Artist: ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA
Album: DISCOVERY REMASTERED (CD)

Year: 1979/ 2001
EAN/UPS: 5099750190524
Media type: CD

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). "Don't Bring Me Down" would become one of their only two top three hits in the UK throughout their career (Xanadu 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 superfluous 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.

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

TRACKLIST:

1."Shine a Little Love" – 4:43
2."Confusion" – 3:42
3."Need Her Love" – 5:11
4."The Diary of Horace Wimp" – 4:17
5."Last Train to London" – 4:32
6."Midnight Blue" – 4:19
7."On the Run" – 3:55
8."Wishing" – 4:13
9."Don't Bring Me Down" – 4:02

Bonus tracks on the 2001 edition:
10."On the Run" (Home Demo) – 1:01
11."Second Time Around" (Home Demo) – 0:43
12."Little Town Flirt" – 2:53

LINE-UP:

Jeff Lynne - vocals, guitar, piano, synthesizer, producer
Bev Bevan - drums, percussion
Richard Tandy - piano, synthesizer, electric piano, clavinet
Kelly Groucutt - bass guitar, vocals

Orchestra conducted by Louis Clark