[1] Shine a Little Love (J.Lynne) - 4:44
[2] Confusion (J.Lynne) - 3:43
[3] Need Her Love (J.Lynne) - 5:13
[4] Diary of Horace Wimp (J.Lynne) - 4:18
[5] Last Train to London (J.Lynne) - 4:34
[6] Midnight Blue (J.Lynne) - 4:20
[7] On the Run (J.Lynne) - 3:57
[8] Wishing (J.Lynne) - 4:14
[9] Don't Bring Me Down (J.Lynne) - 4:05
JEFF LYNNE - Lead vocals, Backing Vocals, Lead & Rhythm Guitars, Piano, Synthesizer, Strings and Choir Arrangements
BEV BEVAN - Drums, Roto Toms, Percussion
RICHARD TANDY - Grand pianos, Synthesizers, Electric Piano, Clavinet
KELLY GROUCUTT - Bass guitar, Vocals, Backing Vocals
RICHARD TANDY - Strings and choir arranged
LOUIS CLARK - Strings and choir arranged, Orchestra conducted
MACK - Engineer
JOHN KEHE - Album Design
PAUL GROSS - Design and art Direction
NORMAN MOORE - Design and art Direction
Recorded at Musicland Studios Munich W. Germany.
Thanks to Mack for continued brilliance and use of the "better knob".
Thanks to Brian Jones for getting and keeping things organized.
Special thanks to Don, David, and Sharon Arden.
If you are one of those who equate liking disco to liking Barney or
Teletubbies, chances are you don't hold this album in very high regard.
And to say that the lyrics to the songs herein are deep is like calling
a politician honest. Yet at least parts of Discovery make perfectly
fine background noise if you don't go into an epileptic fit on hearing
the disco beat. For some damn reason that I don't comprehend, "Shine a
Little Love" and "Last Train to London" have an annoying habit of
occupying that part of my brain that insists on remembering pop tunes.
And while Horace Wimp's moniker is as pathetic as his personality, I
have to confess that... omigod... I enjoy reading his diary...
Otherwise, there are a couple of other songs that I think actually
deserve merit. ELO always seems to have at least one rocker on their
albums, and "Don't Bring Me Down" is one of their better ones. But the
best song, IMHO, is "Confusion." The words aren't great; I just like
the melody and how it evokes sadness and, well, confusion.
Jim Webster
So is it "Discovery" or "Disco Very"? Not that it matters. Disco was
great in the late 70s, and ELO was a part of it. Any stigmas associated
with disco during the 80s are now long gone…and we "old folks"
can listen to this album again in a nostalgic way. Sure, when I hear
Shine a Little Love I get an urge to wear a polyester suit and dance
under a mirror ball, but that's just part of the fun. If you still
haven't recovered from disco backlash, I'll recommend Don't Bring Me
Down (the obvious Chuck Berry song on the album) or Diary of Horace
Wimp (the obvious Beatles song on the album). Midnight Blue, Wishing,
and Need Her Love are beautiful songs for warm romantic evenings.
Speaking of romantic evenings, I proposed to my wife on Westminster
Bridge as the clock of Big Ben struck midnight. She accepted, but we
missed the Last Train to (more northern parts of ) London and had to
take a cab. After hearing the story of our proposal, the cab driver
refused to let us pay-he called it our first wedding present.
Although the things you've done I wouldn't criticize
I guess you had your way
You see, I gotta make you understand
I know it sounds a foolish thing to say
But it don't matter baby, 'cos today's another day.
CHORUS:
You shine a little love on my life
You shine a little love on my life
You shine a little love on my life
And let me see.
Remember, tonight we're gonna run 'till dawn
Remember, tonight we're gonna say
We'll never stop, we got a good thing going on
I know you've heard it all before
But I really need you darling, every day I need you more.
REPEAT CHORUS
Can you understand (yes, I understand)
Can you feel it's right (I know it is)
Will you be the same (I'll do it all again).
It's been a year now and it's getting so much better
You came home without a word
Though everybody said you'll soon forget her
They couldn't see and they just didn't understand
And looking in the mirror, there were fools at either hand.
REPEAT CHORUS
Can you understand (yes, I understand)
Can you feel it's right (I know it is)
Will you be the same (I'll do it all again).
How many days had I been waiting there to tell you?
I really can't believe
We're walking out into the world tonight
We'll do it all again until the break of light
And the feeling in your heart will soon be shining in your eyes.
REPEAT CHORUS
Confusion
Everywhere the sun is shining
All around the world, it's shining
But cold winds blow across your mind
Confusion -- it's such a terrible shame
Confusion -- you don't know what you're saying
You've lost your love and you just can't carry on
You feel there's no one there for you to lean on.
Every night you're out there, darling
You're always out there running
And I see that lost look in your eyes
Confusion -- I don't know what I should do
Confusion -- I leave it all up to you
You've lost your love and you just can't carry on
You feel there's no one there for you to lean on.
Dark is the road you wander
And as you stand there under
The starry sky, you feel sad inside
Confusion -- you know it's driving me wild
Confusion -- it comes as no big surprise
You've lost your love and you just can't carry on
You feel there's no one there for you to lean on.
Confusion, confusion
Confusion, confusion
Need Her Love
She gives me love that I could never hope to have
She tells me that she needs me
She tells me that she's glad
And if she goes away
I'm like someone who's left out in the rain
I need (her love)
I need her (her love)
I need her love.
She came in from the west a summer breeze, I couldn't rest
I had to take a fast train
To be there by her side
She made me feel so good
She made it like it should be all the time
I need (her love)
I need her (her love)
I need her love.
Just when I was thinking of her
She came along and made me wonder
I need her love
I need her love
I need her love.
If she goes away
I'm like someone who's left out in the rain
I need (her love)
I need her (her love)
I need her love.
The boats that sail, the planes that fly, she is with me
I wonder if she wonders
If this is all for real
I couldn't stand to see
Her cry because of me, that would be sad
I need (her love)
I need her (her love)
I need her love.
She tells me everything, she makes me smile, she tries to sing
But never shares her suffering
If things are going wrong
She makes it like a dream
If things are like they seem, the world is good
I need her love
I need her love
I need her love.
I need her
I need her love
I need her love...
The Diary Of Horace Wimp
Monday:
Late again, today
He'd be in trouble though he'd say he was sorry
He'd have to hurry out to the bus.
Tuesday:
Horace was so sad
He'd never had a girl that he could care for
And if he was late once more, he'd be out
Uh-oh.
CHORUS:
Don't be afraid, just knock on the door
Well, he just stood there mumbling and fumbling
Then a voice from above said:
"Horace Wimp, this is your life
Go out and find yourself a wife
Make a stand and be a man
And you will have a great life plan!"
Wednesday:
Horace met a girl
She was small and she was very pretty.
He thought he was in love, he was afraid
Uh-oh.
Thursday:
Asks her for a date
The cafe down the street tomorrow evening
His head was reeling when she said
"Yes, okay."
REPEAT CHORUS
Friday:
Horace, this is it
He asks the girl if maybe they could marry
When she says "gladly," Horace cries
Boo-hoo.
Sunday:
Everybody's at the church
When Horace rushes in and says
"Now here comes my wife for the rest of my life"
And she did.
Don't be afraid, just knock on the door
Well, he just stood there mumbling and fumbling
Then a voice from above said:
"Horace Wimp, this is your wife
Go out and find yourself a life
Make a stand and be a man
And you will have a great life plan!"
It was 9:29...
9:29, back street, big city
The sun was going down
There was music all around
It felt so right.
It was one of those nights
One of those nights
When you feel the world stop turning
You were standing there
There was music in the air
I should have been away
But I knew I had to stay
CHORUS:
Last train to London, just heading out
Last train to London, just leaving town
But I really want tonight to last forever
I really want to be with you
Let the music play on down the line tonight.
It was one of those nights
One of those nights
When you feel the fire burning
Everybody was there
Everybody to share
It was so right.
There you were on your own
Looking like you were the only one around
I had to be with you
Nothing else that I could do
I should have been away
But I knew I had to stay.
REPEAT CHORUS
Underneath a starry sky
Time was still but hours must really have rushed by
I didn't realize
But love was in your eyes
I really should have gone
But love went on and on.
REPEAT CHORUS
But I really want tonight to last forever
I really want to be with you
Let the music play on down the line tonight.
Midnight Blue
(Midnight blue...)
I see the lonely road that leads so far away
I see the distant lights that left behind the day
But what I see is so much more than I can say
And I see you in midnight blue.
I see you crying, now you've found a lot of pain
And what you're searching for can never be the same
But what's the difference, 'cos they say "What's in a name?"
And I see you in midnight blue.
CHORUS:
I will love you tonight
And I will stay by your side
Loving you, I'm feeling midnight blue
(Midnight blue).
I see you standing there, far out along the way
I want to touch you, but the night becomes the day
I count the words that I am never gonna say
And I see you in midnight blue.
REPEAT CHORUS
Can't you feel the love that I'm offering you?
Can't you see how it's meant to be?
Can't you hear the words that I'm saying to you?
Can't you believe like I believe?
It's only one and one, it's true
Still, I see you in midnight blue
(Midnight blue).
I see beautiful days
And I feel beautiful ways of loving you
Everything's midnight blue.
REPEAT CHORUS
REPEAT CHORUS
On The Run
Whatever I do
Wherever I go
The same afterglow
Is keeping me low
Don't wanna lose it
But don't wanna stay here too long.
They see you go by
I tell you no lie
You're up in the sky
Make everyone cry
Don't wanna lose it
But don't wanna stay around here.
CHORUS:
I'm on the run again, I'm on the run again
But it's like what they say
When it happens this way
You gotta do it again and again.
I hear them talking and they go on and on
They think that nothing is wrong
And so they just carry on about you
Don't wanna lose it
But I gotta move outta here.
I see them waiting there for most of the day
I know you asked them to stay
But they just won't go away
Don't wanna lose it
But I gotta do it again.
REPEAT CHORUS
I know it ain't real
But when you are near
You're saying the things
That I wanna hear
Don't wanna lose it
But I gotta do it again.
REPEAT CHORUS
REPEAT CHORUS
Run around, gotta go, gotta runaround
Run around, gotta go, gotta run
Run around, gotta go, gotta runaround
Run around, gotta go, gotta run.
Woman, I gotta move around.
Woman, I gotta get away.
Woman, I gotta move around.
Wishing
Little darling, don't you cry
You know I'll try and be there with you by-and-by
When everything is going wrong, now don't you cry
I'm wishing.
Little darling, far away
I see the world go rolling by my window pane
But I can only wish that I was there again
I'm wishing.
CHORUS:
I wish that everything was gold
I wish you were here to hold
I'm wishing.
Little darling, the night is long
I thought I'd be back now, I must have got it wrong
You and California call me in this song
I'm wishing.
REPEAT CHORUS
Little darling, I see you
You're crying in the sun, I gotta be with you
I'm gonna be there soon, I'll make it all come true
I'm wishing.
Little darling, I'm wishing
You know I'm wishing
I'm always wishing.
REPEAT CHORUS
Don't Bring Me Down
You got me running, going out of my mind
You got me thinking that I'm wasting my time
Don't bring me down, no, no, no, no, no
I'll tell you once more before I get off the floor:
Don't bring me down.
You wanna stay out with your fancy friends
I'm telling you it's got to be the end
Don't bring me down, no, no, no, no, no
I'll tell you once more before I get off the floor:
Don't bring me down.
CHORUS:
Don't bring me down, grroosss
Don't bring me down, grroosss
Don't bring me down, grroosss
Don't bring me down.
What happened to the girl I used to know?
You let your mind out somewhere down the road
Don't bring me down, no, no, no, no, no
I'll tell you once more before I get off the floor:
Don't bring me down.
You're always talking 'bout your crazy nights
One of these days you're gonna get it right
Don't bring me down, no, no, no, no, no
I'll tell you once more before I get off the floor:
Don't bring me down.
REPEAT CHORUS
You're looking good, just like a snake in the grass
One of these days you're gonna break your glass
Don't bring me down, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
I'll tell you once more before I get off the floor:
Don't bring me down.
You got me shakin', got me running away
You got me crawling up to you everyday
Don't bring me down, no, no, no, no, no
I'll tell you once more before I get off the floor:
Don't bring me down, down, down, down, down, down
I'll tell you once more before I get off the floor: