The Diary of Horace Wimp

The Diary of Horace Wimp is the title of a song recorded and released by Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) in 1979. The track features on their no.1 album Discovery and was released as a single in July reaching no.8 in the UK charts in August.

Written by group frontman Jeff Lynne, the song recounts a week in the life of fictional character Horace Wimp who in the space of one week meets a girl, proposes to her and marries her. The day by day account omits Saturday in order to present the days in three pairs. The song uses the characteristic mix of strings and choirs with conventional rock instruments as well as a synthesiser hook.

The Diary of Horace Wimp was the second of five tracks featured on four singles to be taken from Discovery, all of which reached the Top 10 in the UK in 1979. (see Discovery: Singles).

Single release

 * 7" Jet Records JET 150


 * A. The Diary of Horace Wimp


 * B. Down Home Town (taken from the ELO album Face the Music)

Both tracks produced by Jeff Lynne.