#5: Electric Light Orchestra — “Livin’ Thing” (1976)
Leader Jeff Lynne and arranger Louis Clark layered dozens of operatic violin takes over a driving acoustic guitar beat to build a towering wall of symphonic pop sound. The frantic, leaping string hooks and dramatic pizzicato accents provide the track with its infectious, joyful energy. It remains a high-water mark for the band’s signature blend of rock-and-roll dynamism and classical orchestration.
