Evil Woman was recorded at Musicland Studios in Munich, Germany some time in May and/or June 1975. Jeff Lynne wrote the song on a piano in the studio on the last days of recording, writing it very quickly. The band's recording for all of the other songs for the Face The Music album had been completed when Jeff needed another song. One morning, while the rest of the band was out, he sat at the piano and played the opening piano riff, which became the basis of the song. Later that same day, the rest of the band came in and recorded the backing track. The lyrics were written and recorded the next day at Musicland. The string parts were recorded (and possibly written) later at De Lane Lea Studios in Wembley, U.K. while the female backing vocals were recorded even later at an unidentified studio in New York City.

As originally recorded, the song had an extra fourth verse as evidenced by the stripped down mix that appeared on the 2006 Face The Music remasters. Obviously this extra verse was discarded for the eventual release. This decision was probably made early in the construction of the song as there were no string tracks recorded for this part.

The song was released as a single in England on Jet records, one of the first on the new label, on January 10, 1976 with stock number "Jet 764" and having an edit of 10538 Overture from the The Night The Light Went On In Long Beach recording on the B-side. In the USA, it's the seventh single release and was released in October 1975, on United Artists records with stock number "UA-XW 729-Y" and the same edit of 10538 Overture on the B-side. It was also released as the third track of side 1 on the Face The Music album on September 1975 in the USA and November 1975 in England. Interestingly both single versions are edits of the album version, with the UK version simply editing off the intro and the USA version having several interesting edits. The B-side in many other countries was Nightrider and was Poker in Spain.

Evil Woman is significant as it is ELO's first worldwide hit, making the charts in many countries, including Top Ten in both the UK and USA. It entered the UK chart on January 10, 1976, peaked at #10 on January 31, 1976, and spent 8 weeks in the chart. In the USA, it entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart on November 15, 1975, reached #10 for two consecutive weeks on February 14 & 21, 1976, spending 17 weeks in the chart and entered the Cash Box chart on November 15, 1975, reached #9 for two consecutive weeks on February 14 & 21, 1976, spending 19 weeks in the chart. It was ELO's fourth Billboard chart single.

There are two reused string sections in Evil Woman. The most obvious is the short flanged string interlude in the song's instrumental bridge. This is taken from the string section recording for the Electric Light Orchestra song Nightrider. On Evil Woman, it is played backwards and a flange effect is added. A sample demonstrating this can be heard by clicking HERE. This string interlude is sampled and used several times in a song called Beep by the Pussycat Dolls featuring Will.I.Am from the Black Eyed Peas. Another interesting and not so obvious reused string section is a sample from Evil Woman that is used in Fire On High. A string section that plays over the intro to Evil Woman is reversed and used on the intro to Fire On High, shortly following the "the music is reversible" bit. A sample demonstrating this can be heard by clicking HERE.

It's not entirely clear if the orchestral intro to the song that is heard on the Face The Music album (and which is often excluded on compilations featuring the song), is actually intended to be a part of the song. It is known that the band recorded several orchestral "interludes" for the album to be used between tracks. It was not uncommon for the band to record such interludes, although they were rarely identified as such and simply merged into the intros or ends of other album tracks. Considering how often the intro is left off compilations, it implies that it is not actually an intro to the song, but rather a Face The Music interlude. Then again, Jeff Lynne himself had oversight on the 2000 Flashback project and that one included the intro (although attached to the end of the preceeding song, Tightrope). Until there is further clarity, it is assumed that it's a song intro and not an interlude.

Did Jeff Lynne have a particular woman in mind when he wrote Evil Woman? That's not entirely clear. He has rarely broached the subject and when he has, he certainly won't name names. It's possible it could be about someone he knows. It's also very likely that he didn't have anybody in mind when he wrote it and is only joking that it's about anybody at all. The answer remains unknown.

Some time in the early 2000s, Jeff Lynne re-recorded Evil Woman, although it has not been officially released and details are very unclear about it. It has only known to have been used in a 2008 My Name Is Earl TV episode entitled Jump For Joy and a 2009 Medium TV episode entitled Things to Do in Phoenix When You're Dead. Less than a minute of the song is heard and it's somewhat difficult to hear due to the show's dialog over the soundtrack obscuring the music. However, clearly it is not the original recording but a whole new recording and it is assumed that this is actually a Jeff Lynne solo recording (such as the 2000 version of Xanadu that is credited to Electric Light Orchestra but it really a completely solo effort) in part due to the sound of Jeff's older-sounding voice and the absence of the female singer backing vocals. A short sample of this version can be heard HERE.

Structure and Lyrics

Below is the structure of the fullest, most complete version of the originally released song as available on the standard issues of the Face The Music album.

-Orchestral Intro
-Vocal Intro
   You made a fool of me
   But them broken dreams have got to end
-Piano Intro
   Piano Riff #1
   Piano Riff #2 with drum start
   Piano Riff #3 with drums & guitar
   Piano Riff #4 with drums & guitar
-Verse 1
   Hey, woman, you got the blues
   'Cause you ain't got no one else to use
   There's an open road that leads nowhere
   So just make some miles between here and there
   There's a hole in my head where the rain comes in
   You took my body and played to win
   Ha ha, woman, it's a cryin' shame with female backing vocals harmonizing the Ha ha
   But you ain't got nobody else to blame
-Chorus 1
   Evil woman
   Evil woman
   Evil woman
   Evil woman
-Verse 2
   Rolled in from another town
   Hit some gold too hot to settle down
   But a fool and his money soon go separate ways
   And you found a fool lyin' in a daze
   Ha ha, woman, what you gonna do? with female backing vocals harmonizing the Ha ha
   You destroyed all the virtues that the Lord gave you
   So good that you're feelin' pain
   But you better get your face on board the very next train with female backing vocals singing Hey, hey, hey
-Chorus 2
   Evil woman
   Evil woman
   Evil woman with female backing vocals singing You're an evil woman
   Evil woman
-Instrumental Break
   Piano/String Riff #1
   Piano/String Riff #2
   Piano/String Riff #3 with female backing vocals singing Hey, hey, hey, hey
   Rising String Part #1
   Rising String Part #2 with female backing vocals singing Hey, hey, hey, hey
   Descending String Part #1
   Rising String Part #3 with female backing vocals singing Hey, hey, hey
-Flanged String Interlude
-Chorus 3
   Evil woman
   Evil woman
   Evil woman with female backing vocals singing You're an evil woman
   Evil woman
-Verse 3
   Evil woman, how you done me wrong
   But now you're tryin' to wail a different song
   Ha ha, funny how you broke me up with female backing vocals harmonizing the Ha ha
   You made the wine now you drink a cup
   Came a'runnin' every time you cried
   Thought I saw love smilin' in your eyes
   Ha ha, honey, very nice to know with female backing vocals harmonizing the Ha ha
   That you ain't got no place left to go
with female backing vocals singing Whoa, whoa, whoa
-Chorus 4
   Evil woman
   Evil woman
   Evil woman with female backing vocals singing You're an evil woman
   Evil woman
-Chorus 5
   Evil woman
   Evil woman with female backing vocals singing You're an evil woman
   Evil woman with female backing vocals singing Such an evil woman
   Evil woman with female backing vocals singing You're an evil woman
-Chorus 6
   Evil woman with female backing vocals singing Such an evil woman
   Evil woman with female backing vocals singing You're an evil woman
   Evil woman

Variations

There are seven known non-live variations of the original Evil Woman They are:

-Evil Woman (Standard Release)
-Evil Woman (Edited UK Single Version)
-Evil Woman (Edited USA Single Version)
-Evil Woman (Edited USA Mono Single Version)
-Evil Woman (Edited Olé ELO Version)
-Evil Woman (Edited 18 Greatest Hits LP Version)
-Evil Woman (Stripped Down Mix)

The UK single version simply cuts the orchestral intro and fades a couple of lines early. This version is what appears on most compilation albums, not the full album version. The USA single version cuts both the orchestral and vocal intro, as well as two lines from the first verse, one line from the third verse, a large section of the instrumental bridge and a much earlier fade beginning a the end of the fourth chorus. This version has never been released on CD or anything other than the original USA single and the B-side of the 1978 Livin' Thing reissue single. This edited version also has a mono version available on the B-side of the USA issued promotional single. The version that first appeared on the 1976 Olé ELO album is only subtlely different, cutting the orchestral intro from the album like the UK single, but including the full album fade-out, unlike the UK single. The version found on the 1984 Australian 18 Greatest Hits LP cuts the entire instrumental bridge and the third chorus. However, curiously, unlike all other edits, it includes the orchestral intro from the album. The stripped down mix appears to be a raw backing track with added vocals. The arrangement is mostly the same except that there are no strings, no female backing vocals and the piano on the instrumental bridge is different. Also, the orchestral intro is cut (obviously) as well as the fifth chorus and the flanged string interlude. Most notable is the addition of the fourth verse.

In addition, the brief solo version heard in the Jump For Joy episode of My Name Is Earl and the Things to Do in Phoenix When You're Dead episode of Medium is a whole new recording. However, only a very short section of the song is heard, thus making it difficult to analyze. What is heard is included in the chart below, but because of the heavy editing, most sections are marked "Unknown".

Song Section	Lyric/Part	Evil Woman (Standard Release)	Evil Woman (Edited UK Single Version)	Evil Woman (Edited USA Single Version) Evil Woman (Edited USA Mono Single Version)	Evil Woman (Edited Olé ELO Version)	Evil Woman (Edited 18 Greatest Hits LP Version)	Evil Woman (Stripped Down Mix)	*	Evil Woman (Solo Version)
Orchestral Intro	Orchestral Intro	YES	-	-	-	YES	-	*	Unknown
Vocal Intro	You made a fool of me	YES	YES	-	YES	YES	YES	*	YES
	But them broken dreams have got to end	YES	YES	-	YES	YES	YES	*	YES
Piano Intro	Piano Riff #1	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	*	YES
	Piano Riff #2 with drum start	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	*	YES
	Piano Riff #3 with drums & guitar	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	*	YES
	Piano Riff #4 with drums & guitar	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	*	YES
Verse 1	Hey, woman, you got the blues	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	*	Unknown
	'Cause you ain't got no one else to use	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	*	Unknown
	There's an open road that leads nowhere	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	*	Unknown
	So just make some miles between here and there	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	*	Unknown
	There's a hole in my head where the rain comes in	YES	YES	-	YES	YES	YES	*	Unknown
	You took my body and played to win	YES	YES	-	YES	YES	YES	*	Unknown
	Ha ha, woman, it's a cryin' shame with female backing vocals harmonizing the Ha ha	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES, but Jeff Lynne does the vocal harmonizing on the Ha ha	*	Unknown
	But you ain't got nobody else to blame	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	*	Unknown
Chorus 1	Evil woman	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	*	YES
	Evil woman	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	*	YES
	Evil woman	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	*	YES
	Evil woman	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	*	YES
Verse 2	Rolled in from another town	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	*	Unknown
	Hit some gold too hot to settle down	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	*	Unknown
	But a fool and his money soon go separate ways	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	*	Unknown
	And you found a fool lyin' in a daze	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	*	Unknown
	Ha ha, woman, what you gonna do? with female backing vocals harmonizing the Ha ha	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES, but Jeff Lynne does the vocal harmonizing on the Ha ha	*	Unknown
	You destroyed all the virtues that the Lord gave you	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	*	Unknown
	So good that you're feelin' pain	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	*	Unknown
	But you better get your face on board the very next train with female backing vocals singing Hey, hey, hey	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES, but without the female backing vocals	*	Unknown
Chorus 2	Evil woman	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	*	Unknown
	Evil woman	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	*	Unknown
	Evil woman with female backing vocals singing You're an evil woman	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES, but without the female backing vocals	*	Unknown
	Evil woman	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	*	Unknown
Instrumental Break	Piano/String Riff #1	YES	YES	YES	YES	-	YES, but the piano arrangement is different and Jeff shouts Hey! at the beginning	*	YES
	Piano/String Riff #2	YES	YES	YES	YES	-	YES, but the piano arrangement is different	*	YES
	Piano/String Riff #3 with female backing vocals singing Hey, hey, hey, hey	YES	YES	-	YES	-	YES, but the piano arrangement is different and no female backing vocals	*	YES, but no female backing vocals
	Rising String Part #1	YES	YES	-	YES	-	YES, but the piano arrangement is different	*	YES
	Rising String Part #2 with female backing vocals singing Hey, hey, hey, hey	YES	YES	-	YES	-	YES, but the piano arrangement is different and no female backing vocals	*	YES, but no female backing vocals
	Descending String Part #1	YES	YES	-	YES	-	YES, but the piano arrangement is different	*	YES
	Rising String Part #3 with female backing vocals singing Hey, hey, hey	YES	YES	YES	YES	-	YES, but the piano arrangement is different and no female backing vocals	*	YES, but no female backing vocals
Flanged String Interlude	Flanged String Interlude	YES	YES	YES	YES	-	-	*	YES
Chorus 3	Evil woman	YES	YES	YES	YES	-	YES	*	YES, but no female backing vocals
	Evil woman	YES	YES	YES	YES	-	YES	*	Unknown
	Evil woman with female backing vocals singing You're an evil woman	YES	YES	YES	YES	-	YES, but without the female backing vocals	*	Unknown
	Evil woman	YES	YES	YES	YES	-	YES	*	Unknown
Verse 3	Evil woman, how you done me wrong	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	*	Unknown
	But now you're tryin' to wail a different song	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	*	Unknown
	Ha ha, funny how you broke me up with female backing vocals harmonizing the Ha ha	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES, but Jeff Lynne does the vocal harmonizing on the Ha ha	*	Unknown
	You made the wine now you drink a cup	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	*	Unknown
	Came a'runnin' every time you cried	YES	YES	-	YES	YES	YES, but the lyric starts as I came a'runnin'...	*	Unknown
	Thought I saw love smilin' in your eyes	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	*	Unknown
	Ha ha, honey, very nice to know with female backing vocals harmonizing the Ha ha	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES, but Jeff Lynne does the vocal harmonizing on the Ha ha	*	Unknown
	That you ain't got no place left to go with female backing vocals singing Whoa, whoa, whoa	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES, but without the female backing vocals	*	Unknown
Chorus 4	Evil woman	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	*	Unknown
	Evil woman	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	*	Unknown
	Evil woman with female backing vocals singing You're an evil woman	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES, but without the female backing vocals	*	Unknown
	Evil woman	YES	YES	YES, but fade begins	YES	YES	YES	*	Unknown
Verse 4	Hang down for just a while	-	-	-	-	-	YES	*	Unknown
	And I'll tell you a story that'll make you smile	-	-	-	-	-	YES	*	Unknown
	'Bout a dark-eyed woman with a Cadillac	-	-	-	-	-	YES	*	Unknown
	But all she had was on her back	-	-	-	-	-	YES	*	Unknown
	Well, a fool rushed in this time and saw	-	-	-	-	-	YES	*	Unknown
	Just the kind of woman that he adored	-	-	-	-	-	YES	*	Unknown
	She lay beside him and turned on her charm	-	-	-	-	-	YES	*	Unknown
	But this devil's woman sure know how to do you harm	-	-	-	-	-	YES	*	Unknown
Chorus 5	Evil woman	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	-	*	Unknown
	Evil woman with female backing vocals singing You're an evil woman	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	-	*	Unknown
	Evil woman with female backing vocals singing Such an evil woman	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	-	*	Unknown
	Evil woman with female backing vocals singing You're an evil woman	YES	YES	-	YES	YES	-	*	Unknown
Chorus 6	Evil woman with female backing vocals singing Such an evil woman	YES	YES	-	YES	YES	YES, but without female backing vocals	*	Unknown
	Evil woman with female backing vocals singing You're an evil woman	YES	-	-	YES	YES	YES, but without female backing vocals	*	Unknown
	Evil woman with female backing vocals singing Such an evil woman	YES	-	-	YES	YES	YES, but without female backing vocals	*	Unknown
	Evil woman	-	-	-	-	-	YES	*	Unknown

Music Charts

These are the known statistics for the various country's music charts. If you can fill in the missing information or know of charting information in other countries, please let me know at the email address listed at the bottom of this page.

	Week 1	Week 2	Week 3	Week 4	Week 5	Week 6	Week 7	Week 8	Week 9	Week 10	Week 11	Week 12	Week 13	Week 14	Week 15	Week 16	Week 17	Week 18	Week 19
UK Official Top 50 Chart Entry Date: January 10, 1976	46	27	14	10 (January 31, 1976)	11	11	28	32
USA Billboard Hot 100 Chart Entry Date: November 15, 1975	87	77	60	49	40	28	24	20	18	16	15	14	13	10 (February 14, 1976)	10 (February 21, 1976)	26	44
USA Cash Box Top 100 Chart Entry Date: November 15, 1975	95	79	51	37	32	23	18	16	15	15	13	12	10	9 (February 14, 1976)	9 (February 21, 1976)	13	28	38	48
USA Record World Top 40 Chart Entry Date: [UNKNOWN]	Peak of 9 during a run of an unknown number of weeks on the chart
Holland Top 40 Chart Entry Date: December 27, 1975	30	28	20 (January 10, 1976)	22	33
Australia Top 100 Chart Entry Date: [DATE UNKNOWN]	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	Peak at #23 on February 2, 1976 during a run of 18 weeks on the chart
Ireland Top 20 Chart Entry Date: February 19, 1976	?	?	?	Peak at #10 on [DATE UNKNOWN] during a run of 4 weeks on the chart

Releases

Here are all the known USA and UK releases of the song:

Evil Woman (Standard Release)

• Running Time: 4:35
• Released On:
  
  • Face The Music LP album (1975 September — USA — United Artists UL-LA 546-G)
  • Face The Music LP album (1975 November — UK — Jet JET LP 11)
  • Face The Music LP album (1976 — UK — Jet/United Artists UAG 30034)
  • Face The Music LP album (1978 — UK — Jet JET LP 201)
  • Three Light Years LP album (1978 — UK — Jet JET BX1)
  • Face The Music LP album (1978 — USA — Jet JZ 35527)
  • Face The Music LP album (1980 — USA — Jet PZ 35527)
  • Face The Music LP album (1985 — UK — Epic EPC 32544)
  • Face The Music CD album (1987 — USA — ZK 35527)
  • Face The Music CD album (1991 — UK — UK 982648-2)
  • Face The Music 24KT Gold CD album (1995 August 15 — USA — Epic/Legacy ZK 57184)
  • Flashback CD album (2000 November 21 — USA — Epic/Legacy E3K 85123)
  • Flashback CD album (2000 December 11 — UK — Epic/Legacy 500931 2)
  • Face The Music Remaster CD album (2006 September 11 — UK — Epic/Legacy 82796942782)
  • Face The Music Remaster CD album (2006 September 12 — USA — Legacy EK 94271)
  
  

Evil Woman (Edited UK Single Version)

• Running Time: 4:15
• Released On:
  
  • Evil Woman 7" single (1976 January 10 — UK — Jet JET 764)
  • ELO's Greatest Hits LP album (1979 November — UK — Jet JET LX 525)
  • ELO's Greatest Hits LP album (1979 November — USA — Jet FZ 36310)
  • Telephone Line Golden Oldies 7" single (1980 December — USA — Jet/CBS ZS8 5151)
  • ELO's Greatest Hits LP album (1980 — USA — Jet PZ 36310)
  • ELO's Greatest Hits Half Speed Mastered LP album (1980 — USA — Jet HZ 36310)
  • ELO's Greatest Hits CD album (1986 — USA — Jet ZK 36310)
  • ELO's Greatest Hits LP album (1988 — UK — Epic 450357 1)
  • ELO's Greatest Hits CD album (1988 — UK — Epic 450357 2)
  • The Very Best Of The Electric Light Orchestra CD album (1989 — UK — Telstar TCD 2370)
  • ELO Classics CD album (1990 — USA — CBS Special Products A 21583)
  • Telephone Line Collectables 7" single (1991 — USA — Jet/CBS ZS8 5151)
  • The Very Best Of The Electric Light Orchestra CD album (1994 — UK — Dino DINCD90)
  • Light Years: The Very Best Of Electric Light Orchestra CD album (1997 — UK — Epic 489039 2)
  • The Ultimate Collection CD album (2001 October 22 — UK — Sony Music STVCD126)
  • The Collection CD album (2003 — UK — Marks & Spencer MS4800Q)
  • All Over The World: The Very Best Of Electric Light Orchestra CD album (2005 June 6 — UK — Sony 5201292)
  • All Over The World: The Very Best Of Electric Light Orchestra CD album (2005 August 2 — USA — Epic/Legacy EK 94489)
  • ELO Classics CD album (2007 October 9 — USA — KRB Music Companies KRB7045-2)
  • All Over The World: The Very Best Of Electric Light Orchestra eco-friendly CD album (2008 April 14 — UK — Sony/BMG 88697046492)
  
  

Evil Woman (Edited USA Single Version)

• Running Time: 3:12
• Released On:
  
  • Evil Woman 7" single (1975 October — USA — United Artists UA-XW 729-Y)
  • Livin' Thing Silver Spotlight Series 7" single (1978 — USA — United Artists US X 1177-Y)
  
  

Evil Woman (Edited USA Mono Single Version)

• Running Time: 3:12
• Released On: Evil Woman 7" promo single (1975 October — USA — United Artists UA-XW 729-Y)

Evil Woman (Edited Olé ELO Version)

• Running Time: 4:21
• Released On:
  
  • Face The Music promo banded LP album (1975 September — USA — United Artists UL-LA 546-G)
  • Olé ELO LP album (1976 June — USA — United Artists UA-LA 630-G)
  • The ELO EP EP (1978 December 9 — UK — Jet JET ELO 1)
  • Can't Get It Out Of My Head/Evil Woman 7" single (1978 December — UK — Jet ELO 1 JB)
  • Olé ELO LP album (1978 — USA — Jet JZ 35528)
  • Olé ELO LP album (1980 — USA — Jet PZ 35528)
  • The Best Of ELO LP album (1981 — UK — Tellydisc TELLY 7)
  • Face The Music CD album (1987 November 17 — USA — ZK 35527) [mistaken release on early issue only]
  • Olé ELO CD album (1988 — USA — Jet ZK 35528)
  • Afterglow CD album (1990 June 15 — USA — Epic Associated Z3K 46090)
  • Strange Magic: The Best Of Electric Light Orchestra CD album (1995 — USA — Legacy/Epic Associated Z2K 64157)
  • The Essential Electric Light Orchestra CD album (2003 April 1 — USA — Epic/Legacy EK 89072)
  • Playlist: The Very Best Of Electric Light Orchestra CD album (2008 August 19 — USA — Epic/Legacy 88697 29802 2)
  
  

Evil Woman (Edited 18 Greatest Hits LP Version)

• Running Time: 3:45
• Released On: 18 Greatest Hits LP album (1984 — Australia — K-tel NA 674)

Evil Woman (Stripped Down Mix)

• Running Time: 5:00
• Released On:
  
  • Face The Music Remaster CD album (2006 September 11 — UK — Epic/Legacy 82796942782)
  • Face The Music Remaster CD album (2006 September 12 — USA — Legacy EK 94271)
  
  

Evil Woman (Winterland February 14, 1976)

• Running Time: 4:55
• Record Date: 1976
• Record Location: Winterland Arena, San Francisco, USA
• Produced By: Jeff Lynne
• Engineered By: Unknown
• Performed By: Jeff Lynne (guitar, vocals), Bev Bevan (drums, percussion), Richard Tandy (piano, moog synthesizer, guitar, clavinet), Kelly Groucutt (bass, vocals), Mik Kaminski (violin), Hugh McDowell (cello), Melvyn Gale (cello)

• Released On:
  
  • Live At Winterland '76 CD album (1998 April 13 — UK — Eagle Records EAMCD038)
  • Live At Winterland '76 CD album (1998 September 29 — USA — Cleopatra CLP0354)
  • The Complete ELO Live Collection CD album (2000 October 3 — USA — Cleopatra CLP0932)
  
  

Evil Woman (London June 20, 1976)

• Running Time: 4:30
• Record Date: June 20, 1976
• Record Location: New Victoria Theatre, London, UK
• Produced By: Jeff Lynne
• Engineered By: Unknown
• Performed By: Jeff Lynne (guitar), Bev Bevan (drums, percussion), Richard Tandy (piano, moog synthesizer, guitar, clavinet), Kelly Groucutt (bass), Mik Kaminski (violin), Hugh McDowell (cello), Melvyn Gale (cello)

• Released On: Fusion Concert - Live In London VHS videotape (1990 — UK — Pickwick PTR 2152)

Evil Woman (Portsmouth June 22, 1976)

• Running Time: 5:19
• Record Date: June 22, 1976
• Record Location: The Portsmouth Guildhall, UK
• Produced By: Jeff Lynne
• Engineered By: Unknown
• Performed By: Jeff Lynne (guitar, vocals), Bev Bevan (drums, percussion), Richard Tandy (piano, moog synthesizer, guitar, clavinet), Kelly Groucutt (bass, vocals), Mik Kaminski (violin), Hugh McDowell (cello), Melvyn Gale (cello)

• Released On: Live At The BBC CD album (1999 — UK — Eagle Records EAMCD097)

Evil Woman (A New World Record Tour)

• Running Time: 4:39 (approximate)
• Record Date: January to April 1977
• Record Location: Unknown
• Produced By: Jeff Lynne
• Engineered By: Unknown
• Performed By: Jeff Lynne (vocals, guitar), Bev Bevan (drums, percussion), Richard Tandy (piano, moog synthesizer), Kelly Groucutt (bass), Mik Kaminski (violin), Hugh McDowell (cello), Melvyn Gale (cello)

• Released On: Unreleased (bootlegged)

Evil Woman (Out Of The Blue Tour)

• Running Time: 4:55 (approximate)
• Record Date: 1978
• Record Location: Various
• Produced By: Jeff Lynne
• Engineered By: Unknown
• Performed By: Jeff Lynne (vocals, guitar), Bev Bevan (drums, percussion), Richard Tandy (keyboards), Kelly Groucutt (bass), Mik Kaminski (violin), Hugh McDowell (cello), Melvyn Gale (cello), Jake Commander [hidden on stage] (backing vocals, guitar)

• Released On: Unreleased (bootlegged)

Evil Woman (Time Tour)

• Running Time: 3:18 (approximate)
• Record Date: October 1981 to May 1982
• Record Location: Unknown (live only)
• Produced By: Jeff Lynne
• Engineered By: Unknown
• Performed By: Jeff Lynne (vocals, guitar), Bev Bevan (drums, percussion), Richard Tandy (piano, synthesizer, electric piano), Kelly Groucutt (bass), Mik Kaminski (violin, synthesizer), Louis Clark (string synthesizer), Dave Morgan (acoustic guitar, vocoder)

• Released On: Unreleased (bootlegged)

Evil Woman (Balance Of Power Tour)

• Running Time: 4:21 (approximate)
• Record Date: 1986
• Record Location: Unknown
• Produced By: Jeff Lynne
• Engineered By: Unknown
• Performed By: Jeff Lynne (vocals, guitar), Bev Bevan (drums), Richard Tandy (keyboards), Mik Kaminski (violin), Louis Clark (string keyboards), Dave Morgan (guitar, keyboards), Martin Smith (bass)

• Released On: Unreleased (bootlegged)

Evil Woman (VH1 Storytellers, April 20, 2001)

• Running Time: 5:12 (approximate)
• Record Date: April 20, 2001
• Record Location: New York City, New York
• Written By: Jeff Lynne
• Produced By: Jeff Lynne
• Engineered By: Unknown
• Performed By: Jeff Lynne (lead vocals, guitar), Richard Tandy (keyboards), Rosie Vela (backup vocals), Marc Mann (keyboards, guitar), Gregg Bissonette (drums), Matt Bissonette (bass), Peggy Baldwin (cello), Nancy Stein-Ross (cello)

• Released On: Unreleased (bootlegged)

Evil Woman (Los Angeles, May 2001)

• Running Time: 4:26
• Record Date: May 23 or 24, 2001
• Record Location: Stage 36 at CBS Television City, Los Angeles, California, USA
• Produced By: Jeff Lynne
• Engineered By: Unknown
• Performed By: Jeff Lynne (lead vocals, guitar), Richard Tandy (keyboards), Rosie Vela (backup vocals), Marc Mann (keyboards, guitar), Gregg Bissonette (drums), Matt Bissonette (bass), Peggy Baldwin (cello), Sarah O'Brien (cello)

• Released On:
  
  • Zoom Tour Live VHS videotape (2001 November 5 — UK — Aviva International B00005Q5ME)
  • Zoom Tour Live DVD (2001 November 13 — USA — Image Entertainment ID1334DDDVD)
  • Zoom Tour Live VHS videotape (2001 November 13 — USA — Image Entertainment ID1333DD)
  • Zoom Tour Live DVD (2003 July 28 — UK — Sony BMG 74321 89860 9)
  
  

Evil Woman (5.1 Mix - Los Angeles, May 2001)

• Running Time: 4:26
• Record Date: May 23 or 24, 2001
• Record Location: Stage 36 at CBS Television City, Los Angeles, California, USA
• Produced By: Jeff Lynne
• Engineered By: Unknown
• Performed By: Jeff Lynne (lead vocals, guitar), Richard Tandy (keyboards), Rosie Vela (backup vocals), Marc Mann (keyboards, guitar), Gregg Bissonette (drums), Matt Bissonette (bass), Peggy Baldwin (cello), Sarah O'Brien (cello)

• Released On:
  
  • Zoom Tour Live DVD (2001 November 13 — USA — Image Entertainment ID1334DDDVD)
  • Zoom Tour Live DVD (2003 July 28 — UK — Sony BMG 74321 89860 9)
  
  

Evil Woman (Solo Version)

• Running Time: 0:53 [as extracted from the My Name Is Earl episode]
• Record Date: Unknown
• Record Location: Unknown
• Produced By: Jeff Lynne
• Engineered By: Unknown
• Performed By: Jeff Lynne (vocals, guitar), other instruments and artists unknown

• Released On: Unreleased (bootlegged)
• Used in the Film or TV Program:
  
  • My Name Is Earl episode Joy In A Bubble (2008)
  • Medium episode Things to Do in Phoenix When You're Dead (2009)
  
  

Tours

Evil Woman was played on all tours following its release.

The live performances that have seen official release are three versions from the Face The Music tour (Winterland, London and Portsmouth) and one version from the PBS performance for the aborted Zoom tour. Performances of Evil Woman from the A New World Record, Out Of The Blue, Time and Balance Of Power tours have not been officially released, although they have been bootlegged from various sources.

The Time tour performance was a different performance, with Jeff and Kelly Groucutt alternating lyric lines over the first two verses and the third verse completely cut from the performance. During the rare Balance Of Power tour performances, which were in Germany only, Jeff changed the lyric "you better get your face on board the very next train" to "you better get your asshole on board the very next train". Perhaps he didn't think the German audience would notice, but it was secretly recorded and this amusing factoid is now preserved for history.

Also of interest is that at almost every live performance, just before the instrumental bridge, Jeff shouts "Take it, Richard!" to Richard Tandy.

Pictures

UK vinyl single * Jet * Jet 764 Image used with kind permission of Jon Lock	USA vinyl single * United Artists * UA-XW 729-Y	USA Face The Music album * United Artists * UA-LA546-G	UK The ELO EP EP * Jet * Jet ELO 1	UK Can't Get It Out My Head vinyl single * Jet * Jet ELO 1 JB
USA vinyl single * United Artists * US X 1177-Y	USA vinyl single * Golden Oldies Jet * CBS ZS8 5151	USA vinyl single * Collectibles Jet * CBS ZS8 5151	Australia vinyl single * Polydor * 2001 620 Image used with kind permission of Jon Lock	Belgium vinyl single * Jet Polydor * 2001 620 Image used with kind permission of Jon Lock
Brazil vinyl EP * Polydor * 2229 187 Image used with kind permission of Jon Lock	Canada vinyl single * United Artists * UA-XW729-Y Image used with kind permission of Jon Lock	Canada vinyl single * United Artists * XW1132	Canada vinyl single * Columbia * C4-1028	France vinyl single * Jet Polydor * 2001 608 Image used with kind permission of Jon Lock
Germany vinyl single * Jet Polydor * 2001622 Image used with kind permission of Jon Lock	Greece vinyl single * Jet Polydor * 2001 622 Image used with kind permission of Jon Lock	Holland vinyl single * Polydor * 2001 608	Republic of Ireland vinyl single * Jet Polydor * 764 Image used with kind permission of Jon Lock	Italy vinyl single * Jet Polydor * 2001 625 Image used with kind permission of Jon Lock
Italy vinyl promo single * Jet Polydor * 2001 625 Image used with kind permission of Jon Lock	Italy vinyl Jukebox single * Jet Polydor * AS 5000 340 Image used with kind permission of Jon Lock	Japan vinyl single * Jet Polydor * DP 4020 Image used with kind permission of Jon Lock	Japan vinyl single * Jet * CM-114 Image used with kind permission of Jon Lock	Japan vinyl single * Jet * 06SP370
Mexico vinyl promo single * Jet Polydor * 629 Image used with kind permission of Jon Lock	New Zealand vinyl single * Polydor * 2001 622 Image used with kind permission of Jon Lock	Peru vinyl single * Polydor * 2001608 Image used with kind permission of Jon Lock	Philippines vinyl single * Polydor * PRO-3452 Image used with kind permission of Jon Lock	Spain vinyl single * Polydor * 20 01 632 Image used with kind permission of Jon Lock
Thailand vinyl single * Royalsound * TKR 349	Thailand vinyl single * Express Song * EXP-172	Uraguay vinyl single * United Artists * 300.017 Image used with kind permission of Jon Lock	Yugoslavia vinyl single * Polydor * RTB S 53 938 Image used with kind permission of Jon Lock

Cover Versions

• Patty Pravo on her Tanto album (1976) [under the title E Io Cammino]
• The Cadets on their Un Tributo a Electric Light Orchestra album (1981)
• Jack Livingston Orchestra and Singers on their A Tribute To ELO album (early 1980s)
• OrKestra during live performances from 1987 to 1991
• King on an album of unknown origin (199?)
• Electric Light Orchestra Part II on their Electric Light Orchestra - Greatest Hits Live album (1992)
• Phil Bates, Jo Bates, Bev Bevan, Mik Kaminski, Kelly Groucutt, Gordon Giltrap and Mark Knight on their A Little Light On An Electric Night album (1996)
• Electric Light Orchestra Part II on their One Night - Live in Australia album (1997)
• Phil Bates on his Agony & Ecstacy album (1998)
• The Orchestra from live performances (2000s)
• The Vandals in the film Saving Silverman (2001) -- no soundtrack album was issued
• Ross Rice on the Lynne Me Your Ears tribute album (2001)
• Soul Hooligan featuring Diana King on the Austin Powers In Goldmember soundtrack album (2002) -- although the film itself did not contain this cover version, but the original Electric Light Orchestra version
• Sun Flower Orchestra during a live tribute concert (October 2003)
• P. Hux on his Homemade Spaceship: The Music Of ELO Performed By P. Hux album (5/2005)
• Broadway Cast at Broadway Xanadu play and cast recording album (2007/2008)
• Electric Live Orchestra during live performances (2008)

Use in Movies and TV Programs

• Austin Powers In Goldmember (2002)
• Monster-In-Law trailer, not in the film (2004)
• My Name Is Earl episode Joy In A Bubble (2008)
• Medium episode Things to Do in Phoenix When You're Dead (2009)

Sheet Music

       
Sheet music as published in the UK.

Please note that because this is published and copyrighted material, the full sheet music cannot be shown here.

Promotional Videos and TV Performances

The promo video for Evil Woman features the band on an unidentified concert stage miming to the UK single version of the song (missing orchestral intro and fade slightly early). Jeff is wearing the same black shirt with white wings on the shoulders that was seen in the Can't Get It Out Of My Head video. He is also wearing a brown newsboy hat and his infamous dark sunglasses. No other videos in support of the Face The Music album were produced. The Evil Woman promo video can be seen HERE. The video has never been commercially released.

Televised performances of the song will be documented at length at a future date. Performances are known to include a performance on the UK's Top Of The Pops program broadcast on January 8, 1976 with Noel Edmonds hosting, Germany's Pop '75 program broadcast some time in 1975, and a rather amusing performance on the USA's Midnight Special program broadcast some time in 1976 where Jeff gets the giggles during the instrumental break because the fog machine overwhelms cellist Hugh McDowell's stage performance.

Quotations

Evil Woman (Standard Release)
Evil Woman was used in the film Austin Powers In Goldmember, using the original Electric Light Orchestra version, however it did not show up on the officially released soundtrack. Instead, the soundtrack featured a cover version by Soul Hooligan featuring Diana King.

Note also that on the Flashback set, the orchestral intro to this song was improperly placed at the end of the previous song, Tightrope.

The string interlude is sampled heavily in a song called BEEP by the Pussycat Dolls featuring Will.I.Am from the Black Eyed Peas.

"Evil Woman though, is the classic. It fuels perfectly the soul direction so crassly assimilated on Showdown, an explosion of flickering rhythm guitars, clarinet and surging strings, a rich vein of hooks and melodies that seem instantly familiar. If it isn't a huge hit we are in a worse shape than we think."
John Ingham (1975 - from a transcribed UK Face The Music album review of unknown origin)

"Funny enough, when we did the LP... We never do singles as a thing, we just go in and make an LP. I write all the songs and [Evil Woman] just sounded like a single straight away, we did it. Y'know, it had a good feel to it. And, uh, that's what everybody chose to release. The record company, Jet, which is David's label and Don's label, we all agreed on it and it came out. And it's a hit in England as well."
Jeff Lynne (1976 - Innerview with Jim Ladd)

"Now we're home! ELO has its first real hit single. From Face The Music, it delivers ELO the stature they deserve..."
Author Unknown (June 1976 - liner notes for Olé ELO album)

"It's primarily a singles market in England, especially among the younger fans. If you look at the album charts, you'll usually find Perry Como or something like that high up. Some of our singles do well-- Evil Woman went top ten, but then Strange Magic flopped."
Bev Bevan (January 17, 1977 - Circus magazine)

"I wrote Evil Woman in the studio and it came to me quicker than any other song I have written."
Jeff Lynne (November 1979 ELO's Greatest Hits)

"It was out of a different song, that string bit that comes in backwards. It was out of something... Nightrider, the string tracks off that. And, uh, I played it backwards and it was in the right key."
Jeff Lynne (August 8, 1980 - The ELO Story radio show)

"Face The Music also gave Jeff his fastest-ever [produced] song. We were short a track on the last day of recording in Munich and Jeff went in early. By the time the rest of us arrived at 2 P.M. he had Evil Woman ready for us to play. It made the top ten in both Britain and America as a single release in later months."
Bev Bevan (1980 - The Electric Light Orchestra Story)

"Yeah, Evil Woman, actually [still gives me a thrill]. It sounds like a complete... song. I wrote that in about fifteen minutes. It was really weird because I needed one more song for the album and all the rest of the group were hanging about and I said, 'You all go do something and I'll just write this song on the piano in the studio.' And I had it done like... kinda like 'bout half an hour later it was almost ready to record. Y'know, just showed everybody how it went. And it... I made the record in probably a day, wrote the words the next day. It was very, very quick. Some take months to make, y'know. Some just come easy."
Jeff Lynne (June 23, 1990 - Timothy White's Rock Stars: Jeff Lynne's Musical Chairs)

"Sparked by the controversially discofied sound of Evil Woman and the soothing slow-dance charms of Strange Magic, the [Face The Music] album out-sold Eldorado."
Ira Robbins (1995 liner notes for Strange Magic: The Best Of Electric Light Orchestra)

"Almost at the end of the recording sessions [for Face The Music] one more song was needed so Jeff walked into the studio, sat on the piano [sic] and wrote Evil Woman very quickly. When the band came in as usual the song was finished!"
Patrik Guttenbacher, Marc Haines, & Alexander von Petersdorff (1996 Unexpected Messages)

"Probably the fastest song I ever wrote was on [the Face The Music] session-- Evil Woman which took about six minutes to write the basic tune. I was always planning on changing the chorus a bit but I couldn't come up with anything better. [...] Me second go at an R&B style song. [...] I took the high string crescendo from [Nightrider] and over dubbed it backwards onto Evil Woman where it's prominently featured."
Jeff Lynne (2000 - Flashback)

"They all went out for like half an hour and I just walked up to the piano and played these three chords. And it was Evil Woman immediately. I never even changed it. It was just... that's the verse of Evil Woman. It was just, uh, A minor, E minor, D minor, built into C and then goes: 'dow, dow, dow.' Right back into them chord changes. And it was just done instantly. And, uh, so I got all that and said, 'This is how it goes.' And then, it was recorded in that afternoon and then, I probably did the words at the end, as usual. And I was gonna change the actual chorus. [Sings 'Evil Woman.'] I was gonna change that bit. One day, I was gonna change that at the last minute. But I could never come up with anything better, so I left it like that."
Jeff Lynne (June 2 & 9, 2001 - Mr. Blue Sky: The Jeff Lynne Story 2001 BBC 2 Radio show)

"Yeah, [I wrote Evil Woman very quickly]. I actually walked up to the piano and wrote the first three chords and it just went through just like that. And, uh, it took me a lot longer to do the words... probably it took me six weeks to do the words, but the actual tune... the track... [...] Well this is a little innovative idea that I had. You see, the two songs-- We'd just done the two string sessions, like, probably three strings sessions in a session. So I'd just been overdubbing orchestra and I noticed that where that crescendo went off, I turned it 'round backwards and listened to it and thought, 'That'll fit right in Evil Woman in this beat that I'm really bored [with].' And, I tried it out on, y'know, just took a little copy of it. Snip it in; snip it out. And put this thing in backwards. And it fit perfectly. It never missed a beat and it just whizzed through like nothing ever happened and here it was backwards. "
Jeff Lynne (June 24, 2001 - Off The Record interview with Uncle Joe Benson)

"Face The Music's single, Evil Woman, written hurriedly as a filler, was the first to make the Top 10 on both sides of the Atlantic, but it was the third album in a row not to chart in Britain. In front of his first audience since 1986, Jeff goes into Evil Woman and notes ruefully that 'it came true recently'. Acrimoniously divorced from his second wife, Jeff now lives in LA with singer Rosie Vela, who joins him in the new line-up."
Jim Irvin (August, 2001 - The Bullring Variations article in Mojo)

"Face The Music gave Lynne his first worldwide smash with the single Evil Woman, the fastest song he ever wrote. "
Author Unknown (March 31, 2003 - website only expanded liner notes for ELO 2 remaster CD)

"Face The Music... was an immediate hit and also gave Lynne his first worldwide smash hit, Evil Woman."
Rob Caiger (2003 liner notes for The Collection)

"Face The Music also wrought... the soulful Evil Woman, an infectious tune built around a dynamic string riff, which Lynne was said to have penned in only 30 minutes."
Jaan Uhelszki (April 1 2003 liner notes for The Essential Electric Light Orchestra)
Editor's Note: The song was built around the piano riff, not a string riff.

"Well, actually it turns out [the evil woman in Evil Woman is] somebody I know. [Laughs] So I can't talk about it really."
Jeff Lynne (July 5, 2005 - Face The Music: The Story of the Electric Light Orchestra BBC 2 Radio show)

"There's songs such as Evil Woman that were presented to the band complete for them to learn to play..."
Rob Caiger (July 20, 2005 - Showdown mailing list)

"ELO's Jeff Lynne made three of the most over-the-top enjoyable radio hits of the 1970s: Evil Woman, Don't Bring Me Down and Turn to Stone."
Peter Relic and Brian Hiatt (November 17, 2005 - Rolling Stone issue #967)

"...a lot of songs are edited - its just that the edited version that makes it to the album is the only one you've heard. Evil Woman for example is an edited track - the full-length version has an additional verse and chorus."
Rob Caiger (February 4, 2006 - Showdown mailing list)

"Jeff does control his songs and the sample [from Evil Woman] used for the Pussycat Dolls [song BEEP] was approved by him."
Rob Caiger (March 1, 2006 - Showdown mailing list)

"Millionaire rock star Jeff Lynne is set to make a killing - because sexy popbabes Pussycat Dolls have borrowed one of his old chart hits. The musician from Meriden in Warickshire has given the girls permission to use part of ELO's Evil Woman in their new single, and it's being tipped as a No 1. They've even credited the former Move and ELO frontman as one of the writers of Beep, a cheeky pop song with most of the chorus beeped out. If it follows in the footsteps of their first tune Don't Cha, it will top the charts - giving Lynne his first No 1 since Xanadu, recorded with Olivia Newton-John way back in 1980. Former ELO drummer Bev Bevan, now a Saga FM DJ and Sunday Mercury columnist, said he hadn't been told that Evil Woman was about to make a comeback. 'Evil Woman is one of my favourite songs,' he said. 'I haven't heard Beep yet. I'm not a huge fan of the girls, although they're very attractive!'"
Unknown (February 26, 2006 - Birmingham Sunday Mercury)

"Check out the stripped down version of Evil Woman; I think it's a better mix than the original 1975 one. I took the high string part of Nightrider that climbs up to a climax, and used it backwards in Evil Woman as a big effect. I was amazed when it slotted in seamlessly."
Jeff Lynne (September 11 2006 - Face The Music remaster liner notes)

"[Face The Music] also included one song composed in record time. Short of a final track for the album, Lynne created the classic Evil Woman in six minutes, the fastest song he ever wrote. J.L.: 'Now, when I say I wrote the song in six minutes, I didn't write the words in six minutes! I wrote the actual structure of the song, the chords and the melody and the little twiddly bits and then invited the group back in, showed everybody what to play and then laid it down. It was all done in a couple of hours in the afternoon and then I went back and worked on the arrangement and on the lyrics.' Evil Woman gave Lynne his first worldwide top 10 hit single, including a no.10 chart placing in the U.K."
Rob Caiger (September 11 2006 - Face The Music remaster liner notes)

"JEFF LYNN [sic] of ELO gave me center mic," exclaims Marge. "He liked a background vocal arrangement I came up with for Evil Woman (Evil Woman went to #1). To this day, I still hear my voice loud and clear on that part, in fact it was just used in the AUSTIN POWERS GOLDMEMBER movie."
Author Unknown (circa 2008 - Marge Raymond's web biography (http://www.margeraymond.com/bio.html))
Editor's Note: Evil Woman did not reach #1 on the charts.

"Then came Evil Women [sic]. I can [remember] to this day how amazed we all were when we heard this track. Jeff was quite the genius in music innovation. He was one of the first to use phase shifting and other special effects in music. Jeff wants us all to strengthen the chorus 'EEEvil Women'. So here we are standing in front of the mic and the opening of the tune comes on: 'You made a fool of me...', etc. We all look at each other and mouthed the words... 'WOW what sound and what great tune.' We missed our entrance a few times because we were listening to this song in the headsets and were blown away, especially on the part where it phase [shifts] into the chorus 'Evil Women'. We apologize to Jeff...Sorry...we are just blown away with the effects and the sound. We come back into the control room. Jeff says he still feels there is something missing in the tune. We listen to the playback. We add vocals to the part that says, 'HA HA (women what you gonna do, etc)'. Back in the control room we are listening back again and right after the part 'but you better get yourself onboard the very next train' and 'Ha Ha, very nice to know, that you aint got no place to go' I came up with the preceeding vocal part. Jeff loved it!!! [Jeff says:] 'Marge go out in the studio and do that!!' So we all go back into the studio, but he puts me center mic, which makes my vocals stand out the most. You can hear the 'hey, hey, hey' and 'Your an evil women'. Then came the tag at the end of the song: 'Your an evil women...such an evil women, etc..' [It's] me loud and clear. [...] Can you imagine what I felt like when I heard Evil Women [sic] for the first time. I was completely blown away. While I was in he studio I knew that this album had smash hits on it. Evil Women went to #1 and stayed there for many weeks. Wow! To this day, its still on the radio and I always get a thrill to hear it and my voice. I still say to myself, I cant believe its me on that tune, 34 years later. That song will be around forever...its classic. [...] In Goldmember [sic], I hear Evil Women [sic] and my voice. Now its on the Xbox Grand Theft Auto game which is in litigation for not paying out any royalties to anyone. You just can't take music and not pay out on it, especially when its a union job. I would get a conversion payout because my vocals are used in a different medium... i.e. first a recording... then a movie... then a game."
Marge Raymond (February 23, 2009 - Facebook message board for an ELO page)
Editor's Note: Evil Woman did not reach #1 on the charts.

Evil Woman (Edited UK Single Version)
The difference between this version and the standard Face The Music album version is that it edits off the orchestral intro and fades a few seconds early.

Evil Woman (Edited USA Single Version)
The difference between this version and the Face The Music version is that it cuts both the orchestral and vocal intro, as well as two lines from the first verse, one line from the third verse, a large section of the intrumental bridge and a much earlier fade beginning a the end of the fourth chorus.

Evil Woman (Edited USA Mono Single Version)
This is a mono version of the USA single version of Evil Woman.

Evil Woman (Edited Olé ELO Version)
This is subtlety different in that it excludes the orchestral intro from the album, but includes the full album fade-out.

Evil Woman (Edited 18 Greatest Hits LP Version)
This version, found on the Australian 18 Greatest Hits LP from 1984, differs from the original Face The Music version in that it cuts the entire instrumental bridge and the third chorus. Curiously, for an edit, it includes the orchestral intro as well.

Evil Woman (Stripped Down Mix)
The stripped down mix appears to be a raw backing track with added vocals. The arrangement is mostly the same except that there are no strings, no female backing vocals and the piano on the instrumental bridge is different. Also, the orchestral intro is cut (obviously) as well as the fifth chorus and the flanged string interlude. Most notable is the addition of the fourth verse.

"...a lot of songs are edited - its just that the edited version that makes it to the album is the only one you've heard. Evil Woman for example is an edited track - the full-length version has an additional verse and chorus."
Rob Caiger (February 4, 2006 - Showdown mailing list)

"Check out the stripped down version of Evil Woman; I think it's a better mix than the original 1975 one."
Jeff Lynne (September 11 2006 - Face The Music remaster liner notes)

Evil Woman (Winterland 1976)

Evil Woman (London June 20, 1976)

Evil Woman (Portsmouth June 22, 1976)

Evil Woman (A New World Record Tour)

Evil Woman (Out Of The Blue Tour)
"A brilliant performance of Evil Woman didn't even make the TV broadcast [of the Wembley concert] as during the string break, the [strings] went completely out of tune. It was so painful that sliding fingernails down a chalk board wouldn't even come close...."
Rob Caiger (July 20, 2003 - Showdown mailing list)

Evil Woman (Time Tour)

Evil Woman (Balance Of Power Tour)

Evil Woman (VH1 Storytellers, April 20, 2001)

Evil Woman (Los Angeles, May 2001)

Evil Woman (5.1 Mix - Los Angeles, May 2001)

Evil Woman (Solo Version)
This version of Evil Woman, as found in the My Name Is Earl episode Joy In A Bubble is a recent recording, however it is very close to the original recording. All available sources are incomplete very little of the song is heard on the show.

Robert Porter
January 2010