Balance of Power (Electric Light Orchestra album)
Encyclopedia
Balance of Power is an album by the Electric Light Orchestra
(ELO) released in 1986.
was released in 2001). By this time Kelly Groucutt
had departed and the group was pared down to a trio, with Jeff Lynne
handling bass (in addition to his usual guitar work) and more dabbling with electronic percussion and synthesisers. ELO played some live concerts in the UK and Europe (their last for fifteen years), and in one UK show George Harrison
performed as guest guitarist.
The video for the single "Calling America
" was shot in Paris
, and contains shots of the band playing in front of Centre Georges Pompidou
. A video was also made for the single "So Serious." The track "Endless Lies" was intended as an homage to Roy Orbison
, and was originally recorded for the pared-down double LP Secret Messages
; it reappeared on this album in a slightly reworked and more compact form. A number of "ELO firsts" can be attributed to this album: it was the first ELO album not to feature any strings whatsoever; the first to feature a saxophone
solo; and the band's first compact disc
issued. The album, in its original form has also the shortest running time in the ELO catalogue.
The singles' B-sides "Caught in a Trap", "A Matter Of Fact" (alternative lyrics), and "ELO Megamix" are among the band's more collectible single tracks; "Destination Unknown" and the standard version of "A Matter Of Fact" were released on the 1990 compilation Afterglow
. The remastered version of the album was released on 26 February (UK) and 20 March (US) 2007 as part of the Sony/BMG Music Epic/Legacy series. It includes an extra 21 minutes of music, considerably lengthening what had been the shortest ELO album.
Very first vinyl pressings and tape recordings were labeled with the familiar JET Records label in Europe, some CBS advertisements announced even the CD release on the JET Records label, but until today there is no original CD item known to be existing with the JET Records label.
Europe's CD releases were on CDEPC26467 (Epic) in March 1986. The US and Japan releases were on CBS Associated.
Additional personnel
Electric Light Orchestra
Electric Light Orchestra were a British rock group from Birmingham who released eleven studio albums between 1971 and 1986 and another album in 2001. ELO were formed to accommodate Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne's desire to create modern rock and pop songs with classical overtones...
(ELO) released in 1986.
Overview
Balance of Power was the last studio album by the Electric Light Orchestra for a period of over 15 years (until ZoomZoom (album)
Zoom is the twelfth and final studio album by Electric Light Orchestra, released on June 12, 2001 on Epic Records. The album was the band's first release of new material since Balance of Power, released in 1986. Upon release, the album charted at #34 in the UK Albums Chart and at #94 in the US...
was released in 2001). By this time Kelly Groucutt
Kelly Groucutt
Kelly Groucutt , born Michael William Groucutt, was an English musician who was best known for being the bass player for the band Electric Light Orchestra , between 1974 and 1983. He was born in Coseley, West Midlands.-Early career:Groucutt began his musical career at 15 as Rikki Storm of Rikki...
had departed and the group was pared down to a trio, with Jeff Lynne
Jeff Lynne
Jeffrey "Jeff" Lynne is an English songwriter, composer, arranger, singer, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer who gained fame as the leader and sole constant member of Electric Light Orchestra and was a co-founder and member of The Traveling Wilburys together with George Harrison, Bob...
handling bass (in addition to his usual guitar work) and more dabbling with electronic percussion and synthesisers. ELO played some live concerts in the UK and Europe (their last for fifteen years), and in one UK show George Harrison
George Harrison
George Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
performed as guest guitarist.
The video for the single "Calling America
Calling America
"Calling America" is a song by the rock music group Electric Light Orchestra released as a single from their 1986 album Balance of Power. It became the band's first hit in three years. The song is, like most of the songs on Balance of Power, musically upbeat and bright but lyrically darker,...
" was shot in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, and contains shots of the band playing in front of Centre Georges Pompidou
Centre Georges Pompidou
Centre Georges Pompidou is a complex in the Beaubourg area of the 4th arrondissement of Paris, near Les Halles, rue Montorgueil and the Marais...
. A video was also made for the single "So Serious." The track "Endless Lies" was intended as an homage to Roy Orbison
Roy Orbison
Roy Kelton Orbison was an American singer-songwriter, well known for his distinctive, powerful voice, complex compositions, and dark emotional ballads. Orbison grew up in Texas and began singing in a rockabilly/country & western band in high school until he was signed by Sun Records in Memphis...
, and was originally recorded for the pared-down double LP Secret Messages
Secret Messages
Secret Messages is an album by Electric Light Orchestra, released in 1983 through Jet Records. It would be the last ELO album to feature bassist Kelly Groucutt, conductor Louis Clark and real stringed instruments...
; it reappeared on this album in a slightly reworked and more compact form. A number of "ELO firsts" can be attributed to this album: it was the first ELO album not to feature any strings whatsoever; the first to feature a saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
solo; and the band's first compact disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
issued. The album, in its original form has also the shortest running time in the ELO catalogue.
The singles' B-sides "Caught in a Trap", "A Matter Of Fact" (alternative lyrics), and "ELO Megamix" are among the band's more collectible single tracks; "Destination Unknown" and the standard version of "A Matter Of Fact" were released on the 1990 compilation Afterglow
Afterglow (Electric Light Orchestra box set)
Afterglow was a box set compilation by Electric Light Orchestra released in 1990 with liner notes by music critic and editor Ira Robbins of Trouser Press fame...
. The remastered version of the album was released on 26 February (UK) and 20 March (US) 2007 as part of the Sony/BMG Music Epic/Legacy series. It includes an extra 21 minutes of music, considerably lengthening what had been the shortest ELO album.
Very first vinyl pressings and tape recordings were labeled with the familiar JET Records label in Europe, some CBS advertisements announced even the CD release on the JET Records label, but until today there is no original CD item known to be existing with the JET Records label.
Europe's CD releases were on CDEPC26467 (Epic) in March 1986. The US and Japan releases were on CBS Associated.
Singles
- "Calling AmericaCalling America"Calling America" is a song by the rock music group Electric Light Orchestra released as a single from their 1986 album Balance of Power. It became the band's first hit in three years. The song is, like most of the songs on Balance of Power, musically upbeat and bright but lyrically darker,...
"/"Caught in a Trap"/"Destination Unknown" - released in January 1986 in the UK and reached #28
- charted 1 February 1986 for 15 weeks in the US and reached #18
- charted 17 March 1986 for 11 weeks in Australia and reached #47
- "So Serious"/"A Matter Of Fact"/"A Matter Of Fact" (alternate lyrics)
- "Getting to the PointGetting to the Point"Getting to the Point" is a song by the rock music group Electric Light Orchestra from their 1986 album Balance of Power. Released in the UK as the last single from the album in July 1986...
"/"ELO Megamix" ("Don't Bring Me Down"/"Sweet Talkin' WomanSweet Talkin' Woman"Sweet Talkin' Woman" is a 1978 single by The Electric Light Orchestra from the LP Out of the Blue. Its original title was "Dead End Street", but it was changed during recording, perhaps to avoid confusion with a 1966 hit of the same title by the Kinks...
"/"Livin' ThingLivin' Thing"Livin' Thing" is a song written by Jeff Lynne and performed by Electric Light Orchestra. It appears on ELO's 1976 platinum-selling album, A New World Record...
"/"Calling America"/"So Serious"/"Shine a Little LoveShine A Little Love"Shine a Little Love" is a song by the Electric Light Orchestra. It was released as a single in the US in May 1979 and in the UK in June of the same year.-Summary:...
"/"Twilight"/"Turn to StoneTurn to Stone"Turn to Stone" is a 1977 song by Electric Light Orchestra.The song is the opening track to the double album Out of the Blue. It was the first song released as a single from the LP. The single reached #18 in the U.K. charts and stayed there for 12 weeks. Out of four singles from the album, "Turn to...
"/"Hold on Tight")/"Secret Lives"
Side one
- "Heaven Only Knows" – 2:52
- "So SeriousSo Serious (song)"So Serious" is a song by the rock music group Electric Light Orchestra from their 1986 album Balance of Power.Released in the UK as the second single from the album in 1986...
" – 2:38 - "Getting to the PointGetting to the Point"Getting to the Point" is a song by the rock music group Electric Light Orchestra from their 1986 album Balance of Power. Released in the UK as the last single from the album in July 1986...
" – 4:28 - "Secret Lives" – 3:26
- "Is It Alright" – 3:25
Side two
- "Sorrow About to Fall" – 3:59
- "Without Someone" – 3:48
- "Calling AmericaCalling America"Calling America" is a song by the rock music group Electric Light Orchestra released as a single from their 1986 album Balance of Power. It became the band's first hit in three years. The song is, like most of the songs on Balance of Power, musically upbeat and bright but lyrically darker,...
" – 3:26 - "Endless Lies" – 2:55
- "Send It" – 3:04
2007 bonus tracks
- "Opening" - 0:24
- "Heaven Only Knows" (Alternate version) – 2:32
- "In for the Kill" – 3:13
- "Secret Lives" (Alternate take) – 3:24
- "Sorrow About to Fall" (Alternate mix) – 3:48
- "Caught in a Trap" (UK B-side) – 3:44
- "Destination Unknown" (UK B-side) – 4:10
Personnel
- Jeff LynneJeff LynneJeffrey "Jeff" Lynne is an English songwriter, composer, arranger, singer, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer who gained fame as the leader and sole constant member of Electric Light Orchestra and was a co-founder and member of The Traveling Wilburys together with George Harrison, Bob...
– vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, synclavier II computer synthesizer, bass guitar, keyboards, percussion, producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music... - Bev BevanBev BevanBev Bevan is an English rock musician, who was the drummer and one of the original members of The Move and Electric Light Orchestra...
– drums, percussion - Richard TandyRichard TandyRichard Tandy , is best known as the keyboard player in the rock band, Electric Light Orchestra...
– keyboards, sequence programming
Additional personnel
- Christian Schneider – saxophone
- Bill BottrellBill BottrellBill Bottrell is an American record producer, songwriter and musician, probably best known for his Grammy Award-winning collaborations with Michael Jackson, E.L.O. and Sheryl Crow.- Biography :...
– engineerAudio engineeringAn audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including... - MackReinhold MackReinhold Mack is a German record producer and sound engineer, mostly known for his collaborations with rock bands Electric Light Orchestra and Queen. Most of this work took place at Giorgio Moroder's Musicland Studios in Munich...
– engineer
Tour line-up
- Jeff LynneJeff LynneJeffrey "Jeff" Lynne is an English songwriter, composer, arranger, singer, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer who gained fame as the leader and sole constant member of Electric Light Orchestra and was a co-founder and member of The Traveling Wilburys together with George Harrison, Bob...
– lead vocals, electric guitar - Bev BevanBev BevanBev Bevan is an English rock musician, who was the drummer and one of the original members of The Move and Electric Light Orchestra...
– drums - Richard TandyRichard TandyRichard Tandy , is best known as the keyboard player in the rock band, Electric Light Orchestra...
– keyboards - Mik KaminskiMik KaminskiMik Kaminski is best known for playing violin in the Electric Light Orchestra between 1973 and 1979.-Biography:...
– violin, synthesizer - Louis ClarkLouis ClarkLouis Clark is a British musical arranger and keyboard player.He trained at Leeds College of Music. He was the conductor of the orchestra and choir hired to back Electric Light Orchestra's sound, introduced on their album Eldorado in 1974...
– string synthesizer - Dave MorganDave Morgan (musician)David 'Dave' Morgan is an English songwriter and musician.-Career:He was a member of well-regarded Birmingham 60's group The Uglys with Steve Gibbons between 1967 and 1969, where Morgan was the bassist and vocalist...
– backing vocals, acoustic guitar, vocoder - Martin SmithMartin SmithMartin Smith may refer to:*Martin Smith , British professor of robotics at the Open University*Martin Smith , British actor, singer and composer*Martin Smith , Irish boxer...
– backing vocals, bass guitar
Chart performance
| Country | Peak | Top 40 weeks | Total weeks | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweden Sweden Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund.... |
3 | 8 | 16 | 3 |
| Norway Norway Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million... |
4 | 11 | 11 | 4 |
| United Kingdom United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... |
9 | 6 | 12 | 5 |
| Switzerland Switzerland Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition.... |
10 | 10 | 10 | 6 |
| Japan Japan Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south... |
16 | 27 | 7 | |
| Germany Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate... |
18 | 17 | 8 9 | |
| Austria Austria Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the... |
29 | 2 | 2 | 10 |
| Canada Canada Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean... |
46 | 0 | 20 | 11 |
| United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
49 | 0 | 15 | 12 |
| Australia Australia Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area... |
49 | 11 | 13 |