S.O.D. "Do Ya" by Electric Light Orchestra

10/12/2014

Make no mistake, the ELO version of this tune is sweeter to the ear than The Move's, even though The Move is credited with the first release.  Jeff Lynne wrote the 1972 release and co-produced it along with multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and record producer Roy Wood who was then a member of The Move.  At the time, ELO was a side project The Move was working on.  Lynne was the sole producer of ELO's 1977 release.  

     The ELO version charted at #16 in the U.S. and was a part of their album "A New World Record".  On their 2000 Compilation album "Flashback", Lynne used an unedited mix of the song that was made in 1976 which he chose over the album track.  Right around 10 versions of the song were released by other artists including Todd Rundgren and Ace Frehley of KISS.  "Do Ya" was also Tom Petty's inspiration for his 1982 hit,  "Change of Heart".

     ELO had three founding members, Roy Wood, Jeff Lynne and drummer/vocalist Bev Bevan.  From 1983-1984, Bevan served as Black Sabbath's tour drummer.  Lynne was excited about Wood's idea to take rock and roll in a symphonic direction and the two began songwriting.  In April of 1972 with 9 musicians, they performed live for the first time as ELO at a local pub in Surrey.  Very soon after this, Wood left the group taking a few members with him and Lynne stepped up as leader, wrote most of the songs and produced every album.