No, Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) does not consist of classical instruments found in an orchestra, nor does its music follow the classical structures and conventions typically found in the works of an orchestra. Although the band has its own unique sound and has featured strings in various songs, its style is not that of a traditional orchestra but rather a blend of several musical genres such as rock, classical, pop, psychedelic and folk.
ELO is a British rock band formed in Birmingham in 1970 by songwriters/multi-instrumentalists Jeff Lynne and Roy Wood. Their music combines 1950s rock and roll and classical orchestration, while their lyrics are often based on science fiction and sometimes, in fantasy.
The idea behind ELO was to combine rock guitar and classical strings in a “futuristic” sound, and the band originally called itself the Electric Light Orchestra, then Electric Light and Magic (after their second album) and finally just ELO. Despite its members often being associated with more classic orchestral music, the band’s instrumentation and style can best be described as Rock/Pop, with Lynne's unique arrangements blending all of the above genres.
ELO’s popularity grew with the singles “Livin' Thing” and “Telephone Line” from the 1976 album A New World Record, which went on to become one of the best-selling albums of the 1970s. The band had a string of more successful albums and singles before disbanding in 1986.
Although ELO have been described as a 'string orchestra', in reality they are a rock band that often employs strings to create a distinctive and memorable sound. So while they may have been inspired by the classical music they heard, and may have had certain classical influences on their style, they still remain true and faithful to the roots of rock and pop.
