"ELO 2" is the second studio album by the English rock band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). Released in 1973, it was originally titled as "Electric Light Orchestra II". The album marked a shift from the band's debut, incorporating more prog rock elements and featuring longer tracks with an expansive and experimental musical concept. Production duties were taken up by band member Jeff Lynne.
One of the album's key tracks is an elaborate version of Chuck Berry's "Roll Over Beethoven," which was also released as a single and became their first hit. The original album contains just five songs, of which the lengthiest, "Kuiama," stretches over 11 minutes. This was apparently to accommodate the extended orchestral passages and complex song structures.
Though the band was still finding their sound in this early phase, "ELO 2" played a fundamental role in the development of ELO's unique style, planting the seed for the fusion of rock and classical elements that would define their later work. Despite mixed reviews at the time, the album has since been recognized for its innovation and musical ambition. The band members featured on this album included Jeff Lynne, Bev Bevan, Richard Tandy, and Mike de Albuquerque.
