Turn to Stone (Electric Light Orchestra song)

"Turn to Stone"
Single by Electric Light Orchestra
from the album Out of the Blue
B-side "Mister Kingdom"
Released
  • 29 October 1977 (UK)
  • November 1977 (US)
Format 7" single
Recorded
Length 3:47
Label Jet
Writer(s) Jeff Lynne
Producer(s) Jeff Lynne
Electric Light Orchestra singles chronology
"Telephone Line"
(1977)		 "Turn to Stone"
(1977)		 "Mr. Blue Sky"
(1978)

"Turn to Stone" is a 1977 song by Electric Light Orchestra (ELO).

The song is the opening track to the double album Out of the Blue. It was the first song released as a single from the LP. The single reached No. 18 in the United Kingdom charts[1] and spent twelve weeks on the chart. Out of four singles from the album, "Turn to Stone" was the only song not to reach the top ten in the United Kingdom singles charts. The song reached No. 13 in the United States[2] and number one in Canada in early 1978.

The song was composed in Switzerland during Jeff Lynne's two week writing marathon for his double album. Lynne played the Moog bassline of the song.

On 4 November 2008, Lynne was awarded a BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.) Million-Air certificate for "Turn to Stone" for having one million airplays.

Reviews

AllMusic reviewer Zachary Curd called the song "Essentially a love song, "Turn to Stone" is orchestrated, computerized, epic rock music courtesy of Jeff Lynne."[3] The song was also reviewed by Donald A. Guarisco who stated "This dynamic opener from the Out of the Blue album is a good example of Electric Light Orchestra’s skill for mixing string-laden pop hooks with driving rock and roll." He also stated "It also works in an array of swirling string lines that dart in and out of the mix and some dazzling falsetto harmonies that interact with Lynne's lead vocal in call and response style".[4]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1977–1978) Peak
Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[5] 17
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[6] 30
Belgium (VRT Top 30 Flanders)[7] 27
Canada (CHUM)[8] 1
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[9] 9
France (IFOP)[10] 68
Germany (Official German Charts)[11] 32
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[12] 11
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[13] 23
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[14] 21
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[15] 17
Spain (AFYVE)[16] 25
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[17] 10
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[1] 18
US Billboard Hot 100[2] 13
US Cash Box[18] 11
US Record World[19] 9

Year-end charts

Chart (1978) Rank
Canada (RPM Top 200 Singles)[20] 94
US Billboard Hot 100[21] 94
US Cash Box[22] 91

Jeff Lynne version

"Turn to Stone"
Song by Electric Light Orchestra from the album Mr. Blue Sky: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra
Released
  • 8 October 2012 (UK)
  • 9 October 2012 (US)
Recorded 2001–2012 Bungalow Palace
Length 3:46
Label Frontiers
Writer(s) Jeff Lynne
Producer(s) Jeff Lynne
Mr. Blue Sky: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra track listing

Jeff Lynne re-recorded the song in his own home studio. It was released in a compilation album with other re-recorded ELO songs, under the ELO name.[23]

The song featured in the Doctor Who episode "Love & Monsters" (2006), along with "Mr. Blue Sky" and "Don't Bring Me Down", both of which were performed by characters in the episode.[24]

The song is also featured in the movie Detroit Rock City.

References

  1. 1 2 "Archive Chart: 1977-12-10" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Electric Light Orchestra – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  3. ↑ Turn to Stone at the Wayback Machine (archived 4 January 2011). AllMusic.
  4. ↑ Guarisco, Donald A. "Turn to Stone – Song Review". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  5. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  6. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Electric Light Orchestra – Turn To Stone" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  7. ↑ "Radio2 top 30: 3 december 1977" (in Dutch). Top 30. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  8. ↑ CHART NUMBER 1099 – Saturday, February 04, 1978 at the Wayback Machine (archived 29 July 2007). CHUM.
  9. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 5458a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  10. ↑ "InfoDisc : Tous les Titres par Artiste" (in French). InfoDisc. Select "Electric Light Orchestra" from the artist drop-down menu. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  11. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Electric Light Orchestra – Turn To Stone". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  12. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Electric Light Orchestra - Turn To Stone search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  13. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Electric Light Orchestra – Turn To Stone" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  14. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Electric Light Orchestra – Turn To Stone". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  15. ↑ "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (E)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  16. ↑ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  17. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Electric Light Orchestra – Turn To Stone". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  18. ↑ CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending JANUARY 21, 1978 at the Wayback Machine (archived 4 October 2012). Cash Box magazine.
  19. ↑ RECORD WORLD 1978 at the Wayback Machine (archived 9 May 2006). Record World. Geocities.com.
  20. ↑ "Top Singles – Volume 30, No. 14, December 30 1978". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  21. ↑ "Top 100 Hits for 1978". The Longbored Surfer. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  22. ↑ The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1978 at the Wayback Machine (archived 26 August 2012). Cash Box magazine.
  23. ↑ "Mr. Blue Sky – The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra". Elo.biz. 5 October 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  24. ↑ Writer Russell T Davies, Director Dan Zeff, Producer Phil Collinson (17 June 2006). "Love & Monsters". Doctor Who. Cardiff. BBC. BBC One.
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