ELO - Time (2001)

Time is the ninth studio album by Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), released in July 1981 on Jet Records. It is a concept album about a man in the 1980s who is transported to the year 2095, where he confronts the duality of technological advancement and the longing for the romance of the past. The album topped the UK Albums Chart for two weeks, although it received mixed reviews for its heavy use of synthesizers and stylistic departure from the orchestral rock of previous ELO albums. It has since gained a cult following, particularly among retrofuturist fans. Time is a synth-pop work that combines elements of 1950s music, new wave, reggae, rockabilly, the Beatles, Phil Spector and the Shadows. The album marked a departure from the band's sound, emphasizing electronics over conventional band music. It was also the band's second concept album, the first being Eldorado in 1974. The music video for the lead single, "Hold On Tight", was the most expensive at the time, costing around £40,000. The album was followed by four more singles: "Twilight", "Ticket to the Moon" (accompanied by "Here Is the News"), "Rain Is Falling" and "The Way Life's Meant to Be".

The album is considered the first major concept album dedicated to time travel, and ELO's most influential album.