The album is focused on the core trio of
Roy Wood,
Jeff Lynne and
Bev Bevan, who were the remaining members of rock group
the Move. The Move were still releasing singles in the UK at the same time as this project was undertaken, but interest was soon to be abandoned in Wood's former band. In fact, the Move's final album,
Message from the Country, was recorded simultaneously with
The Electric Light Orchestra. The sound on
The Electric Light Orchestra is unique on this recording in comparison to the more slickly produced ELO albums of the subsequent Lynne years, incorporating many wind instruments and replacing guitar parts with heavy, "sawing" cello riffs, giving this recording an experimental "
baroque-and-roll" feel. Because Wood, Lynne, and Bevan were the only members, the album utilized many
overdubs (with some tracks having well over 10) and doubling on instruments. Lynne and Wood did the strings (with Wood doing the woodwinds and Lynne doing the keyboards) while Bevan stuck with percussion and drums. On the track "The Battle of Marston Moor (July 2nd, 1644)," Wood had to provide the percussion as well because Bev Bevan, normally the group's percussionist and drummer, refused to play on the track due to his low opinion of it. The album cover fittingly depicts a disconnected lightbulb in the middle of a large empty baroque-style dance hall with modern electric lights livening up the room. The back cover depicts Wood, Lynne, and Bevan adorned in era-appropriate clothing and playing classical instruments (a
cello, a
violin, and a
piccolo, respectively). The image is depicted in wall-eye style, as if they are reflected within the lightbulb's dome. The
gatefold cover opens up to reveal several black and white images relating to the songs (such as a radio for "Mr. Radio") as well as another picture of the band next to the credits and personnel. ==Release==