"Can't Get It Out of My Head" is a song written by Jeff Lynne and originally recorded by Electric Light Orchestra (also known as ELO).

"Can't Get It Out of My Head"
Single by Electric Light Orchestra
from the album Eldorado
B-side	"Illusions in G Major"
Released	November 1974 (US)[1] January 1975 (UK)[1]
Recorded	1974 De Lane Lea Studios
Genre	Soft rock[2]
Length	4:23 (Album version) 3:07 (Single edit)
Label	Warner Bros. (UK) United Artists (US)
Songwriter(s)	Jeff Lynne
Producer(s)	Jeff Lynne
Electric Light Orchestra singles chronology
"Ma-Ma-Ma Belle" (1974) "Can't Get It Out of My Head" (1974) "Boy Blue" (1975)
Eldorado track listing
10 tracks Side one "Eldorado Overture" "Can't Get It Out of My Head" "Boy Blue" "Laredo Tornado" "Poor Boy (The Greenwood)" Side two "Mister Kingdom" "Nobody's Child" "Illusions in G Major" "Eldorado" "Eldorado Finale"
Music video
"Can't Get It Out of My Head" on YouTube

First released on the band's fourth album Eldorado in September 1974, the song is the second track on the album and follows "Eldorado Overture". The song was released in November the same year as a single.

The song became the band's first top 10 single in the United States, reaching number 9,[3] and helped boost public awareness of the band in the U.S.; however, back in the UK the single and LP failed to chart. In 1978, it was included as the lead song on the four-track The ELO EP (UK release), reaching number 34 on the UK charts. The song has appeared on many ELO compilation albums.

Critical reception

AllMusic's Mike DeGagne said the song would become "one of Electric Light Orchestra's most beautiful ballads" thanks to "the rich backdrop of strings (especially cello) and the steady, delicate cymbal taps that enhance the song's charm", adding: "there's an honest simplicity built around the dynamics of the relaxed rhythm and it's this enchanting air, mixed with the storybook lyrics and poetic wonderment of the song that carries the listener away, even if they're indecipherable at times", considering the song as "the band's best example of this recipe implemented toward a slower style".[4]

Personnel

Credits adapted from "Can't Get It Out of My Head" liner notes.[5][6][7]

Electric Light Orchestra

• Jeff Lynne – lead vocals, guitar, Moog synthesizer, arrangements
• Richard Tandy – piano, Moog synthesizer, arrangements
• Michael De Albuquerque – bass
• Bev Bevan – drums, percussion
• Michael Edwards – cello
• Mik Kaminski – violin
• Hugh McDowell – cello

Additional musicians

• Louis Clark – orchestra conducting, arrangements

Production

• Jeff Lynne – production
• Dick Plant – engineering
• Mike Pela – engineering
• Kenny Denton – engineering assistance
• John Richards – engineering assistance

Recording

• Recorded at De Lane Lea Studios, London.

Chart performance

Jeff Lynne versions

Jeff Lynne re-recorded the song in his own home studio. It was released in a compilation album with other re-recorded ELO songs under the ELO name.[17]

In 2012, as part of the concert from his home studio, Live From Bungalow Palace, Lynne performed an acoustic version of the song with longtime ELO pianist Richard Tandy.[18]

References

External links

• In-depth Song Analysis at the Jeff Lynne Song Database (jefflynnesongs.com)
• List of "Can't Get It Out of My Head" cover versions with YouTube & Spotify links at SecondHandSongs.com