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A friend of mine, 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 have 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 1960s 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, separate from his personal recorded output with his own ELO band and his solo career.
As a fan of Jeff Lynne’s work, I always enjoy hearing 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 1980s in popular music. The domination of country pop, hip hop, R&B, and young rock bands seems to clearly stand in the way of songs like “When I Was a Boy” garnering 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 might once again find its way back into mainstream culture.
Updated July 1, 2026
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Why We Love Jeff Lynne’s “When I Was A Boy” Song article published on ClassicRockHistory.com© 2026
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