Out of the Blue (Electric Light Orchestra album)
Out of the Blue | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 24 October 1977 (US)[1] 28 October 1977 (UK)[2] | |||
Recorded | May–August 1977 | |||
Studio | Musicland Studios, Munich | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 70:16 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer | Jeff Lynne | |||
Electric Light Orchestra chronology | ||||
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Electric Light Orchestra studio album chronology | ||||
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Singles from Out of the Blue | ||||
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Out of the Blue is the seventh studio album by the British rock group Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), released on 24 October 1977 in the United States and four days after in the UK on 28 October. Written and produced by ELO frontman Jeff Lynne, the double album is among the most commercially successful records in the group's history, selling about 10 million copies worldwide by 2007.[6]
Recording
[edit]Jeff Lynne wrote the entire album in three and a half weeks after a sudden burst of creativity while hidden away in his rented chalet in the Swiss Alps. It took a further two months to record in Munich.[citation needed]
Content
[edit]![]() | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (July 2022) |
Out of the Blue was one of the first pop albums to have an extensive use of the vocoder,[citation needed] and helped to popularize it.[7]
Side 1
[edit]The opening track, "Turn To Stone", was described by Donald A. Guarisco as "a good example of Electric Light Orchestra's skill for mixing string-laden pop hooks with driving rock and roll", praising the "array of swirling string lines that dart in and out of the mix and some dazzling falsetto harmonies that interact with Lynne's lead vocal in call and response style".[8] The song features a "tongue-twister section" where the song "stops dead", leaving only "slightly phased" vocals punctuated by Bev Bevan's drum hits.[9]
The following track is "It's Over", which takes on what Billboard described as a "classical feel".[10] Cash Box said that it begins "with simple chording which opens to a strumming beat" and that the "strings add panorama" and that "the vocals are characteristically crystalline and soaring."[11]
"Sweet Talkin' Woman" serves as the band's "first real step into the disco sound [...] a string-laden pop tune whose dance-friendly edge helped it become a disco-era hit". AllMusic's Donald A. Guarisco attributed its disco sound to "Bev Bevan's steady drum work" and "pounding piano lines, delirous bursts of swirling strings, and endlessly overdubbed backing vocals [that] mesh seamlessly to form an ornate but driving funhouse of pop hooks".[12] Billboard described the song as a "catchy rocker characterized by semi-classical elements."[13]
"Across the Border" begins with the same "clanging train" sound effect used on the ABBA song "Nina, Pretty Ballerina" and a violin solo by Mik Kaminski. The song itself takes on a "Mexico-infused" style with a verse melody reminiscent of the Beach Boys' song "Heroes and Villains", and Lynne and Groucutt singing in harmony in a "staccato" vocal style.[14]
Side 2
[edit]Side 2 begins with "Night in the City", which Classic Rock History critic Brian Kachejian rated as ELO's 5th greatest song.[15] Kachejian said that "the song’s chorus and verses, bridge, innovative introductions and ending made for one fun ride."[15] The song begins with an unusual segment where keyboardist Richard Tandy's keyboards emulate "the noise and cacophony of busy traffic", combined with "frenzied" string sections invoking "the oppressive atmosphere of being trapped in a city that never sleeps".[16]
The song "Starlight" was inspired by "the night stars in the mountains of Switzerland". ELO drummer Bev Bevan said that the song was "meant to have a rhythm and blues feeling to it ... something like Al Green."[17] ELO historian Barry Delve describes the song as having a "dreamy night-time vibe".[17]
"Jungle" takes a stylistic left turn, featuring "Tarzan effects, trumpeting elephants, a talking line, and a Terpsichorean interlude" that Delve describes as part of the song's "unashamed goofiness".[18] The song is divisive among fans, with some seeing it as "an unworthy novelty".[18]
"Believe Me Now" is a short, "dramatic" interlude dominated by piano, orchestra, and vocoder that serves as an introduction to the following song.[19] "Steppin' Out" is a "tender ballad"[20] with lyrics about leaving home. In the final two minutes, the previously stripped-back arrangement is augmented with increasingly large layers of guitars and vocal harmonies, building to a "grand finish".[21] Lynne has said that he regrets his original vocal take on the released song, saying in 2015 "I really messed up the original on Out of the Blue. ... It's just so flimsy."[21]
Side 3
[edit]Side three of the release is subtitled Concerto for a Rainy Day, a four-track musical suite with common themes of the weather, inspired by the "relentless rain" Lynne experienced in Switzerland while writing the album.[22] Rain and thunder sound effects, recorded in Munich during the recording of the album, appear at the beginning of the suite, and between each song.[22]
"Standin' in the Rain" opens the suite with a simple, "nursery rhyme-like tune" and quiet, distant weather sounds. After a cymbal crash, the orchestra takes prominence, and a heavily distorted voice, manipulated to resemble thunder crackling, voices the words "A concerto for a rainy day".[23] From this point, the song develops into an "exhilarating instrumental workout" that evokes the intensity of a rainstorm.[23]
"Big Wheels" forms the second part of the suite. The song adds layers of instrumentation as it progresses, building from an intimate beginning towards an "epic" crescendo. In the intro of the song, a vocoder sings a melody that reappears in orchestral form at the end of the last song in the suite, "Mr. Blue Sky".[24] Apart from its inclusion on the Out of the Blue album, the song has never appeared on any of the band's compilations or as a B-side until 2000, when Lynne included it on the group's retrospective Flashback album.[citation needed]
"Summer and Lightning" is the third song in the suite, and takes on a more lively atmosphere.[25] The Guardian's Mark Beaumont praised the song, ranking it as one of the band's best ten songs.[26][25]
The suite concludes with "Mr. Blue Sky", a lively, optimistic song celebrating sunshine.[27] Jeff Lynne has told the story of how he wrote the song:[28]
The weather had been really bad, and then one day I got up and it was fantastic, the sun was brilliant and shining, all the mountains were lit up and this mist had gone away. It was gorgeous and I came up with "Mr. Blue Sky".
The arrangement has a prominent cowbell-like sound,[29] and at the end of the song, a vocoder sings "please turn me over",[30][31][28][32] an instruction to physically turn the vinyl over to listen to the final side.[32][30] The song was released as the album's second UK single in 1978. It was also released in other countries and territories, some of which removed the final outro with the vocoder.[28]
Side 4
[edit]Mark Beaumont said that the first track on Side 4, "Sweet Is the Night", "[sweeps] from an elegant glam-funk strut to a chorus that [is] essentially All The Young Dudes base-jumping."[26] Lynne and Groucutt share singing duties again, with lyrics that Delve describes as "the only love song [on the album] with a happy ending".[33]
"The Whale" is an instrumental track that begins with a "flurry of aquatic, atmospheric effects", and uses the stereo soundscape greatly to "convey the ocean's space and expanse."[34] Lynne wrote the song after watching a TV episode about the hunting of whales, and a part of the proceeds from Out of the Blue were donated to environmental advocacy group Greenpeace.[34] ELO historian Barry Delve praised the song, calling it a "a great one to listen to in headphones",[34] though Mark Beaumont was more critical, naming its "lumbering, ambient depths" as one of the worst moments of Out of the Blue, alongside a "shonky side two".[26]
"Birmingham Blues" is a bluesy rock tune with lyrics about life as a touring band and homesickness.[35]
The album closer is "Wild West Hero", which features "yearning" lyrics as well as many tempo and stylistic changes across its runtime.[36] Mark Beaumont described it as "'Hey Jude' on horseback".[26] The song was released as the third single from the album, and reached a peak position of number 6.[37][38]
Cover art
[edit]The large spaceship on the album's cover (by then symbolic of the group) was designed by Kosh with art by Shusei Nagaoka. It was based on the logo Kosh designed for ELO's previous album, A New World Record,[39] and looks like the space station with a docking shuttle from 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968).[40] The number JTLA 823 L2 which is featured on the shuttle arriving at the space station is the original catalogue number for the album. The album also included an insert of a cardboard cutout of the space station as well as a fold-out poster of the band members. The space theme was carried onto the live stage in the form of a huge glowing flying saucer stage set, inside which the band performed.[citation needed]
Release
[edit]Out of the Blue was successful upon release, reaching No.4 in both the US and UK charts, as well as No.3 in Australia and No.2 in Sweden. The album spawned five hit singles in different countries, and was ELO's most commercially successful studio album. It was also the first double album in the history of the UK music charts to generate four top twenty hit singles. Lynne considers A New World Record and Out of the Blue to be the group's crowning achievements,[41][42] and both sold extremely well, reaching multi-platinum according to RIAA Certification. Capital Radio and The Daily Mirror Rock and Pop Awards (forerunner to The Brit Awards) named it "Album of the Year" in 1978. Lynne received his first Ivor Novello award for Outstanding Contributions to British Music the same year.
The US release of Out of the Blue was originally distributed by United Artists. This changed after United Artists Records was sold by Transamerica Corporation to an EMI Records-backed partnership, which triggered Jet Records' change of control clause in its distribution contract, and Jet shifted to CBS Records as its new distributor.[43][44] American cut-out copies of Out of the Blue soon became widely available at discounted prices in record shops in the US and Canada shortly after the album's release, affecting the album's sales and triggering lawsuits by CBS and Jet. The suits were ultimately unsuccessful in stopping the discounted sales.[45]
Reissues
[edit]The 30th Anniversary Edition was released in February 2007 with three bonus tracks, as part of the Sony/BMG Music Epic/Legacy series. The 30th anniversary issue was a limited pressing in hardback book with expanded 24-page full colour booklet. It includes full-length sleeve notes by Lynne and ELO archivist Rob Caiger, as well as rare photos and memorabilia. A push-out replica ELO Space Station is included as well as the standard jewel case edition with a full colour 12-page edited booklet. The album once again reached the top twenty album charts in the UK peaking at number 18. A sixth single "Latitude 88 North" was released as digital download single and as a promo 7" single.
In 2012, Music on Vinyl re-released Out of the Blue on vinyl on Epic; the first 1,000 copies were made on transparent blue vinyl and the rest were released in the standard black vinyl.
In 2017, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the album, a double picture vinyl disc was released by Sony Music and Epic Records.
Reception and legacy
[edit]Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Guardian | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
MusicHound Rock | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Pitchfork | 8.1/10[50] |
PopMatters | 7/10[51] |
Record Mirror | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
With a four out of 5 stars rating Jim Evans of Record Mirror called Out of the Blue "almost a masterpiece and easily one of the best albums this year. And to better 'A New World Record' is a great achievement."[52] Billy Altman of Rolling Stone said that the album was "meticulously produced and performed" and showed the influence of the Beatles, the Beach Boys and the Bee Gees. However, he detected a lack of passion in the work, which he dismissed as a "totally uninteresting and horrifyingly sterile package" and "All method and no madness: perfectly hollow and bland rock Muzak."[54]
Over the years a more favourable view has developed. Ian Gittens of The Guardian, who gave a 3 out of 5 stars rating, found that "this baroque double album has aged better than the three-chord wonders who derided it." He added "Out of the Blue could have managed without the four-song "suite", Concerto for a Rainy Day, but beneath the lavish over-production tracks like Sweet Talkin' Woman, Turn to Stone and Mr Blue Sky were simply great pop songs."[48] With an 8.1/10 score in a 2007 review Rob Mitchum of Pitchfork wrote "Calling in the string section and commissioning the spaceship cover-art may be a big gamble, but Out of the Blue is proof of how good it can sound when the grand approach works."[50] Dan MacIntosh of PopMatters gave a 7/10 score saying "Even with all the excessive rock trappings inherent during ELO’s era, Out of the Blue nevertheless stands up well as a creative endeavor. Best of all, it has the undiminished ability to break through the clouds with plenty of “Mr. Blue Sky” joy — even now."[51] Chris Jones of the BBC exclaimed that "Out of the Blue remains an essential purchase for anyone wishing to bask in their pop perfection."[55]
In 2000, it was voted number 346 in Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums.[56] The album was also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[57]
Axl Rose – by his own admission "an old ELO fanatic" – said: "Out of the Blue is an awesome record."[58]
In October 2013, the album was ranked 23rd on VH1's list "Double Trouble: The 35 Best-Selling Double Albums of All Time".[59]
Track listing
[edit]All songs written by Jeff Lynne.[60]
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Turn to Stone" | 3:47 |
2. | "It's Over" | 4:08 |
3. | "Sweet Talkin' Woman" | 3:47 |
4. | "Across the Border" | 3:52 |
Total length: | 15:34 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
5. | "Night in the City" | 4:02 |
6. | "Starlight" | 4:30 |
7. | "Jungle" | 3:51 |
8. | "Believe Me Now" (instrumental) | 1:21 |
9. | "Steppin' Out" | 4:38 |
Total length: | 18:22 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Standin' in the Rain" | 4:20 |
2. | "Big Wheels" | 5:10 |
3. | "Summer and Lightning" | 4:13 |
4. | "Mr. Blue Sky" | 5:05 |
Total length: | 18:48 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
5. | "Sweet Is the Night" | 3:26 |
6. | "The Whale" (instrumental) | 5:05 |
7. | "Birmingham Blues" | 4:21 |
8. | "Wild West Hero" | 4:40 |
Total length: | 17:32 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Wild West Hero" (alternate bridge: home demo) | 0:26 |
2. | "The Quick and the Daft" (previously unreleased) | 1:49 |
3. | "Latitude 88 North" (previously unreleased; also released as a single) | 3:24 |
Personnel
[edit]Credits according to the record liner notes, unless noted.[61]
Electric Light Orchestra
- Jeff Lynne – lead and backing vocals, lead, rhythm and slide guitars (Gibson EDS-1275, Gibson Les Paul Custom, Gibson Marauder, Ovation 1615/4, Ovation 1619/4), Wurlitzer electric piano, Minimoog, production
- Bev Bevan – Slingerland drums, Remo Rototoms, Avedis Zildjian cymbals, Slingerland Bev Bevan drumsticks, Remo drumheads, gong, various percussion instruments, backing vocals, fire extinguisher on "Mr. Blue Sky"
- Richard Tandy – Yamaha C7B piano, Yamaha CS-80, Wurlitzer electric piano, ARP 2600, Minimoog, Polymoog, ARP Omni, ARP Odyssey, Hohner clavinet, SLM Concert Spectrum, Mellotron M400, sequencers, Gibson SG Custom electric guitar
- Kelly Groucutt – co-lead vocals on "Sweet Is the Night", harmony and backing vocals, Gibson G3 bass guitar, percussion
- Mik Kaminski – violin
- Hugh McDowell – cello
- Melvyn Gale – cello, jangle piano on "Wild West Hero" (uncredited)
Technical personnel
- Shusei Nagaoka – artwork
- Mack – Engineer
- Jeff Lynne, Richard Tandy and Louis Clark – Orchestral and choral arrangements
- Orchestra conducted by Louis Clark
- Original LP Mastering – Stan Ricker (USA) and Kevin Metcalfe (UK)
Charts
[edit] Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
|
Certifications
[edit]Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Canada (Music Canada)[84] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
Germany (BVMI)[85] | Gold | 250,000^ |
Netherlands (NVPI)[86] | Gold | 50,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[87] | Platinum | 300,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[88] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
References
[edit]- ^ "Billboard, October 22, 1977 pg. 18".
- ^ "Out of the Blue LP - 1977. - ELO UK Albums".
- ^ "Electric Light Orchestra – Out Of The Blue". Uncut. 2007. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
- ^ Mitchum, Rob (2007). "Electric Light Orchestra - Out of the Blue". Pitchfork. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
- ^ Mitchum, Rob (2007). "Electric Light Orchestra - Out of the Blue". Pitchfork. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
- ^ Out of the Blue (booklet). Electric Light Orchestra. Epic, Legacy. 2007.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Jenkins, Mark (2007). Analog Synthesizers: Understanding, Performing, Buying- from the legacy of Moog to software synthesis (1st ed.). Focal Press. p. 31. ISBN 978-0-240520-72-8.
- ^ Guarisco, Donald A. "Turn to Stone – Song Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
- ^ Delve 2022, p. 70, "Turn to Stone".
- ^ "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. 21 October 1978. p. 90. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
- ^ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 28 October 1978. p. 22. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
- ^ Guarisco, Donald A. "Electric Light Orchestra – Sweet Talkin' Woman – Song Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
- ^ "Billboard's Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. 18 February 1978. p. 79. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
- ^ Delve 2022, p. 71, "Across the Border".
- ^ a b Kachejian, Brian (26 September 2022). "Top 10 Electric Light Orchestra Songs". Classic Rock History. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
- ^ Delve 2022, p. 72, "Night In The City".
- ^ a b Delve 2022, p. 72, "Starlight".
- ^ a b Delve 2022, p. 72, "Jungle".
- ^ Delve 2022, p. 73, "Believe Me Now".
- ^ Christopher, Michael (10 November 2016). "5 Reasons Electric Light Orchestra Should Be in the Hall of Fame". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
- ^ a b Delve 2022, p. 73, "Steppin' Out".
- ^ a b Delve 2022, p. 73, "Concerto for a Rainy Day".
- ^ a b Delve 2022, pp. 73–74, "Standin' In The Rain".
- ^ Delve 2022, p. 74, "Big Wheels".
- ^ a b Delve 2022, p. 74, "Summer and Lightning".
- ^ a b c d Beaumont, Mark (30 March 2016). "Electric Light Orchestra – 10 of the best". the Guardian. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
- ^ Delve 2022, p. 74—75, "Mr. Blue Sky".
- ^ a b c Delve 2022, p. 75, "Mr. Blue Sky".
- ^ Bosso, Joe (3 October 2012). "Interview: Jeff Lynne talks recording standards and rerecording classic ELO songs". MusicRadar. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
- ^ a b Wilgenburg, Rajno van (24 February 2017). "You Always Misheard The Lyrics Of 'Mr Blue Sky' By Electric Light Orchestra". Archived from the original on 10 July 2018.
- ^ "Jeff Lynne on The One Show". YouTube. 5 October 2012. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
- ^ a b Ure, Beth (6 February 2023). "We've all been singing ELO's iconic Mr Blue Sky completely wrong". Retrieved 2 May 2023.
- ^ Delve 2022, p. 76, "Sweet is the Night".
- ^ a b c Delve 2022, p. 76, "The Whale".
- ^ Delve 2022, p. 76, "Birmingham Blues".
- ^ Delve 2022, p. 76, "Wild West Hero".
- ^ "Electric Light Orchestra". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
- ^ Delve 2022, p. 76—77, "Wild West Hero".
- ^ Ex-Voto Films (28 January 2010). "KOSH – Electric Light Orchestra on Vimeo". Vimeo.com. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
- ^ "2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)". IMDb.com. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
- ^ allmusic ((( A New World Record > Overview )))
- ^ Wild, David. "The Story of a Rock and Roll Band and the Pop Genius Who Dared to Go Baroque". Flashback.
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- ^ "Jet In Global Pact". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. 1 July 1978. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
- ^ "Cutout Material Is Plentiful at NARM". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. 7 April 1979. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
- ^ Eder, Bruce. "Out of the Blue – Electric Light Orchestra : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
- ^ Larkin, Colin, ed. (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th edn). London: Omnibus Press. p. 915. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8.
- ^ a b Gittens, Ian (22 February 2007). "Electric Light Orchestra: Out of the Blue". The Guardian.
- ^ Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel, eds. (1999). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Farmington Hills, MI: Visible Ink Press. p. 383. ISBN 1-57859-061-2.
- ^ a b Mitchum, Rob (1 March 2007). "Electric Light Orchestra: Out of the Blue | Album Reviews". Pitchfork. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
- ^ a b MacIntosh, Dan (15 February 2007). "Electric Light Orchestra: Out of the Blue". popmatters.com. PopMatters.
- ^ a b Evans, Jim (5 November 1977). From Blue to Gold. Record Mirror.
- ^ Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian, eds. (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th edn). New York, NY: Fireside/Simon & Schuster. p. 274. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
- ^ Altman, Billy (12 January 1978). "Album Reviews: Electric Light Orchestra, Out of the Blue". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 29 March 2007. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
- ^ Jones, Chris (2007). "ELO: Out of the Blue Review". bbc.co.uk. BBC.
- ^ Colin Larkin (2000). All Time Top 1000 Albums (3rd ed.). Virgin Books. p. 137. ISBN 0-7535-0493-6.
- ^ Harrington, Jim (2006). "Electric Light Orchestra: Out of the Blue". In Dimery, Robert (ed.). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Universe Publishing. p. 376. ISBN 978-0-7893-1371-3.
- ^ Wall, Mick (January 2002). "Eve of destruction". Classic Rock #36. p. 95.
- ^ Runtagh, Jordan (3 October 2013). "Double Trouble: The 35 Best-Selling Double Albums of All Time". vh1.com. Archived from the original on 18 September 2022. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
- ^ "Out of the Blue - Electric Light Orchestra | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". Retrieved 9 May 2020 – via www.allmusic.com.
- ^ Out of the Blue (booklet). Electric Light Orchestra. Epic, Legacy. 2007.
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: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b c Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, New South Wales: Australian Chart Book. p. 101. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 5517a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Electric Light Orchestra – Out of the Blue" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
- ^ "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 978-4-87131-077-2.
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- ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Electric Light Orchestra – Out of the Blue". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ Salaverri, Fernando (2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Electric Light Orchestra – Out of the Blue". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
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- ^ "CashBox Top 100 Albums" (PDF). CashBox. Vol. XXXIX #33. United States. 31 December 1977. p. 153. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
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- ^ a b c "Complete UK Year-End Album Charts". Archived from the original on 19 May 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
- ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0069". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
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- ^ "Top Pop Albums of 1978". Billboard. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
- ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. 1979. Archived from the original on 8 November 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
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- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Electric Light Orchestra; 'Out of the Blue')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
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- ^ "American album certifications – Electric Light Orchestra – Out of the Blue". Recording Industry Association of America.
Bibliography
[edit]- Delve, Barry (2022). Electric Light Orchestra: every album, every song. On Track. Sonicbond Publishing. ISBN 978-1-78952-224-2. OCLC 1340403001.