ELO Hits Collection Goes #1 in U.K.

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Jeff Lynne’s ELO performing at NYC’s Irving Plaza on November 20, 2015 (via Instagram)

For the first time since 1981, the Electric Light Orchestra are atop the Album Chart in the U.K. As Jeff Lynne’s account proudly posted on his Facebook page:

“Jeff Lynne’s ELO continues their triumphant year with the hits album All Over The World – The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra – reaching Number 1 in the Official Albums Charts this week, becoming the group’s third Number 1 album after 1979’s Discovery and Time in 1981.”

And, as Lynne himself notes: “Thirty five years between #1 albums! I’m totally amazed. Thanks to everyone that made it possible.”

Following a sold-out U.K. arena tour that ended with a homecoming show in Birmingham on June 24 and a performance in the prestigious “legends” slot at Glastonbury on June 26, Jeff Lynne’s ELO recently announced they will be headlining London’s Wembley Stadium on June 24, 2017. Tickets for next summer’s Wembley date are available from www.livenation.co.uk. The stadium’s seating capacity is upwards of 80,000.

And while we’re thrilled for our British friends, we’re still wondering: when is the maestro going to book a full tour for his loyal U.S. following?

To be sure, the classic rock legend is playing three dates in late summer at the Hollywood Bowl from September 9-11 and two dates at New York’s Radio City Music Hall on September 16 and 18. Those shows were announced on February 4 and March 24 and sold-out immediately. (Tickets are available via our partners Ticket Network here.) But after those announcements, no further U.S. dates have been revealed.

After years of inactivity, Lynne gave a huge comeback event before 50,000 in London’s Hyde Park in September 2014 that gave him the confidence that the public interest was not only there, it was insatiable. He recorded Alone In The Universe and signed a worldwide deal with Columbia Records.

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Under the moniker Jeff Lynne’s ELO, the album was released on November 13, 2015. The band did club dates in New York (November 20) and Los Angeles (November 24) with the 12-piece orchestra followed while Lynne did tons of press and TV appearances.

In its review of the NYC Irving Plaza gig, Best Classic Bands called it a “triumph” and wrote Lynne’s “singing voice sounded great and even at 67 was able to hit most of the high notes of songs that he originally recorded while in his twenties.”