Electric Light Orchestra - Discovery

Discovery isn't one of the Electric Light Orchestra's strongest albums, but it is more than redeemed by the inclusion of what is perhaps their greatest single, the massive "Don't Bring Me Down." "Shine a Little Love" and "Confusion" are also classic ELO tracks in which synths, guitars, and orchestration merge into a finely crafted whole. Unfortunately, the Beatles pastiche of "The Diary of Horace Wimp" and the overly sentimental "Last Train to London" show that, for this world-conquering band, time was about to run out. This remastered edition of the 1979 LP includes three extra tracks, including a take on Del Shannon's "Little Town Flirt." --Robert Burrow Amazon.com

Disco? Very. ELO makes Saturday Light Fever

The final ELO album of the seventies found Jeff Lynne and company doing what almost every superstar of the late 70's did...trying like mad to figure out the disco craze. To some extent, "Discovery" rides the coattails of Saturday Night Fever successfully, but it also sounds date-stamped more than any other ELO album. Funny thing was it managed to sell massively and spawned two top ten singles, one of them being the classic rock thumper, "Don't Bring Me Down."

Even with "Discovery" being commercially successful, there is no escaping the fact that the album was loaded with filler. The jettisoned string section removed some of the individuality that made ELO a unique sounding band, replaced by synthesizers and drum machines. It turns songs like "Last Train to London" into songs that scream "1979!" as soon as they reach their chorus. Both "On The Run" and "Midnight Blue" are forgettable.

But the first half of the original album was as good as most Electric Light Orchestra got, with the fabulous "Shine A Little Love" an insta-catchy pop song that few could match. As much as some reviewers slag "The Diary of Horace Wimp," it is the one moment where Lynne's attempt to channel the Bee Gees worked for me. As the final song on the album, "Don't Bring Me Down" is still solid, an all mammoth hook that remains inescapable. Your need to own this will depend on how much nostalgia you have for this particular CD, but it is far from classic like Face the Music or Out of the Blue are.

Quibbles. Two of the bonus tracks are useless. Less than a minute apiece for two demos? Why not a 12-inch mix or a live track or two? The cover art is less than exquisitely reproduced. The "Ali Baba" inspired cover was rumored to be the most expensive album art ever created at the time...so why the less than perfect reproduction? Also, unlike most of the other ELO reissues, "Discovery" lacks historical liner notes or comments from Jeff Lynne. February 24, 2008

Looks Like the Orchestra Used a 60 Watt Bulb This Time Instead of a 100!

Not that it's anywhere near as good as its predecessor, "Out of the Blue",or than the oft-forgotten gem, "Time", but let's make some allowences...
This album, "Discovery", was the Electric Light Orchestra's eighth, released in 1979. At the time, many longtime fans scorned the work, nicknaming it, "Disco-Very"; honestly I think that's a bit harsh:"Shine A Little Love", for example, may have some unwanted "disco" elements in the area of rhythm- but I can't picture people willingly moshing to it on a sweaty disco floor!
Track for track, there are many tunes here within the range of decent to BRILLIANT...
Shine a Little Love, and Last Train to London, have the most "disco-very" sound; nonetheless, as songs these are catchy tracks: the former really gets you going (and the strings just MAKE the song ELO-tastic!)--even if the chorus has just a bit too much of that disco-esque prominent bass-- while the latter reminds one of stuff like, "Across the Border", or 'Night in the City' on Out of the Blue, though not quite so "strong" or memorable perhaps.
The ballads-Need her Love, Midnight Blue, Wishing- are GORGEOUS pieces; Need Her Love in particular wowed me the first time through. But all of these are great.
"Confusion", is also a nice one, it grew on me the second time through big time. "On the Run" lives up to the band's reputation for catchiness brilliantly. "The Diary of Horace Wimp", is another hot spot for criticism, and I didn't like it either... the first time I played it, having only heard excerpts before. On listen number two, it really grew on me (as, I think, did, 'Last Train...'; both are just great pop numbers). Horace Wimp does get you involved, is oddly fun, and charming; McCartney-esque, if you will. At the same time, it is far from being among ELO's strongest. "Livin' Thing", "Do Ya", "Evil Woman", "Fire on High", and "I Can't Get it Out of my Head" still reign supreme. Ultimately- 'Horace Wimp' is a so-so but engaging number.
Of course, "Don't Bring Me Down", was a mega-hit. I like it more as I continue to listen to it, but in honesty I think other tracks outshine it in certain ways; how were "Need her Love" and "On the Run", not hits?
All in all, I DO think I'll be coming back to this nice little album; the more I hear, the more I like: it just takes a little getting used to-- Not great (3/5), but I think people have been too harsh on it nonetheless: each track really is fun and catchy in the grand tradition of ELO, or if it's not, it's one of Lynne's masterful ballads (Midnight Blue, Wishing, Need Her Love). MINOR disco touches and all, I can't help but love these great pop songs and ballads by masestro Lynne! 3/5
(Please note that, like another reviewer, I intended to affix a rating of three (3) stars to this review; unfortunately, my attempts to integrate this edit have thus far been unsuccessful.) January 18, 2008

Shining bright, happy symphonic seventies pop

I agree it's not the best ELO albums, but I would rate it among the best four. The dynimism of 'Shine a Little Love' and 'On the Run', the catchiness of 'Confusion' and 'Don't Bring me Down', great orchestations of 'Last Train to London' and 'Wishin'' and the romantic sweetness of 'Need her Love' and 'Midnight Blue' form the happiest and brightest of the superband's works. It's a time of change in the music world, and the flavour of this album makes it the most related to its time of the band's ones, probably along with the weaker 'Balance of Power'. The declive that would come afterwards would only be in commercial terms, as 'Time' and 'Secret Messages' would be at least as great artistically as this one. A great album for refreshing and enjoying with quality and dynamic genuine music. The band Jamiroquai owes its existance basically to this album. January 17, 2008

One of the Best!!

Out of all the ELO Records I have purchased since the 70's, this one is my 2nd Best!! This one is right in line with "Out of the blue", double album set.I have just bought this one along with the 30th anniversary CD, "out of the blue" which were Both Remastered.These two CD's bring back So many Good memories to me from the past, Good Time days, when Life seemed Better all around.I also purchased the ELO Music Video, Live at Wembley, which you also get a Bonus of the Discovery song Videos!! This Music video is Awesome as well!!Out of all the Music CD's I listen to these days with my Huge collection of various bands, ELO is my #1 choice,again, Especially "Discovery" and "Out of the blue", are my Favorites of all time!!! December 11, 2007

ELO Meets The Bee Gees

Seriously: This is Jeff Lynne apeing the brothers Gibb. I remember the faint strains of Saturday Night Fever echoing in the caverns of my mind! 'Billy was a mountain/Ethel was a tree hanging over his shoulder'(1971 FZ) 9-29. Today is 9-29 "Last Train To London." Ah...technology. ELO was always....Er..Jeff Lynne seems to be always ahead of the curve. I submit in some cases. The ELO remasters are - fantastic!

This archaic dinosaur is highly interesting, nevertheless. I always thought ELO was strictly a singles band; Avoided them from the early-mid-Seventies like The Black Death. Was impressed with ELO II when it came out. Bought it. It sat unplayed. So did DP's Machine Head. So what? As did Boulders, as did Message From The Country. So what?

I patently agree ELO = Jeff Lynne. I qualify that statement by saying from On The Third Day it is. The Magnificent Roy Wood left early. So what?
This is in sum a better album than its overtly commercial single: "Dont' Bring Me Down" indicates; Yet following the mamouth Out Of The Blue; what was one to do? I still think The Gibb Brothers were uncredited. RIP Maurice.

I still think that the liner notes of the recently released ELO remasters
portray Jeff Lynne as a benevolent dictator. He probably wasn't. Was he?
Topping OOTB was tough. In that sense it is a let down.

Still Discovery is different enough to reward.

Still; Despite the Beatle-esqe/Bee Gees 70's overt influences. The Beatles never would've evolved into this Zappa-esque/comic/1970's disco Bee Gees sound. The Move? Yes, probably.







September 29, 2007

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