Rockaria!


"Rockaria!" is a song by Electric Light Orchestra, written by Jeff Lynne. It was the third track on the band's successful 1976 album, A New World Record and was the second single from the album. On some CD pressings of A New World Record, it appears without the exclamation mark.

Recording

Featuring the operatic voice of Mary Thomas during the introduction, on the first recording take, she mistakenly started the vocals too early. However, Lynne elected to use the take anyway. During live performances, the 'aria' was provided by the band's bassist Kelly Groucutt, illustrating his wide-ranging vocal talents.

B-side

"Poker" is a song written and performed by Electric Light Orchestra.
The song first appeared on the band's LP, Face the Music as the fifth track. At 3:34, it is the shortest song in length on the Face the Music LP. During recording, Kelly Groucutt sang most of the song's lyrics.
The song twice appeared as a B side, first in the UK then in 1979 as the flip side of the US single version of "Confusion".
"Poker rocks along with murderous intent, despite corn ball lyrics."
John Ingham

Chart positions

Jeff Lynne version

re-recorded the song in his own home studio. It was released in with other re-recorded ELO songs, under the ELO name, as an iTunes Store exclusive bonus track.