Discovery (Electric Light Orchestra album)
1979 studio album by Electric Light Orchestra
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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.
| 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 | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [3] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [4] |
| MusicHound Rock |  [5] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [6] |
| Smash Hits | 8/10[7] |
Background
Discovery was the band's first number 1 album in the UK,[8] entering the chart at that position and staying there for five weeks.[8] 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).[9] "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.[10][11]
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
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."[12]
Track listing
All tracks written 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 and backing vocals, lead and rhythm guitar, piano, synthesizer, orchestral & choral arrangements, producer
- Bev Bevan – drums, percussion
- Richard Tandy – grand piano, electric piano, synthesizers, clavinet, orchestral & choral arrangements
- Kelly Groucutt – bass guitar, vocals, backing vocals
- Mik Kaminski – violin (uncredited)[13]
- Hugh McDowell, Melvyn Gale – cello (uncredited)[13]
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