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    Discovery (Electric Light Orchestra album)

    From Wikipedia - Reading time: 11 min

    Discovery
    Studio album by
    Electric Light Orchestra
    Released1 June 1979[1]
    RecordedMarch–April 1979
    StudioMusicland (Munich, Germany)
    Genre
    • Pop rock
    • progressive pop
    • disco
    Length38:53
    Label
    • Jet
    • Columbia
    ProducerJeff Lynne
    Electric Light Orchestra chronology
    The Light Shines On Vol 2
    (1979)     		Discovery
    (1979)     		ELO's Greatest Hits
    (1979)
    Electric Light Orchestra studio album chronology
    Out of the Blue
    (1977)     		Discovery
    (1979)     		Xanadu
    (1980)
    Singles from Discovery
    1. "Shine a Little Love"
      Released: 11 May 1979 [2]
    2. "The Diary of Horace Wimp"
      Released: 21 July 1979 [3]
    3. "Don't Bring Me Down"
      Released: 24 August 1979 (UK)[4]
    4. "Confusion"
      Released: 8 October 1979 (US)
    5. "Last Train to London"
      Released: 9 November 1979
    Professional ratings
    Review scores
    SourceRating
    AllMusic[5]
    The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[6]
    MusicHound Rock[7]
    The Rolling Stone Album Guide[8]
    Smash Hits8/10[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

    [edit]

    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.

    Critical reception

    [edit]

    Ken Paulson of the Gannett News Service claimed, "Just when ELO seems to have explored every gimmick, Lynne comes up with a slightly different rhythm and irresistible riff. Discovery unveils nine new songs in that tradition...Discovery is commercial creativity at its best."[14]

    Track listing

    [edit]

    All tracks written by Jeff Lynne, except "Little Town Flirt" written by Maron McKenzie and Del Shannon.

    Side one
    No.TitleLength
    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
    Side two
    No.TitleLength
    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
    2001 edition bonus tracks
    No.TitleLength
    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

    [edit]
    • 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 (track 4)
    • Mik Kaminski – violin (uncredited)[15]
    • Hugh McDowell, Melvyn Gale – cello (uncredited)[16]

    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

    [edit]

    Certifications and sales

    [edit]
    Region Certification Certified units/sales
    Argentina (CAPIF)[36] 2× Platinum 120,000^
    Australia (ARIA)[37] 4× Platinum 200,000^
    Canada (Music Canada)[38] 3× Platinum 300,000^
    France (SNEP)[39] Gold 100,000*
    Germany (BVMI)[40] Gold 250,000^
    Hong Kong (IFPI Hong Kong)[41] Gold 10,000*
    Netherlands (NVPI)[42] Gold 50,000^
    New Zealand (RMNZ)[43] Platinum 15,000^
    Sweden — 100,000[44]
    United Kingdom (BPI)[45] Platinum 300,000^
    United States (RIAA)[46] 2× Platinum 2,000,000^

    * Sales figures based on certification alone.
    ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

    Bibliography

    [edit]
    • The Electric Light Orchestra Story (1980) ISBN 0-907394-00-0

    References

    [edit]
    1. ^ "BPI certifications for ELO".
    2. ^ "BPI certifications for ELO".
    3. ^ "Electric Light Orchestra - the Diary of Horace Wimp". Discogs. 21 July 1979.
    4. ^ "BPI certifications for ELO".
    5. ^ Chrispell, James. "Electric Light Orchestra Discovery". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
    6. ^ Larkin, Colin, ed. (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th edn). London: Omnibus Press. p. 915. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8.
    7. ^ 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.
    8. ^ 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.
    9. ^ Starr, Red (14–27 June 1979). "Albums". Smash Hits. p. 25.
    10. ^ a b "Electric Light Orchestra". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
    11. ^ Wild, David. "The Story of a Rock and Roll Band and the Pop Genius Who Dared to Go Baroque." Flashback.
    12. ^ The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn, February 2000
    13. ^ The Bob & Tom Show, January 2000
    14. ^ Paulson, Ken (25 August 1979). "Electric Light has touch of class". Gannett News Service. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
    15. ^ "Melvyn Gale Interview by Martin Kinch".
    16. ^ "Melvyn Gale Interview by Martin Kinch".
    17. ^ "Cash Box - International Best Sellers" (PDF). worldradiohistory.com. Cash Box. 15 December 1979. p. 38.
    18. ^ 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.
    19. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Electric Light Orchestra – Discovery" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
    20. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 4723a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
    21. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Electric Light Orchestra – Discovery" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
    22. ^ 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.
    23. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Electric Light Orchestra – Discovery" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
    24. ^ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 978-4-87131-077-2.
    25. ^ "Charts.nz – Electric Light Orchestra – Discovery". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
    26. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Electric Light Orchestra – Discovery". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
    27. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
    28. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Electric Light Orchestra – Out of the Blue". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
    29. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
    30. ^ "Electric Light Orchestra Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
    31. ^ "Austriancharts.st – Jahreshitparade 1979" (in German). Hung Medien. Archived from the original (ASP) on 11 October 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
    32. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 6920". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
    33. ^ "Top Selling Albums of 1979 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
    34. ^ a b "Complete UK Year-End Album Charts". Archived from the original on 11 January 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
    35. ^ "Top Pop Albums of 1979". billboard.biz. 31 December 1979. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
    36. ^ "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.
    37. ^ "International Dateline - Australia" (PDF). Cash Box. 29 December 1979. p. 96. Retrieved 1 December 2021 – via World Radio History.
    38. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Electric Light Orchestra – Discovery". Music Canada. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
    39. ^ "French album certifications – Electric Light Orchestra – Discovery" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 24 February 2012. Select ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA and click OK. 
    40. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Electric Light Orchestra; 'Discovery')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
    41. ^ "IFPIHK Gold Disc Award − 1980". IFPI Hong Kong. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
    42. ^ "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.
    43. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Electric Light Orchestra – Discovery". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
    44. ^ "CBS's Klintebergoptimistic" (PDF). Music Week: Supplement 8. 19 April 1980. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
    45. ^ "British album certifications – Electric Light Orchestra – Discovery". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
    46. ^ "American album certifications – Electric Light Orchestra – Discovery". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
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