Strange Magic - ELO (1976) 8/23/22

Music critics were in love with today's "Great Song of 1976" long before it was released as a single. And rightfully so!

"Strange Magic" by the Electric Light Orchestra (from the album "Face the Music"), was praised for its "psychedelic, but hook-filled excellence," as well as the string arrangement, which somehow sounded like some sort of "strange magic" in itself...with a guitar part played by keyboardist Richard Tandy and some excellent "George Harrison" style riffs from composer/arranger/producer and overall ELO mastermind, Jeff Lynne.

In a bit of foreshadowing, Jeff later became part of The Traveling Wilburys, the supergroup founded by George and also featured Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and Roy Orbison.

"

Strange Magic" indeed!

On the charts, the song did extremely well, reaching #14 on both Billboard's Hot 100, AND the Cashbox Top 40--a rare match which was ALSO somewhat strange.

Strange Trivia: The song was used in the 2007 stage production of "Xanadu," but NOT in the 1980 Olivia Newton-John film. (Most people would end that sentence with "thankfully!"

"Strange Magic" by ELO: A "Great Song of 1976!