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Discovery (Electric Light Orchestra album)#Track listing

{{EngvarB|date=January 2014}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}

{{Infobox album

| name = Discovery

| type = studio

| artist = Electric Light Orchestra

| cover = ELODiscoveryalbumcover.jpg

| alt =

| released = 1 June 1979{{cite web|url=https://www.bpi.co.uk/brit-certified/|title=BPI certifications for ELO}}

| recorded = March–April 1979

| venue =

| studio = Musicland (Munich, Germany)

| genre = {{hlist|Pop rock|progressive pop|disco}}

| length = 38:53

| label = {{hlist|Jet|Columbia}}

| producer = Jeff Lynne

| prev_title = The Light Shines On Vol 2

| prev_year = 1979

| next_title = ELO's Greatest Hits

| next_year = 1979

| misc = {{Extra chronology

| artist = Electric Light Orchestra studio album

| type = studio

| prev_title = Out of the Blue

| prev_year = 1977

| title = Discovery

| year = 1979

| next_title = Xanadu

| next_year = 1980

}}

{{Singles

| name = Discovery

| type = studio

| single1 = Shine a Little Love

| single1date = 11 May 1979 {{cite web|url=https://www.bpi.co.uk/brit-certified/|title=BPI certifications for ELO}}

| single2 = The Diary of Horace Wimp

| single2date = 21 July 1979 {{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/4212371-Electric-Light-Orchestra-The-Diary-Of-Horace-Wimp |title=Electric Light Orchestra - the Diary of Horace Wimp |website=Discogs |date=21 July 1979 }}

| single3 = Don't Bring Me Down

| single3date = 24 August 1979 (UK){{cite web|url=https://www.bpi.co.uk/brit-certified/|title=BPI certifications for ELO}}

| single4 = Confusion

| single4date = 8 October 1979 (US)

| single5 = Last Train to London

| single5date = 9 November 1979

}}

}}

{{Album ratings

|rev1 = AllMusic

|rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web|first=James|last= Chrispell|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/discovery-mw0000174496|title=Electric Light Orchestra Discovery|website=AllMusic|access-date=12 October 2017}}

|rev3 = The Encyclopedia of Popular Music

|rev3Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite book|editor-first=Colin|editor-last=Larkin|year=2011|title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th edn)|location=London|publisher=Omnibus Press|isbn=978-0-85712-595-8|page=915}}

|rev6 = MusicHound Rock

|rev6score = {{rating|2.5|5}}{{cite book|editor-last1=Graff|editor-first1=Gary|editor-last2=Durchholz|editor-first2=Daniel|title=MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide|publisher=Visible Ink Press|location=Farmington Hills, MI|year=1999|isbn=1-57859-061-2|page=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781578590612/page/383 383]|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781578590612/page/383}}

|rev8 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide

|rev8score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}{{cite book|editor-last1=Brackett|editor-first1=Nathan|editor-last2=Hoard|editor-first2=Christian|year=2004|title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th edn)|location=New York, NY|publisher=Fireside/Simon & Schuster|isbn=0-7432-0169-8|page=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/274 274]|url=https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/274}}

|rev9 = Smash Hits

|rev9score = 8/10{{cite magazine|last=Starr|first=Red|title=Albums|magazine=Smash Hits|date=14–27 June 1979|page=25}}

}}

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,{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/electric%20light%20orchestra/ | title= Electric Light Orchestra| publisher=Official Charts Company | access-date=12 March 2013}} entering the chart at that position and staying there for five weeks. 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).Wild, David. "The Story of a Rock and Roll Band and the Pop Genius Who Dared to Go Baroque." Flashback. "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|date=March 2018}}

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.The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn, February 2000The Bob & Tom Show, January 2000

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."{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-californian/59455327/|title=Electric Light has touch of class|author=Paulson, Ken|date=August 25, 1979|publisher=Gannett News Service|access-date=April 29, 2025}}

Track listing

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

{{Tracklist

| headline = Side one

| title1 = Shine a Little Love

| length1 = 4:43

| title2 = Confusion

| length2 = 3:42

| title3 = Need Her Love

| length3 = 5:11

| title4 = The Diary of Horace Wimp

| length4 = 4:17

}}

{{Tracklist

| headline = Side two

| title5 = Last Train to London

| length5 = 4:32

| title6 = Midnight Blue

| length6 = 4:19

| title7 = On the Run

| length7 = 3:55

| title8 = Wishing

| length8 = 4:13

| title9 = Don't Bring Me Down

| length9 = 4:02

| total_length = 38:53

}}

{{Tracklist

| headline = 2001 edition bonus tracks

| title10 = On the Run

| note10 = home demo

| length10 = 1:01

| title11 = Second Time Around

| note11 = home demo

| length11 = 0:43

| title12 = Little Town Flirt

| length12 = 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 (track 4)
  • Mik Kaminski – violin (uncredited){{cite web | url=https://cherryblossomclinic.x10.mx/mel.html | title=Melvyn Gale Interview by Martin Kinch }}
  • Hugh McDowell, Melvyn Gale – cello (uncredited){{cite web | url=https://cherryblossomclinic.x10.mx/mel.html | title=Melvyn Gale Interview by Martin Kinch }}

Additional personnel

  • Louis Clark - orchestral & choral arrangements, orchestra conductor
  • Mack - engineer

Additional music video personnel

Charts

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope=col | Chart (1979–1980)

!scope=col | Peak
position

scope=row|Argentinian Albums Chart{{Cite web|title=Cash Box - International Best Sellers|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1979/CB-1979-12-15.pdf|website=worldradiohistory.com|publisher=Cash Box. 15 December 1979. p. 38.}}

|align="center"|1

scope=row |Australian Albums (Kent Music Report){{cite book |title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 |last=Kent |first=David |author-link=David Kent (historian) |publisher=Australian Chart Book |location=St Ives, New South Wales |page=101 |year=1993 |isbn=0-646-11917-6}}

|align="center" |1

{{album chart|Austria|3|artist=Electric Light Orchestra|album=Discovery|rowheader=true|access-date=February 28, 2024}}
{{album chart|Canada|3|artist=Electric Light Orchestra|album=Discovery|rowheader=true|chartid=4723a|refname=CAN1|access-date=February 28, 2024}}
{{album chart|Netherlands|6|artist=Electric Light Orchestra|album=Discovery|rowheader=true|access-date=February 28, 2024}}
scope="row"| Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts){{cite book|last=Pennanen|first=Timo|title=Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972|edition=1st|publisher=Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava|location=Helsinki|year=2006|isbn=978-951-1-21053-5| language= fi}}

| align="center"| 2

{{album chart|Germany4|7|artist=Electric Light Orchestra|album=Discovery|id=5925|rowheader=true|access-date=February 28, 2024}}
scope=row |Japanese Albums (Oricon){{cite book|title=Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005|publisher=Oricon Entertainment|location=Roppongi, Tokyo|year=2006|isbn=978-4-87131-077-2}}

|align="center" |31

{{album chart|New Zealand|2|artist=Electric Light Orchestra|album=Discovery|rowheader=true|access-date=February 28, 2024}}
{{album chart|Norway|1|artist=Electric Light Orchestra|album=Discovery|rowheader=true|access-date=February 28, 2024}}
scope="row"| Spanish Albums (AFYVE){{cite book|last=Salaverri|first=Fernando|title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002|edition=1st|publisher=Fundación Autor-SGAE|location=Spain|year=2005|isbn=84-8048-639-2 | language=es}}

| align="center"| 1

{{album chart|Sweden|2|artist=Electric Light Orchestra|album=Out of the Blue|rowheader=true|access-date=February 28, 2024}}
{{album chart|UK2|1|date=19790610|rowheader=true|refname=UKa|access-date=February 28, 2024}}
{{album chart|Billboard200|5|artist=Electric Light Orchestra|rowheader=true|access-date=February 28, 2024}}

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope=col | Chart (1979)

!scope=col | Peak
position

scope=row |Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)

|2

scope=row |Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria){{cite web

|url=http://austriancharts.at/1979_album.asp

|title=Austriancharts.st – Jahreshitparade 1979

|publisher=Hung Medien

|language=de

|format=ASP

|access-date=1 August 2010

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011232120/http://austriancharts.at/1979_album.asp

|archive-date=11 October 2011

|df=dmy

}}

|6

{{album chart|Canada|5|artist=Electric Light Orchestra|album=Discovery|rowheader=true|chartid=6920|refname=CAN2|access-date=February 28, 2024}}
scope=row |New Zealand Albums (RMNZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-albums/1979-12-31|title=Top Selling Albums of 1979 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart|publisher=Recorded Music New Zealand|access-date=28 January 2022}}

|7

scope=row |UK Albums (OCC){{cite web

|url=http://chartheaven.9.forumer.com/a/complete-uk-yearend-album-charts_post21.html

|title=Complete UK Year-End Album Charts

|access-date=12 September 2011

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111074744/http://chartheaven.9.forumer.com/a/complete-uk-yearend-album-charts_post21.html

|archive-date=11 January 2012

|df=dmy

}}

|2

scope=row |US Billboard Year-End{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/archivesearch/article_display/855444?imw=Y|title=Top Pop Albums of 1979|publisher=billboard.biz|date=31 December 1979|access-date=24 February 2012}}

|74

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope=col | Chart (1980)

!scope=col | Peak
position

scope=row |Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)

|48

scope=row |UK Albums (OCC)

|89

{{col-end}}

Certifications and sales

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Argentina|type=album|title=Discovery|artist=Electric Lights Orcheestra|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=1979|certyear=1993|certref={{cite web|url=http://www.capif.org.ar/Default.asp?PerDesde_MM=0&PerDesde_AA=0&PerHasta_MM=0&PerHasta_AA=0&interprete=&album=&LanDesde_MM=1&LanDesde_AA=1980&LanHasta_MM=12&LanHasta_AA=2010&Galardon=O&Tipo=1&ACCION2=+Buscar+&ACCION=Buscar&CO=5&CODOP=ESOP |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110706084844/http://www.capif.org.ar/Default.asp?PerDesde_MM=0&PerDesde_AA=0&PerHasta_MM=0&PerHasta_AA=0&interprete=&album=&LanDesde_MM=1&LanDesde_AA=1980&LanHasta_MM=12&LanHasta_AA=2010&Galardon=O&Tipo=1&ACCION2=+Buscar+&ACCION=Buscar&CO=5&CODOP=ESOP |archive-date= 6 July 2011 |title=Discos de oro y platino |access-date=23 December 2021|publisher=Cámara Argentina de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas |language=es |url-status=dead }}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Discovery|artist=Electric Light Orchestra|type=album|relyear=1979|region=Australia|award=Platinum|number=4|certyear=1979|certref={{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1979/CB-1979-12-29.pdf|title=International Dateline - Australia|magazine=Cash Box|via=World Radio History|page=96|date=29 December 1979|access-date= 1 December 2021}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Discovery|artist=Electric Light Orchestra|type=album|relyear=1979|region=Canada|award=Platinum|number=3|access-date=24 February 2012}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Discovery|artist=Electric Light Orchestra|type=album|relyear=1979|region=France|award=Gold|access-date=24 February 2012|source=infodisc|certyear=1980}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Discovery|artist=Electric Light Orchestra|type=album|relyear=1979|region=Germany|award=Gold|access-date=24 February 2012}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Discovery|artist=Electric Light Orchestra|type=album|relyear=1979|region=Hong Kong|award=Gold|certyear=1980|access-date=23 December 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Discovery|artist=Electric Light Orchestra|type=album|relyear=1979|region=Netherlands|award=Gold|access-date=24 February 2012}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Discovery|artist=Electric Light Orchestra|type=album|relyear=1979|id=1980-02-22|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|region=New Zealand|award=Platinum}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|artist=Supertramp|nocert=true|salesamount=100,000|title=Breakfast in America|salesref={{cite journal|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1980/Music-Weel-1980-04-19.pdf|journal=Music Week|title=CBS's Klintebergoptimistic|page=Supplement 8|date=19 April 1980|accessdate=23 December 2021}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Discovery|artist=Electric Light Orchestra|type=album|relyear=1979|region=United Kingdom|award=Platinum|id=1832-1604-2|access-date=24 February 2012}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Discovery|artist=Electric Light Orchestra|type=album|relyear=1979|region=United States|award=Platinum|number=2|access-date=24 February 2012}}

{{Certification Table Bottom}}

Bibliography

  • The Electric Light Orchestra Story (1980) {{ISBN|0-907394-00-0}}

References

{{reflist|30em}}

External links

  • [http://www.jefflynnesongs.com/ Jeff Lynne Song Database]

{{Electric Light Orchestra}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1979 albums

Category:Electric Light Orchestra albums

Category:Albums produced by Jeff Lynne

Category:Columbia Records albums

Category:Epic Records albums

Category:Jet Records albums

Category:Disco albums by English artists