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[2] 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[3] and number nine in Canada in early 1978.[4]
The song was composed in Switzerland during Jeff Lynne's two-week writing marathon for his double album. Lynne played the Moogbassline of the song.
Lynne has called "Turn to Stone" one of his favorite songs, saying "It’s just so primary and simple, but yet very evocative. I love the shuffle beat."[5] Lynne has also said "There’s a part in the middle where I talk super fast. I just felt like it needed something simple in the middle of the song. I often used to put a funny little piece in a song just in case I get bored with it. I’d go, 'Well, maybe this is going on too long. I’ll think of something daft to put in there.'"[5]
On 4 November 2008, Lynne was awarded a BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.) Million-Air certificate for "Turn to Stone" for having one million airplays.
AllMusic reviewer Zachary Curd called the song "Essentially a love song, 'Turn to Stone' is orchestrated, computerized, epic rock music courtesy of Jeff Lynne."[6] 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 falsettoharmonies that interact with Lynne's lead vocal in call and response style".[7]
Billboard called "Turn to Stone" a "driving, high energy rocker" with a "demonic cello [setting] the pace."[8]Record World said of it that "Echoes of a dozen pop hits resonate through [the song], yet the record clearly bears the Jeff Lynne stamp."[9]
Ultimate Classic Rock critic Michael Gallucci rated it ELO's 5th best song, saying that it "comes with a Godzilla-size hook that stomps over everything in its way" and that the symphony of strings on the refrains is "awesome."[10]
^ abPotter, Jordan (6 December 2023). "The ELO song Jeff Lynne calls a favourite: "It's just so primary and simple"". Far Out. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
^Curd, Zachary. . AllMusic. Archived from the original on 4 January 2011.
^Guarisco, Donald A. "Turn to Stone – Song Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
^"Billboard's Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. 19 November 1977. p. 98. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
^"Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. 19 November 1977. p. 1. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
^Gallucci, Michael (30 December 2014). "Top 10 Electric Light Orchestra Songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
^"Mr. Blue Sky – The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra". Elo.biz. 5 October 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
External linksedit
Electric Light Orchestra - Turn to Stone (Audio) on YouTube
January 01, 1970
turn, stone, electric, light, orchestra, song, turn, stone, 1977, song, electric, light, orchestra, turn, stone, single, electric, light, orchestrafrom, album, blueb, side, mister, kingdom, released14, october, 1977, studiomusicland, munich, germanygenrerockpo. Turn to Stone is a 1977 song by Electric Light Orchestra ELO Turn to Stone Single by Electric Light Orchestrafrom the album Out of the BlueB side Mister Kingdom Released14 October 1977 UK 1 StudioMusicland Munich GermanyGenreRockpopLength3 47LabelJetSongwriter s Jeff LynneProducer s Jeff LynneElectric Light Orchestra singles chronology Telephone Line 1977 Turn to Stone 1977 Mr Blue Sky 1978 Music video Turn to Stone on YouTube 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 2 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 3 and number nine in Canada in early 1978 4 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 Lynne has called Turn to Stone one of his favorite songs saying It s just so primary and simple but yet very evocative I love the shuffle beat 5 Lynne has also said There s a part in the middle where I talk super fast I just felt like it needed something simple in the middle of the song I often used to put a funny little piece in a song just in case I get bored with it I d go Well maybe this is going on too long I ll think of something daft to put in there 5 On 4 November 2008 Lynne was awarded a BMI Broadcast Music Inc Million Air certificate for Turn to Stone for having one million airplays Contents 1 Reviews 2 Charts 2 1 Weekly charts 2 2 Year end charts 3 Certifications 4 Jeff Lynne version 5 References 6 External linksReviews editAllMusic reviewer Zachary Curd called the song Essentially a love song Turn to Stone is orchestrated computerized epic rock music courtesy of Jeff Lynne 6 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 7 Billboard called Turn to Stone a driving high energy rocker with a demonic cello setting the pace 8 Record World said of it that Echoes of a dozen pop hits resonate through the song yet the record clearly bears the Jeff Lynne stamp 9 Ultimate Classic Rock critic Michael Gallucci rated it ELO s 5th best song saying that it comes with a Godzilla size hook that stomps over everything in its way and that the symphony of strings on the refrains is awesome 10 Charts editWeekly charts edit Chart 1977 1978 Peakposition Australia Kent Music Report 11 17 Belgium Ultratop 50 Flanders 12 30 Canada Top Singles RPM 4 9 Germany Official German Charts 13 32 Netherlands Dutch Top 40 14 11 Netherlands Single Top 100 1 23 New Zealand Recorded Music NZ 15 21 South Africa Springbok Radio 16 17 Spain AFYVE 17 25 Sweden Sverigetopplistan 18 10 UK Singles OCC 2 18 US Billboard Hot 100 3 13 US Cash Box 19 11 US Record World 20 9 Year end charts edit Chart 1978 Rank Canada Top Singles RPM 21 94 US Billboard Hot 100 22 94 US Cash Box 23 91Certifications editRegion Certification Certified units sales Canada 75 000 24 United States RIAA 25 Gold 500 000 Sales streaming figures based on certification alone Jeff Lynne version editJeff Lynne re recorded the song in his home studio It was released in a compilation album with other re recorded ELO songs under the ELO name 26 References edit a b Electric Light Orchestra Turn To Stone in Dutch Single Top 100 Retrieved 2 July 2013 a b Official Singles Chart Top 100 Official Charts Company Retrieved 21 July 2014 a b Electric Light Orchestra Awards AllMusic Retrieved 21 July 2014 a b Top RPM Singles Issue 5458a RPM Library and Archives Canada Retrieved 2 July 2013 a b Potter Jordan 6 December 2023 The ELO song Jeff Lynne calls a favourite It s just so primary and simple Far Out Retrieved 25 January 2024 Curd Zachary Turn to Stone AllMusic Archived from the original on 4 January 2011 Guarisco Donald A Turn to Stone Song Review AllMusic Retrieved 3 July 2013 Billboard s Top Single Picks PDF Billboard 19 November 1977 p 98 Retrieved 11 July 2020 Hits of the Week PDF Record World 19 November 1977 p 1 Retrieved 16 February 2023 Gallucci Michael 30 December 2014 Top 10 Electric Light Orchestra Songs Ultimate Classic Rock Retrieved 4 June 2022 Kent David 1993 Australian Chart Book 1970 1992 St Ives N S W Australian Chart Book ISBN 0 646 11917 6 Electric Light Orchestra Turn To Stone in Dutch Ultratop 50 Retrieved 2 July 2013 Electric Light Orchestra Turn To Stone in German GfK Entertainment charts Retrieved 2 July 2013 Nederlandse Top 40 week 49 1977 in Dutch Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 2 July 2013 Electric Light Orchestra Turn To Stone Top 40 Singles Retrieved 2 July 2013 South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 1989 Acts E Rock co za Retrieved 29 April 2013 Salaverri Fernando September 2005 Solo exitos ano a ano 1959 2002 in Spanish 1st ed Spain Fundacion Autor SGAE ISBN 84 8048 639 2 Electric Light Orchestra Turn To Stone Singles Top 100 Retrieved 2 July 2013 CASH BOX Top 100 Singles Week ending JANUARY 21 1978 Cash Box Archived from the original on 4 October 2012 The Singles Chart PDF Record World 22 January 1978 p 45 ISSN 0034 1622 Retrieved 17 September 2017 Top 200 Singles of 78 RPM Vol 30 no 14 Library and Archives Canada 30 December 1978 Retrieved 18 July 2018 Top 100 Hits for 1978 The Longbored Surfer Retrieved 21 July 2014 The CASH BOX Year End Charts 1978 Cash Box Archived from the original on 26 August 2012 Singles Still Sell At RCA PDF Billboard 1 April 1978 p 75 Retrieved 4 January 2023 American single certifications Electric Light Orchestra Turn to Stone Recording Industry Association of America Retrieved 28 April 2021 Mr Blue Sky The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra Elo biz 5 October 2012 Retrieved 28 February 2013 External links editElectric Light Orchestra Turn to Stone Audio on YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Turn to Stone Electric Light Orchestra song amp oldid 1211884332, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
