| Mr. Blue Sky: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 8 October 2012 | |||
| Studio | Bungalow Palace | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Length | 48:51 | |||
| Label | Frontiers | |||
| Producer | Jeff Lynne | |||
| Jeff Lynne chronology | ||||
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Mr. Blue Sky: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra, also known as Mr. Blue Sky, is an album of re-recordings by Jeff Lynne of hits by Electric Light Orchestra. It was issued in 2012 by Frontiers Music simultaneously with Lynne's cover album Long Wave .
Jeff Lynne told Rolling Stone magazine that the idea came from him listening to the original Electric Light Orchestra recordings, and thinking that he could produce a better result having since had a long career as a record producer. [1] Lynne decided to re-record a number of songs from scratch, and began with "Mr. Blue Sky". He told Rolling Stone: "I enjoyed doing that a lot, and when I listened back to it and compared it to the old one, I really liked it much better." [1] It was suggested by his manager that Lynne record a few more versions of Electric Light Orchestra songs, the results being recordings of "Evil Woman" and "Strange Magic". Lynne also liked these versions, so he continued by producing a full album of re-recordings. [1]
The album features all new recordings of some of the group's hits, [2] as well as two bonus tracks: a new song, "Point of No Return", and a live recording of "Twilight" on Japanese releases. The album debuted at number 8 on the UK Albums Chart [3] and at number 2 on the UK Top 40 Independent Albums Chart, [4] then also at number 118 on the US Billboard 200 albums chart, [5] at number 29 on the Billboard Top Independent Albums chart [6] and at number 46 on the Billboard Top Rock Albums chart. [7]
All tracks written, produced, and performed by Jeff Lynne. [8]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Mr. Blue Sky" | 3:44 |
| 2. | "Evil Woman" | 4:30 |
| 3. | "Strange Magic" | 3:53 |
| 4. | "Don't Bring Me Down" | 4:01 |
| 5. | "Turn to Stone" | 3:46 |
| 6. | "Showdown" | 4:16 |
| 7. | "Telephone Line" | 4:30 |
| 8. | "Livin' Thing" | 3:42 |
| 9. | "Do Ya" | 3:56 |
| 10. | "Can't Get It Out of My Head" | 4:35 |
| 11. | "10538 Overture" (40th anniversary version) | 4:44 |
| 12. | "Point of No Return" (Previously unreleased) | 3:14 |
| Total length: | 48:51 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 13. | "Twilight" (Live from CBS Television City, 2001) | 3:40 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 14. | "Ma-Ma-Ma Belle" | 3:52 |
| 15. | "Rockaria!" | 3:13 |
| 16. | "Steppin' Out" (Live from Bungalow Palace) | 3:23 |
| 17. | "Can't Get It Out of My Head" (Live from Bungalow Palace) | 4:11 |
Personnel per album booklet: [8]
Musicians
| Chart (2012) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [10] | 119 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [11] | 129 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [12] | 78 |
| UK Albums (OCC) [3] | 8 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC) [4] | 29 |
| US Billboard 200 [5] | 118 |
| US Independent Albums (Billboard) [6] | 29 |
| US Top Rock Albums (Billboard) [7] | 46 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI) [13] | Gold | 100,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
The Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) are 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. During their first run from 1970 to 1986, Lynne and Bevan were the group's only consistent members.
Jeffrey Lynne is an English musician, singer-songwriter and record producer. He is the co-founder and currently the sole member of the rock band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), which was formed in 1970, and as a songwriter has written all of the band's music past 1972, including the hits "Evil Woman", "Livin' Thing", "Telephone Line", "Mr. Blue Sky", "Don't Bring Me Down", and "Hold On Tight". He also has had a solo career, with two albums: Armchair Theatre (1990) and Long Wave (2012).
Out of the Blue is the seventh studio album by the British rock group Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), released on 24 October 1977 in the United States and four days after in the UK on 28 October. Written and produced by ELO frontman Jeff Lynne, the double album is among the most commercially successful records in the group's history, selling about 10 million copies worldwide by 2007.
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.
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.
Zoom is the twelfth studio album by British symphonic rock band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), released on 12 June 2001 on Epic Records. It was the first official ELO album since 1986's Balance of Power.
"Livin' Thing" is a song written by Jeff Lynne and performed by Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). It appears on ELO's 1976 album A New World Record and was also released as a single. Patti Quatro sang uncredited vocals, particularly the "higher and higher" parts.
All Over the World: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra is a compilation album by the Electric Light Orchestra, released in 2005.
"Strange Magic" is a song written by Jeff Lynne and performed by Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). It was originally released on their 1975 Face the Music album.
"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.
"Can't Get It Out of My Head" is a song written by Jeff Lynne and originally recorded by Electric Light Orchestra.
"Do Ya" is a song written by Jeff Lynne, that was originally recorded by The Move, which became a hit for the Electric Light Orchestra in 1977.
"Turn to Stone" is a 1977 song by Electric Light Orchestra (ELO).
"Evil Woman" is a song recorded by Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) and written by lead vocalist Jeff Lynne. It was first released on the band's fifth album, 1975's Face the Music.
"Don't Bring Me Down" is the ninth and final track on the English rock band the Electric Light Orchestra's 1979 album Discovery. It is their highest-charting hit in the United States.
The discography of the English rock band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) consists of 15 studio albums, 7 live albums, 40 compilation albums, 13 video albums, 33 music videos, 1 extended play, 50 singles, 1 soundtrack album and 8 box sets. ELO have also sold over 50 million records worldwide.
Long Wave is the second solo album recorded by Jeff Lynne released on 8 October (UK) and 9 October 2012 (US). The album contains cover versions of songs that influenced Lynne's songwriting while growing up and residing in Birmingham. It was recorded between 2010 and 2012.
Alone in the Universe is the thirteenth studio album by British rock band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), and the first credited to Jeff Lynne's ELO. The moniker came out from Lynne as a response to ELO tribute and imitation bands, who repeatedly used ELO for promoting their own tours. Released on 13 November 2015, the album is the first of new original material credited to the group since Zoom in 2001, and the second since the group's original disbandment in 1986.
From Out of Nowhere is the fourteenth studio album by British rock band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), and the second credited to Jeff Lynne's ELO. The band's first studio album in four years, it was released on 1 November 2019 through Big Trilby and Columbia Records. The title track was released as the lead single on 26 September 2019. Lynne played most instruments on the album. Keyboardist Richard Tandy returned to play on one track, prior to his death in 2024.
Wembley or Bust is a live album and concert film by Jeff Lynne's ELO. It was recorded during the Alone in the Universe Tour at Wembley Stadium. The album peaked at number 8 on the UK Albums Chart and at number 12 on the Billboard Top Rock Albums. The album was also certified silver in the United Kingdom.
