Electric Light Orchestra: “Boy Blue” (1974)

Pacificism and pop music make for perfect allies on this single.

Kronomyth 4.4: Mr. blue sky as a boy

Boy Blue is one of my favorite “early” songs from Electric Light Orchestra. Always reminded me of George Harrison’s “Awaiting on You All” in terms of the vibe and how it just blasts away the clouds. It’s actually an anti-war song, although Jeff Lynne’s vocals are awfully hard to understand. The flip side is the title track from Eldorado, one of the few times when an ELO single used two songs from the same album. Both sides of the single were edited from their elpee version; in the case of “Boy Blue” the intro and middle bridge were cut out, although the patch job in the middle is poor. I couldn’t tell you what they edited from Eldorado; it maybe they just faded it early. Although “Boy Blue” didn’t succeed as a single, it’s a great tune. I’m surprised they didn’t release it overseas, since it would have found some success in the UK and elsewhere.

Original 7-inch single version

A1. Boy Blue (Jeff Lynne) (3:15)
B1. Eldorado (Jeff Lynne) (4:45)

The Plastic

Released on 7-inch single in November 1974 in the US (United Artists, UAXW 634-X). Also released as promotional 7-inch single in 1974 in the US (United Artists, UAXW 634-X) feat. A mono on flip.