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Mr. Blue Sky: The Story of Jeff Lynne & ELO is a 2012 documentary film about Jeff Lynne, the mastermind behind Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) and a hugely influential figure in pop and rock music.
Here’s a quick overview:
🎸 Director: Martyn Atkins
🎵 Focus: The film is part biography, part celebration of Lynne’s musical genius. It traces his career from the 1970s, when he formed ELO to carry on the symphonic pop vision of The Beatles, to his later years as a producer and collaborator with some of rock’s biggest names.
What’s in it:
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Insight into Lynne’s unique style — merging classical arrangements with pop hooks.
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Interviews with legends like Paul McCartney, Tom Petty, Ringo Starr, Joe Walsh, and more, all praising Lynne’s songwriting and production brilliance.
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Rare footage of Lynne working in the studio — he’s famously reclusive, so seeing him break down his production tricks is gold for fans.
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Stories behind huge ELO hits like “Mr. Blue Sky,” “Evil Woman,” and “Livin’ Thing,” plus his work with the Traveling Wilburys (with Harrison, Petty, Orbison, and Dylan) and producing for The Beatles' Anthology sessions.
Vibe:
The doc has a warm, affectionate tone. It’s less a hard-hitting exposé and more a love letter to a guy who shaped the sound of classic rock and pop behind the scenes. Lynne comes across as a humble, obsessive craftsman whose perfectionism defined ELO’s lush, layered sound.
Why it’s worth watching:
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You see how Lynne’s approach — overdubbing instruments one by one — was ahead of its time for multi-track recording.
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It gives context to ELO’s blend of rock, pop, and orchestral grandeur.
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It’s a treat for Beatles fans too, since Lynne was George Harrison’s close friend and collaborator.
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