Jeff Lynne’s first official producing job came after he taught himself recording techniques at home rather than through formal studio training. The ELO founder said that experimenting with a Bang & Olufsen tape recorder gave him the confidence to offer to produce the Idle Race’s second album, beginning a career that later included work with major artists.

Lynne had joined the Idle Race when it made its 1968 album, which was handled by two Advision engineers working part-time as producers. At home, he repeatedly bounced instruments and harmonies between the recorder’s two tracks, creating up to around 20 layered parts but also accumulating tape hiss; he said this process taught him how arrangements and recording worked. When the band was invited to make another album, he volunteered to produce it, and received his first official production credit.