Evil Woman

Zoo Freaks, get ready for some wild trivia about Electric Light Orchestra's "Evil Woman" from their 1975 album Face The Music, spinning now on THE ZOO! According to Jeff Lynne, the mastermind behind ELO, this track was whipped up in just 30 minutes when he felt the album lacked a killer single. Picture this: Jeff sent the band off to play football, sat down at a piano, and banged out the iconic riff in a flash. He’s quoted saying, “The first three chords came right to me. It was the quickest thing I’d ever done.” Talk about a groove born under pressure! The song’s slick R&B vibe, complete with lush piano solos and string arrangements, was inspired by a mysterious woman who pops up in several of Lynne’s songs, though he’s never spilled the tea on her identity.

Here’s a cool tidbit for the vinyl junkies out there: the high-string section from another Face The Music track, “Nightrider,” was reversed and woven into “Evil Woman,” creating that trippy orchestral vibe. Fans on Reddit have raved about the song’s funky earworm quality, with one Zoo Freak calling it “criminally underrated” and a staple of their ’70s playlists. The track’s cultural reach is wild—it’s been sampled by artists like Daft Punk in “Face to Face” and even featured in Grand Theft Auto IV on Liberty Rock Radio. Oh, and that line “There’s a hole in my head where the rain comes in”? It’s a nod to The Beatles’ “Fixing a Hole,” showing Lynne’s love for his musical heroes.

Now, let’s rewind to how Electric Light Orchestra got their start. Formed in Birmingham, England, in 1970, ELO sprang from the ashes of The Move, a psychedelic rock band led by Roy Wood. Jeff Lynne, a young guitarist and songwriter, teamed up with Wood and drummer Bev Bevan to create a new sound blending rock with classical orchestration—think Beatles meets Beethoven. Their goal? To pick up where “I Am the Walrus” left off, layering guitars, drums, and strings into a symphonic rock explosion. Roy Wood soon left to form Wizzard, leaving Lynne to steer the ship. By the time Face The Music dropped, ELO had honed their signature sound, with Lynne’s knack for catchy hooks and lush production earning them global fame.

ELO’s journey wasn’t just about the music—it was about innovation. Lynne’s studio wizardry, paired with bandmates like keyboardist Richard Tandy and bassist Kelly Groucutt, turned albums into sonic adventures. They faced flak from rock purists for leaning into disco with tracks like “Evil Woman,” but fans ate it up, propelling the song to the top 10 in the UK and US. Today, Jeff Lynne’s ELO keeps the legacy alive, touring and dropping re-recorded classics like the 2012 version of “Evil Woman” on Mr. Blue Sky: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra. Their 2017 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, where they performed “Evil Woman,” cemented their status as rock royalty.

Want to dive deeper into ELO’s world? Check out their official website for tour dates and merch. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and X for the latest updates and throwback posts. Zoo Freaks can also join the vibe at fan sites like Jeff Lynne Song Database, a treasure trove of song analyses, or connect with fellow fans in the ELO Fans Facebook group. For more community love, peep the American ELO tribute band’s site for stateside shows that keep the ELO spirit grooving.