Who say's I'm no ELO fan?
I love their stuff. I have most of their albums, and that music always takes me back to my childhood.
A couple of years ago I was sitting in my car with a friend of mine, when a song was being played on the radio. We both did not know the song, but we both sad simultaneously after just a couple of seconds: "That must be Jeff Lynne". And it was.
It was from a new ELO album. Not a good album, if you want my opinion, but it still had that signature sound you mentioned.
It's the same with the Bee Gees - it does not matter if they sing themselves or just write the music (wrote I should say), it's always clear from the beginning that they were the producers. Or Mike Batt or Alan Parsons. They all have that unique sound and/or style.
I don't hear such uniqueness anymore nowadays.
Regards,
Steffen