In October of 1977, The Electric Light Orchestra released its epic double album, “Out of the Blue,” and the first song on the album  was also the first single: a masterpiece by ELO’s mastermind, Jeff Lynne.

Jeff had written “Turn to Stone” during a two-week writing marathon right before the group went into the studio…and when they came out, they had a “Great Song on their hands.

 One music critic put it this way: “It comes with a Godzilla-sized hook that stomps over everything in its way.”

Another called it a “driving, high energy rocker” with a “demonic cello setting the pace.”

More importantly, fans and radio listeners loved it too! By the time 1978 rolled around, “Turn to Stone” was a worldwide hit, reaching the Top 20 in 12 countries, including the US, where it climbed to #13 on  The Hot 100.

There was, however, a problem: The song was so complex, ELO had to use pre-recorded tapes to help fill out the sound during concerts. Now, with today’s technology, that sort of thing is commonplace…but in the ’70s, that literally meant syncing up to an actual tape–not an easy thing to do…but of course, Jeff Lynne figured it out.

“Turn to Stone” by ELO: a “Great Song of 77 &-78 !