Electric Light Orchestra - Secret Messages - First issued 23rd June 1983 on Jet Records label & 3rd August 2018 (double LP) on Epic/Legacy in the USA
Due to the size of the USA and various pressing plants around the USA, it is nearly impossible to collect and show all the different label variations. So instead, listed below are the main found issues of ELO's "Secret Messages" album issues on LP & CD in the USA.
Single Releases
Rock N Roll Is King ZS4 03964
Four Little Diamonds
ZS4 04130
Stranger ZS4 04208
Title
Secret Messages
Format
Vinyl
Label
Jet Records
Catalogue
QZ 38490
Issue Date
23 June 1983
Chart Position
36
Notes
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 thick paper inner sleeve with printed lyrics & band photo.
Format
CD
Label
Jet Records
Catalogue
ZK 38490
Issue Date
June 1983
Notes
First USA issue on CD.
Includes Time After Time as track 5 on the CD, but the lyrics and track details are not included on the folder out lyric booklet.... And bizarrely all the track details are missing from the "page scroll" rear booklet cover and rear jewel case inlay !
Plus all reference to backward messages has been removed from the booklet and rear jewel case inlay.
All CD’s in the USA were released in long boxes, until in 1991 when the US record industry turned against it. Because of ecological reasons & decreasing the costs for a CD.
Format
Vinyl
Label
Jet Records
Catalogue
HZ 48490
Re-Issue Date
September 1983
Notes
Half-speed mastered album, as printed on disk labels and upper front jacket.
Including a grey double sided lyric sheet that is impossible to read !
The LP is in a plastic sleeve.
Format
CD
Label
Jet Records
Catalogue
ZK 38490
Re-Issue Date
1990
Notes
"Nice Price" CD issue in 1990 by Jet/CBS records, booklet including full lyrics.
Again it includes Time After Time as track 5 on the CD, but the lyrics and track details are not included on the folder out lyric booklet.... And bizarrely all the track details are still missing from the "page scroll" rear booklet cover and rear jewel case inlay !
Plus all reference to backward messages has been removed from the booklet and rear jewel case inlay.
There is another pressing issue with the disc label having a different track layout and a larger font/type face.
Missing From My Collection
Format
CD
Label
Epic
Catalogue
EK 85424
Re-Issue Date
2001
Notes
Re-Master CD issue in 2001 by Epic. With full colour foldout booklet with album/band info and original sleeve photos/images.
There are 2 different Bar Code versions from 2001 + 2009
All other codes/CD/artwork are the same as the standard issue.
The first UK/European/USA CD issues had a pressing error. Rock & Roll Is King has the "thank you for listening " intro but not the "welcome to the show" outro !
This was corrected on later pressings. - Credit Max Cawthray
Missing From My Collection
Format
CD
Label
Epic
Catalogue
AEK 85424 - Promo
Re-Issue Date
2001
Notes
Re-Issue - 2001 - Advance CD - Not for sale
Front and back have large green/blue stickers on white cardboard sleeve.
Bonus Tracks are listed as Previously Unreleased.
The first UK/European/USA CD issues had a pressing error. Rock & Roll Is King has the "thank you for listening " intro but not the "welcome to the show" outro !
This was corrected on later pressings. - Credit Max Cawthray
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.
Format
Double Vinyl
Label
Epic/Legacy
Catalogue
19075837691
Country
USA
Issue Year
3rd August 2018
Notes
USA 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.
With plain white windowed paper inner sleeves, no lyrics.
For the "Made In USA" issue, it had the same Cat. Number as the UK/Europe issue, but with the rear sleeve missing the "Sony Music" icon and there is less/different LP label rim text as compared to the UK/Europe issue.
