Discovery (Electric Light Orchestra album)
Discovery | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1 June 1979[1] | |||
Recorded | March–April 1979 | |||
Studio | Musicland (Munich, Germany) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 38:53 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer | Jeff Lynne | |||
Electric Light Orchestra chronology | ||||
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Electric Light Orchestra studio album chronology | ||||
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Singles from Discovery | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [5] |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [6] |
MusicHound Rock | [7] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [8] |
Smash Hits | 8/10[9] |
Discovery is the eighth studio album by English rock band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). It was released on 1 June 1979 in the United Kingdom by Jet Records, where it topped record charts, and on 8 June in the United States on Jet through Columbia Records distribution. A music video album featuring all the songs being played by the band was then released on VHS in 1979, then re-released as part of the Out of the Blue: Live at Wembley DVD and VHS in 1998.
Background
Discovery was the band's first number 1 album in the UK,[10] entering the chart at that position and staying there for five weeks.[10] The album contained five hit songs in "Shine a Little Love", "Don't Bring Me Down", "Last Train to London", "Confusion" and "The Diary of Horace Wimp", many of which were heavily influenced by disco (in fact, Richard Tandy nicknamed the album, Disco Very).[11] "Don't Bring Me Down" would become one of their only two top three hits in the UK throughout their career ("Xanadu" would be number one in 1980), and also their highest-charting US single at number 4. "The Diary of Horace Wimp" was also a hit single in the UK, not patterned after the disco sound; instead it was closer in its Beatlesque style to the band's earlier hit "Mr. Blue Sky". The album itself was the first ever to generate four top-ten singles (one of which was a Double A-side) from a single LP in the UK and was eventually certified 2× platinum by the RIAA in 1997.
Discovery is notable in that it was the first ELO album not to feature their resident string trio of Mik Kaminski, Hugh McDowell and Melvyn Gale, although they did make an appearance on the Discovery music videos.[citation needed]
In one of his earliest jobs, comedian/actor Brad Garrett, dressed in Middle Eastern clothes and turban, appears on the back cover as the menacing palace guard who is drawing his scimitar.[12][13]
Discovery was remastered as part of the Epic/Legacy remaster series in 2001; among the included bonus tracks was a cover of a Del Shannon classic, "Little Town Flirt", which was started during sessions for the album but never finished until the year the album was reissued.
Track listing
All tracks composed by Jeff Lynne, except "Little Town Flirt" written by Maron McKenzie and Del Shannon.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Shine a Little Love" | 4:43 |
2. | "Confusion" | 3:42 |
3. | "Need Her Love" | 5:11 |
4. | "The Diary of Horace Wimp" | 4:17 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
5. | "Last Train to London" | 4:32 |
6. | "Midnight Blue" | 4:19 |
7. | "On the Run" | 3:55 |
8. | "Wishing" | 4:13 |
9. | "Don't Bring Me Down" | 4:02 |
Total length: | 38:53 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
10. | "On the Run" (home demo) | 1:01 |
11. | "Second Time Around" (home demo) | 0:43 |
12. | "Little Town Flirt" | 2:53 |
Notes
- Bonus tracks were previously unreleased. Track 12 was started 1979, finished 2001. Engineered by Mack and Ryan Ulyate.
- Vinyl mastered by Stan "The Man" Ricker.
Personnel
- Jeff Lynne – lead vocals, guitars (electric, acoustic 12-string), vocoder, backing vocals, orchestral & choral arrangements, producer
- Bev Bevan – drums, percussion, backing vocals
- Richard Tandy – acoustic and Wurlitzer electric piano, synthesizer, clavinet, lead guitar (track 6), backing vocals, orchestral & choral arrangements
- Kelly Groucutt – bass guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals
Additional personnel
- Louis Clark - orchestral & choral arrangements, orchestra conductor
- Mack - engineer
Additional music video personnel
- Mik Kaminski – violin
- Hugh McDowell – cello
- Melvyn Gale – cello
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications and sales
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Argentina (CAPIF)[33] | 2× Platinum | 120,000^ |
Australia (ARIA)[34] | 4× Platinum | 200,000^ |
Canada (Music Canada)[35] | 3× Platinum | 300,000^ |
France (SNEP)[36] | Gold | 100,000* |
Germany (BVMI)[37] | Gold | 250,000^ |
Hong Kong (IFPI Hong Kong)[38] | Gold | 10,000* |
Netherlands (NVPI)[39] | Gold | 50,000^ |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[40] | Platinum | 15,000^ |
Sweden | — | 100,000[41] |
United Kingdom (BPI)[42] | Platinum | 300,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[43] | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Bibliography
- The Electric Light Orchestra Story (1980) ISBN 0-907394-00-0
References
- ^ "BPI certifications for ELO".
- ^ "BPI certifications for ELO".
- ^ "BPI certifications for ELO".
- ^ "BPI certifications for ELO".
- ^ Chrispell, James. "Electric Light Orchestra Discovery". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
- ^ Larkin, Colin, ed. (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th edn). London: Omnibus Press. p. 915. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8.
- ^ Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel, eds. (1999). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Farmington Hills, MI: Visible Ink Press. p. 383. ISBN 1-57859-061-2.
- ^ Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian, eds. (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th edn). New York, NY: Fireside/Simon & Schuster. p. 274. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
- ^ Starr, Red (14–27 June 1979). "Albums". Smash Hits. p. 25.
- ^ a b "Electric Light Orchestra". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
- ^ Wild, David. "The Story of a Rock and Roll Band and the Pop Genius Who Dared to Go Baroque." Flashback.
- ^ The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn, February 2000
- ^ The Bob & Tom Show, January 2000
- ^ "Cash Box - International Best Sellers" (PDF). worldradiohistory.com. Cash Box. 15 December 1979. p. 38.
- ^ a b c Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, New South Wales: Australian Chart Book. p. 101. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – Electric Light Orchestra – Discovery" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
- ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 4723a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Electric Light Orchestra – Discovery" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
- ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Electric Light Orchestra – Discovery" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
- ^ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 978-4-87131-077-2.
- ^ "Charts.nz – Electric Light Orchestra – Discovery". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
- ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Electric Light Orchestra – Discovery". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
- ^ Salaverri, Fernando (2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Electric Light Orchestra – Out of the Blue". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
- ^ "Electric Light Orchestra Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
- ^ "Austriancharts.st – Jahreshitparade 1979" (in German). Hung Medien. Archived from the original (ASP) on 11 October 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
- ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 6920". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
- ^ "Top Selling Albums of 1979 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
- ^ a b "Complete UK Year-End Album Charts". Archived from the original on 11 January 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
- ^ "Top Pop Albums of 1979". billboard.biz. 31 December 1979. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
- ^ "Discos de oro y platino" (in Spanish). Cámara Argentina de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
- ^ "International Dateline - Australia" (PDF). Cash Box. 29 December 1979. p. 96. Retrieved 1 December 2021 – via World Radio History.
- ^ "Canadian album certifications – Electric Light Orchestra – Discovery". Music Canada. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
- ^ "French album certifications – Electric Light Orchestra – Discovery" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 24 February 2012. Select ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA and click OK.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Electric Light Orchestra; 'Discovery')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
- ^ "IFPIHK Gold Disc Award − 1980". IFPI Hong Kong. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
- ^ "Dutch album certifications – Electric Light Orchestra – Discovery" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved 24 February 2012. Enter Discovery in the "Artiest of titel" box.
- ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Electric Light Orchestra – Discovery". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
- ^ "CBS's Klintebergoptimistic" (PDF). Music Week: Supplement 8. 19 April 1980. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
- ^ "British album certifications – Electric Light Orchestra – Discovery". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
- ^ "American album certifications – Electric Light Orchestra – Discovery". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
External links
- CS1 Finnish-language sources (fi)
- CS1 Spanish-language sources (es)
- CS1 German-language sources (de)
- CS1 French-language sources (fr)
- CS1 Dutch-language sources (nl)
- EngvarB from January 2014
- Use dmy dates from January 2014
- Articles with short description
- Short description is different from Wikidata
- Articles with hAudio microformats
- Album articles lacking alt text for covers
- All articles with unsourced statements
- Articles with unsourced statements from March 2018
- Album chart usages for Austria
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- Album chart usages for Germany4
- Album chart usages for New Zealand
- Album chart usages for Norway
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- Album chart usages for UK2
- Album chart usages for Billboard200
- Certification Table Entry usages for Argentina
- Pages using certification Table Entry with shipments figures
- Certification Table Entry usages for Australia
- Certification Table Entry usages for Canada
- Certification Table Entry usages for France
- Pages using certification Table Entry with sales figures
- Certification Table Entry usages for Germany
- Certification Table Entry usages for Hong Kong
- Certification Table Entry usages for Netherlands
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- Articles with MusicBrainz release group identifiers
- 1979 albums
- Electric Light Orchestra albums
- Albums produced by Jeff Lynne
- Columbia Records albums
- Epic Records albums
- Jet Records albums
- Disco albums by English artists