Zoom (Electric Light Orchestra album)

Zoom
Studio album by Electric Light Orchestra
Released	12 June 2001
Recorded	2000
Genre	Rock, cello rock, symphonic rock
Length	43:36
Label	Epic
Producer	Jeff Lynne
Electric Light Orchestra chronology
The Ultimate Collection (2001) Zoom (2001) The Electric Light Orchestra (First Light Series) (2001)
Electric Light Orchestra studio album chronology
Balance of Power (1986) Zoom (2001) Alone in the Universe (2015)
Singles from Zoom
"Alright" Released: 23 May 2001 (Europe only; except UK) "Moment in Paradise" Released: 3 September 2001 (Europe only; except UK)

Zoom is the twelfth studio album by British symphonic rock band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), released on 12 June 2001 on Epic Records. It was the first official ELO album since 1986's Balance of Power.

Recording

Zoom was recorded primarily by Jeff Lynne alone, with guest musicians that included George Harrison and Ringo Starr. It was one of Harrison's last recordings before his death. The only other ELO member appearing on the album, Richard Tandy, appears on one track and performed live in promotional concerts.

Release

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Goldmine	[2]
Q	[3]
Rolling Stone	[4]

The album was the band's first release of new material since Balance of Power, released in 1986. Although billed as a return to the classic ELO sound, the album sales were relatively poor and a planned North American concert tour was cancelled. Upon release, the album charted at number 34 in the UK Albums Chart.^[5] In the US, it debuted at number 94 on Billboard 200,^[6] number 14 on Billboard Top Internet Albums chart,^[7] with around 18,000 copies sold in the United States. As of October 2015, the album has sold 87,000 copies in the US.^[8]

The album peaked at number 51 on Austria's Ö3 Austria Top 40 Longplay chart,^[9] and number 16 on Germany's Media Control Album Chart.^[10] The single from the album "Alright" peaked at number 87 on the Dutch Top 40 chart in the Netherlands.^[11]

A remaster by Frontiers was released on 19 April 2013 in the UK, and on 23 April 2013 in the US, and included two previously unreleased bonus tracks; one of them being a live recording from the 2001 Zoom Tour Live PBS taping at CBS Television City in Los Angeles.^[12] "Long Black Road" was included along with "10538 Overture" in the soundtrack for the 2013 film American Hustle.^[13]

Track listing

All songs written by Jeff Lynne.

1. "Alright" – 3:13
2. "Moment in Paradise" – 3:36
3. "State of Mind" – 3:04
4. "Just for Love" – 3:40
5. "Stranger on a Quiet Street" – 3:41
6. "In My Own Time" – 3:03
7. "Easy Money" – 2:50
8. "It Really Doesn't Matter" – 3:20
9. "Ordinary Dream" – 3:23
10. "A Long Time Gone" – 3:15
11. "Melting in the Sun" – 3:10
12. "All She Wanted" – 3:14
13. "Lonesome Lullaby" – 4:02

Japanese bonus track

14. "Long Black Road" – 3:22

2013 remaster bonus tracks

14. "One Day"

    Recorded 2004; previously unreleased

15. "Turn to Stone"

    Live from CBS Television City, 2001

2013 Japanese bonus tracks^[14]

14. "One Day"

    Recorded 2004; previously unreleased

15. "Do Ya"

    Live from CBS Television City, 2001

16. "Lucky Motel"

    Previously unreleased

Personnel

• Jeff Lynne – Vocals, Backing Vocals, Electric Guitars, Bass, Keyboards, Cello, Drums.

Guest musicians

• Richard Tandy – Keyboards ("Alright")
• George Harrison – Slide guitar ("A Long Time Gone" and "All She Wanted")
• Ringo Starr – Drums ("Moment in Paradise" and "Easy Money")
• Marc Mann – Rhythm Guitar ("Moment in Paradise"), String arrangements ("In My Own Time" and "Melting in the Sun")
• Suzie Katayama – Cello ("Just for Love", "Stranger on a Quiet Street" and "All She Wanted")
• Roger Lebow – Cello ("Lonesome Lullaby")
• Dave Boruff – Saxophone ("A Long Time Gone")
• Laura Lynne – Backing Vocals ("All She Wanted")
• Rosie Vela – Backing Vocals ("Alright", "All She Wanted"), Spoken Parts and Tap dancing ("In My Own Time")
• Kris Wilkinson – String arrangements ("Ordinary Dream")

Charts

References