Length 34:18 Balance of Power(1986) Zoom(2001) Release date March 1986 | Balance of Power(1986) Afterglow(1990) Genre Rock music | |
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Released 17 February 1986 (US)3 March 1986 (UK) Recorded ca. Mid 1984 – Early 1985Remix: Mid 1985 - January 1986Compass Point Studios, Nassau, BahamasHartmann Digital Untertrubach, Germany Similar Electric Light Orchestra albums, Rock music albums |
Balance of Power is the eleventh studio album by the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) released in 1986. It is the final album by the band to feature co-founder Bev Bevan on drums; as well as the last album to feature keyboardist Richard Tandy in an official capacity.
Contents
Overview
Balance of Power was the last studio album by the Electric Light Orchestra before their disbanding (the band would later reform in 2000). By this time Kelly Groucutt had departed and the group was pared down to a trio of Jeff Lynne, Richard Tandy, and Bev Bevan. Recording for the album began in 1984, with a planned release in spring 1985. The addition of several synthesizer tracks to the album caused its release to be pushed back to early 1986. ELO played some live concerts in the UK and Europe (their last for fifteen years), and for one UK show George Harrison performed as guest guitarist.
The video for the single "Calling America" was shot in Paris, and contains shots of the band playing in front of Centre Georges Pompidou. A video was also made for the single "So Serious." The track "Endless Lies" was intended as an homage to Roy Orbison, and was originally recorded for the never-released double LP version of Secret Messages; it reappeared on this album in a slightly reworked and more compact form.
The remastered version of the album was released on 26 February (UK) and 20 March (US) 2007 as part of the Sony/BMG Music Epic/Legacy series.
Europe's CD releases were on CDEPC26467 (Epic) in March 1986. The US (ZK40048) and Japan (32DP407) CD releases were on CBS Associated.
Track listing
All songs written by Jeff Lynne.
- "Heaven Only Knows" – 2:52
- "So Serious" – 2:38
- "Getting to the Point" – 4:28
- "Secret Lives" – 3:26
- "Is It Alright" – 3:25
- "Sorrow About to Fall" – 3:59
- "Without Someone" – 3:48
- "Calling America" – 3:26
- "Endless Lies" – 2:55
- "Send It" – 3:04
- "Opening" – 0:24
- "Heaven Only Knows" (Alternate version) – 2:32
- "In for the Kill" – 3:13
- "Secret Lives" (Alternate take) – 3:24
- "Sorrow About to Fall" (Alternate mix) – 3:48
- "Caught in a Trap" (UK B-side) – 3:44
- "Destination Unknown" (UK B-side) – 4:10
Personnel
Tour line-up
Songs
1Heaven Only Knows2:57
2So Serious2:44
3Getting to the Point4:30