Electric Light Orchestra: “Livin’ Thing” (1976)

Beatlesque pop in the bicentennial age.

Kronomyth 7.1: Dive of a broken heart

Leave it to ELO‘s Jeff Lynne to take a downbeat love song and wrap it up in such a pretty package that it’s been used to hawk everything from cars (Volkswagen) to Christmas deals (J.C. Penney). The opening single from A New World Record starts with strings and then glides into the post-Beatles pop wonderland that Lynne had visited so often. It’s a great song from a brilliant album full of them. As was usually the case, the B side was pulled from the past: the edited version of Ma-Ma-Ma Belle from Olé ELO in the US and Canada, and Fire on High (from Face the Music) in Europe. In the UK, the single was released in a blue vinyl version, out of the blue indeed. And fans of Fanny may find the backing vocals familiar, as both Patti Quatro and Brie Brandt help bring Livin’ Thing to life as supporting singers.

7-inch single version

A1. Livin’ Thing (Jeff Lynne) (3:30)
B1. Fire on High (Jeff Lynne) (5:30)

7-inch single version (US/CAN)
A1. Livin’ Thing (Jeff Lynne) (3:30)
A2. Ma-Ma-Ma Belle (Jeff Lynne) (3:35)

The Plastic

Released on 7-inch and blue vinyl 7-inch single in October 1976 in the UK and Chile (United Artists, UP 36184), the US (United Artists, XW888), Canada (United Artists, UA-XW888-Y), Germany (United Artists, 36184AT) and Mexico (Gamma/United Artists, G-1743) with regional picture sleeve. Also released as one-sided promotional blue vinyl 12-inch single in 1976 in the UK (Jet, SP-137). Reached #4 on the UK charts and #13 on the US charts (charted on October 23, 1976 for 18 weeks).