On the Third Day

On the Third Day
File:On the third day uk cover.jpg
Studio album by Electric Light Orchestra
Released	November 1973 (US) 14 December 1973 (UK) 12 September 2006 (Reissue)
Recorded	April – May 1973 at De Lane Lea Studios, London and AIR Studios, London
Genre	Symphonic rock, progressive rock
Length	39:26
Label	Warner Bros. (UK) United Artists (US)
Producer	Jeff Lynne
Electric Light Orchestra chronology
ELO 2 (1973)ELO 21973 On the Third Day (1973) The Night the Light Went On in Long Beach (1974)The Night the Light Went On in Long Beach1974
Singles from On the Third Day
"Showdown" Released: 14 September 1973 "Ma-Ma-Ma Belle" Released: February 1974
US alternate album cover
US alternate album cover

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.

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
Music Box
Rolling Stone	(unfavourable)

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. Side two of the album was recorded during or shortly after the sessions for ELO's LP ELO 2, but unlike its predecessor it contains shorter tracks. By contrast, 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 Wilf 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 on single only and, since it was on a different label (Harvest) than the UK LP, did not appear on the original UK LP. It was, however, included on the US LP. Although he didn't actually record on the album, Hugh McDowell did appear on this front cover of the US LP seen at right, which was an unusual photograph taken by famed photographer Richard Avedon that had ELO displaying their belly-buttons. In 2006, New Zealand rap group Frontline sampled a piece of "Dreaming of 4000" for their latest release "Hold 'em".

Track listing

All songs written by Jeff Lynne, unless noted.

Original track listing

Side one

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

Side two

1. "Daybreaker" – 3:51
2. "Ma-Ma-Ma Belle" – 3:56
3. "Dreaming of 4000" – 5:04
4. "In the Hall of the Mountain King" (Edvard Grieg) – 6:37

Reissue track listing

Compact disc tracklisting

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" – 4:09
6. "Daybreaker" (Tandy) – 3:51
7. "Ma-Ma-Ma Belle" – 3:56
8. "Dreaming of 4000" – 5:04
9. "In the Hall of the Mountain King" (Grieg) – 6:37

Bonus tracks

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

• Jeff Lynne – vocals, guitars
• Bev Bevan – drums, percussion
• Richard Tandy – piano, Moog, clavinet, Wurlitzer electric piano
• Mike de Albuquerque – bass, backing vocals
• Marc Bolan - guitar (on tracks 7-8)
• Mike Edwards – cello
• Wilf Gibson – violin (on tracks 5–14)
• Colin Walker – cello (on tracks 5–14)
• Mik Kaminski – violin (on tracks 1–4)

Chart positions and runs

• US: number 31 CashBox; number 52 Billboard 200
• UK: did not chart on its own when first released, but reached number 38 in 1978 as part of the 3-LP box-set Three Light Years.
• AUS: number 46 ARIA Albums Chart
• CAN: number 40 RPM Albums Chart

External links

• On the Third Day Remastered Info at ftmusic