Jeff Lynne’s When I was a Boy song is simply fab!

Jeff Lynne

Photo: By Paul Carless (at Flickr) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

A friend of mine named Kevin Minihan, once described Jeff Lynne as “son of the Beatles.” It was a telling description that probably Jeff Lynne wouldn’t even argue against. Jeff Lynne’s music and production has always echoed the harmonies, chord changes and melodies of the Beatles. However, as much of an inspirational force the Beatles were on Jeff Lynne (and everyone else who grew up in the 1960’s and 70s) Lynne’s music has always presented fans with  brilliant original melodies  and outstanding production values. It was  Jeff Lynne’s production techniques and intellectual understanding of popular music that created his successful career as a music producer outside of his personal recorded output with his own ELO band and solo career.

As a fan of Jeff Lynne’s work, it always wonderful to hear new material from the composer and producer. In 2015, Jeff Lynne released an album entitled Jeff Lynne’s ELO Alone in the Universe. The album’s opening  track “When I Was a Boy,” is clearly reminiscent of old school ELO. The Jeff Lynne harmonies and the ascending and descending string lines are all present. And of course, the Beatles inspiration dominates the chord changes. The eighth note piano comping throughout the song is somewhat similar to the Beatles’ “Carry That Weight.” Nonetheless, “When I Was a Boy,” is a brilliantly written and produced pop song that would have easily been a hit during the 1970’s and 1980’s popular music periods. The domination of county pop, hip hop, r&b, and young rock bands seems to clearly stand in the way of songs like “When I Was a Boy,” garnishing airplay. It’s a shame, because if more young people heard songs like Jeff Lynne’s “When I Was a Boy,” that era of music may once again begin to find its way back into mainstream culture.

Jeff Lynne’s When I was a Boy song is simply fab!

Written by Brian Kachejian

Add Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Dashboard Confessional Songs
Top 10 Dashboard Confessional Songs
Fountains of Wayne Songs
Top 10 Fountains of Wayne Songs
10 Best Rock Songs With The Word 'Red' In The Title
10 Best Rock Songs With The Word ‘Red’ In The Title
Living Colour Songs
Top 10 Living Colour Songs
Eagles Albums
Picking Out Our Favorite Eagles Albums
George Harrison Albums
Our Favorite George Harrison Albums
Electric Light Orchestra Albums
10 Electric Light Orchestra Albums Everyone Should Own
Stevie Nicks Albums
Top 10 Stevie Nicks Albums
Monsters of Rock Cruise 2024: Day Five Review
Justin Hawkins of The Darkness Monsters Of Rock Cruise 2024: Day Four Review
Monsters Of Rock Cruise 2024: Day Four Review
M3 Rock Festival Is Back For 15th year! May 4 & 5 In Columbia, MD
Monsters of Rock Cruise 2024: Day Three Review
Russell Marsden Interview
An Interview With Russell Marsden of Band Of Skulls
Jeff Fabb of Black Label Society Interview
An Interview With Jeff Fabb of Black Label Society
Joey Vera of Armored Saint: The ClassicRockHistory.com Interview
Mel Gaynor Interview
An Interview With Mel Gaynor, Formerly Of Simple Minds
Ace Frehley Albums
Complete List of Ace Frehley Albums And Discography
Status Quo Albums
Complete List Of Status Quo Studio Albums And Discography
Phantom, Rocker & Slick Albums
Complete List Of Phantom, Rocker & Slick Albums
Paul Young Albums
Complete List Of Paul Young Albums And Discography
Music CDs Comeback
Why Music CDs Have No Chance Of Making A Comeback
Classic Rock Bands Still Together But Overdue For A New Album
Classic Rock Bands Still Together But Overdue For A New Album
When Glam Bands Went Grunge In The 1990s
When Glam Bands Went Grunge In The 1990s
25 Most Famous Female American Singers Now!
25 Most Famous Female American Singers Now!
11 Tracks Of Whack Album Review
Walter Becker – 11 Tracks of Whack Album Review
Sammy Hagar Album Review
Why Sammy Hagar’s 1977 ‘Sammy Hagar’ LP Was One Of His Best
Grand Funk On Time Album Review
Looking Back At Grand Funk Railroad’s Debut Album ‘On Time’
Ghost Writer Album Review
How ‘Ghost Writer’ Turned Us On To The Music Of Garland Jeffreys