Reaching No. 9 in the UK in 1972, by the 'Electric Light Orchestra', the song, written by Jeff Lynne, was intended to be a B-side on a single by 'The Move'. It was released in the USA in the same year, but did not chart. Rick Price (of 'The Move') played bass on the track originally but was never credited; apparently, with all the overdubs and layers that were added to the track, the bass line 'got lost' in the mix and Lynne laid down a new bass line.
Roy Wood and Lynne shared vocal duties on the song, much like their previous single "California Man", (as 'The Move'). The song is about an escaped prisoner, but Lynne wanted to give the character in the song a number as opposed to a name when he chanced upon the number 1053 while looking around the mixing console. Wood suggested adding number eight to fit the melody better.
The song was still to be a new song by 'The Move', until Wood added some cello riffs and, after many cello layers were added using overdubbing, the "Overture" and the 'Electric Light Orchestra' ('ELO') were born. It was during the single's chart run that Wood left the 'ELO' line-up, emerging later in the year with a new band called 'Wizzard'.
"'10538 Overture' was an idea that Jeff (Lynne) brought along to the studio which was originally to be a 'Move' track. After recording the basic backing track, the other guys went home, leaving Jeff and myself to run riot with the overdubs. At the time, I was very keen on collecting instruments, and had just acquired a cheap Chinese cello. After we had finished overdubbing the guitars, I sat in the control room trying out this cello and sort of messing around with Jimi Hendrix type riffs.
"Jeff said, 'That sounds great, why don't we throw it on the track?' I ended up recording around fifteen of these, and as the instrumentation built up, it was beginning to sound like some monster heavy metal orchestra. In fact, it sounded just bloody marvellous."
— Roy Wood, 2006.
"I had this guitar track, like a real big riff on a guitar. I laid it down in the studio and Roy Wood got his cello, his Chinese cello, and he overdubbed about fifteen cello riffs, just double tracking all the time - and it sounded fantastic. We thought, it was like 'Wow!' and we just sat round playing it for days."
— Jeff Lynne, 2006.
Information taken from Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/).
@lynn200 No kidding about the edit button! Mt right little finger bone is actually metal, and my right ring finger isn't 100%...but you should see the other guy! *)
@ShanebearGrogan Aha! What you mean is - The Changing Man intro sounds a lot like this, since this was written and recorded way before Weller got his mitts on it. If you look back through the commenst here, you'll see a couple of people acknowledging the plagiarism. The original and best.
28 Comments (since 27 Nov 2014)
leejohnson
Reaching No. 9 in the UK in 1972, by the 'Electric Light Orchestra', the song, written by Jeff Lynne, was intended to be a B-side on a single by 'The Move'. It was released in the USA in the same year, but did not chart. Rick Price (of 'The Move') played bass on the track originally but was never credited; apparently, with all the overdubs and layers that were added to the track, the bass line 'got lost' in the mix and Lynne laid down a new bass line.
leejohnson
Roy Wood and Lynne shared vocal duties on the song, much like their previous single "California Man", (as 'The Move'). The song is about an escaped prisoner, but Lynne wanted to give the character in the song a number as opposed to a name when he chanced upon the number 1053 while looking around the mixing console. Wood suggested adding number eight to fit the melody better.
leejohnson
The song was still to be a new song by 'The Move', until Wood added some cello riffs and, after many cello layers were added using overdubbing, the "Overture" and the 'Electric Light Orchestra' ('ELO') were born. It was during the single's chart run that Wood left the 'ELO' line-up, emerging later in the year with a new band called 'Wizzard'.
leejohnson
"'10538 Overture' was an idea that Jeff (Lynne) brought along to the studio which was originally to be a 'Move' track. After recording the basic backing track, the other guys went home, leaving Jeff and myself to run riot with the overdubs. At the time, I was very keen on collecting instruments, and had just acquired a cheap Chinese cello. After we had finished overdubbing the guitars, I sat in the control room trying out this cello and sort of messing around with Jimi Hendrix type riffs.
leejohnson
"Jeff said, 'That sounds great, why don't we throw it on the track?' I ended up recording around fifteen of these, and as the instrumentation built up, it was beginning to sound like some monster heavy metal orchestra. In fact, it sounded just bloody marvellous." — Roy Wood, 2006.
leejohnson
"I had this guitar track, like a real big riff on a guitar. I laid it down in the studio and Roy Wood got his cello, his Chinese cello, and he overdubbed about fifteen cello riffs, just double tracking all the time - and it sounded fantastic. We thought, it was like 'Wow!' and we just sat round playing it for days." — Jeff Lynne, 2006. Information taken from Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/).
leejohnson
http://www.lyricsfreak.com/e/electric+light+orchestra/10538+overture_20045420.html
tomdwilly
As ripped off by a certain Mr Paul Weller for The Changingman
DavidAnderson
@tomdwilly totally!
roseyrhymes
great one.
gmdunning
Love it!
KerryEJordan
Love a descending sequence.
KerryEJordan
Also low strings.
jackietheripper
Yes!
capnhollis
ELO was one of my fave bands on the 70s...had all of their vinyl! Great jam!
capnhollis
"On" the 70s? I'm a bad typist! Broke my right hand last year and some times it doesn't actually do what my brain asks of it!
lynn200
@capnhollis an edit button would be great.. i type slower than i think...
lynn200
a great jam.really happy to hear it again.
capnhollis
@lynn200 No kidding about the edit button! Mt right little finger bone is actually metal, and my right ring finger isn't 100%...but you should see the other guy! *)
lynn200
@capnhollis theres always other guy, :)
cbinseoul
Nice Jam!
ShanebearGrogan
The intro sounds a lot like Paul Weller - Changing Man? :-)
leejohnson
@ShanebearGrogan Aha! What you mean is - The Changing Man intro sounds a lot like this, since this was written and recorded way before Weller got his mitts on it. If you look back through the commenst here, you'll see a couple of people acknowledging the plagiarism. The original and best.
obadiah99
Possibly the best use of a cello on any rock music recording, ever. Discuss....
mikelowe
Brilliant track!!!!!
leejohnson
@obadiah99 For me, it's "Say You Don't Mind" by Colin Blunstone. This is second.
HaveACuppaTea
I'm the changing man! Got to admit, think I slightly prefer Weller's homage.
ErnieBilko
Remember seeing them do it on TOTP. I was hooked, an absolute classic...