Review
When "Discovery" hit the scene on June 1, 1979, it was like ELO just swapped jerseys mid-game, sailing into the disco tide like seasoned pros directed by their playmaker, Jeff Lynne. The team's new game plan was all about weaving groovy disco riffs with their rock rhythms. Imagine tracks like "Shine a Little Love" and "Last Train to London" taking the disco ball to center court, backed by a Bee Gees flair that gets your feet moving. But don't sweat it—while they dribbled with disco, they still held onto those Beatles-esque hooks and sweeping orchestral elements that fans loved since their first studio outing.
In the commercial arena, "Discovery" became ELO's headline-maker, lighting up the scoreboard as their first UK number one album and camping out at the top for a solid five weeks. Back in the States, "Don't Bring Me Down" became their big slam dunk, zooming up to number four on the Billboard charts—driven by its high-energy hooks and sheer vocal power. ELO painted the hits chart with five crowd-pleasers from this lineup, written as home-runs in singles like "The Diary of Horace Wimp" and "Shine a Little Love," showing off their blend of charisma and creativity.
On the practice field at Musicland Studios in Munich, Germany, Jeff Lynne called the shots like a pro coach. It was a leaner roster with Jeff, Kelly Groucutt, Richard Tandy, and Bev Bevan at the forefront, and some seasoned vets like Mik Kaminski and Hugh McDowell sitting out this game. Tracks like "The Diary of Horace Wimp" channel the ELO essence of yore, while "Don't Bring Me Down" stands out as that lead vocalist quarterback winning the match with its irresistible catchiness. This rankings-bending album showed that ELO could tackle any musical shift with style, leaving their own legacy as both trendsetters and classic composers. - Jason
