In many ways, Electric Light Orchestra draws heavily from The Beatles. This observation has been made by music enthusiasts and fans and also by The Beatles’ own members, Paul McCartney and John Lennon. ELO’s vibrant rhythmic explorations and mastery of lyrics often prompt comparisons to the iconic band, with one song standing out as the primary subject of these resemblances.
The true significance of The Beatles only became evident in their absence. Following the group’s breakup in 1970, their dissolution created a substantial void in the musical landscape. Bands like Badfinger and Big Star swiftly attempted to fill this void, displaying considerable skill in replicating The Beatles’ sound. However, it wasn’t until the emergence of ELO that the world witnessed a group capable of recapturing the progressive spirit embodied by Lennon, McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr.
Lennon: Conversations with John Lennon includes an interview that Lennon held in 1974. Within the conversation, the singer chose some songs for the radio station to play: “We’re going to play Electric Light Orchestra, from last year,” he explained. “‘Showdown’, which I thought was a great record, and I was expecting it to be number ine, but I don’t think UA [United Artists] got their fingers out and pushed it.”
Lennon then revealed his admiration for ELO: “And it’s a nice group,” he said. “I call them Son of Beatles, although they’re doing things that we never did, obviously.” He also compared ‘Showdown’ to one of The Beatles’ most beloved tracks: “I remember the statement they made when they first formed was to carry on from where The Beatles left off with ‘[I Am the] Walrus,’ and they certainly did.”
However, along with Lennon, McCartney also commented over the years about the similarities. In fact, it was one of the first things that he said to Jeff Lynne when they met. According to a 2022 article from The Telegraph, Lynne said that when he met McCartney for the first time, the former Beatle said: “‘Mr. Blue Sky?’ I know where you got that riff from,” adding: “He didn’t mince words. He thought I took it from the middle of ‘A Day in the Life’. But we became great pals.”
However, when questioned about the inspiration behind this song in particular, Lynne didn’t previously attribute its origins to ‘A Day in the Life’ or any other Beatles tracks. As reported by the BBC, Lynne actually secluded himself in a Swiss chalet to compose the follow-up to ELO’s album A New World Record. Recounting the weather as “dark and misty for two weeks,” he faced a creative block.
He then proceeded to write ‘Mr. Blue Sky’ and an additional 13 tracks over the subsequent two weeks. These compositions formed the core of ELO’s ensuing album, Out of the Blue. While Lennon, McCartney, and numerous music enthusiasts draw parallels between ELO’s musical contributions and The Beatles, it signifies less a storm of plagiarism concerns and more a testament to the band’s unparalleled imprint on musical history.
