World Record. The album features the band's first million-selling single, “Telephone Line,” and a string of other hit records, including “Livin' Thing” and “Do Ya.”

• Produced by: Jeff Lynne
• RIAA Certified Gold: 10/25/1976
• RIAA Certified Platinum: 12/06/1976

Ole ELO is Released

Electric Light Orchestra releases its most commercially successful album, Out of the Blue. It is certified quadruple-Platinum, awarded the Nationwide Music Award for Album of the Year and spawns what is perhaps Lynne's most beloved song, “Mr. Blue Sky.”

Electric Light Orchestra embarks upon its first world tour.

Electric Light Orchestra releases the double-Platinum, Discovery. It debuts at number one in the UK and remains there for five weeks.

ELO's Greatest Hits storms the charts and goes on to be certified quadruple-Platinum.

Jeff Lynne is awarded the Ivor Novello Award for his contributions to British music.

Lynne writes and produces half of the film score for Xanadu. It is certified double-Platinum and noted by critics as a worldwide success. He also writes the film’s best-selling title single.

Electric Light Orchestra releases the innovative and critically acclaimed concept album, Time. TIME magazine goes on to note it as the eighth-highest charting album of 1981.

Electric Light Orchestra releases Secret Messages. It contains some very silly secret messages.

Lynne writes and produces the Dave Edmunds single, “Slipping Away,” which reaches the US Top 40.

Balance of Power is released. It will be ELO’s last album for 15 years.

Jeff Lynne branches out to concentrate on producing other artists, beginning with Cloud Nine, George Harrison's first solo album in five years. The first single, “Got My Mind Set On You,” reaches number one in the US.  During the sessions, George and Jeff start to think about forming the Traveling Wilburys.

Lynne produces three tracks with guitar hero Duane Eddy—“Theme for Something Really Important,” “The Trembler” and “Rockabilly Holiday.”

Lynne produces and co-writes the million-selling single, “You Got It,” a song that would return Roy Orbison to Top 40 for the first time in over 20 years. The album from which it comes, Mystery Girl, is also co-produced by Jeff.  

Lynne produces and co-writes Full Moon Fever, Tom Petty's five-times-Platinum smash. The album spawns one of Petty's most recognizable and commercially successful songs, “Free Fallin',” featuring backing vocals by Jeff. 

Jeff Lynne becomes a member of The Traveling Wilburys with his friends and heroes. The lineup reads as a who's-who of rock and roll—Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, George Harrison and Tom Petty. 

The Traveling Wilburys release their triple-Platinum first album, Traveling Wilburys: Vol. 1, including the smash single, “Handle with Care.”

Jeff co-writes and co-produces “Let it Shine” with Brian Wilson, from the album Brian Wilson.

Jeff produces Randy Newman’s “Falling in Love,” from the album Land of Dreams.

The Traveling Wilburys win the Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group.

Jeff Lynne is crowned "Best Producer" by Rolling Stone magazine.

Lynne releases his first solo album, Armchair Theatre.

Jeff co-produces Del Shannon’s Rock On album with Tom Petty and Mike Campbell.

Jeff Lynne co-produces and co-writes The Traveling Wilburys second and final album, Traveling Wilburys: Vol. 3.

Jeff produces Into the Great Wide Open, the Platinum-selling Tom Petty album, co-writing some of the songs..

The Tom Petty single, “Learning to Fly,” co-written and co-produced by Lynne is nominated for a Grammy Award.

Jeff writes and produces Joe Cocker’s “Night Calls” from the album of the same name.

Lynne produces three songs—“After All These Years,” “Don’t Go Where the Road Don’t Go” and “Don’t Be Cruel”—on Ringo Starr’s critically acclaimed comeback album, Time Takes Time.

Jeff Lynne writes and produces Tom Jones’ “Lift Me Up” from the album, The Lead and How to Swing It.

Lynne co-produces “Free As a Bird” with the three surviving members of The Beatles. The single, originally recorded as a home demo by John Lennon in 1977, wins a Grammy Award in 1997 for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.

Jeff co-produces “Real Love” with the three surviving members of The Beatles. 

Jeff Lynne is recognized with the Ivor Novello Award for “Outstanding Services” to British music.

Jeff Lynne co-produces Flaming Pie with Paul McCartney. It debuts at number two on the Billboard Top 200 and is later certified Platinum and nominated for a Grammy Award.

Electric Light Orchestra releases its first album in 15 years, Zoom. The band performs a highly anticipated and well-received concert at CBS Television City to celebrate the release.

Lynne produces the music and surround-sound audio mix for the Concert for George DVD, a commemorative tribute in loving memory to his good friend George Harrison. Recorded at London’s Royal Albert Hall, Jeff also performs songs in the concert.

Jeff Lynne and Dhani Harrison mix Brainwashed, George’s final album. A track from the album, “Marwa Blues,” wins a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance.

Jeff produces Tom Petty's critically acclaimed album, Highway Companion.

Xanadu is loosely adapted into a Broadway musical and features the music of ELO, including “Strange Magic” and “Evil Woman.”

The Washington Times names Jeff Lynne the fourth-greatest record producer of all time.

Jeff is introduced to a new generation of music lovers after producing four tracks—“Blue Lips,” “Folding Chair,” “Genius Next Door” and “Wallet”—on Regina Spektor's Far, which peaks at number three on the Billboard Top 200.

Lynne is honored with ASCAP's prestigious Golden Note Award, recognizing his extraordinary career achievements and milestones.

Jeff Lynne produces four tracks—the lead single “Analog Man,” “Wrecking Ball,” “One Day at a Time” and “Spanish Dancer”—on Joe Walsh’s first solo album in 20 years, Analog Man.

Electric Light Orchestra celebrates its 40th anniversary.