"A New World Record" is the sixth studio album by Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), released on October 15, 1976, in the US and November 19, 1976, in the UK. This album marked a significant shift in ELO's sound, with a move towards shorter pop songs that would characterize their later work. It was recorded at Musicland Studios in Munich and became the band's breakthrough in the UK, reaching the top ten for the first time. Globally successful, the album achieved multi-platinum status in both the US and UK, selling five million units worldwide within its first year.
The album features the debut of the ELO logo, designed by Kosh, which would become a staple on future releases. It produced several hit singles: "Livin' Thing," "Telephone Line," which became their first gold US single, "Rockaria!," and "Do Ya," a remake of The Move's 1972 single.
In 1977, four tracks from the album were included on the soundtrack of the film Joyride. The album was remastered and re-released in 2006 with bonus tracks, and in 2012, Music on Vinyl issued a 180-gram vinyl version with an embossed cover.
Jeff Lynne, the frontman of Electric Light Orchestra, reflected on the success of A New World Record with a sense of awe and accomplishment. He noted how the songwriting process had become more fluid, leading to a series of hits that transformed the band's fortunes from modest beginnings to significant success. His quote from the 2006 remaster highlights his surprise and pride at the dramatic shift in the band's popularity:
"The songs started to flow and most of them came quickly to me. To have all those hits, it was just ...I mean amazing really. Going from doing okay for probably three or four years to suddenly being in the big time, it was a strange but great thing." — Jeff Lynne, 2006; A New World Record remaster.
The album also featured uncredited backing vocals from Patti Quatro, Brie Brandt (both of Fanny), and Addie Lee, adding depth to the album's rich sound.
