Defining Albums in Your Life
October 14th 2011 20:29
They crystalize a certain time in your world and can be looked upon with a deal of fondness in later life.
In my world, the Electric Light Orchestra album 'Discovery' is one of those albums.
Released in 1979 in Australia, the Jeff Lynne inspired album was the culmination of years of chart success for the band - which unfortunately became a victim of change as the 80s musical beast made its mark.
Eclectic as only ELO could be, the album featured no less than five number 1 hits including "Don't Bring Me Down", "Shine a Little Love" and "Confusion" providing a solid legacy for the band on the back of the successful 1977 album Out of the Blue and their groundbreaking A New World Record in 1976.
Discovery itself peaked at number 1 in no fewer than four countries including Australia and UK, no.2 in France and New Zealand and as high as no. 5 in the US.
Featuring Lynne on vocals and guitar, Bev Bevan on drums and Richard Tandy on keyboards, the album also employed the services of Kelly Groucutt on bass and vocals, Mik Kaminski on violin along with Hugh McDowell and Melvyn Gale on cello.
Often overlooked when it comes to defining albums of the 70s - Discovery was re-released and re-mastered in 2011 with three additional bonus tracks - which for aficionados was perceived as truly bastardising a classic album in the name of commercialism.
Concensus from fans was that the album didn't contain a single 'dog' of a track and several Double A-side pressings were released as singles.
Containing just nine (yes 9) songs the original piece of vinyl had somewhere around 40 mins of listening pleasure - remarkable even back in the day for its brevity.
Yet with the big orchestral sound conducted by Louis Clark and songs such as "Need Her Love", "The Diary of Horace Whimp" and "Midnight Blue", Discovery won over not only fans but music lovers world-wide.
It was an epic period for Lynne and the band - which faltered badly in coming years with offerings including Time and Secret Messages - which fell well short of the lofty bar they themselves set.
A crumbling line-up, internal rumblings and the on-set of a new era saw the demise of the iconic group - but the legacy of albums such as Discovery live on.
Enjoy.
ELO - Need Her Love by jpdc11
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Comment by Anonymous
The Beatles (white album)
Lark's Tongues in Aspic, In the Court of the Crimson King, Red, King Crimson
Trilogy, Brain Salad Surgery, Emerson, Lake, Palmer
Shaved Fish, Plastic Ono Band
Rite of Spring, Stravinsky
Star Wars original Soundtrack
Tubular Bells, Ommadawn, Mike Oldfield