2302. “Evil Woman” by Electric Light Orchestra
Official Video (?):
Once could make an argument that 1975’s Face The Music was the start of ELO’s ascent proper. Sure, they’d had some hits before, but this was the album that made them a hit machine in the USA.
With “Evil Woman”, ELO had a genuine monster hit - and a song with genuine staying power. Sure, it lacked some of the ambition of their earlier songs (Lynne claims to have written it in 30 minutes), but I’ve got to tell you, its catchy as all get out. In some ways, it epitomizes 70’s pop rock - the mix of guitar and organ parts that are loud but not aggressive, sweeping vocals by anonymous female back-up singers that are a bit in the back of the mix, and a mid-tempo that let’s you tap your toe but doesn’t demand dancing.
Anyhow, “Evil Woman” is a classic - and, in some ways, is the song that put the “curse of the successful single” on ELO. I would argue that they were never as ambitious as they were on Eldorado again after this one, but engaged in a pursuit of hits from here on out.
This is also the start of my thesis against Jeff Lynne as a producer. He’s a great songwriter, a gifted producer and a decent vocalist, but his drive for top 40 gold as a performer and producer led to a tendency on his part to try and turn everything into an ELO-like hit. More on this later.