Overview
Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) is a British rock band that was formed in 1970 by Jeff Lynne, Roy Wood, and Bev Bevan. The band’s sound is a unique fusion of rock, pop, and classical music, characterized by its use of orchestral instruments such as strings, horns, and woodwinds. ELO’s innovative sound and elaborate live performances quickly made them a popular and influential band in the 1970s and 1980s. Some of their most popular songs include “Mr. Blue Sky,” “Don’t Bring Me Down,” and “Telephone Line.” ELO’s music continues to be celebrated by fans and critics alike for its originality and timeless appeal.
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Journey – By the Numbers
Journey has recorded and performed numerous songs throughout their career. However, they have released 14 studio albums, 4 live albums, 8 compilation albums, and 71 singles. Their most well-known songs include “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Any Way You Want It,” “Faithfully,” “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart),” and “Open Arms.”
Variations of Journey
Although there were former members of the band, The Beatles’ core group included Paul, John, George, and Ringo on all studio albums. Over the decade, their sound and subgenre slightly changed.
Pre-Steve Perry Journey
Before Steve Perry joined Journey as their lead vocalist, the band had a different sound and a different lineup. The original members of the band included Neal Schon (guitar), Gregg Rolie (keyboards and vocals), Ross Valory (bass), Aynsley Dunbar (drums), and George Tickner (guitar).
In their early years, Journey’s sound was rooted in progressive rock, with elements of jazz fusion and hard rock. Their first three albums, “Journey” (1975), “Look into the Future” (1976), and “Next” (1977), showcased the band’s instrumental prowess and experimentation.
Journey (Popular)
Journey’s early albums had some success, but it wasn’t until the release of their fourth album, “Infinity” (1978), that the band achieved mainstream success. On “Infinity,” Journey began to incorporate more radio-friendly elements into their music, and the album produced the hit single “Wheel in the Sky.”
After the release of “Infinity,” Journey continued to evolve their sound, incorporating more pop and arena rock elements. The band had some lineup changes, with Steve Perry replacing Gregg Rolie as the lead vocalist on their fifth album, “Departure” (1980). With Perry on board, Journey became known for their power ballads and soaring, anthemic rock songs.
Steve Augeri Journey
Steve Augeri joined Journey as the band’s lead vocalist in 1998, following the departure of Steve Perry. Augeri’s first album with the band was “Arrival,” which was released in 2001. The album featured the hit single “All the Way,” which was a top 30 hit on the adult contemporary chart.
During Augeri’s tenure as the lead vocalist, Journey continued to tour extensively, playing shows all around the world. In 2005, they released their first live album with Augeri on vocals, “Live in Houston 1981: The Escape Tour.”
Journey’s next studio album with Augeri, “Generations,” was released in 2005. The album featured a mix of classic Journey-style rock songs and more experimental tracks. Although the album received mixed reviews, it peaked at number 170 on the Billboard 200 chart.
In 2006, Augeri was forced to leave the band due to a throat infection. He was temporarily replaced by Jeff Scott Soto and then by Arnel Pineda in 2007. Although Augeri’s time in Journey was relatively short, he helped to keep the band’s music alive and introduced Journey to a new generation of fans during his tenure.
Arnel Pineda Journey
Arnel Pineda is a Filipino singer who joined Journey as their lead vocalist in 2007, replacing Jeff Scott Soto, who had replaced Steve Augeri. Pineda was discovered by Journey’s guitarist Neal Schon on YouTube, where he had posted videos of himself singing Journey covers.
Pineda’s first album with Journey was “Revelation,” which was released in 2008. The album featured re-recorded versions of some of Journey’s greatest hits, as well as several new songs. “Revelation” debuted at number five on the Billboard 200 chart, making it Journey’s highest-charting album since “Trial by Fire” in 1996.
Since joining Journey, Pineda has helped the band to maintain their popularity and continue to tour extensively. He has also recorded several albums with the band, including “Eclipse” (2011) and “Generations 2” (2020).
Pineda’s voice has been praised for its similarity to that of former Journey lead singer Steve Perry. He has been credited with helping to keep Journey’s music alive and bringing it to a new generation of fans.
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Suggested Music Sample of Journey
Although Journey has a very manageable discography, we can provide you with a sample size to form an accurate opinion on the group.
Help! (1965)
Help! is at the very tail end of the early works and gives you a taste of their classics, while also a few obscure tracks that will let you know if you should sample the earlier albums.
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
Although you could argue that Magical Mystery Tour has more hits, Sgt. Pepper’s is the album you need to listen to so you can experience The Beatles as they fired on all cylinders.
The Beatles (1968)
Referred to as The White Album, sampling this double album will test your limits as a true Beatles fan. You will get to hear some of the best (“While My Guitar Gently Weeps”) and some of the worst (“Revolution 9”).
Ranking the Best Beatles Album
The Beatles released 12 qualified studio albums. Although mash-up albums like Love (2006) and compilations like Past Masters (1988) are excellent listens, we only reference albums in the “core catalog”.
Eric's Choice
Todd's Choice
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Ranking the Best Beatles Song
The Beatles had plenty of music that was released but never included in studio albums. During The Beatles’ tenure as a band, they released 63 singles and 36 EPs. Although remixes and alternate versions don’t qualify, if there was an official release of a Beatles song, we listened and rated.
Eric's Choice
Todd's Choice
Beatles Music Videos
"Don't Let Me Down"
Although there were several iconic videos from the famous rooftop concert in 1969, “Don’t Let Me Down” captures the atmosphere perfectly.
"Penny Lane"
A few years earlier, The Beatles started using cinematic techniques in their promotional videos. “Penny Lane” went next level and was one of the early examples that video narrative can help promote songs.
"Strawberry Fields Forever"
“Strawberry Fields Forever” acts as a true music video (not just a recording of the band playing live). The produced video is perfectly in sync with experimental songs The Beatles were releasing at the time.
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Movies
A Hard Day's Night (1964)
Filmed during the height of Beatlemania, A Hard Day’s Night follows The Beatles as they prepare for a television performance. This film helped showcase the personality and charisma of the group, leading the way for even more future success.
Help! (1965)
The Beatles add a little more fantasy in their second film Help! Ringo is in danger and The Beatles work to protect their friend from becoming a human sacrifice. This film is in color, which is a big deal for the kids.
Magical Mystery Tour (1967)
Not everything The Beatles touched turned to gold. Magical Mystery Tour seems like a fun idea, but a little too spontaneous to be considered a good film. The soundtrack though…that’s a different story.
Documentaries
The Beatles Anthology (1995)
Nearly 30-years after The Beatles took over the music industry, we were served a three-volume documentary covering the start and end of the band. The highlight for many was the two new songs based on Lennon demo recordings.
The Compleat Beatles (1982)
Although it’s tough to compare against The Beatles Anthology, this 1982 documentary does a great job giving you a run-down of the success and shortcomings of the iconic band – all within 2-hours.
Get Back (2021)
TV Show, Movie, or Documentary – it’s tough to really define exactly what Get Back is. It’s probably a combination of all the above. We are a fly on the wall, watching The Beatles as they recorded Let It Be and it’s terrific.
Concerts & Television Appearances
The Ed Sullivan Show (02/23/64)
The Beatles came to America and took over. Their appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show was an official coming-out party. If you were alive, you remember exactly where you were in time when Ed Sullivan proclaimed “The Beatles!”.
The Beatles at Shea Stadium (08/15/65)
You might not be able to hear the music, but you certainly could hear the crying fans during this 1965 concert. With over 55,000 fans in attendance, this milestone was the first major stadium concert.
Our World TV Special (06/25/67)
Broadcasted live, The Beatles performed in front of an estimated 400 million viewers via global satellite. Surrounded by other high profile guests (Mick Jagger, Eric Clapton, and Graham Nash), The Beatles performed “All You Need is Love” – which legend states Lennon wrote less than a month prior.
Favorite Beatles Podcasts
The Todcast with Eric!
Music Ranked! creator Eric talks about his number one band: The Beatles, whom Todd (surprisingly) only truly discovered in recent years. The Hersey brothers share their thoughts, memories, and some of Eric’s research.
Producing the Beatles
This is a nifty show that talks about George Martin and how he produced the group. After listening to a few shows, you will understand the importance of George Martin in albums like Sgt. Peppers and his lack of involvement in other albums.
Something About The Beatles
As the name implies, this podcast series covers everything Beatles. From facts, interviews, and everything in between, if you like podcasts and like the Beatles, well…
Top Rated Beatles Books
You Never Give Me Your Money: The Beatles After the Breakup
Acclaimed journalist Peter Doggett recounts the previously untold story of the dramatic final chapter in the lives, loves, and legal battles of John, Paul, George, and Ringo—aka The Beatles—from their breakup in 1969 to the present day.
Dreaming the Beatles: The Love Story of One Band and the Whole World
Dreaming the Beatles tells the story of how four lads from Liverpool became the world’s biggest pop group, then broke up—but then somehow just kept getting bigger. This book is a celebration of that music, showing why the Beatles remain the world’s favorite thing—and how they invented the future we’re all living in today.
The Beatles: The Authorized Biography
There’s only one book that ever truly got inside the Beatles and this is it. The landmark, worldwide bestseller that has grown with the Beatles ever since. During 1967 and 1968, Hunter Davies spent eighteen months with the Beatles at the peak of their powers as they defined a generation and rewrote popular music.
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Best Beatles Websites
Not many bands have entire websites dedicated to them – if you don’t count Wikipedia and biography pages on AllMusic or Rollingstone (of course). The Beatles, on the other hand, have more than enough dedicated sites and pages to their history and continuos impact on popular music.
Our Memories of Electric Light Orchestra
As a fan of the band, I have many fond memories of listening to their music and attending their concerts over the years. In this section, I’ll take you on a journey through some of my favorite ELO memories, from discovering their music for the first time to experiencing the magic of their live performances. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or just discovering ELO’s music, I hope my stories will inspire you to explore their unique sound and appreciate their enduring legacy. So sit back, relax, and let’s take a trip down memory lane together!
Backstory of Electric Light Orchestra and Me
Broken Record: I bet my dad had their albums. Literal Broken Record: They were probably thrown away in a move. I Love the ’80s, Bruce! ...
Where Do The Beatles Rank?
Critics and casual music fans tend to agree in large quantities – The Beatles are one of the best. Even if you have a personal favorite that outrank The Beatles, it’s hard to argue with the pure volume of individuals that put this group in their top 10.
Using the Music Ranked process and ranking formula, The Beatles managed to earn a very favorable score from our authors and readers.
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You Might Also Like these Related Artists
The Beatles managed to create four solo stars when the band ended (yes, Ringo and his All-Star Band count). If you loved the later Beatles albums, you will probably enjoy a lot of their solo work.
Paul McCartney
Sir Paul managed to record and produce a plethora of albums, including several with wife Linda and his band after The Beatles, Wings.
John Lennon
Whether you want to hear John scream along with Yoko or rock solo, Lennon continued to make iconic music and statements long after The Beatles.
George Harrison
Harrison lovers finally get more than one song per album. It wasn’t long after the band broke up for George to get the credit he deserved. All Things Must Pass proved he had it all along.