Light Years, The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra

Last updated

Light Years, The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra
Light Years ELO.PNG
Greatest hits album by
Electric Light Orchestra
ReleasedNovember 1997
RecordedJuly 1970–January 1986
Genre Rock
Length148:04
Label Epic Records
Producer Jeff Lynne
Electric Light Orchestra chronology
Strange Magic: The Best of Electric Light Orchestra
(1995)		Light Years, The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra
(1997)		 Live at Wembley '78
(1998)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [2]

Light Years, The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra is a two CD compilation album by Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), released in 1997.

Contents

The album celebrates the band's 25th Anniversary singles career starting in 1972 and contains all of ELO's 29 UK hit singles plus other single edits that either didn't chart or were hits in other countries.

All the songs included are reputed to be the edited 7" single versions; analysis of the vinyl 7" singles contradicts the claim. For example, the intro/count-in of "Four Little Diamonds" was trimmed from the original 7", but included here; the intro of "Strange Magic" was shorter on the 7".

It is also the first ELO compilation to feature the song "Across the Border" which was scheduled to be released as an EP track in 1980 but was withdrawn. Although not in chronological order, it is however the most comprehensive assemblage of the band's hits of the many compilations available.

The album reached 60 in the UK Album Charts. [3] The album was also released in Europe with an identical track order under the titles, The Swedish Collection and The Danish Collection released in 2000.

Track listing

Disc one
No.TitleOriginal albumLength
1."Turn to Stone" Out of the Blue , 19773:47
2."Evil Woman" Face the Music , 19754:15
3."Livin' Thing" A New World Record , 19763:32
4."Twilight" Time , 19813:37
5."Telephone Line"A New World Record4:41
6."Four Little Diamonds" Secret Messages , 19834:06
7."Xanadu" (with Olivia Newton-John) Xanadu soundtrack, 19803:27
8."Last Train to London" Discovery , 19794:32
9."Strange Magic" (7" edit)Face the Music4:06
10."Ma-Ma-Ma Belle" (7" edit) On the Third Day , 19733:11
11."Confusion"Discovery3:40
12."Rock 'n' Roll Is King"Secret Messages3:05
13."The Way Life's Meant to Be"Time4:39
14."Can't Get It Out of My Head" (7" edit) Eldorado , 19743:07
15."Secret Messages" (Special version from the LP)Secret Messages3:34
16."Calling America" Balance of Power , 19863:28
17."Don't Walk Away"Xanadu soundtrack 4:39
18."Don't Bring Me Down"Discovery4:03
19."Mr. Blue Sky"Out of the Blue5:03
Disc two
No.TitleOriginal albumLength
1."Sweet Talkin' Woman"Out of the Blue3:47
2."I'm Alive"Xanadu soundtrack3:43
3."Shine a Little Love"Discovery4:10
4."Ticket to the Moon"Time4:07
5."Illusions in G Major"Eldorado2:38
6."So Serious"Balance of Power2:41
7."Nightrider" (7" edit)Face the Music3:43
8."All Over the World"Xanadu soundtrack4:01
9."Here Is the News"Time3:44
10."The Diary of Horace Wimp"Discovery4:17
11."Across the Border" (EP version)Out of the Blue3:51
12."Showdown"On the Third Day (U.S.); Showdown , 19744:10
13."Hold on Tight"Time3:07
14."Wild West Hero"Out of the Blue4:40
15."Do Ya"A New World Record3:45
16."10538 Overture" (7" edit) The Electric Light Orchestra/No Answer , 19713:56
17."Getting to the Point"Balance of Power4:29
18."Rockaria!"A New World Record3:14
19."Roll Over Beethoven" (7" edit) ELO 2 , 19734:34
Total length:148:04

Personnel

Charts

Chart (1997-1999)Peak
position
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) [4] 10
Scottish Albums (OCC) [5] 81
Spanish Albums (AFYVE) [6] 41
UK Albums (OCC) [7] 60

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Norway (IFPI Norway) [8] Gold25,000*
United Kingdom (BPI) [9] Gold100,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electric Light Orchestra</span> English rock band

The Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) is an English rock band formed in Birmingham in 1970 by songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Jeff Lynne and Roy Wood with drummer Bev Bevan. Their music is characterised by a fusion of pop and classical arrangements with futuristic iconography. After Wood's departure in 1972, Lynne became the band's sole leader, arranging and producing every album while writing nearly all of their original material. From this point until their first break-up in 1986, Lynne, Bevan, and keyboardist Richard Tandy were the group's only consistent members.

<i>Face the Music</i> (Electric Light Orchestra album) 1975 studio album by Electric Light Orchestra

Face the Music is the fifth studio album by Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). It was released in September 1975 by United Artists Records and on 14 November 1975 in the United Kingdom by Jet Records. The album moves away from the large-scale classical orchestrated sound of the previous album, Eldorado, in favour of more "radio-friendly" pop/rock songs, though the string sections are still very prominent. The new sound proved successful for the group, for Face the Music was the first ELO album to go platinum.

<i>ELO 2</i> 1973 studio album by Electric Light Orchestra

ELO 2 is the second studio album by the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), released in 1973. In the US, the album was released as Electric Light Orchestra II. It was the band's last album to be released by the Harvest label, the last on which the band used the definite article The in their name, and the one that introduced their abbreviated name 'ELO'.

<i>A New World Record</i> 1976 studio album by Electric Light Orchestra

A New World Record is the sixth studio album by Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). It was released on 15 October 1976 on United Artists Records in the U.S., and on 19 November 1976 on Jet Records in the United Kingdom. A New World Record marked ELO's shift towards shorter pop songs, a trend which would continue across their career.

<i>Discovery</i> (Electric Light Orchestra album) 1979 studio album by Electric Light Orchestra

Discovery is the eighth studio album by English rock band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). It was released on 1 June 1979 in the United Kingdom by Jet Records, where it topped record charts, and on 8 June in the United States on Jet through Columbia Records distribution. A music video album featuring all the songs being played by the band was then released on VHS in 1979, then re-released as part of the Out of the Blue: Live at Wembley DVD and VHS in 1998.

<i>Secret Messages</i> 1983 studio album by Electric Light Orchestra

Secret Messages is the tenth studio album by Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), released in 1983 on Jet Records. It was the last ELO album with bass guitarist Kelly Groucutt, conductor Louis Clark and a full orchestra, and the last ELO album to be released on the Jet label. It was also the final ELO studio album to become a worldwide top 40 hit upon release.

<i>ELOs Greatest Hits</i> 1979 greatest hits album by Electric Light Orchestra

ELO's Greatest Hits is a compilation by the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), released 23 November 1979. Despite being released after the album Discovery, this album omitted the band's most recent hits, "Don't Bring Me Down" and "Shine a Little Love".

<i>Afterglow</i> (Electric Light Orchestra album) 1990 box set by Electric Light Orchestra

Afterglow is the third box set compilation by Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). It was released in 1990 with liner notes by music critic and editor Ira Robbins of Trouser Press. A different two-CD compilation with identical artwork was issued simultaneously under the title The Very Best of The Electric Light Orchestra.

<i>Flashback</i> (Electric Light Orchestra album) 2000 box set by Electric Light Orchestra

Flashback is the second box set compilation by Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), released in November 2000 in the US and the following month in the UK.

<i>All Over the World: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra</i> 2005 greatest hits album by Electric Light Orchestra

All Over the World: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra is a compilation album by the Electric Light Orchestra, released in 2005.

<i>Strange Magic: The Best of Electric Light Orchestra</i> 1995 greatest hits album by Electric Light Orchestra

Strange Magic: The Best of Electric Light Orchestra is a compilation album by Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), released in 1995 only in the US.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mr. Blue Sky</span> 1978 single by Electric Light Orchestra

"Mr. Blue Sky" is a song by the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), featured on the band's seventh studio album Out of the Blue (1977). Written and produced by frontman Jeff Lynne, the song forms the fourth and final track of the "Concerto for a Rainy Day" suite on side three of the original double album. "Mr. Blue Sky" was the second single to be taken from Out of the Blue, peaking at number 6 in the UK Singles Chart and number 35 in the US Billboard Charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Can't Get It Out of My Head</span> Song written by Jeff Lynne and originally recorded by Electric Light Orchestra

"Can't Get It Out of My Head" is a song written by Jeff Lynne and originally recorded by Electric Light Orchestra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Showdown (Electric Light Orchestra song)</span> 1973 single by Electric Light Orchestra

"Showdown" is a 1973 song written by Jeff Lynne and recorded by the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). It was the band's last contemporary recording to be released on the Harvest label. The song was released as a single and reached No 12 in the UK Singles Chart, in the week beginning 28 October, and No 9 on the Norwegian chart VG-lista.

<i>Showdown</i> (Electric Light Orchestra album) 1974 compilation album by Electric Light Orchestra

Showdown is an Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) compilation album, covering their Harvest Records years. It is the first in a very long line of Electric Light Orchestra compilation albums. It comprises four tracks from their debut album and three from ELO 2 as well as the hit single "Showdown", the first time it had featured on an album in the UK.

<i>The Light Shines On</i> 1977 greatest hits album by Electric Light Orchestra

The Light Shines On is a compilation album by Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). This is the second Harvest compilation of their early years with the label, followed in 1979 by volume 2. It features 5 tracks from ELO's debut album, 3 tracks from their second album and the non album single Showdown, although both 10538 Overture and Roll Over Beethoven are the single edits. The full length versions are featured on volume 2.

<i>The Light Shines On Vol 2</i> 1979 greatest hits album by Electric Light Orchestra

The Light Shines On Vol 2 is a compilation album by Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). Released in 1979 by Harvest Records as a follow-up to 1977's The Light Shines On, it is a compilation of their early years with the label.

<i>The Electric Light Orchestra</i> (album) 1971 debut album by Electric Light Orchestra

The Electric Light Orchestra is the debut studio album by English rock band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), released in December 1971 in the United Kingdom by Harvest Records. In the United States, the album was released in March 1972 as No Answer, after a misunderstood telephone message made by a United Artists Records executive asking about the album name; the caller, having failed to reach the ELO contact, wrote down "no answer" in his notes, and this was misconstrued to be the name of the album.

<i>Ticket to the Moon: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra Volume 2</i> 2007 greatest hits album by Electric Light Orchestra

Ticket to the Moon: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra Volume 2 is a 2007 compilation album by Electric Light Orchestra, and is a companion to 2005's All Over the World.

References

  1. ↑ Light Years, The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra at AllMusic
  2. ↑ Larkin, Colin, ed. (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th edn). London: Omnibus Press. p. 916. ISBN   978-0-85712-595-8.
  3. ↑ "Electric Light Orchestra". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  4. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Electric Light Orchestra – Light Years - The Very Best Of". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  5. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  6. ↑ Salaverri, Fernando (2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN   84-8048-639-2.
  7. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  8. ↑ "IFPI Norsk platebransje Trofeer 1993–2011" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway.
  9. ↑ "British album certifications – ELO – Light Years - The Very Best Of". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 10 April 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.