Secret Messages
Released: June 1983
Holland Chart Position 5
Single Releases
Rock n Roll Is King Jet 7034
Black Vinyl 7" & 12"
Holland Chart - 8
Secret Messages Jet 7038
7" & 12" Black Vinyl
Holland Chart - -
Four Little Diamonds
Jet 3869 - 7" & 12" Black Vinyl
Holland Chart -
Stranger
Jet 4070 - 7" Black Vinyl
Holland Chart -
Album Track Listing
Side one
Secret Messages
Loser Gone Wild
Bluebird
Take Me On and On
Time After Time (CD only)
Side two
Four Little Diamonds
Stranger
Danger Ahead
Letter from Spain
Train of Gold
Rock 'n' Roll Is King
Format
Vinyl
Label
Jet Records
Catalogue
JET LX527
Country
Holland / Europe
Notes
1st Holland Original Issue. On Jet label with yellow / pink light beams. The album was originally planned to be a double album, but was thwarted by Jet's distributor, CBS Records, claiming that producing a double vinyl album would be too expensive.
As a result Jeff Lynne had to reduce it to a single album.
With printed paper inner lyric sleeve.
There are 3 versions:
-
One with ELO logo on the LP label
-
One with ELO logo & a small * STAR on the label
-
One with the full name "Electric Light Orchestra" on the LP label and a * STAR.
Missing From My Collection
Format
Vinyl
Label
Jet Records
Catalogue
JETLX 527 / JETCL 400705
Re-Issue Year
1983 - Holland / Europe
Notes
Issue for a German entertainment club called Bertelsmann. "Club Edition" printed on rear sleeve top right under the Jet Logo
Came with printed paper inner lyric sleeve.
There is also a version with LESS Rim Text - Missing Image.
Format
CD
Label
Jet Records
Catalogue
CDJET 527
Re-Issue Year
1983 - Holland / Europe / UK
Notes
1st UK/Europe issue on CD. Secret Messages album was the first ELO album to be digitally recorded.
The text on the CD rim says “Manufactured by CBS\Sony Inc. Made In Japan” at the end.
The booklet was printed in Holland.
The CD contained one extra track "Time After Time" that was not on the Vinyl issue.
Missing From My Collection
Format
Vinyl
Label
Epic
Catalogue
EPC 462487 1
Re-Issue Year
Nov 1988 - Holland / Europe
Notes
Re-Issue on "Nice Price" Grey Epic label only in Holland. With printed paper inner lyric sleeve.
Also issued with a different Epic logo style/font printed on the LP label, see below.
See more info on the "Nice Price" issue range HERE
Format
CD
Label
Epic
Catalogue
EPC 462487 2
Re-Issue Year
1988 - Holland / Europe
Notes
Re-Issue on Epic in Holland/Europe with mono lyric booklet.
All further re-issue's were Europe/UK wide releases that are covered in the UK Studio Album Section HERE
Until August 2018.
When viewed and played as a double album, Secret Messages is one of ELO greatest albums. Finally in August 2018 it was released as double LP and MP3/FLAC download, minus one track that may have not made the original planned issue anyway.
Original intended track listing for double album
Side A
Secret Messages
Loser Gone Wild
Bluebird
Take Me On and On
Side B
Stranger
No Way Out
Beatles Forever
Letter from Spain
Danger Ahead
Side C
Four Little Diamonds
Train of Gold
Endless Lies
Buildings Have Eyes
Motor Factory/Rock 'n' Roll is King
Side D
Mandalay
Time After Time
After All
Hello My Old Friend
Format
Double Vinyl
Label
Jet Records
Catalogue
19075837691
Country
UK / Europe
Issue Year
3rd August 2018
Notes
UK/ Europe double 180gm LP Issue on Epic Legacy label. For the first time ever, ELO’s Secret Messages has been released as a double album on August 3rd 2018. Jeff Lynne’s eclectic creation of self-written, self-produced songs come to life as originally conceived in 1983. This 2 LP release adds six tracks to its running order, all with cutting-edge synthesizers as well as up-front guitar mastery.
The European issue has a different worded Gold sticker on the LP cover, see below. Comes with plain white windowed paper inner sleeves, no lyrics.
