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{{unreferenced|date=March 2010}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2014}}
{{Infobox Single
{{Infobox song
⚫
| Name = Boy Blue
| Cover = Boy Blue single.jpg
| name = Boy Blue
| Artist = [[Electric Light Orchestra]]
| cover = Boy Blue single.jpg
⚫
| alt =
⚫
| from Album = [[Eldorado (Electric Light Orchestra album)|Eldorado]]
| type = single
⚫
| B-side = "[[Eldorado (Electric Light Orchestra song)|Eldorado]]"
| Released = April 1975 (US)
| artist = [[Electric Light Orchestra]]
| Recorded = 1974 [[De Lane Lea Studios]]
| album = [[Eldorado (Electric Light Orchestra album)|Eldorado]]
⚫
| B-side = [[Eldorado (Electric Light Orchestra song)|Eldorado]]
| Genre = [[Progressive rock]]
| released = April 1975 (US)
⚫
| Length = 5:19 (LP length)<br/>4:13 (USA single edit)
| format =
⚫
| Label =[[Warner Bros. Records]] & [[United Artists Records]]
| Writer = [[Jeff Lynne]]
| recorded = 1974 [[De Lane Lea Studios]]
| Producer = Jeff Lynne
| studio =
| venue =
⚫
| Last single = "[[Can't Get It Out of My Head]]"<br/>(1974)
| genre = {{hlist|[[Art rock]]|[[symphonic rock]]}}
| This single = "'''Boy Blue'''"<br/>(1975)
⚫
| length = 5:19 (Album version)<br/>4:13 (US [[Radio edit|single edit]])
⚫
| Next single = "[[Evil Woman (Electric Light Orchestra song)|Evil Woman]]<br/>(1975)
⚫
| label = [[United Artists Records|United Artists]]
| writer = [[Jeff Lynne]]
| producer = Jeff Lynne
⚫
| prev_title = [[Can't Get It Out of My Head]]
| prev_year = 1974
⚫
| next_title = [[Evil Woman (Electric Light Orchestra song)|Evil Woman]]
| next_year = 1975
| misc = {{Extra track listing
⚫
| album = [[Eldorado (Electric Light Orchestra album)|Eldorado]]
| type = studio
| tracks = {{Eldorado tracks}}
}}
}}
}}
"'''Boy Blue'''" is a song written by [[Jeff Lynne]] and performed by the [[Electric Light Orchestra]] which first appeared as track number 3 from their 1974 album, ''[[Eldorado (Electric Light Orchestra album)|Eldorado]]''.
"'''Boy Blue'''" is a song written by [[Jeff Lynne]] and performed by the [[Electric Light Orchestra]] (ELO) which first appeared as track number 3 from their 1974 album ''[[Eldorado (Electric Light Orchestra album)|Eldorado]]''.
==Content==
===Composition===


The album version of the song starts with a Baroque styled [[brass instruments|brass]] fanfare and then develops in to a [[minimoog]] sequence before the song proper starts. The song includes a midway solo of the band's three string players. At the end of the song the [[string instruments]] fade out into "[[Laredo Tornado]]."
The album version of the song starts with a Baroque-style trumpet and [[string quartet]] fanfare – reminiscent of [[Jeremiah Clarke]]'s "[[Prince of Denmark's March]]" (ca. 1700) — and then develops into a [[minimoog]] sequence before the song properly begins.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Universal|accessdate=2023-04-11|url=http://www.radioz.pe/electric-light-orchestra-creadores-sonido-unico/|title=Electric Light Orchestra: creadores de un sonido único|date=April 30, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Electric Light Orchestra: Song by Song|author=Van de Kiste, John|year=2017|publisher=Fonthill Media|isbn=9781781556009}}</ref><ref name=consequence>{{cite web|title=Dusting 'Em Off: Electric Light Orchestra – Eldorado|author=Caffrey, Dan|publisher=Consequence|accessdate=2023-04-12|date=5 April 2009|url=https://consequence.net/2009/04/dusting-em-off-electric-light-orchestra-eldorado/}}</ref> The song includes a midway solo of the band's three string players. At the end of the song the [[string instruments]] quickly fade, immediately leading into the LP's fourth track "Laredo Tornado".


According to [[Allmusic]] critic Michael A. Guarisco "The melody matches the fanfare of the lyrics by matching verses that have a strident sense of swing to them with a sing-along [[refrain|chorus]] built on a descending-note [[hook (music)|hook]]."<ref name=allmusic/>
Bassist [[Mike de Albuquerque]] featured on the song but it is unknown just how many tracks he contributed to on the album, as he left the band during the recording sessions.


''"Mike de Albuquerque left the group after the recording session of Eldorado, on which'' ''his mighty voice could be heard for the last time on an E.L.O. record in the sixth'' ''verse of Boy Blue."''
Bassist [[Mike de Albuquerque]] sings on the song - one of his final appearances in the ELO catalogue.<ref>{{harvtxt|Guttenbacher|Haines|von Petersdorff|1996|ps=: "Mike de Albuquerque left the group after the recording session of Eldorado, on which'' ''his mighty voice could be heard for the last time on an E.L.O. record in the sixth'' ''verse of Boy Blue."}}</ref>
Patrik Guttenbacher, Marc Haines, & Alexander von Petersdorff (1996 Unexpected Messages).


The US edited single version of the song had many of the orchestrations removed.<ref name=delve>{{cite book|title=Electric Light Orchestra: Every Album, Every Song|author=Delve, Barry|page=46|year=2021|publisher=Sonicbond|isbn=9781789521528}}</ref> ELO writer Barry Delve believes that edits demonstrated "how much the album version's ambitious arrangement lifts 'Boy Blue' from being a fairly standard pop song to something much more remarkable."<ref name=delve/>
==Story==
⚫
''"A song about an all-conquering hero from the middle ages."''
⚫
[[Jeff Lynne]] (2001 - [[Eldorado (Electric Light Orchestra album)|Eldorado]] Remaster).


===Lyrics===
⚫
The song is an [[anti-war song]] set during the [[Crusades]] and forms the second dream as part of the overall '''Eldorado''' dreamscape. It tells a story about a hero returning from a far off war and the rapturous welcome he received from his town folk. Boy Blue (the character of the song) rebuffs the hero worship and declares his hatred of war and stating his refusal to ever take up arms again. To those in the military in the early '70s, it was set in their lives, in a war far too near.
{{Blockquote
⚫
|text= A song about an all-conquering hero from the middle ages.
|author = [[Jeff Lynne]]
⚫
|source = ''[[Eldorado (Electric Light Orchestra album)|Eldorado]]'' Remaster, 2001<ref name=LinerNotes>{{Cite AV media
|url = https://www.discogs.com/release/4420570-Electric-Light-Orchestra-Eldorado-A-Symphony-By-The-Electric-Light-Orchestra/image/SW1hZ2U6NDM2MjUwMjg=
|type = liner notes
|title= Eldorado - A Symphony By The Electric Light Orchestra
|year = 2001
}}</ref>
}}


⚫
The song is an [[anti-war song]] set during the [[Crusades]] and forms the second dream as part of the overall ''Eldorado'' dreamscape.<ref name=consequence/> It tells the story of Boy Blue, a war hero returning from a far-off war and the rapturous welcome he receives from his town folk.<ref name=allmusic>{{cite web|title=Boy Blue|author=Guarisco, Donald A.|publisher=Allmusic|accessdate=2023-04-11|url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/boy-blue-mt0005805304}}</ref> The chorus is made up of the town folk singing "Hey, Boy Blue is back."<ref name=allmusic/> Boy Blue rebuffs the hero worship and declares his hatred of war, stating his refusal to ever “take up arms again”.<ref name=LinerNotes/><ref name=allmusic/>
The song was covered by the tribute and compilation album ''[[Lynne Me Your Ears]]'' by Rick Altizer. The US edited single version of this song is missing the fanfare intro, parts of the orchestral bridge, and the 2nd to last chorus. The song was released as the second single from the Eldorado album but failed to chart.

==Reception==
The song was released as the second single from the ''Eldorado'' album but failed to chart.<ref>{{harvtxt|Van der Kiste|2017|ps=: "The album was loaded with excellent songs, from the single, the infectious 'Boy Blue' (also a single in America, which failed to chart)"}}</ref> ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' said that it had a catchy [[hook (music)|hook]] and a similar "smooth sound" to ELO's previous single "[[Can't Get It Out of My Head]]," and had expected it to achieve similar chart success.<ref name=bb>{{cite news|title=Top Single Picks|newspaper=Billboard|accessdate=2020-07-17|date=April 19, 1975|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/70s/1975/Billboard%201975-04-19.pdf|page=62}}</ref> ''[[Cash Box]]'' said "a big symphonic sound surrounds and cushions a driving rock beat on this excellently produced Jeff Lynne track."<ref name=cb>{{cite news|title=CashBox Record Reviews|date=April 19, 1975|page=22|accessdate=2021-12-11|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1975/CB-1975-04-19.pdf|newspaper=Cash Box}}</ref> ''[[Record World]]'' said that the song "is just familiar enough on the first listen. This azure lad brings on visions of '[[Hang On Sloopy]],' then heads out on its own."<ref name=rw>{{cite magazine|magazine=Record World|date=April 26, 1975|accessdate=2023-03-10|title=Hits of the Week|page=1|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/75/RW-1975-04-26.pdf}}</ref> ''[[Rolling Stone (magazine)|Rolling Stone]]'' critic Ken Barnes called it "an enjoyable, extremely simple rock number."<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Rolling Stone|title=Eldorado|date=January 2, 1975|author=Barnes, Ken|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216080625/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/electriclightorchestra/albums/album/122346/review/5944334/eldorado|accessdate=2024-12-11}}</ref> ''Phonograph Record'' critic Michael Davis called it a "catchy, upbeat pop number" that "ain't rock'n'roll"<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Phonograph Record|author=Davis, Michael|date=November 1974|title=Eldorado}}</ref>

[[Allmusic]] critic Donald A. Guarisco described "Boy Blue" as "a densely-crafted tune that was equal parts string recital, prog-rock, and power pop" and "a smart fusion of pop, prog and rock elements that made a dynamic centerpiece for the first side of Eldorado."<ref name=allmusic/> Guarisco believed that it "was probably a bit too ambitious to be a hit single."<ref name=allmusic/>

The song was covered by [[Rick Altizer]] on the tribute album ''[[Lynne Me Your Ears]]'' in a harder rock style.<ref name=AM>{{cite web|last=Damas |first=Jason |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/lynne-me-your-ears-a-tribute-to-the-music-of-jeff-lynne-mw0000519779 |title=Lynne Me Your Ears: A Tribute to the Music of Jeff Lynne – Lynne Me Your Ears : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |publisher=AllMusic |date= |accessdate=7 March 2013}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
*{{Cite book
|title = Jeff Lynne: Electric Light Orchestra - Before and After
|first = John |last = Van der Kiste
|date = 21 January 2017
|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=RRj1DQAAQBAJ
}}
*{{Cite book
|title = Unexpected Messages: The Story Of The Electric Light Orchestra, The Move, Jeff Lynne, Roy Wood, Bev Bevan Including All Members and Related Artists' Projects with the Complete World Discography
|first1 = Patrik |last1 = Guttenbacher
|first2 = Marc |last2 = Haines
|first3 = Alexander | last3= von Petersdorff
|date = 1996
|isbn = 9783000006425 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=MbVbtwAACAAJ
}}


{{Electric Light Orchestra singles}}
{{Electric Light Orchestra singles}}

{{authority control}}


[[Category:1975 singles]]
[[Category:1975 singles]]
[[Category:Electric Light Orchestra songs]]
[[Category:Electric Light Orchestra songs]]
[[Category:Songs produced by Jeff Lynne]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Jeff Lynne]]
[[Category:Anti-war songs]]
[[Category:Anti-war songs]]
[[Category:Songs written by Jeff Lynne]]
[[Category:Songs written by Jeff Lynne]]
[[Category:1974 songs]]

[[Category:United Artists Records singles]]
[[fr:Boy Blue]]
[[sv:Boy Blue]]

Latest revision as of 23:12, 11 December 2024

"Boy Blue"
Single by Electric Light Orchestra
from the album Eldorado
B-side"Eldorado"
ReleasedApril 1975 (US)
Recorded1974 De Lane Lea Studios
Genre
Length5:19 (Album version)
4:13 (US single edit)
LabelUnited Artists
Songwriter(s)Jeff Lynne
Producer(s)Jeff Lynne
Electric Light Orchestra singles chronology
"Can't Get It Out of My Head"
(1974) 		"Boy Blue"
(1975) 		"Evil Woman"
(1975)
Eldorado track listing
10 tracks
Side one
  1. "Eldorado Overture"
  2. "Can't Get It Out of My Head"
  3. "Boy Blue"
  4. "Laredo Tornado"
  5. "Poor Boy (The Greenwood)"
Side two
  2. "Mister Kingdom"
  3. "Nobody's Child"
  4. "Illusions in G Major"
  5. "Eldorado"
  6. "Eldorado Finale"

"Boy Blue" is a song written by Jeff Lynne and performed by the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) which first appeared as track number 3 from their 1974 album Eldorado.

Content

[edit]

Composition

[edit]

The album version of the song starts with a Baroque-style trumpet and string quartet fanfare – reminiscent of Jeremiah Clarke's "Prince of Denmark's March" (ca. 1700) — and then develops into a minimoog sequence before the song properly begins.[1][2][3] The song includes a midway solo of the band's three string players. At the end of the song the string instruments quickly fade, immediately leading into the LP's fourth track "Laredo Tornado".

According to Allmusic critic Michael A. Guarisco "The melody matches the fanfare of the lyrics by matching verses that have a strident sense of swing to them with a sing-along chorus built on a descending-note hook."[4]

Bassist Mike de Albuquerque sings on the song - one of his final appearances in the ELO catalogue.[5]

The US edited single version of the song had many of the orchestrations removed.[6] ELO writer Barry Delve believes that edits demonstrated "how much the album version's ambitious arrangement lifts 'Boy Blue' from being a fairly standard pop song to something much more remarkable."[6]

Lyrics

[edit]

A song about an all-conquering hero from the middle ages.

— Jeff Lynne, Eldorado Remaster, 2001[7]

The song is an anti-war song set during the Crusades and forms the second dream as part of the overall Eldorado dreamscape.[3] It tells the story of Boy Blue, a war hero returning from a far-off war and the rapturous welcome he receives from his town folk.[4] The chorus is made up of the town folk singing "Hey, Boy Blue is back."[4] Boy Blue rebuffs the hero worship and declares his hatred of war, stating his refusal to ever “take up arms again”.[7][4]

Reception

[edit]

The song was released as the second single from the Eldorado album but failed to chart.[8] Billboard said that it had a catchy hook and a similar "smooth sound" to ELO's previous single "Can't Get It Out of My Head," and had expected it to achieve similar chart success.[9] Cash Box said "a big symphonic sound surrounds and cushions a driving rock beat on this excellently produced Jeff Lynne track."[10] Record World said that the song "is just familiar enough on the first listen. This azure lad brings on visions of 'Hang On Sloopy,' then heads out on its own."[11] Rolling Stone critic Ken Barnes called it "an enjoyable, extremely simple rock number."[12] Phonograph Record critic Michael Davis called it a "catchy, upbeat pop number" that "ain't rock'n'roll"[13]

Allmusic critic Donald A. Guarisco described "Boy Blue" as "a densely-crafted tune that was equal parts string recital, prog-rock, and power pop" and "a smart fusion of pop, prog and rock elements that made a dynamic centerpiece for the first side of Eldorado."[4] Guarisco believed that it "was probably a bit too ambitious to be a hit single."[4]

The song was covered by Rick Altizer on the tribute album Lynne Me Your Ears in a harder rock style.[14]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Electric Light Orchestra: creadores de un sonido único". Universal. 30 April 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  2. ^ Van de Kiste, John (2017). Electric Light Orchestra: Song by Song. Fonthill Media. ISBN 9781781556009.
  3. ^ a b Caffrey, Dan (5 April 2009). "Dusting 'Em Off: Electric Light Orchestra – Eldorado". Consequence. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Guarisco, Donald A. "Boy Blue". Allmusic. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  5. ^ Guttenbacher, Haines & von Petersdorff (1996): "Mike de Albuquerque left the group after the recording session of Eldorado, on which his mighty voice could be heard for the last time on an E.L.O. record in the sixth verse of Boy Blue."
  6. ^ a b Delve, Barry (2021). Electric Light Orchestra: Every Album, Every Song. Sonicbond. p. 46. ISBN 9781789521528.
  7. ^ a b Eldorado - A Symphony By The Electric Light Orchestra (liner notes). 2001.
  8. ^ Van der Kiste (2017): "The album was loaded with excellent songs, from the single, the infectious 'Boy Blue' (also a single in America, which failed to chart)"
  9. ^ "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. 19 April 1975. p. 62. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  10. ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 19 April 1975. p. 22. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  11. ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. 26 April 1975. p. 1. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  12. ^ Barnes, Ken (2 January 1975). "Eldorado". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  13. ^ Davis, Michael (November 1974). "Eldorado". Phonograph Record.
  14. ^ Damas, Jason. "Lynne Me Your Ears: A Tribute to the Music of Jeff Lynne – Lynne Me Your Ears : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 March 2013.

Bibliography

[edit]
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