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Sometimes a "Great Song" can come after all the other Good Songs" have been written, recorded and produced.
In late 1975, The Electric Light Orchestra had completed their "Face the Music" album...but the running time was a bit short.
ELO's mastermind, Jeff Lynne, figured one more song would do the the trick, so while the other band members took a break, he sat down at the studio piano and started scribbling.
By the time everyone returned 30 minutes later, he had the opening piano riff written. From there, Jeff and the gang worked out a backing track and recorded it. The next day, they recorded the vocals and a few days later, added some extra strings and a choir.
The result was "Evil Woman:" a song that turned out to be more than just an album filler. It was so good, they decided it to release it as "Face the Music's" first single in late '75.
Critics praised the catchy "hooks and "commercial appeal," and in early 1976, the song became ELO's first worldwide hit, charting in 7 countries...including #6 in Canada, #8 in New Zealand, and #10 in Ireland, the UK and on Billboard's Hot 100!
Face it, (so to speak) "Evil Woman" by the Electric Light Orchestra may have been an afterthought...but it was also a "Great Song of the '70s!
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