Evil Woman (Electric Light Orchestra song)
"Evil Woman" is a song written by lead vocalist Jeff Lynne and recorded by Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). It was first released on the band's fifth album, 1975's Face the Music.
"Evil Woman" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() A-side label of the UK vinyl release | ||||
Single by Electric Light Orchestra | ||||
from the album Face the Music | ||||
B-side | "10538 Overture (Live)" | |||
Released |
| |||
Recorded | 1975 at Musicland Studios | |||
Length |
| |||
Label |
| |||
Songwriter(s) | Jeff Lynne | |||
Producer(s) | Jeff Lynne | |||
Electric Light Orchestra singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Face the Music track listing | ||||
8 tracks
| ||||
Alternative release | ||||
![]() Artwork for German vinyl release | ||||
Music video | ||||
"Evil Woman" on YouTube |
Background
When released as a single in late 1975, the song became the band's first worldwide hit.[1] According to Lynne, this song was the quickest he had ever written, in 30 minutes, originally as 'filler' for the group's Face the Music album.[1] The song placed in the top 10 on both sides of the Atlantic in early 1976. It was released again in 1978 on The ELO EP.[2]
The lyric "There's a hole in my head where the rain comes in" in the song is a tribute to The Beatles' song "Fixing a Hole".[3]
Reception
Billboard praised the use of the title lyrics as a hook.[4] Cash Box noted the 20th-century influences and "commercial qualities" of the song, stating "from the classic hookline — a recurring four notes from 'Anchors Aweigh,' through an electronic schism from a dramatic TV serial two-thirds of the way through."[5] Record World said that the song "puts rock within a classical frame and shows one of the few bands capable of a viable combination of experimentation with commerciality."[6]
Ultimate Classic Rock critic Michael Gallucci rated it ELO's 3rd best song, saying that it has "old-school strings and new-school keyboards...backing a funky dance-floor beat that drives the song all the way to pop glory."[7] Classic Rock History critic Brian Kachejian rated it as ELO's 4th best song, saying that "Jeff Lynne took a simple three-chord progression that Led Zeppelin utilized at the end of 'Stairway To Heaven,' and added his own touch, melody and production to score a huge hit."[8] Stereogum contributor Ryan Reed rated it as ELO's 7th best song.[1]
Chart performance
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI)[22] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
United States (RIAA)[23] | Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Jeff Lynne version
Jeff Lynne re-recorded the song in his own home studio. It was released in a compilation album, Mr. Blue Sky: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra, with other re-recorded ELO songs, under the ELO name.[24]
Cover versions
A cover version of the song was performed by Oh Mercy on Triple J's Like a Version segment in April 2011.[25]
References
- Reed, Ryan (7 January 2016). "The 10 Best ELO Songs". Stereogum. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
- "The ELO EP". Discogs. December 1978. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
- Spicer, Mark (2018). "The Electric Light Orchestra and the Anxiety of the Beatles' Influence". In Burns, Lori; Lacasse, Serge (eds.). The Pop Palimpsest: Intertextuality in Recorded Popular Music. University of Michigan Press. p. 130. ISBN 9780472130672.
- "Billboard's Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. 8 November 1975. p. 58. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
- "Singles Reviews > Picks of the Week" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. XXXVII, no. 25. 8 November 1975. p. 20. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
- "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. 8 November 1975. p. 1. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
- Gallucci, Michael (30 December 2014). "Top 10 Electric Light Orchestra Songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
- Kachejian, Brian (26 September 2022). "Top 10 Electric Light Orchestra Songs". Classic Rock History. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
- Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4081a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
- "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Evil Woman". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
- "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 2, 1976" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
- "Electric Light Orchestra – Evil Woman" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
- "Electric Light Orchestra – Evil Woman". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
- "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
- "Electric Light Orchestra – Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
- "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending February 14, 1976". Cash Box. Archived from the original on 2 September 2012.
- "The Singles Chart" (PDF). Record World. 31 January 1976. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- "Top 200 singles of '76". RPM. Vol. 26, no. 14 & 15. 8 January 1977. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
- "Singles". Billboard. Vol. 88, no. 52. 25 December 1976. ISSN 0006-2510.
- "The Cash Box Year-End Charts: 1976". Cash Box. Archived from the original on 28 December 2012.
- "British single certifications – ELO – Evil Woman". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
- "American single certifications – Electric Light Orchestra – Evil Woman". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
- "Mr. Blue Sky – The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra". Jefflynneselo.com. Archived from the original on 27 October 2015.
- "Like A Version: Oh Mercy – Evil Woman". ABC Online. 8 April 2011. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
External links
- In-depth Song Analysis at the Jeff Lynne Song Database (Jefflynnesongs.com)