Secret Messages

Infobox Album
Name = Secret Messages
Type = Album
Artist = Electric Light Orchestra


Background =
Released = June 1983
June 12 2001 (reissue)
Recorded = 1982-1983 Wisselord Studios, Hilversum, Holland
Genre = Rock
Length = 46:52
Label = Jet Records & Columbia Records; Epic/Legacy (reissue)
Producer = Jeff Lynne
Reviews = *Allmusic Rating|3|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:o6320rjai48i link]
*"Popmatters" (Favourable) [http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/e/elo-secret.shtml link]
*"Q" Rating|2|5 [http://www.q4music.com/nav?page=q4music.review.redirect&fixture_review=122010&resource=122010&fixture_artist=143606 link]
Last album = "Time"
(1981)
This album = "Secret Messages"
(1983)
Next album = "Balance of Power"
(1986)|

"Secret Messages" is an album by Electric Light Orchestra, released in 1983.

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. This version of the album was digitally recorded and supposed 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 string-laden eight minute long tribute to his home town entitled "Hello My Old Friend". Some of the tracks reappeared on the 2001 re-issue of the album. "Endless Lies", which had been altered for its inclusion on the subsequently-released "Balance of Power" album, appears in its original 1983 form on the 2001 remaster of this album.

"Secret Messages", as its title would suggest, was littered with hidden messages in the form of backmasking, some obvious and others less so. This was Lynne's second tongue-in-cheek response to allegations of hidden Satanic messages in earlier Electric Light Orchestra LPs by Christian fundamentalists which led up to early 1980's American congressional hearings (a similar response had been made by Lynne on the "Face the Music" album, during the intro to the "Fire On High" track). [Big Secrets: Chapter 26, pages 200, 203, 204, 205 & 206. 0-688-04830-7] In Britain the cover of "Secret Messages" has a mock warning to youth about the hidden message. Word of the album's impending release in the United States caused enough of a furore to cause CBS Records to delete the cover blurb there. [Bigger Secrets: Chapter 28, pages 228 & 229. 0-395-45397-6]

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", playing 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 band's last UK Top 20 hit. The song "Letter from Spain" was used as backing music in commercials for the Games of the XXV Olympiad, held in 1992 in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.

Chart Positions, Chart Runs

* US: #36 Billboard 200, 16 weeks
* UK: #4 UK Albums Chart, 15 weeks
* AUS: #19 ARIA Albums Chart, 17 weeks
* CAN: #20 RPM Albums Chart, 20 weeks

Track listing

All tracks written by Jeff LynneStrings conducted by Louis Clark

# "Secret Messages" - 4:44
# "Loser Gone Wild" - 5:27
# "Bluebird" - 4:13
# "Take Me On and On" - 4:57
# "Time After Time" - 4:01 (not on vinyl LP; included on cassette tape format and 12 inch single )
# "Four Little Diamonds" - 4:05
# "Stranger" - 4:27
# "Danger Ahead" - 3:52
# "Letter from Spain" - 2:51
# "Train of Gold" - 4:20
# "Rock 'n' Roll Is King" - 3:49Bonus tracks on the 2001 edition
#

"No Way Out" - 3:28
#

"Endless Lies" - 3:26 (1983 Version, previously unreleased)
#

"After All" - 2:23

Original intended track listing for double album

Personnel

*Jeff Lynne - vocals, background vocals, guitar, synthesisers, bass guitar, piano, percussion, Oberheim DMX
*Bev Bevan - drums, percussion
*Richard Tandy - synthesizers, grand piano, electric piano, harmonica, Oberheim DMX
*Kelly Groucutt - bass guitar, background vocals (Train Of Gold, Rock 'N' Roll Is King, No Way Out and Beatles Forever)
*Mik Kaminski - violin (Rock 'n' Roll Is King)
* Dave Morgan - additional background vocals

References