On the Third Day
On the Third Day | |||||
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Studio album by Electric Light Orchestra | |||||
Released |
November 1973 (US) 14 December 1973 (UK) 12 September 2006 (Reissue) | ||||
Recorded | April – May 1973 at De Lane Lea Studios, London and AIR Studios, London | ||||
Genre | Symphonic rock, progressive rock | ||||
Length | 39:26 | ||||
Label |
Warner Bros. (UK) United Artists (US) | ||||
Producer | Jeff Lynne | ||||
Electric Light Orchestra chronology | |||||
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Electric Light Orchestra studio album chronology | |||||
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Singles from On the Third Day | |||||
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US alternate album cover | |||||
On the Third Day is the third studio album by Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), and the first to be recorded without input from Roy Wood. From this album on, the definite article The was dropped from the band's name.
Professional ratings | |
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Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [1] |
Music Box | [2] |
Rolling Stone | (unfavourable)[3] |
Release
On the Third Day was released in 1973 and failed to enter the UK charts at the time, although it did reach the US charts at number 52.[4] Side two of the album was recorded during or shortly after the sessions for ELO's LP ELO 2, but unlike its predecessor it contains shorter tracks. By contrast, the four songs on side one of the album were linked into a continuous suite. Violinist Mik Kaminski made his debut on side one of this album replacing Wilf Gibson, although Gibson plays on side two (plus the bonus tracks). Also, cellist Colin Walker left the line up around the same time, leaving Mike Edwards as lone cellist.
"Showdown" was originally intended to be released on single only and, since it was on a different label (Harvest) than the UK LP, did not appear on the original UK LP. It was, however, included on the US LP. because the band remained on United Artists Records in the US. Although he didn't actually record on the album, Hugh McDowell did appear on this front cover of the US LP seen at right, which was an unusual photograph taken by famed photographer Richard Avedon that had ELO displaying their belly-buttons.
Track listing
All songs written by Jeff Lynne, unless noted.
Original track listing
- Side one
- "Ocean Breakup/King of the Universe" – 4:07
- "Bluebird Is Dead" – 4:24
- "Oh No Not Susan" – 3:07
- "New World Rising/Ocean Breakup (Reprise)" – 4:05
- Side two
- "Daybreaker" – 3:51
- "Ma-Ma-Ma Belle" – 3:56
- "Dreaming of 4000" – 5:04
- "In the Hall of the Mountain King" (Edvard Grieg) – 6:37
Reissue track listing
- Compact disc track listing
- "Ocean Breakup/King of the Universe" – 4:07
- "Bluebird Is Dead" – 4:24
- "Oh No Not Susan" – 3:27
- "New World Rising/Ocean Breakup (Reprise)" – 4:05
- "Showdown" – 4:09
- "Daybreaker" – 3:51
- "Ma-Ma-Ma Belle" – 3:56
- "Dreaming of 4000" – 5:04
- "In the Hall of the Mountain King" (Grieg) – 6:37
- Bonus tracks
- "Auntie (Ma-Ma-Ma Belle)" (Take 1) – 1:19
- "Auntie (Ma-Ma-Ma Belle)" (Take 2) – 4:05
- "Mambo (Dreaming of 4000)" (Take 1) – 5:05
- "Everyone's Born to Die" – 3:43
- "Interludes" – 3:40
Personnel
- Jeff Lynne – vocals, guitars
- Bev Bevan – drums, percussion
- Richard Tandy – piano, Moog, clavinet, Wurlitzer electric piano
- Mike de Albuquerque – bass, backing vocals
- Marc Bolan - guitar (on tracks 7-8-10-11-12-13)
- Mike Edwards – cello
- Wilf Gibson – violin (on tracks 5–14)
- Colin Walker – cello (on tracks 5–14)
- Mik Kaminski – violin (on tracks 1–4)
Chart positions
- US: number 31 CashBox; number 52 Billboard 200[4]
- UK: did not chart on its own when first released,[5] but reached number 38 in 1978 as part of the 3-LP box-set Three Light Years.
- AUS: number 46 ARIA Albums Chart
- CAN: number 40 RPM Albums Chart
References
- ↑ On the Third Day at AllMusic
- ↑ Music Box review
- ↑ "Rolling Stone review". Archived from the original on 25 August 2007.
- 1 2 "Electric Light Orchestra - Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
- ↑ "Electric Light Orchestra". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
External links
- On the Third Day Remastered Info at ftmusic