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Secret Messages

Released: 24 June 1983

UK Chart Position 4

Single Releases

Rock n Roll Is King - A3500 Black Vinyl  7" & 12"

UK Chart - 13

Secret Messages  A 3720

7" & 7" Picture Disc

UK Chart - 48

Four Little Diamonds

A 3869 - 7" & 12" Black Vinyl

UK Chart - 84

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


Re-issue CD Bonus tracks (2001 remaster)
No Way Out
Endless Lies
After All

Personnel

Jeff Lynne

Bev Bevan

Richard Tandy

Kelly Groucutt

Mik Kaminski

Louis Clark

elo_secret_messages.jpg
Secret Messages Jet LX527
Secret Messages JETLX 527 Side 2

Format

Vinyl

Label

Jet Records

Catalogue

JET LX527

Country

UK

Notes

1st UK 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.

Secret Messages CDJET 527

Format

CD

Label

Jet Records

Catalogue

CDJET 527

Re-Issue Year

1983

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.

Secret Messages CDJET 527 Rear Inlay.jpg

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.

Also sold in the UK.

Secret Messages EPC 462487 2
elo_secret_messages.jpg
Secret Messages EPC 502496 2
Secret Messages CD Remaster Booklet

Format

CD

Label

Epic

Catalogue

 502496 2

Re-Issue Year

June 2001

Notes

Re-Issue - Re-master with 3 extra tracks that were meant to be on the double album issue. Plus expanded fold out poster style booklet with history and information on the album.

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

Secret Messages Double LP
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 - Missing

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

elo_secret_messages_2018.jpg
Secret Messages 19075837691
Secret Messages 19075837691
Secret Messages 19075837691
Secret Messages 19075837691

Format

Double Vinyl

Label

Epic

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.

Comes with plain white windowed paper inner sleeves, no lyrics.

Secret Messages 19075837691
Secret Messages 19075837691
Secret Messages 19075837691
Secret Messages Original Planned LP Cover
Secret Messages 19075837691
Secret Messages 19075837691
Secret Messages 19075837691
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