Electric Light Orchestra-Face The Music (1975)

As Electric Light Orchestra released more albums, their progressive rock style softened into an addictive, radio-friendly art-pop rock. While their first four albums established their timeless, symphonic sound, this fifth release from Jeff Lynne's band presents a collection of tracks focused on music more accessible to a wider audience, almost entirely abandoning their lengthy and complex compositions. The album opens with a kind of continuation of the final track from "Eldorado", the instrumental "Fire On High", an impressive symphonic overture that finds a perfect counterpoint in the simpler yet sublime "Strange Magic", the commercial "Evil Woman", and the captivating "Nightrider". Other compositions, such as the rocking "The Poker", the semi-ballad "One Summer Dream", and the melodic "Waterfall", make up an album considered by many to be fundamental in the British group's career. "Face The Music" marked the definitive step of Electric Light Orchestra towards mainstream and commercial paths, a fact that would be reaffirmed with their subsequent and multi-platinum albums "A New Word Record", "Out Of The Blue", "Discovery", "Time" and "Secret Messages".