10 Best British Classic Rock Bands Of All Time

10. Electric Light Orchestra

Electric Light Orchestra was a real anomaly when they arrived in the collective consciousness. When most bands were getting by on a few unstoppable riffs, ELO had a much broader scope in musical direction. Riffs were one facet, but what would it be like to think more operatically.

With The Beatles' "I Am The Walrus" as their model, most of the songs from ELO took the typical rock song and brought it into the classical realm with the greatest of ease. It's not a mistake that they have the term orchestra in their name, with most of the band's catalog featuring a dominant use of strings, brass, and other assorted instrumentation.

That didn't mean their songs got lost in pretentious arranging, with mastermind Jeff Lynne using every sound to its fullest effect. Whether the song called for a straight ahead rock guitar or a 30-person choir, the results on songs like "Telephone Line" are absolutely gorgeous. Even when not in the confines of his band, Lynne brought his signature production to revive other rock giants from Tom Petty to Roy Orbison.

There were many dark corners of rock that were being uncovered in the 70's, but everything that came out of ELO's catalog seemed to radiate like a sonic ray of sunshine.