ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA - CONCERTO FOR A RAINY DAY 

Released: October 24, 1977 on “Out of the Blue” album.

“Out of the Blue”, the seventh studio album by the British rock group Electric Light Orchestra contains the legendary "Concerto for a Rainy Day", four tracks that together form a symphonic suite, with the weather as its theme. The last part, “Mr. Blue Sky”, became a world hit. Trivia for the harder ones amongst you: What instructions were given out via vocoder at the end of the suite? 

The third side of the album is a quartet of loosely thematic songs inspired primarily by an extended period of dreary downpour and thunder while holed up in his Swiss chalet, Lynne loosely crafted the songs in response to his own attitude toward the weather and the writer’s block it brought about.

The concept is very loose indeed, but a pliable imagination can find a thread along which to string them all. Maybe we can think of them from the point of view of someone recently cast out of a turbulent relationship. From the dark of a midnight rainfall to the sunlight of afternoon, the weather mirrors the recovery and movement toward renewed optimism that comes from crumbling relationships.

STANDIN’ IN THE RAIN

The first song, “Standin’ in the Rain,” opens the suite with a haunting keyboard over a recording of real rain, recorded just outside the rented studio. The singer has been cast out onto the street alone, freezing and soaking wet. After a cymbal crash, the orchestra takes prominence, and a heavily distorted voice, manipulated to resemble thunder crackling, voices the words "A concerto for a rainy day". At around the one minute mark the staccato strings play a morse code spelling out the band’s name. From this point, the song develops into an "exhilarating instrumental workout" that evokes the intensity of a rainstorm.

"Standin’ in the Rain" appears to convey a sense of frustration and isolation amidst challenging circumstances. The recurring rain motif symbolizes the hardships and difficulties that the singer is facing, as well as a feeling of being overwhelmed. In the song's verses, the singer is shown standing alone in the rain, expressing weariness and a longing to go home. This could represent a state of emotional exhaustion or perhaps a desire for solace and comfort in the face of adversity. The chorus reflects his determination to persevere despite the unfavorable conditions. They are doing their best, but feel as though their efforts are not being recognized or rewarded. This may highlight a sense of futility or a lack of validation in their endeavors. The refrain introduces a sense of alienation, as he observes others rushing by without acknowledging their presence. They wish to connect with others and be heard, but feel overlooked and unheard, further emphasizing their feelings of isolation and longing for recognition. In the second verse, the rain intensifies, paralleling the ever-growing challenges faced by the singer. The desire for freedom amidst the downpour can be interpreted as a yearning to escape or break free from the burdens and difficulties they are experiencing. The bridge delves deeper into the internal struggle of the singer, expressing the conflict between their good intentions and the pain they are feeling. Despite striving to do the right thing, their efforts are seemingly futile, drowned out by the relentless rain. This can evoke a sense of disappointment and vulnerability. "Standin’ in the Rain" captures the emotions of frustration, isolation, and longing for recognition when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges. The rain serves as a metaphor for the hardships that can feel suffocating and unremitting.

BIG WHEELS

“Big Wheels,” forms the second part of the suite. The song adds layers of instrumentation as it progresses, building from an intimate beginning towards an "epic" crescendo. With its imagery of mechanisms large and beyond control, evoke both weather patterns and a feeling of hopelessness. 

"Big Wheels" explores themes of introspection, self-doubt, and the constant cycle of life. The lyrics reflect a sense of contemplation and reflection on one's own existence, particularly in relation to others. In the verses, the songwriter ponders the perception of success and the struggle to find one's place in the world. The line "You got it made, they never understand" suggests that despite outward appearances, true fulfillment and understanding come from within. The reference to a coin falling implies the unpredictable nature of life and the uncertainty of what the future holds. The chorus emphasizes the repetitive nature of life's journey, symbolized by the metaphor of "big wheels turning." This imagery may represent the constant cycle of experiences and challenges that one faces, with the understanding that these wheels keep turning regardless of the outcome. The phrase "Or not at all" could imply that sometimes it feels as though things are moving ceaselessly, while other times, progress may seem stagnant. The bridge introduces a somber tone, describing a lonely and reflective moment in the dead of night. The mention of a "lonely light that shines upon the window" suggests a sense of isolation and longing. The imagery of the pouring rain and "cold dark waiting days" further emphasizes a sense of longing and uncertainty. In the final verse, the songwriter expresses a desire to return home and start anew. The repetition of the phrase "I think I'm gonna have to start again" highlights a feeling of dissatisfaction and the need for a fresh beginning. The inability to find what is "always rolling through my mind" represents a struggle to define one's purpose or find meaning in life.

SUMMER AND LIGHTING

However, optimism returns, or at least the singer regains his legs, as warmer weather returns on “Summer and Lightning,” the third song in the suite, where he signals a break in the clouds and the first hint of Sunrise. It's a bit of a thrill knowing that, as scary as it may be, the risks involved in falling in love are never greater than the thrill of being washed clean in the torrent.

"Summer and Lightning" appears to convey a feeling of longing and desire for love, along with the sense of magic and excitement that comes with it. The lyrics in the first verse suggest that the singer has been waiting for love for a significant amount of time and is struggling to continue in the current situation where they feel mistreated. This longing for love is reflected in the pre-chorus, where the idea of being far away and hoping for a message from the sky is presented. The chorus introduces the concept of magic, with the repeated phrase "Here it comes again, it must be magic." This magic could represent the overwhelming feeling of love and the joy it brings. It creates an atmosphere of wonder and anticipation. In the second verse, the singer envisions the person they desire in their mind, but the time they have lost waiting for them is emphasized. The line "What can I do? The sun ain't shinin'" suggests that despite their yearning, circumstances or obstacles are preventing them from having a fulfilling relationship. The bridge intensifies the emotions, with the repeated lines "I can feel it, feel it," emphasizing the intensity of the narrator's emotions and their connection to this love interest. Throughout the song, the phrase "Summer and Lightning" is used as a metaphor to describe the powerful and electrifying nature of this desired love, evoking a sense of passion, excitement, and energy. It represents the surge of emotions and the electrifying feeling that comes with the presence of love.

In addition to being one of the band’s most thrilling choral epics, “Summer and Lightning” is a quintessential summer storm song. When the swelling harmony comes in: “It s all around me, It must be magic”, it s guaranteed to raise the hair on the back of your neck. “Summer and Lightning” is a sparkling example of Jeff Lynne’s ability to create that unmistakable and original ELO sound.

MR. BLUE SKY

Released: January 20, 1978

Charted:  UK: #6  US: #35 

The concerto ends with “Mister Blue Sky,” the final song of the set. An unabashed celebration of a sunny day and the feeling of freedom that comes from diving into whatever the winds brings.

"Mr. Blue Sky" is a song about finding joy and hope in the midst of difficult times. The lyrics describe a world of sunny days “There ain’t a cloud in sight” with an optimistic attitude that everything will be alright “Today is the day we’ve waited for”. Lynne is asking for an explanation from Mr. Blue Sky, the source of all this hope and optimism, as to why they were gone for so long and where they went wrong. The song is a reminder to find hope in difficult times, that no matter what we go through, the blue sky will always be waiting for us.

Jeff said: “I suppose this is my most well-known song. Everybody tells me something different about it. It's even got crazy appeal to kids since it's like a nursery rhyme. It's the thought of, 'Oh, isn't it nice when the sun comes out?' And you know, it really is. 'The sky is blue, wow, what a thing.' It's a simple kid's story. I remember writing the words down. I was at a chalet in the mountains of Switzerland and it was all misty and cloudy all the way around. I didn't see any countryside for the first four days or so, and then everything cleared and there was this enormous view forever and the sky was blue. It was dark and misty for 2 weeks, and I didn't come up with a thing. Suddenly the sun shone and it was, Wow, look at those beautiful Alps. I wrote Mr. Blue Sky and 13 other songs in the next 2 weeks.”

He also admitted that it was the song that crystallised everything he loved about the band and wanted to transmit to people listening. "It captured what my vision of ELO was all about," he said. "All the bits that come in and out, the backing vocals, the cellos sliding, all the little naughty bits, the sound effects, everything is exactly what I imagined ELO to be."

Bev Bevan said: “it’s a happy song, we all feel happier when the sun shines after a storm. The choir are very good at the end of this track singing in the style of the 'Swingle Sisters'."

You can find the answer to the Trivia in the last orchestral note: the phrase “Please Turn Me Over” spoken through a vocoder can be heard (This bit has been misheard repeatedly as “Mr. Blue Sky, why?”, but original keyboardist Richard Tandy confirmed the actual lyric to members of the Showdown ELO fan list). This is an instruction for owners of the original vinyl album to turn it over to listen to the fourth side.