Mr. Radio


"Mr. Radio" is a song written by Jeff Lynne and recorded by the Electric Light Orchestra from their 1971 debut album, The [Electric Light Orchestra (album)|The Electric Light Orchestra].

Background

The tune is written in a 1920s American style about a man whose wife has left him and his only companion is his radio.
The beginning and the end of the number contains backwards samples of a Mozart symphony, and in the bridge section there is a distantly heard piece of backmasking, with Lynne singing, "Hello, Mr. Radio," which is flipped backwards and augmented with reverberation.

Single version

The song was the scheduled as the second single release from the band's debut album, however it remained unreleased.
The single edit can be found on a 2005 compilation album, Harvest Showdown and on the Harvest Years 1970-1973 compilation.
A remastered version would later appear on the 40th anniversary version of the band's first album.

Personnel