On the Third Day is Electric Light Orchestra’s third album — the first made entirely under Jeff Lynne’s control, and a tighter, more streamlined record than its sprawling predecessor. Released in 1973, it began ELO’s shift toward a leaner, synthesizer-flecked sound, and produced their US breakthrough single, the funky ‘Showdown.’

The short version

On the Third Day (1973) is the third studio album by Electric Light Orchestra, and the first completely shaped by Jeff Lynne, with Roy Wood long gone and only drummer Bev Bevan remaining from the founding line-up. Alongside them are keyboardist Richard Tandy, bassist Mike de Albuquerque, new violinist Mik Kaminski and cellist Mike Edwards. Tighter and more focused than ELO 2, it moves toward synthesizers and shorter songs, and features the US hit single ‘Showdown’ and a guest appearance from Marc Bolan.

A leaner sound

By their third album, Electric Light Orchestra had settled firmly into Jeff Lynne’s hands. He wrote and produced everything, and began reshaping the band’s sound — moving away from the sprawling, string-heavy arrangements of ELO 2 toward something leaner and more streamlined, with Richard Tandy’s Moog synthesizer taking a more prominent role alongside the cellos and violin. The line-up was in flux during recording: violinist Mik Kaminski joined, adding a distinctive new voice, while the string section shifted around him — earlier players Wilfred Gibson and Colin Walker featuring on part of the album before moving on. The result gave audiences their first real taste of the classic ELO sound to come, balancing orchestral colour with rock energy and pop hooks.

The sound

On the Third Day is a transitional album, and a fascinating one. The first side flows as a loose song-cycle, opening with the atmospheric ‘Ocean Breakup/King of the Universe’ and running through several linked tracks, while the second side gathers a set of punchier, more self-contained songs. Lynne’s Beatles influence is as strong as ever, and the band rock harder here than before — Bev Bevan’s drums are powerful and up-front — but the strings and Moog keep the orchestral identity intact. It’s rawer and less consistent than ELO’s later classics, but full of ambition and invention.

Reading up on British prog? The books go deeper →

The songs

The album’s best-known track is ‘Showdown,’ a funky, cello-driven single that became ELO’s first real US chart success and pointed toward the polished pop of their future. ‘Ma-Ma-Ma Belle’ is a hard-driving rocker — featuring guest guitar from glam-rock star Marc Bolan of T. Rex, who also plays on the ambitious ‘Dreaming of 4000.’ The instrumental ‘Daybreaker’ showcases Richard Tandy’s Moog, and the album closes with a dramatic rock reworking of Edvard Grieg’s ‘In the Hall of the Mountain King,’ a natural fit for ELO’s classical-rock ambitions.

Reception and legacy

On the Third Day was another step forward for Electric Light Orchestra, particularly in the United States, where ‘Showdown’ gave them a genuine hit and helped build the audience that would soon embrace them fully. Critically, it’s often seen as a transitional record — less immediately impressive than the albums that followed, but important as the moment Jeff Lynne began honing ELO into the streamlined hit machine of their mid-1970s peak. For fans of the band’s earlier, proggier side, it remains a rewarding listen, and the guest appearance from Marc Bolan gives it an extra touch of glam-era intrigue.

The verdict

On the Third Day isn’t the place to start with Electric Light Orchestra — Eldorado, Face the Music and A New World Record all come first — but it’s an interesting and enjoyable album for anyone exploring their early years. Catching the band mid-transformation, it mixes ambitious, string-laden pieces with tighter rock songs, and shows Jeff Lynne edging toward the sound that would make ELO superstars. Come for the funky ‘Showdown’ and the Bolan-boosted ‘Ma-Ma-Ma Belle,’ and hear a great band figuring out exactly who they wanted to be.

Browse the bookshelf in the footer →