49 years ago today, Electric Light Orchestra released 'Out of the Blue' in the UK. October 28, 1977. US stores got it on November 3. ELO's seventh studio album was a double LP, written by Jeff Lynne in a rented Swiss chalet and recorded at Musicland Studios in Munich. Side three was a four-song suite, Concerto for a Rainy Day, that ends with Mr. Blue Sky. It went gold in Britain before it was even released, reached No. 4 on both the UK and US album charts and spent 108 weeks on the UK chart. Turn to Stone, Mr. Blue Sky, Wild West Hero and Sweet Talkin' Woman all made the UK Top 20. The giant spaceship on the cover, built around the ELO logo, was painted by Shusei Nagaoka. 🎸 Side three, Concerto for a Rainy Day, ends with Mr. Blue Sky. What's your favorite track on Out of the Blue? 🎸

Don Henley behind the drums with the Eagles, singing into the microphone as he plays. It is easy to forget that one of rock's great voices was also the band's drummer. Henley grew up in Linden, Texas, came out to Los Angeles with his band Shiloh, and met Glenn Frey when both were hired to back Linda Ronstadt in 1971. That group of Ronstadt players turned into the Eagles. Frey and Henley became the band's main songwriting team, and Henley's voice carried many of their biggest records: Witchy Woman, Desperado, Best of My Love, One of These Nights, Hotel California and The Long Run. On stage he sang many of them from behind the kit, keeping time and hitting every note at once. Later, as a solo artist with The Boys of Summer and Dirty Laundry, he came out from behind the drums and stepped up to the front of the stage. 🎸 Don Henley sang lead on Hotel California while also being the Eagles' drummer. Did you ever see him play the drums live? 🎸