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| Three Light Years | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Box set by | ||||
| Released | December 1978 | |||
| Recorded | 1973–1975 | |||
| Genre | Progressive rock | |||
| Label | Jet Records | |||
| Producer | Jeff Lynne | |||
| Electric Light Orchestra chronology | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Encyclopedia of Popular Music |   [1] |
Three Light Years is a box set of three studio albums by Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). It was released in December 1978 and reached number 38 on the UK Albums Chart. [2]
With the first two ELO albums anthologized by the Harvest compilations The Light Shines On (1977) and The Light Shines On Vol 2 (1978), Three Light Years compiled the subsequent three albums in their entirety: On the Third Day (1973), Eldorado - A Symphony by the Electric Light Orchestra (1974) and Face the Music (1975). None of these albums had charted on their own when first released, and so this box set represents their only chart appearances in the UK. The title itself reflects the name of the band, the number of albums featured, and the three years the collection covers.
Housed in a blue cardboard box, the three vinyl albums came in transparent plastic sleeves with the band logo printed in a pattern on the front. The label on the A-side of each record was a picture of the original cover, with a standard Jet Records label on the B-side. Although On the Third Day was the original eight-track British version (and thus left off "Showdown"), the US sleeve was shown.
Also included in the box was a booklet of lyrics, credits and photographs, and a promotional insert with details of the official fan club and an apparel offer. The booklet of lyrics (as printed in England by Delga Press Ltd.) consisted of 12 pages, if the front (outer and inner) and rear (outer and inner) covers are counted. Within the covers are 8 pages of lyrics, inter-dispersed with photographs of the band. It would appear the intention was to list the track lyrics of the 3 albums in chronological order; On the Third Day - Side A then B, Eldorado - Side A then B, followed by Face the Music - Side A then B. However, there is notable error in all? or just UK copies of the booklet? On the 2nd page of lyrics for Side B of On the Third Day, the tracks are listed out of order, with lyrics for the Dreaming of 4000 track preceding those for Ma-Ma-Ma Belle. These tracks consistently feature on the vinyl and its label in the opposite order.
All songs are written by Jeff Lynne, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Ocean Breakup/King of the Universe" | 4:07 |
| 2. | "Bluebird is Dead" | 4:24 |
| 3. | "Oh No Not Susan" | 3:07 |
| 4. | "New World Rising/Ocean Breakup (Reprise)" | 4:05 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6. | "Daybreaker" | 3:51 | |
| 7. | "Ma-Ma-Ma Belle" | 3:56 | |
| 8. | "Dreaming of 4000" | 5:04 | |
| 9. | "In the Hall of the Mountain King" | Edvard Grieg | 6:37 |
| Total length: | 35:11 | ||
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Eldorado Overture" (instrumental) | 2:12 |
| 2. | "Can't Get It Out of My Head" | 4:21 |
| 3. | "Boy Blue" | 5:18 |
| 4. | "Laredo Tornado" | 5:29 |
| 5. | "Poor Boy (The Greenwood)" | 2:57 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 6. | "Mister Kingdom" | 5:50 |
| 7. | "Nobody's Child" | 3:40 |
| 8. | "Illusions in G Major" | 2:36 |
| 9. | "Eldorado" | 5:20 |
| 10. | "Eldorado Finale" | 1:20 |
| Total length: | 39:03 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Fire On High" | 5:29 |
| 2. | "Waterfall" | 4:27 |
| 3. | "Evil Woman" | 4:17 |
| 4. | "Nightrider" | 4:22 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 5. | "Poker" | 3:31 |
| 6. | "Strange Magic" | 4:29 |
| 7. | "Down Home Town" | 3:54 |
| 8. | "One Summer Dream" | 5:47 |
| Total length: | 36:16 | |
| Chart (1979) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Albums (OCC) [2] | 38 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI) [3] | Gold | 100,000^ |
^ Shipments 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 Beatlesque pop, classical arrangements and 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. For their initial tenure, Lynne, Bevan and keyboardist Richard Tandy were the group's only consistent members.
Jeffrey Lynne is an English singer, songwriter, record producer, and multi-instrumentalist who co-founded the rock band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). The group formed in 1970 as an offshoot of the Move, of which Lynne was also a member. Previously, Lynne had been involved with the Idle Race as a founding member and principal songwriter. Following the departure of Roy Wood in 1972, Lynne assumed sole leadership of ELO and wrote, arranged, and produced virtually all of its subsequent records.
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 from the previous album, Eldorado, in favor of more "radio-friendly" pop/rock songs, though the string sections are still very prominent. The new sound proved successful for the group as Face the Music was the first ELO album to go platinum.
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.
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 also 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'.
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.
Out of the Blue is the seventh studio album by the British rock group Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), released in 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.
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.
The Raven is the fourth studio album by English new wave band the Stranglers, released on 15 September 1979, through record label United Artists.
Afterglow is the first 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.
"Can't Get It Out of My Head" is a song written by Jeff Lynne and originally recorded 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.
"Ma-Ma-Ma Belle" is a song recorded by the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO).
"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.
"Getting to the Point" is a song by the rock group Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) from their 1986 album Balance of Power. Released in the UK as the last single from the album in July 1986, it was the last original release from the band for 15 years.
Electric Light Orchestra Part Two is the debut album by ELO Part II, released in 1991. In March 1991, lead single "Honest Men" charted at number 60 on the UK Singles Chart, and 36 on the Dutch Top 40 chart. The track "Kiss Me Red" is a cover of the theme to the short-lived TV series Dreams.
"Eldorado" is the title track from the 1974 album of the same name by the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO).
"Boy Blue" is a song written by Jeff Lynne and performed by the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) which first appeared as track number 3 from their 1974 album Eldorado.
"Poor Boy " is a song written by Jeff Lynne and the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO).
The Night the Light Went On in Long Beach is a 1974 live album by the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) recorded on the evening of 12 May 1974 at the Long Beach Auditorium in Long Beach, California; its title lampoons "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia" by Vicki Lawrence.
