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Turn to Stone (Electric Light Orchestra song)
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Turn to Stone
| cover = turnstone.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Electric Light Orchestra
| album = Out of the Blue
| B-side = Mister Kingdom
| released = 14 October 1977 (UK)
| recorded =
| studio = Musicland, Munich, Germany
| genre =
| length = 3:47
| label = Jet
| writer = Jeff Lynne
| producer = Jeff Lynne
| prev_title = Telephone Line
| prev_year = 1977
| next_title = Mr. Blue Sky
| next_year = 1978
| misc =
}}
"'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 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 and number nine 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." 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".
'Billboard' called "Turn to Stone" a "driving, high energy rocker" with a "demonic cello [setting] the pace."
'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."
Personnel
*Jeff Lynne lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar
*Bev Bevan Slingerland drums, various percussion instruments, backing vocals
*Richard Tandy Minimoog, Hohner clavinet, Mellotron M400
*Kelly Groucutt Gibson G3 bass guitar, backing vocals
*Mik Kaminski violin
*Hugh McDowell cello
*Melvyn Gale cello
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
Jeff Lynne version
Jeff 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.
References
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