Getting to the Point

"Getting to the Point"
Single by Electric Light Orchestra
from the album Balance of Power
B-side	"Secret Lives" "ELO Megamix" (12" only)
Released	11 July 1986 (UK)
Recorded	1985, Compass Point, Nassau, Bahamas and Hartmann Digital Untertrubach, Germany
Genre	Soft rock, progressive rock
Length	4:30
Label	CBS Associated (US) Epic (UK)
Writer(s)	Jeff Lynne
Producer(s)	Jeff Lynne
Electric Light Orchestra singles chronology
"So Serious" (1986) "Getting to the Point" (1986) "Destination Unknown" (1990)

"Getting to the Point" is a song by the rock music group Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) from their 1986 album Balance of Power. Released in the UK as the last single from the album in July 1986, it would be the last original release from the band for some fifteen years.

Overview

Due to a strike on Epic's distribution department at the time of its release, the single did not make much of an impression on the singles chart. Its highest position was reported at number 95 in the UK. There was no release in the rest of Europe. A small number of copies were sold by a German reseller called DISC CENTER.

The B-Side of this single is the 1986 Balance of Power album-track "Secret Lives". It was meant to be a separate single outtake as labelled on the Balance of Power album cover (Dutch pressings with JET or EPIC Label Catno. 26467).

There was also a UK 12 inch Epic 3 track version with the "ELO Megamix" on the B-side. The mix featured the songs from A New World Record, Out of the Blue, Discovery, Time and Balance of Power. Mixed by Paul Dakeyne for DMC, the sound quality of it was somewhat poor.

The song was later covered by Mark Bram, from the band Ruby Topaz, on the Ruby Topaz "Rarities" CD (CD Baby and iTunes). Mark did all the instruments and vocals.

Track listing

All songs written by Jeff Lynne.

7"

1. "Getting to the Point" – 4:28
2. "Secret Lives" – 3:26

12"

1. "Getting to the Point" – 4:28
2. "ELO Megamix" ("Don't Bring Me Down/Sweet Talkin' Woman/Livin' Thing/Calling America/So Serious/Shine a Little Love/Twilight/Turn to Stone/Hold on Tight") – 9:57
3. "Secret Lives" – 3:26

Chart positions

Chart (1986)	Peak Position
UK Singles Chart[1]	97

References

1. "Chart Stats - Electric Light Orchestra". chartstats.com. Retrieved 2010-08-05.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics