Secret Messages

Untitled

Secret Messages is an album by Electric Light Orchestra. It was released in 1983 (see 1983 in music).

Original Concept

The record was originally planned to be a double album, but the band's record company cited that it would be too expensive for a double vinyl LP due to the early 80's oil crisis (The fact that ELO's commercial appeal was on the wane is also speculative). This version of the album was digitally recorded and was meant to be ELO's first Compact disc before Balance of Power. Six of the songs from the intended double album would appear as B-sides and reappear on the Afterglow box set in 1990, including a track that many fans consider to be Jeff Lynne's finest work, a string laden eight minute long tribute to his hometown called Hello My Old Friend. Some of the tracks reappeared on the 2001 re-issue of the album. Endless Lies was altered and appeared on the next ELO album Balance of Power; the original 1983 version was included on the 2001 remaster.

The album was littered with hidden messages in the form of backmasking, some obvious and others less so; this was Lynne's tongue-in-cheek response to allegations of hidden Satanic messages in earlier Electric Light Orchestra LPs. (A similar action was taken by Lynne on the Face the Music (album).) Louis Clark returned to conduct the strings once more and violinist Mik Kaminski appeared on an ELO recording for the first time since 1977's Out of the Blue where he played a violin solo on the track Rock'n'Roll Is King. On completion of this album Jeff Lynne dismissed bassist Kelly Groucutt. Groucutt later sued for alleged lost royalties and received a settlement out of court.

Three singles were released from the album in the UK: Rock'n'Roll Is King, the title track, and Four Little Diamonds. In the US Rock'n'Roll Is King, Four Little Diamonds and Stranger were issued. Rock'n'Roll Is King would be the bands last UK Top 20 hit.

Chart Position

• #4
• #19
• #36

Track listing

All tracks written by Jeff Lynne

1. Secret Messages – 4:44
2. Loser Gone Wild – 5:27
3. Bluebird – 4:13
4. Take Me On and On – 4:57
5. Time After Time – 4:01 (not on vinyl LP)
6. Four Little Diamonds – 4:05
7. Stranger – 4:27
8. Danger Ahead – 3:52
9. Letter from Spain – 2:51
10. Train of Gold – 4:20
11. Rock'n'Roll Is King – 3:49

Bonus tracks on the 2001 edition

12. No Way Out – 3:28

13. Endless Lies – 3:26

14. After All – 2:23

Original intended track listing for double album

Side A Secret Messages – 4:44 Loser Gone Wild – 5:27 Bluebird – 4:13 Take Me On and On – 4:57 Side B Stranger – 4:27 No Way Out – 3:28 Beatles Forever – 4:31 Letter from Spain – 2:51 Danger Ahead – 3:52

Side C Four Little Diamonds – 4:05 Train of Gold – 4:20 Endless Lies (1983 Version) – 3:30 Buildings Have Eyes – 3:55 Rock 'n' Roll is King – 3:07 Side D Mandalay – 5:19 Time After Time – 4:01 After All – :37 Hello My Old Friend – 7:47

• Strings conducted by Louis Clark.

Personnel

• Jeff Lynne - vocals, backing vocals, guitars, synthesisers, bass guitar, piano, percussion
• Bev Bevan - drums, percussion
• Richard Tandy - synthesisers, grand piano, electric piano, harmonica
• Kelly Groucutt - bass guitar, backing vocals
• Mik Kaminski - violin, (Rock 'n' Roll is King)
• Dave Morgan - backing vocals