The “beautiful” 1961 song Jeff Lynne would never get close to: “I do my best”

Jeff Lynne says Roy Orbison’s 1961 song ‘Only the Lonely’ captures a beauty he has never been able to match. The comparison matters because Lynne, despite his success with ELO and his own emotionally resonant songs, sees Orbison’s voice and the song’s simplicity as exceptional.

Lynne recalled wondering as a 13-year-old how simple chords could be shaped into something so moving, and said he still does his best but does not think he will get near Orbison’s achievement. The article links Lynne’s preference for songs that work in a stripped-back form to the influence of The Beatles and early rock and roll, while noting that songs such as ‘Telephone Line’ reflect a similar emotional sensibility.