The Essential Electric Light Orchestra

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The Essential Electric Light Orchestra
EssentialELOalbumcover.jpg
Greatest hits album by
Released1 April 2003
RecordedSeptember 1972 – January 1986
Genre Rock
Length60:58
Label Epic
Producer Jeff Lynne
Electric Light Orchestra chronology
ELO 2
(First Light Series)

(2003)
The Essential Electric Light Orchestra
(2003)
All Over the World: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra
(2005)
Playlist: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra (2008)
Playlist 2008 Electric Light Orchestra album cover.jpg
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [1]
The Music BoxStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [3]

The Essential Electric Light Orchestra is a 15-track, single-CD, US-only compilation album by the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), released in 2003. It is part of Sony Music's The Essential series.

Contents

On 2 September 2008, an eco-friendly repackaging of the album, retitled Playlist: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra, was released. This edition includes a multimedia section on the CD that features photos, credits, and two wallpapers.[ citation needed ]

A third edition of the album was released in 2011. This version features 37 tracks on two discs, arranged in chronological order. [4] It was the third ELO compilation to present the songs in chronological order, preceded by the US releases Olé ELO in 1976 and Strange Magic: The Best of Electric Light Orchestra in 1995.

Each edition of the album features a different cover.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Jeff Lynne, except "Roll Over Beethoven", which was written by Chuck Berry.

Original Edition

No.TitleOriginal AlbumLength
1."Evil Woman" (UK Single Edit) Face the Music (1975)4:19
2."Do Ya" A New World Record (1976)3:47
3."Can't Get It Out of My Head" Eldorado (1974)4:26
4."Mr. Blue Sky" Out of the Blue (1977)5:08
5."Strange Magic" (UK Single Edit)Face the Music (1975)4:07
6."Livin' Thing"A New World Record (1976)3:33
7."Turn to Stone"Out of the Blue (1977)3:48
8."Sweet Talkin' Woman"Out of the Blue (1977)3:49
9."Telephone Line"A New World Record (1976)4:40
10."Shine a Little Love" Discovery (1979)4:42
11."Hold on Tight" Time (1981)3:08
12."Calling America" Balance of Power (1986)3:28
13."Rock 'n' Roll Is King" (Edit) Secret Messages (1983)3:17
14."Don't Bring Me Down"Discovery (1979)4:04
15."Roll Over Beethoven" (Single Edit) ELO 2 (1973)4:33
Total length:60:58

2011 Edition

2-Disc Edition (2011)
The Essential Electric Light Orchestra 2011 US album cover.jpg
Greatest hits album by
Released10 October 2011 (UK/Europe), 24 October 2011 (US)
Recorded1970–2007
Genre Rock
Length144:56
Label Epic, Legacy, Sony Music
Producer Jeff Lynne
Electric Light Orchestra chronology
Ticket to the Moon: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra Volume 2
(2007)
2-Disc Edition (2011)
(2011)
Mr. Blue Sky: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra
(2012)
2-Disc Edition UK album cover
The Essential Electric Light Orchestra 2011 UK album cover.jpg
Disc one
No.TitleOriginal AlbumLength
1."10538 Overture" (Single Edit) The Electric Light Orchestra (1971)4:05
2."Roll Over Beethoven" (Single Edit) ELO 2 (1973)4:33
3."Showdown" On the Third Day (1973)4:10
4."Ma-Ma-Ma Belle" (Single Edit)On the Third Day (1973)3:38
5."Can't Get It Out of My Head" (Single Edit) Eldorado (1974)3:08
6."Evil Woman" (UK Single Edit) Face the Music (1975)4:13
7."Nightrider" (Single Edit)Face the Music (1975)3:43
8."Strange Magic" (UK Single Edit)Face the Music (1975)4:08
9."Livin' Thing" A New World Record (1976)3:33
10."Do Ya"A New World Record (1976)3:46
11."Rockaria!"A New World Record (1976)3:13
12."Telephone Line"A New World Record (1976)4:41
13."Turn to Stone" Out of the Blue (1977)3:50
14."Mr. Blue Sky"Out of the Blue (1977)5:04
15."Sweet Talkin' Woman"Out of the Blue (1977)3:49
16."Wild West Hero"Out of the Blue (1977)4:43
17."It's Over"Out of the Blue (1977)4:10
18."Shine a Little Love" (Single Edit) Discovery (1979)4:11
Total length:72:36
Disc two
No.TitleOriginal AlbumLength
1."Don't Bring Me Down"Discovery (1979)4:04
2."The Diary of Horace Wimp"Discovery (1979)4:17
3."Confusion"Discovery (1979)3:40
4."Last Train to London"Discovery (1979)4:32
5."I'm Alive" Xanadu (1980)3:44
6."Xanadu (New Version)" Flashback (2000)3:22
7."All Over the World"Xanadu (1980)4:03
8."Don't Walk Away"Xanadu (1980)4:47
9."Hold on Tight" Time (1981)3:08
10."Twilight"Time (1981)3:45
11."Ticket to the Moon"Time (1981)4:08
12."The Way Life's Meant to Be"Time (1981)4:40
13."Rock 'n' Roll Is King" (Single Edit) Secret Messages (1983)3:08
14."Secret Messages"Secret Messages (1983)4:45
15."Four Little Diamonds"Secret Messages (1983)4:07
16."Calling America" Balance of Power (1986)3:31
17."So Serious"Balance of Power (1986)2:44
18."Surrender"A New World Record: 30th Anniversary Edition (2006)2:33
19."Latitude 88 North"Out of the Blue: 30th Anniversary Edition (2007)3:23
Total length:72:20

Charts

Chart (2003)Peak
position
Switzerland Swiss Hitparade [5] 58

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [6] Silver60,000Double-dagger-14-plain.png

Double-dagger-14-plain.png Sales+streaming 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) 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. From this point until their first break-up in 1986, Lynne, Bevan, and keyboardist Richard Tandy were the group's only consistent members.

<i>On the Third Day</i> 1973 studio album by Electric Light Orchestra

On the Third Day is the third studio album by Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), and the first to be recorded without input from Roy Wood. It was released in the United States in November 1973 by United Artists Records, and in the United Kingdom on 14 December 1973 by Warner Bros. Records. From this album on, the word The was dropped from the band's name. The album was reissued on 12 September 2006.

<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 in 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>Out of the Blue</i> (Electric Light Orchestra album) 1977 studio album by Electric Light Orchestra

Out of the Blue is the seventh studio album by the British rock group Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), released on 28 October 1977. 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.

<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>Balance of Power</i> (album) 1986 studio album by Electric Light Orchestra

Balance of Power is the eleventh studio album by the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) released in 1986. It is the final album by the band to feature co-founder Bev Bevan on drums, as well as the last album to feature a significant contribution from keyboardist Richard Tandy.

<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>Olé ELO</i> 1976 greatest hits album by Electric Light Orchestra

Olé ELO is a compilation album by the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) covering their early years. Released in 1976, this LP was originally compiled by United Artists Records as a promotional album for American radio stations, but when copies of the LP started selling to fans "underground" United Artists decided to release it in the US to capitalize on the band's growing popularity.

<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>Message from the Country</i> 1971 studio album by The Move

Message from the Country is the fourth and final studio album by the Move, as well as the group's only album for EMI's Harvest label. It was recorded simultaneously with the first Electric Light Orchestra album, Electric Light Orchestra. A contractual obligation, it was to signal the end of The Move and allow them to continue as the Electric Light Orchestra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rockaria!</span> 1977 single by Electric Light Orchestra

"Rockaria!" is a song by Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), written by Jeff Lynne. It was the third track on the band's successful 1976 album A New World Record, and was the second single from the album. On some CD pressings of A New World Record, the title appears without the exclamation mark.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Do Ya (The Move song)</span> 1971 song covered by the Move and by ELO

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ma-Ma-Ma Belle</span> 1974 single by Electric Light Orchestra

"Ma-Ma-Ma Belle" is a song recorded by the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO).

<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. It 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Telephone Line (song)</span> 1977 single by Electric Light Orchestra

"Telephone Line" is a song by English rock band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). It was released in May 1977 through Jet Records and United Artists Records as part of the album A New World Record. It was very successful, reaching the Top 10 in Australia, US, and UK, and number 1 in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electric Light Orchestra discography</span>

Below is the complete Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) discography including imports, videos, and hit singles. ELO's back catalogue is unusual since their compilation albums far outweigh their studio output in number, owing to the large number of hit singles primarily written by Jeff Lynne.

<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>Light Years, The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra</i> 1997 greatest hits album by Electric Light Orchestra

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

References

  1. The Essential Electric Light Orchestra at AllMusic
  2. Metzger, John (May 2003). "Electric Light Orchestra The Essential Electric Light Orchestra". The Music Box. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  3. Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian, eds. (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th edn) . New York, NY: Fireside/Simon & Schuster. p.  275. ISBN   0-7432-0169-8.
  4. Electric Light Orchestra - The Essential Electric Light Orchestra at JB Hi-Fi
  5. Switzerland Charts – Electric Light Orchestra – The Essential Electric Light Orchestra
  6. "British album certifications – Elo – The Essential". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 10 April 2022.