"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[3] 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 UK singles charts. The song reached No. 13 in the United States[4] 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.
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Details[edit][]
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 allmusic reviewer 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 pophooks 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".
In popular culture[edit][]
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.[5]
The song is also featured in the movie Detroit Rock City.
Chart positions[edit][]
| Chart (1977-1978) | Peak
Position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[6] | 17 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[7] | 30 |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles[8] | 9 |
| France (SNEP) | 9 |
| Germany (Media Control AG)[9] | 32 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[10] | 11 |
| Netherlands (Mega Single Top 100)[11] | 23 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[12] | 21 |
| South African Chart[13] | 17 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[14] | 10 |
| UK (Official Charts Company)[3] | 18 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[4] | 13 |
| US Cash Box Top 100 Singles | 11 |
| US Record World Singles[15] | 9 |
| US Billboard Year-End | 94 |
Jeff Lynne version[edit][]
| "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 | Jeff Lynne | ||
| Producer | 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.