A New World Record Songs Ranked

A New World Record is the sixth studio album by Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). It was released in September 1976 on United Artists Records in the U.S., and on 19 November 1976 on Jet Records in the United Kingdom. A New World Record marked ELO’s shift towards shorter pop songs, a trend which would continue across their career. In 1977, four of the album’s songs were featured on the soundtrack of the film Joyride. In 2006, the album was remastered and released with bonus tracks on Sony’s Epic/Legacy imprint. “Surrender” was also issued as a promotional single and an iTunes download single, which entered the top 100 download chart. The track was originally written in 1976 for a canceled film soundtrack and was finished in 2006. In July 2012, the all vinyl record company Music on Vinyl re-released A New World Record on 180-gram vinyl with an embossed cover. Here are all of A New World Record songs ranked.

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9. Shangri-La

“A New World Record ends with Shangri-La. I have only recently discovered that Shangri-La is generally synonymous with an earthly paradise and in particular a mythical Himalayan Utopia. It is also used as a metaphor similar to Eldorado, thus referencing ELO’s album two years earlier.”

8. Do Ya

“There’s that opening heavy riff, the building tension and drama, and those surreal lyrics…I heard Bev Bevan bashing on the drums, myself. It is, of course, a re-make of a song Lynne originally wrote and recorded in 1971 with “proto-ELO” band The Move (Lynne, Roy Wood, Bev Bevan, Rick Price) and the debate rages to this day as to which version is better. I’ll go with this 1976 ELO version, though…dynamic, crisp, and powerful.”

7. Mission (A World Record)

“Mission (A World Record)” is sad, chilling, and profound, and oh so lovely. It is both a re-visiting of some of the cosmic themes explored in ELO’s 1973 album, ON THE THIRD DAY, and also pre-figures the sci-fi imagery of OUT OF THE BLUE and TIME.”

See more: ELO Albums Ranked

6. Above the Clouds

“Above the Clouds” is simply sublime, a heavenly slice of balladry that wafts in and out all too quickly. It’s Brian Wilson-esque, in a very soulful way.”

5. Rockaria!

“Rockaria!” is a thrill-a-second, over-the-top romp that is well described by its title…it’s old-fashioned, foot-stomping rock and roll married with operatic flourishes, rolled up in a tongue-in-cheek story about a girl who’s “sweet on Wagner,” but not too hip when it comes to modern sounds–or is she?”

4. Livin’ Thing

“The classic “Livin’ Thing,” another huge hit, is the textbook definition of pure pop. Recently named by “Q” magazine as the #1 “Guilty Pleasure” single in rock history, it is–like Belgian chocolate, Lobster Thermidor, rich Corinthian leather, Cuban cigars, and glittery diamonds–a sublime indulgence. Who cannot immediately identify that swooping violin, Spanish guitar, castanets, and plucked strings which cascade into a giddily delicious chorus. And all of the flash delivers a positive, refreshingly innocent payload: love is a living thing…don’t throw it away.”

3. Telephone Line

“Telephone Line I once read described as a song that out-McCartneys McCartney and is one of Jeff Lynne’s most popular songs. Starting off with the tone of an American telephone (more refined than a British one of the time!) it’s lyrics concern a loss of contact, a theme Jeff would return to 10 years later in the form of Calling America.”

2. So Fine

“A generally upbeat song with Beach Boy harmonies, So Fine opens side two with an optimism that may have been lost by the downbeat mood of Mission or the dangers of Tightrope. It’s interesting highlight comes after the second chorus as all the instruments cuts out and return one by one in a sub-funk style that could have come from the Average White Band”

1. Tightrope

“Tightrope” is sheer brilliance; a seemless melding of orchestral grandeur with driving rock and roll. It’s a thoroughly gripping and dramatic opener where synths, strings, choirs, and guitar riffs all swirl together in a perfect summation of the ELO sound.”