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, 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.
In one of his earliest jobs, comedian/actor Brad Garrett, dressed in Middle Eastern clothes and turban, appears on the back cover as the 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."
Track listing All tracks written by Jeff Lynne, except "Little Town Flirt" written by Maron McKenzie and Del Shannon.
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) Hugh McDowell, Melvyn Gale – cello (uncredited)
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 Chart (1979–1980) PeakpositionArgentinian Albums Chart1Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)1 Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts) 2Japanese Albums (Oricon)31 Spanish Albums (AFYVE) 1
Year-end charts Chart (1979) PeakpositionAustralian Albums (Kent Music Report)2Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)6New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)7UK Albums (OCC)2US Billboard Year-End74
Chart (1980) PeakpositionAustralian Albums (Kent Music Report)48UK Albums (OCC)89
Certifications and sales
Bibliography The Electric Light Orchestra Story (1980)
References
External links Jeff Lynne Song Database