What drums did ELO use on Mr. Blue Sky?

ELO used a Ludwig drum kit as the acoustic foundation, which was then layered with electronic sounds from a LinnDrum machine. This combination of acoustic and electronic elements was typical of Jeff Lynne's production approach during this period.

How to get ELO Mr. Blue Sky drum sound?

Start with a Ludwig-style drum kit, use heavy compression (like an 1176), apply noise gating to tighten the sound, and layer in drum machine sounds. The key is blending acoustic drums with electronic elements while maintaining a tight, controlled feel through processing.

What studio was Mr. Blue Sky recorded at?

"Mr. Blue Sky" was recorded at Musicland Studios in Munich, Germany, with producer Jeff Lynne and engineer Mack. Musicland was known for its excellent acoustics and high-end equipment during the 1970s.

What compressor was used on Mr. Blue Sky drums?

According to production notes, a Urei 1176 compressor was used to achieve the punchy, tight drum sound. The 1176's fast attack and ratio settings were ideal for controlling the drum transients while maintaining punch.

Did ELO use drum machines on Mr. Blue Sky?

Yes, ELO layered a LinnDrum machine with the acoustic Ludwig kit on "Mr. Blue Sky." This blending of acoustic and electronic drums was a signature element of Jeff Lynne's production style and helped create the song's distinctive rhythmic character.

drums from "mr. blue sky" by elo

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Tone Profile

The drum sound in "Mr. Blue Sky" is characterized by its tight, punchy, and somewhat synthetic quality, blending acoustic drums with electronic elements. It's a very produced sound, contributing to the song's overall bright and polished aesthetic.

Shop This Rig

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Ludwig Drum Kit(instrument)
Neumann U47(microphone)
Kepex Noise Gate(processing)
Urei 1176(processing)
LinnDrum(drums)

The Story

The drums on ELO's "Mr. Blue Sky" were recorded at Musicland Studios in Munich with producer Jeff Lynne and engineer Mack. The sound features a Ludwig drum kit recorded with Neumann U47 microphones and processed with Urei 1176 compression and Kepex noise gating to create the characteristically tight, controlled feel. The distinctive sound comes from layering these acoustic drums with LinnDrum machine parts, blending organic and electronic elements in typical ELO fashion.

Production Credits

Producer: Jeff Lynne

Engineer: Mack

Recorded at: Musicland Studios, Munich

Signal Chain

Instrument: Ludwig Drum KitShop on Reverb

Microphone: Neumann U47Shop on Reverb

Processing: Kepex Noise GateShop on Reverb, Urei 1176Shop on Reverb

Recreation Tips

Start with a Ludwig drum kit as a base.
Use a combination of close-miking and overhead miking techniques to capture the kit.
Apply heavy compression using a Urei 1176 to achieve a punchy sound.
Use a Kepex noise gate to remove unwanted noise and tighten up the drum hits.
Layer in sounds from a LinnDrum or similar drum machine to add electronic elements.
Experiment with EQ to further shape the drum sound and blend the acoustic and electronic elements.

Original Gear

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Substitutions & Recommendations

Slate Digital VMS ML-1 with U47 tube modelShop on Reverb$999-$1199

Alternative to: Neumann U47 microphone

The VMS system's U47 tube modeling captures the warm, full sound of the original while offering modern reliability for drum recording

Universal Audio 1176LN PluginPlugin Boutique$149-$199

Alternative to: Urei 1176 compressor

Provides the same fast attack and punchy character as the original hardware 1176 used to tighten the drum sound

FabFilter Pro-GPlugin Boutique$179

Alternative to: Kepex noise gate

Modern gate with precise control to recreate the tight, artifact-free gating that cleaned up the drum hits

XLN Audio Addictive Drums 2Plugin Boutique$179-$299

Alternative to: LinnDrum

Includes vintage drum machine samples and layering capabilities to blend electronic elements with acoustic drums like the original

Ludwig Classic Maple SeriesShop on Reverb$1800-$3000

Alternative to: Ludwig drum kit

Modern Ludwig kit with the same warm maple tone and punchy attack characteristics as vintage Ludwig drums

Sources

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