Discovery (Electric Light Orchestra album)

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Discovery
Discovery cover
Studio album by Electric Light Orchestra
Released June 1979
June 12, 2001 (reissue)
Recorded Fall 1978 Musicland Studios - Munich Germany
Genre Pop Rock, Disco
Length 38:53
Label Jet Records Jet Records & Columbia Records
Epic/Legacy (reissue)
Producer Jeff Lynne
Professional reviews
Electric Light Orchestra chronology
Out of the Blue
(1977)		 Discovery
(1979)		 Xanadu
(1980)

Discovery is a 1979 album by Electric Light Orchestra.

Contents

[edit] History

Discovery was the band's first No. 1 album in the UK, entering the chart at that position and staying there for five weeks. The LP 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 came up with its well known nickname, Disco Very).[1] "Don't Bring Me Down" would become their only top three hit in the UK throughout their career, and also their highest-charting US single at #4. "The Diary of Horace Wimp" was also a hit single in the UK, although it was not patterned after the disco sound; instead it was closer in style to the band's earlier hit "Mr. Blue Sky." The album itself was the first ever to generate four top-ten singles from a single LP in the UK and was eventually certified 2x 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 that were created as a substitute for a live concert tour. Shortly afterwards, the members of the string section were deemed surplus to the band's requirements and dismissed (although Mik Kaminski did return for the Time Tour in 1981-82, and as a performer on the 1983 album Secret Messages.

In one of his earliest jobs, comedian/actor Brad Garrett models on the back cover dressed in middle eastern clothes, turban and holding a big sword.[2][3]

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."

[edit] Track listing

All tracks written by Jeff Lynne, except where noted.

[edit] Side one

  1. "Shine a Little Love" – 4:43
  2. "Confusion" – 3:42
  3. "I Need Her Love" – 5:11
  4. "The Diary of Horace Wimp" – 4:17

[edit] Side two

  1. "Last Train to London" – 4:32
  2. "Midnight Blue" – 4:19
  3. "On the Run" – 3:55
  4. "Wishing" – 4:13
  5. "Don't Bring Me Down" – 4:02

Bonus tracks on the 2001 edition

  1. "On the Run" (Home Demo) – 1:01
  2. "Second Time Around" (Home Demo) – 0:43
  3. "Little Town Flirt" (Maron McKenzie, Del Shannon) – 2:53

[edit] Personnel

[edit] Promotional movie line-up

[edit] Chart Positions, Chart Runs

[edit] Certifications

The certifications listed are out of date and incomplete.

  • United Kingdom - Double Platinum (June, 1979)
  • United States RIAA: Gold (06/11/1979)
  • United States RIAA: Platinum (06/19/1979)
  • United States RIAA: 2x Platinum (01/10/1997)
  • Australia - Triple Platinum (June, 1979)
  • New Zealand - Platinum (June, 1979)
  • Norway - Double Platinum (June, 1979)
  • Holland - Gold (June, 1979)
  • Germany - Gold (June, 1979)
  • Belgium - Gold (June, 1979)
  • Canada - Triple Platinum (June, 1979)
  • Denmark - Silver (June, 1979)
  • Sweden - Silver (June, 1979)
  • Finland - Gold (June, 1979)
  • Iceland - Gold (June, 1979)
  • South Africa - Gold (June, 1979)
  • Switzerland - Gold (June, 1979)
  • Italy - Gold (June, 1979)
  • Spain - Gold (June, 1979)

[edit] References

  1. ^ Wild, David. "The Story of a Rock and Roll Band and the Pop Genius Who Dared to Go Baroque." Flashback.
  2. ^ The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn, February, 2000
  3. ^ The Bob & Tom Show, January, 2000


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