There's a great live performance of this (and others) from Wembley Stadium (2017), They are amazing live and Jeff (including his voice) doesn't seem to have aged a day!

@kejola1969

6 ай бұрын

Yep and I actually prefer the live version to the studio version. Jeffs' voice along with the backing vocals just sounds better to me. Doesn't hurt that he has the Langley sisters with the band now.

@willblood7082

6 ай бұрын

I’ve been lucky enough to see them live and I’ve seen many, many concerts in my 63 years are IMO they are the best when performing live on stage!

@betacall9634

6 ай бұрын

What makes this song so nostalgic is that it could only have been written in this time period before cell phones, text, VM and even before the answering machine in the 1980’s. Lynne says to the operator “can you just let it ring a little longer, longer”. When you broke up or someone left your life back in the 1970’s, they were literally gone forever. No scrolling their IG to see they are on vacation or just got back. No texting an hour after the breakup to try and scramble and recover. When someone said I’m leaving, they got in a taxi and could have moved to France a week later and you would never know what happened to them EVER again. No Facebook. So that’s why the pain in Lynne’s voice and maybe the lyrics of music of yesteryear can never be repeated melancholy wise:)

@maryannturton9830

6 ай бұрын

That live performance is a must!

@lilamuzik3385

6 ай бұрын

The live version is a bomb. Please do Wembly Stadium for live performances. Seeing his orchestra perform is just amazing!!!

Keep diving into ELO. you’ve barely scratched the surface of this unique band. My personal favorites are “strange magic” “evil woman” “living thing” and “fire on high”.

@ForbiddTV

6 ай бұрын

Yes, good selections. Avoid anything from the 80's to present.

@j.h.3777

6 ай бұрын

They also do a great version of "Roll Over Beethoven"@@ForbiddTV

@ForbiddTV

6 ай бұрын

@@j.h.3777 Yes I'm very familiar with all their 70's songs.

@ThatSchmoGuy

6 ай бұрын

Fire on High is an instant classic

@kennethgodwin7769

6 ай бұрын

Turn to stone.

Such a distinctly different sound to this band. There was never a doubt when an ELO song hit the radio as to whose song it was.

This is the music of my junior high years. And you know how emotional we are at that age. And yet the hilarious thing is it takes you to get older to appreciate the true heartache and desolation in it. And yet it wraps you in a blanket and makes you feel good at the same time.

Guys the live version live at Wembley is so beautiful to watch.its quite magical.❤👍

If you want the same audio experience with mind-blowing visuals, check out their live performance of this song at Wembley Stadium its a must-see for sure ! ✌️🙂

@ForbiddTV

6 ай бұрын

I never watch reactions that aren't the original studio versions.

@mondeo33

6 ай бұрын

Totally agree. That Wembley performance was phenomenal.

This is one of their best and that’s saying a lot because they literally have dozens of great songs. Although not a deep cut and it was played as nauseum on the radio, I’d recommend listening to Evil Woman. Another excellent track is the instrumental Fire on High. It shows the genius of Jeff Lynne like no other. Great reaction Sam & Phil. 🔥

Live at Wembley...the pure joy in the audience is priceless!

It's good to hear you picked up on the Beatles influence because it's so evident Jeff Lynne (ELO's creative genius) channeled both Lennon and McCartney throughout his career. Of course, Jeff is a brilliant and masterful producer/singer/songwriter and ELO had a myriad of wonderful hits throughout the 70's, 80's and beyond. Later on Jeff helped create The Traveling Wilburys with fellow superstars Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty and ex Beatle George Harrison. Excellent reaction guys and Cheers from southern Ontario!

@markwilliams6394

6 ай бұрын

Yes, after the Beatles broke up, we had ELO to fill the void.

@kevsimon64

6 ай бұрын

John Lennon said that ELO were what the Beatles would of become if they had carried on.

@ultimatespinach

6 ай бұрын

@@kevsimon64 That's probably an appropriate assumption to make. The Beatles, as creative as they were, still couldn't rise above the technology of the day. They were severely limited because 8 track recording was only available since 1968 and most of the Beatles albums were recorded in ancient 4 track. Of course, 8 tracks is considered archaic even by 1970 standards when ELO were at their zenith. It's really a shame The Beatles couldn't overcome their egos and creative differences because the sky would have been the limit for us music lovers. As it is, they left us with an astonishing legacy. Cheers!

@user-qv2ur2bw3z

4 ай бұрын

Wow only two of the Wiburys left now Jeff and Bob Dylan

They have so many great songs that it can be difficult to pick just one favorite, but mine is "Turn to Stone". Love how this is bringing back the "doo-wop" sound of the 50's. Another phone call song is "I'd Really Love to See You Tonight" by England Dan & John Ford Coley, which I highly recommend.

@pamalaalford1081

6 ай бұрын

I agree ... you really should do it - you will love!! Try a live version - always as good as studio (for singers in 50s, 60s, 70s). God bless you.

@Hobodeluxe960

6 ай бұрын

best phone song is "Sylvia's Mother" -Dr Hook

This song teared me up. My wife passed away in march. The lyrics to this song would be the result of me trying to call her on the phone.

@dominictucci6030

2 күн бұрын

I'm so sorry for your loss, mate. I hope it gets better for you in time. Hang in there. 🙏

Someone has probably said this already but John Lennon said that ELO is what the Beatles may have become had they continued. Please check out some live footage from the ‘Wembley or bust’ Bluray. There are a number of tracks on YT. Jeff was in his 70th year but was simply amazing and the crowd reaction always has me in tears it is simple pure joy track after track.

Great reaction! For ELO songs with a similar feel to “Telephone Line”, you may want to listen to “Can’t Get It Out of My Head” or “Strange Magic”.

@dragon-ed1hz

6 ай бұрын

"Can't Get It Out of My Head" is one of my faves, too. That whole album is great.

@joelliebler5690

6 ай бұрын

Outstanding tunes as well

@joelliebler5690

6 ай бұрын

One of my favorite songs of so many that I love from ELO. They really sound what might have become of the Beatles had they stayed together!

“Living Thing”, “Strange Magic”, “Evil Woman” are great ELO songs to react to. 👍😊🍺

Please listen to ELO’s “Tightrope” it’s genuinely incredible

I always visualize my uncle keiths ghost calling my Aunt Ann after he passed singing this to her...they were childhood sweethearts...gives me chills

E.L.O. "Tightrope"...Nuff Said.

Wembley 2017 is the one to watch, the production values are off the scale for a live performance, the connection with the audience is palpable, and this song was probably one of the best on that occasion. Released in 1977 and still being nailed at Wembley 4 decades later, that's some achievement.

The live at Wembly is outstanding

@PeterDay81

6 ай бұрын

Yes it is class.2017 version.

@Cosmo-Kramer

6 ай бұрын

You need to specify 2017, as there is a live version at Wembley from 1978 which, given the technology of the time, is not as great.

Okay, now listen to another telephone themed song: Jim Croce and his amazing heartbreak song 'Operator' one of the most beautifully haunting songs and lyrics ever written!!

One of my favorite ELO songs when I was growing up was I Can’t Get it Out of My Head. I saw them in concert in 1977.

If you want to see a fantastic live performance watch Jeff Lynne’s ELO live at Wembly Stadium. For an almost 70 year old at the time Jeff sounds like when he was on his 20’s. Pick a song by them and it’s great but I recommend “Living Thing” with Rosie Langley on violin or another classic is “Evil Woman “!

ELO! I love this song! I love all their music! 😊❤ Thanks for this!

"For real not a dream" is such a great line. Yes it was for real, awesome song.

ELO has tons of great songs including Strange Magic, Shine A Little Love, Sweet Talkin' Woman, and Don't Bring Me Down.

The emotion that comes thru the vocal still gets to me to this day.

Love this song. Remember it from high school (yeah, teen in the late 70s!). Never fully appreciated how good and innovative they were until much later. BTW, I love you guys. Just started watching your reactions and besides your warm, welcoming personalities I appreciate your thoughtful comments about the songs you react to. Just like hanging with a couple of friends listening to music.

@barsandbarbells2022

6 ай бұрын

Aww, thanks Jeff! Welcome, glad you're here!

Great reaction, guys. Jeff Lynne is one of the greatest in music history. But I will also mention bass player Kelly Groucutt. His vocals on this track, like on many other ELO tracks, is fantastic. Groucutt always sang beautiful harmonic backing vocals, but also co-lead vocals with Lynne on some tracks (check out Sweet Is The Night). Groucutt's voice was very similar to Lynne's, just a little thinner, but he hit high notes that were amazing.

Their version of ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN is one of the greatest rock songs of all time. I need to hear it right after this.

When the song came out, there was no mobile, PC, Mac, whatever. At most one telephone in the house (rarely cordless), telephone boxes everywhere on the street. Young people used the phone at home to talk to their friends for as long as possible. There were constant arguments with siblings and it was often expensive (no flat rate). Big advantage: socialization still took place outside. People met up and did things together (even if it was just hanging out or listening to music). Not so bad, that time and its conditions. The song was "cult" because it was a "phone song". 📞♥☯☮

'Tightrope' from this album is my favourite. The orchestra is killing it.

When this was written if you could not meet IP then the phone was the only option for communication and the pain of that phone ringing out without an answer was seriously real.

Jeff Lynne (lead singer and writer of this song) also produced the two Beatles songs in the early 1990's ('Free as a Bird' and 'Real Love').

The Beatles considered them their natural musical descendants in their performances.

Saw ELO Live twice when they did the Out of The Blue Tour with the spaceship, amazing laser show, and electronic violin and cello. Blew my Mind, I was in the Army in Germany at the time, some of my favourites off that album, Turn to stone, Sweet talkin woman, Standin in the rain, Night in the city, Jeff Lynne is an amazingly talented guy. 🤘

Electric Light Orchestra - Can't Get it Out Of My Head

nobody ever mentions it but i love the diary of horace wimp such a beautiful tale

my brother had this record growing up, and I always loved it because it was green......as a kid, i always wanted to play it because it looked so cool....love this song!!

The Wembley concert was the Ultimate Concert, ‘’Telephone Line, Evil Woman and Turn to Stone’’ were exceptional at that Concert. Love your Travel through Music, you’re expectation for a song and surprise when it’s something different.

Might be my favorite ELO song.

@kimzwolinski9919

6 ай бұрын

Definitely my favorite 👍😁

@DEWDLES

6 ай бұрын

Me too 😊

The beatles link :- Jeff Lynn and George Harrison were good mates with Jeff producing some of the beatles music. Later he and George were part of the Traveling Wilburys. Live shows:- Wembley, Glastonbury and Hall of fame induction to name but a few.🇬🇧

@leestockton9367

2 ай бұрын

Who on earth is Jeff Lynn; never heard of him. Jeff LYNNE is the driving force of E.L.O. though

Their live performances at Wembley when they became Jeff Lynn’s ELO are superb! Jeff Lynn is a musical genius!

Great Analysis! "A New World Record" was one of the first albums I bought that started me on my musical journey. Telephone Line was my favorite off this album. Jeff Lynn's vocal range is masterfully displayed here. Rest of the album also, FIRE!!

ELO have always been near or at the top of my list. This song is one of my favs. For something different from them, check out Do Ya, or the excellent instrumental Fire On High (full album version).

I listened to this in the 70's, sitting on the floor, over and over again. I was like in a trance. One of my favorite songs of all time

The induce feelings that are good, melancholy and wholesome! Grew up listening to them and grateful!

This band was years ahead of its time

One of the best breakup songs ever for those of us old enough to remember using landlines and answering machines.

Because of your reactions I really think that you will love ELO if you keep going 🙂 Best regards from Chile!! 🙂

To me, this is quintessential 1970s radio. MAJOR hit.

A fine choice. I look forward to more reactions to ELO, whichever albums you pick.

dont forget the songs ELO have made for the movie Xanadu with the late Olivia Newton John, it sounds like real MAGIC, cheers guys

I think this track shows one of Jeff Lynne's core strengths: a bluesy, soulful, rock-n-roll referencing, exquisitely arranged and produce record. IMO those are excellent traits, and I seem them in most of his great songs. I recommend Can't Get It Out Of My Head, Strange Magic, Roll Over Beethoven, and Rockaria!, among many others. Thanks, it was fun.

All Over The World Flash Mob worth watching again by ELO you will enjoy

Brings back lots of memories, long before cell phones or internet. It was the only way to communicate back then. The land line phone was cherished... Darealdeal

FYI Jeff Lynne produced Albums for George Harrison and the Beatles. George's son tours with them occasionally!!!!

Probably my favorite ELO song! Also check out Can't Get It Out of My Head, Evil Woman, Strange Magic, Livin' Thing, Do Ya, Showdown, and Turn to Stone!

When The Beatles quit I was very down. ELO saved it all. They are tremendous

The Beatles went on record saying that if they'd stayed together throughout the 1970's they would have basically been "E.L.O." (the sound and evolution).

ELO was one of my favorite groups while in college in the 70s. Listening to this reminded me that Jeff Lynne teamed up with Bob Dylan,George Harrison,Roy Orbison,and Tom Petty to form the Traveling Wilburys in the last 80s. You should listen to their songs like "Handle with Care" and "End of the Line"(the video was recorded after the death of Orbison).

"Strange Magic" has some clever lines in it. Have a great day!

Yes! Do a Listen to "Dont let me down" and "Fire on High"

Once the late John Lennon said in an interview about the successor of the Beatles, he mentioned 2 bands, it was Genesis and just ELO. Jeff Lynne was also a close friend of George Harrison and was, in young ages in the Abby Road studies, when the Beatles recorded their last songs. End of the 60ies as far as I know, so a big influence is there in the songs of ELO by the Bealtes sound, sure.

I'm so glad you're reacting to this song I have loved you ever since I first heard it back in 1977 it was my 8th grade year in junior high I was 14 this reminds me of listening to it on my 8-track tape player LOL those were the days

Telephone is live on the "Wembly or bust" 2017 video. The whole concert is personally the best I've ever seen and heard from Jeff...

ELO was a band before its time. Genius Jeff Lynne’s timeless songwriting and production has allowed them to transcend their 1970s contemporaries to become just as intriguing and fresh today.

"Sweet Talking Woman" and "Don't Bring Me Down"are a couple of good ones!!

I was in eighth grade when this came out and for 2 years it was over and over on the radio. It's good to hear it after almost 50 years

@barsandbarbells2022

6 ай бұрын

Bringing back some memories 🙌

They still have a very deep catalog. The Traveling Wilbury's are graced with Jeff Lynn's fabulous voice and presence!

A broken heart is one of the most difficult things if not the most difficult. For the human condition to experience !

Mine and many others introduction to ELO was their outrage take on Roll Over Beethoven which included much twisting and morphing of Chuck Berry with Beethoven. It was also a great song to get teens of the day out on the dance floor.

My Mom used to watch them because she was at school with them , and said sometimes was more in the band than people watching the EL O 😀

Noticed their record….”showdown” featured in the series 2 opener of Reacher….made me smile….wait till you try…..Rockaria….Last Train to London…..All Over The World…..barely scratching the surface

Exactly! Transcendant. It’s dream like.

talk about memories! every crsh i had in jr high and high school! this and 'i need you' from America

They’re touring this year! Got my tickets already

This came out when I was in High school. I had the album. I loved their music. I saw them in Omaha. Awesome!

Hi, Here is my list of ELO songs for you to try. Concerto for a rainy day. Shangri - la. Mission. Don't bring me down. Hold on tight. Tightrope. Rockaria. Living thing. Ans so many more. My all time fav band.

Definitely my favorite ELO song

Great reaction guys - on an amazing song!! Yes, DO check out the totally amazing live from Wembley Stadium 2017!!😍

What makes this song so nostalgic is that it could only have been written in this time period before cell phones, text, VM and even before the answering machine in the 1980’s. Lynne says to the operator “can you just let it ring a little longer, longer”. When you broke up or someone left your life back in the 1970’s and before that, they were literally gone forever. No scrolling their IG to see they are on vacation or just got back. No texting an hour after the breakup to try and scramble and recover. When someone said I’m leaving, they got in a taxi and could have moved to France a week later and you would never know what happened to them EVER again. No Facebook. So that’s why the pain in Lynne’s voice and maybe the lyrics of music of yesteryear can never be repeated melancholy wise:)

john Lennon once said "if you wanna know what beatles might have sounded like had they stayed together listen to ELO

Definitely live at Wembley ! Even better than studio. Jeff Lynne was going on 70, still sounding exactly the same as he did 50 years ago !

It’s okay Phil, this song pulls on my heart strings too.

Great reaction, and there are four more great radio hits on this same album( A new world record)

Jeff Lynne (who comes from my home City of Birmingham, UK) is a great musician and producer. E.L.O. have loads of great songs and sound better live (you should have watched the live version at Wembley) than they do on the studio versions. At the Wembley concert Jeff was about 70 and still sounds so good. My favourite is 'All Over The World' which you should listen to. It is a happy song.

I'm glad you played a vid with the lyrics. Too many people miss the few opening lyrics and miss the whole meaning of the song. ELO is severely under-rated and rarely come up in conversations of top music groups. Check out "All over the world"

I'd highly recommend The live version at Wembley stadium. The light show is unreal

There's a live performance of "Evil Woman" that was filmed at Wembley Stadium. Inferno fire!

I grew up with ELO in the 70s, they had hit after hit after hit, on the radio all the time. This was a really big one.

I'm sure someone's already mentioned that John Lennon called ELO, the Beatles jr. Jeff Lynne produced some of the last Beatles singles from John's Dell's and worked with George Harrison a lot.

ELO Living Thing!

Time is the electronic album of the 80s Ticket to the moon is my fave ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

One of my favorite FLO songs from the past.

I've been a diehard ELO fan from the first time I heard them. And, I absolutely love this album, A New World Record. But, I'm always puzzled why this particular song, as good as it is, is the one most often suggested. My favorites cuts by far are the opening tracks to both sides....'Tightrope', which opens the album in dramatic fashion and 'So Fine', which opens side 2. The ELO albums from the mid to late 70's will always be my favorites.

Great band with so many brilliant songs and has been mentioned Jeff Lynne still has a great voice in his 70s so ELO still great live. John Lennon is supposed to have said that the Beatles would have sounded like ELO has they carried on performing together in the 70's.

Great reaction kids!❤

McCartney also said that had the Beatles not broken up, ELO is probably what they would have evolved into.

My dad took me to see them when I was younger.. it was so weird to me !! I miss my dad 😢

Always been my favorite