Balance of Power (album)

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Balance of Power
ELO BalanceOfPower.PNG
Studio album by
Electric Light Orchestra
Released17 February 1986 (US)
3 March 1986 (UK)
RecordedSummer/Fall 1984 – Spring 1985 remixed Mid - Late 1985
StudioCompass Point Studios, Nassau, Bahamas; Hartmann Digital Untertrubach, Germany
GenreRock, pop rock, synth-pop
Length34:18
LabelEpic, Jet, CBS
ProducerJeff Lynne
Electric Light Orchestra chronology
Secret Messages
(1983) 		Balance of Power
(1986) 		Afterglow
(1990)
Electric Light Orchestra studio album chronology
Secret Messages
(1983) 		Balance of Power
(1986) 		Zoom
(2001)
Singles from Balance of Power
  1. "Calling America"
    Released: 24 January 1986
  2. "So Serious"
    Released: 18 April 1986
  3. "Getting to the Point"
    Released: 11 July 1986
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic2/5 stars[1]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music2/5 stars[2]
The Music Box2.5/5 stars[3]
MusicHoundwoof![4]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide2/5 stars[5]

Balance of Power is the eleventh studio album by the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) released in 1986.[6] 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, until 2019's From Out Of Nowhere.

Overview[]

Balance of Power was the last studio album by the Electric Light Orchestra before their initial disbanding (the band would later reform in 2000 and again in 2014). By this time Kelly Groucutt had departed and the group was pared down to a trio[7] of Jeff Lynne (who doubled on bass as a result of Groucutt's absence), Richard Tandy and Bev Bevan. Recording for the album began in mid-1984, with a planned release for Spring 1985. The addition of several synthesizer tracks and mixing work by Reinhold Mack 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 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.

Side One
No.TitleLength
1."Heaven Only Knows"2:52
2."So Serious"2:38
3."Getting to the Point"4:28
4."Secret Lives"3:26
5."Is It Alright"3:25
Side Two
No.TitleLength
6."Sorrow About to Fall"3:59
7."Without Someone"3:48
8."Calling America"3:26
9."Endless Lies"2:55
10."Send It"3:04
Total length:34:18
2007 CD Bonus Tracks
No.TitleLength
11."Opening" (intro for track 12)0:24
12."Heaven Only Knows" (alternate version)2:32
13."In for the Kill" (alternate lyrics to "Caught in a Trap")3:13
14."Secret Lives" (alternate take)3:24
15."Sorrow About to Fall" (alternate mix)3:48
16."Caught in a Trap" (US B-Side to Calling America single)3:44
17."Destination Unknown" (UK B-Side to Calling America and So Serious singles)4:10

Personnel[]

Additional personnel

Tour line-up[]

Charts and certifications[]

References[]

  1. ^ Chrispell, James. "Balance of Power – Electric Light Orchestra : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic.
  2. ^ Larkin, Colin (ed.) (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th edn). London: Omnibus Press. p. 915. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  3. ^ Metzger, John. "Electric Light Orchestra [ELO] – Balance of Power (Album Review)". Musicbox-online.com.
  4. ^ Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel (eds) (1999). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Farmington Hills, MI: Visible Ink Press. p. 382. ISBN 1-57859-061-2.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  5. ^ Brackett, Nathan; with 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.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  6. ^ "The Morning Call, 29 Mar 1986". The Morning Call. 29 March 1986. p. 59. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  7. ^ Greene, Andy (14 June 2012). "Beyond Buffalo Springfield: A History Of Short-Lived Reunions". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  8. ^ "chartelo". Members.iinet.net.au. Archived from the original on 18 October 2011.
  9. ^ Steffen Hung. "Electric Light Orchestra – Balance of Power". austriancharts.at. Archived from the original on 19 October 2012.
  10. ^ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca.
  11. ^ "charts.de". charts.de.
  12. ^ "Charts Electric Light Orchestra LP – ELO-Wiki" (in German). Jansoppart.de. Archived from the original on 31 March 2012.
  13. ^ "Oricon Style". Oricon.co.jp.
  14. ^ Steffen Hung. "Electric Light Orchestra - Balance Of Power". Norwegiancharts.com. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 2016-01-14.
  15. ^ Hung, Steffen. "Electric Light Orchestra – Balance of Power". swedishcharts.com. Archived from the original on 18 October 2012.
  16. ^ Hung, Steffen. "Electric Light Orchestra – Balance of Power". hitparade.ch. Archived from the original on 12 November 2012.
  17. ^ "Electric Light Orchestra". Offfical Charts Company. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  18. ^ "Balance of Power – Electric Light Orchestra : Awards". AllMusic.
  19. ^ "British album certifications – Electric Light Orchestra – Balance of Power". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
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