| Discovery | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by Electric Light Orchestra | ||||
| Released | May 1979 (UK) June 1979 (US) 12 June 2001 (reissue) |
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| Recorded | March - April 1979 Musicland Studios, Munich, Germany |
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| Genre | Symphonic rock, pop rock, disco | |||
| Length | 38:53 | |||
| Label | Jet Records & Columbia Records Epic/Legacy (reissue) |
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| Producer | Jeff Lynne; Engineer - Mack | |||
| Electric Light Orchestra chronology | ||||
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| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic | [1] |
Discovery is a 1979 album by Electric Light Orchestra.
Contents |
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).[2] "Don't Bring Me Down" would become one of their only two top three hits in the UK throughout their career (Xanadú will be number One in 1980), 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 (one of which was a Double A-side) 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, leader Jeff Lynne deemed the string section surplus to his requirements and he decided to dismiss them (although 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.[3][4]
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." (This track was started on the Discovery sessions as a tribute to Del Shannon. He was my first musical hero. It was never finished until now ....Jeff Lynne)
All tracks written by Jeff Lynne, except where noted.
Side One
Side Two
Bonus tracks on the 2001 edition
(Orchestra and choral arrangements - Jeff Lynne, Richard Tandy and Louis Clark)
The certifications listed are out of date and incomplete.
| Country | Peak chart position |
Weeks on chart |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 1[5] | 46 |
| Australia | 1 | 46 |
| Norway | 1 | 34 |
| Spain | 1 | 33 |
| France | 2 | 56 |
| New Zealand | 2 | 34 |
| Sweden | 2 | 10 |
| Austria | 3 | 60 |
| Canada | 3 | 33 |
| United States | 5 | 35 |
| Japan | 31 | 40 |
| Preceded by Voulez-Vous by ABBA |
UK Albums Chart number one album 16 June 1979 – 20 July 1979 |
Succeeded by Replicas by Tubeway Army |
| Preceded by Rickie Lee Jones by Rickie Lee Jones |
Australian Kent Music Report number-one album 23 July - 5 August 1979 13 August - 2 September 1979 17–23 September 1979 |
Succeeded by The Very Best of Leo Sayer by Leo Sayer |