Electric Light Orchestra / Out of the Blue (2LP/180g/Gat)

Sprawling over 17 tracks and clocking in at over 70 minutes, the band's seventh album is a staple of 70s rock music and was widely considered to be the biggest landmark in Jeff Lynne and the band's career when it landed in 1977. With instantly recognisable hits like 'Turn to Stone', 'Sweet Talkin' Woman' and the immortal 'Mr. Blue Sky', it's packed with some of the most enduring music Lynne ever wrote. But the album's greatness lies not just in its hits but it's the sheer range and craft. From the lush orchestration of 'Starlight' and 'Summer and Lightning', to the quirky charm of 'Jungle' and the cinematic sweep of 'Wild West Hero'. Out Of The Blue maintains a remarkable consistency across its length. The 'Concerto for a Rainy Day' suite on Side Three is particularly stunning, culminating in the euphoric lift of 'Mr. Blue Sky', a perfect pop symphony. That fact that Lynne wrote it all in just over three weeks only adds to its legend.