Like any artist (for the most part), you either like the music they produce or you don't. ELO is a little over the top as far as the production goes (vocal layering, echoing, synth voices, etc), but I love the rich harmonies and bombastic sound Jeff Lynne produced on their best albums. It's music gluttony that I love much like eating a rich dessert!

Even though the Rock n Roll hall of fame is not a benchmark by any standard, ELO, should be inducted on a number of points.
1- Jeff Lynne has written more than enough quality music to prove himself as one of the better song writers of all time.See the partial list below.
2- Jeff Lynne has set a consistantly high standard in production, refer to George Harrison, Beatles, Paul McCartney, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, Regina Spektor and Del Shannon to name a few. Also on the basis that he is still producing.
3- ELO sold masses of records worldwide. They are in the top 100 of all time sales.
4-The music they produced (with exception of some after 1978). Was cutting edge, crafty and popular not just commercially but also in terms of quality.
5- Not many people had better afros!

They sound like an advertising agency that made records.

More boring pop music for the easily impressed. Let 'em in.

Underrated - One of the most influential bands of their time!

Maybe let 'em in down the road. Maybe a bit ahead of their time. And that might have made them a little misunderstood.

Why are they not in? That what I want to know, as good or better than many already in...what gives?

Very good in their day, but after others

They had a lot of hits and helped advance production techniques during the 70s. Plus people love Jeff Lynn. Still others are more deserving of getting in before them like Alice Cooper and the Moody Blues!

eventually

The Electric Light Orchestra were one of the most experimental rock bands of the 70s into the 80s, mixing symphony and classical with mainstream rock. Jeff Lynne was a genius in every sense of the word and it is a shame they have been totally overlooked.

#1 band ever!!

ELO were one of the most innovative and original bands.They incorporated strings into a rock/pop concept, also live on stage. But what many people are not aware of is that ELO were innovative in many ways. Some of the studio tricks Lynne used to create his sound were unbelievable. Lynne carried the technique of multitracking to an extreme. Listen attentively to these painstakingly constructed backing tracks. There are so many sounds and little tricks buried in the mix. This is probably why people like Dave Edmunds call him the most amazing thing they have ever seen in the studio. Moreover, ELO invented a unique crystal clear ambient sound. With surround mixes becoming more and more fashionable, it can be said that Lynne was way ahead of his time, given his obsession with the techniques of distant micing. Another thing is that ELO experimented a lot with keyboard technology. So you could just as well say that they invented keyboard-based space pop which became the latest trend in the early Eighties. Concerning all those Beatles comparisons, let me stress that, although the Beatles were a major influence, ELO's sound borders on many styles.  What Lynne tried - and this is why he loved the Beatles so much - was to invent a new original sound by letting himself be influenced by a wide variety of artists/styles. By the way,  Lynne was also a big fan of Del Shannon, Roy Orbison, The Shadows, Joe Meek ... Regarding those comments about ELO sounding the same on all their records: I guess you've never bothered to listen to their albums because this is downright nonsense. ELO's sound never changed radically from album to album, but if you compare Zoom to ELO1, those two albums sound completely different. No revolution, but constant evolution.  Furthermore, check out their live performances  and you might be surprised to find out that ELO could be one of the hardest rocking bands of the Seventies.

Love em Gotta be in The Hall

Great, great, energetic music. Close to the best sounds ever.

hELO

Need We Even Ask? They Absolutely Belong.

guilty pleasure...from 75 to 78 unstoppable

ELO/ Jeff Lynne's music speaks to me. I am floored by sheer number of beautiflul songs and melodies he has created. he should have been a Beatle. It is an outrage for them not to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It makes that whole organization irrelevent as far as i'm concerned.

Jeff Lynne is a musical genius who brought symphonic sound to rock and roll which helped bring about the advent of using synthesizers to imitate the sound. His production abilities just solidify his genius. In order for you to thoroughly understand it all you have to do more than just listen to the words of the songs and to the music of all the instruments together. Listen to the songs over and over and break the music down by instruments. He left nothing to add, piecing the right instrument at the right time. In my opinion Jeff Lynne is the closest thing to Mozart that our modern world will ever see. If you dont get it you're not listening to the music. His music doesnt need a message, it is the message.

They were my favorite group when I was a kid and I still love the pre-Discovery stuff. That said, they not close to Hall-worthy. Late 70's era AOR didn't age well at all. If you weren't born between the mid-50s to mid-60s they're probably completely irrelevant to you

after others and after glow

pathetic.

I have been enjoying music from the electic light orchestra for over three decades. I have introduced a number of people to the group and I have found that not everyone is into their sound. Hey, we all have different tastes. But for those people that enjoy harmonies, catchy tunes, or well and sometimes over produced songs, the music won them over. I'm one of them. Jeff Lynne's ability to write enjoyable pop tunes didn't stop at one or two single releases, but throughout whole albums. Did their music have a message? Not usually. Did their music change the world? Not many have. They just created wonderful music. And for most people like finding a diamond on the street their songs await to be discovered.

Great band ! I put them right up there with the Beatles, Led Zepplin, Pink Floyd, the Rolling Stones and the Who. Jeff Lynne is a master musician. His only downfall was disowning the rest of the group. As for people that shun or or put down their music, you need to listen to it, not just hear one song and condemn it.

pathetic lame & stupid music

great band but after DEEP PURPLE

Been a fan Since i was 15 i'm 44 now.I LIVE and BREATH ELO.How many bands do that to somebody?

70s novelty act that now sound incredibly dated. What is their legacy exactly? Frankly the reasons given here justifying their inclusion in the RRHOF are all a bit lame.

Amazingly underrated. I'm tired of the Beatles comparison. JL took that influence and turned it into his own. Hmmm, has no other band ever been influenced by another artist? Give me a break.

One of the best pop bands of the late 70s/early 80s. Major influence on other bands and individuals. Jeff Lynne was, and still is, a musical genius.

Should be in the R&RHOF. What a great band and cutting-edge music. Eldorado is perhaps the best example of this!

pff forget it, they suck. & som does ONJ. they dont belong

ELO brought a classical sound to the masses in the late 70s as the curse of disco was rising. They also had a different sound then any other band of the time and since ELO is unique which is some that is lacking by many of the other artists listed here.

JEFF LYNNE se merece este premio

The most important group of Symphonic Rock of the World

You mean they're NOT in the R&RHOF already? They should be inducted for "A New World Record" alone! Jeff Lynne Rules

the day roy wood left the band, they started slipping fast. First four albums were very good but by the time 'A new world record' came along they were just trans-atlantic synth pop/rock, with a very annopying predictability about their music. Rockn roll hall of fame is irrelavent toss anyway,

Can't believe they're this high in the rankings. Fluff.

Ridiculously underrated. Makes me mad.

elo is great

yes

The intiquite and the sheer virtuosity of the entire band led by Jeff Lynne, should be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, for the simple reason of musical genius.

I have no problem with ELO, but let's set the record straight on DEEP PURPLE's inclusion first. Folks like Moody Blues and Genesis need to find their palce before ELO.

Jeff Lynne deserves to be inducted for his leadership of ELO, his membership in the Traveling Wilbury's, and his production of Tom Petty, George Harrison, Roy Orbison, and The Beatles (to name a few, all members of the hall). Addl. work - Beatles Anthology, Concert for George

I'll put down the usual disclaimer that I think the whole idea of a Hall is a crock. For sales, strictly, like say Chicago, they should be in. I like their debut album, but a lot of their hits are kinda samey, and many of their albums were shaky at best. I would strongly, STRONGLY suggest to any of their fans, OR THE MANY PEOPLE WHO REALLY ONLY KNOW LIKE 7 BIG HITS OF THEIRS, and don't challenge themselves beyond a band's top 40 repetoire to instead check out the band they evolved out of: The Move. The Move are approximately 7,983 times better than ELO.

Jeff Lynne is a Genius. Even without ELO, he should get in for is work as a producer/engineer. He made classic albums for Roy Orbison, George Harrision, and Tom Petty to name a few. On top of all of this, he is a genuinely good guy.

Fantastic band and great songwriter in Lynne. But who cares if they enter the Rock and Roll Museum cause who really cares about the Rock N Roll Museum?

Nah! A few nice songs and Jeff Lynne is talented but they're body of work is not consistent enough!

Innovative. Timeless. Full of melody and visuals. A lot more than a Beatles tribute band. Jeff Lynne is a genius.