On the Third Day

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. It was released in the United States in November 1973 by United Artists Records, and in the United Kingdom on 14 December 1973 by Warner Bros. Records. From this album on, the word The was dropped from the band's name. The album was reissued on 12 September 2006.

On the Third Day
Studio album by
Electric Light Orchestra
ReleasedNovember 1973
RecordedApril–May, August[1] 1973
StudioDe Lane Lea Studios, London; AIR Studios, London
GenreSymphonic rock, progressive rock
Length39:26
LabelWarner Bros., United Artists
ProducerJeff Lynne
Electric Light Orchestra chronology
ELO 2
(1973)		 On the Third Day
(1973)		 The Night the Light Went On in Long Beach
(1974)
Electric Light Orchestra studio album chronology
ELO 2
(1973)		 On the Third Day
(1973)		 Eldorado
(1974)
Singles from On the Third Day
  1. "Showdown"
    Released: 14 September 1973
  2. "Ma-Ma-Ma Belle"
    Released: February 1974
US cover
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music[3]
The Music Box[4]
MusicHound3/5[5]
Rolling Stone(unfavourable)[6]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[7]

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.[8] Side two of the album was recorded during or shortly after the sessions for ELO's second album ELO 2. On The Third Day contains shorter tracks than its predecessor, but 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 Wilfred 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 only as a single, and, because it was on a different label (Harvest) than the UK album, did not appear on that album. It was, however, included on the U.S. version of the album, because the band remained on United Artists Records in the U.S. Some copies of On the Third Day from this period had "Showdown" as the last track on side one. Although he didn't record on the album, Hugh McDowell did appear on this front cover of the U.S. album seen at right, which was an unusual photograph taken by famed photographer Richard Avedon that had ELO displaying their navels.[9]

Track listing

Original track listing

All tracks are written by Jeff Lynne, except where noted.

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Ocean Breakup / King of the Universe"4:07
2."Bluebird is Dead"4:24
3."Oh No Not Susan"3:07
4."New World Rising / Ocean Breakup (reprise)"4:05
5."Showdown" (Only on the original U.S. release and subsequent reissues)4:09
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."Daybreaker" 3:51
7."Ma-Ma-Ma Belle" 3:56
8."Dreaming of 4000" (listed as "I'm Only Dreaming" on the cassette tape version[10]) 5:04
9."In the Hall of the Mountain King"Edvard Grieg6:37
Total length:39:20
Bonus tracks on 2006 Reissue
No.TitleLength
10."Auntie" (Ma-Ma-Ma Belle Take 1)1:19
11."Auntie" (Ma-Ma-Ma Belle Take 2)4:05
12."Mambo" (Dreaming of 4000 Take 1)5:05
13."Everyone's Born to Die"3:43
14."Interludes"3:40

Personnel

Additional personnel
  • Wilf Gibson – violin (on tracks 5–14)
  • Colin Walker – cello (on tracks 5–14)
  • Marc Bolan - lead guitar (Ma Ma Ma Belle, Dreaming of 4000, Everyone's Born to Die)

Chart positions

References
  1. "Jeff Lynne Song Database - 1970s Songs". Jefflynnesongs.com. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  2. On the Third Day at AllMusic
  3. 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)
  4. "Electric Light Orchestra - On the Third Day (Album Review)". Musicbox-online.com. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  5. 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.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  6. "Rolling Stone review". Archived from the original on 25 August 2007.
  7. 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)
  8. "Electric Light Orchestra - Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  9. "ACHOF Interview with designer and illustrator John Kehe". Album Cover Hall of Fame.com. 28 July 2020. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  10. "Electric Light Orchestra - On The Third Day". Discogs.com. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  11. "Electric Light Orchestra - On The Third Day". Discogs.com. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  12. Kiste, John Van der (19 August 2017). "Electric Light Orchestra: Song by Song". Fonthill Media. Retrieved 11 May 2019 – via Google Books.
  13. "Jeff Lynne Song Database - Exposing the Secrets!". Jefflynnesongs.com. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  14. "Electric Light Orchestra". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
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