MA Light

2011 expanded the original album to include a second disc and also rearranged the entire track order. This is the third ELO compilation that presents a chronological run-through of ELO's singles/songs. The original artwork has been slightly altered as well to differentiate from the single CD release.

By ignoring the band's first two albums, the Roy Wood-dominated Electric Light Orchestra and the transitional ELO II, the 1979 singles compilation ELO's Greatest Hits presents a somewhat skewed vision of the band. Ironically, this revision has become the normative view of the band: slick, almost mechanical purveyors of undeniably catchy but somewhat soulless hit singles. "Evil Woman," "Showdown," "Turn to Stone," "Telephone Line," "Strange Magic" – anyone who was anywhere near a radio in the latter half of the '70s knows them all by heart, whether they like them or not. But ELO's Greatest Hits does a far graver disservice to the Electric Light Orchestra's oeuvre. For some reason, the original vinyl LP sounded somewhat muffled and distant, as if the EQ was perceptibly off. The result is that while this is otherwise a fine survey of Jeff Lynne's most successful – if not necessarily his best – songs, it just doesn't sound very good.

Recorded along ELO's winter 1976 tour, this 10-track concert disc slots in perfectly in between The Night the Lights Went On (In Long Beach) from 1974 and Live at Wembley from 1978, capturing the band at their most exciting if not their most ambitious…

Sharing an identical track listing, albeit in a different order, with 1997's Light Years retrospective, The Ultimate Collection is a comprehensive overview of the hugely influential Electric Light Orchestra's illustrious career. Showcasing their signature melodic, classical rock sound, this 2001 release includes the hit singles "Xanadu," "Mr. Blue Sky" and "Sweet Talkin' Woman." Its 38 tracks are cherrypicked from their first 12 studio albums, from their 1972 self-titled debut right up to 1986's Balance of Power, but omits any material from their most recent album, Zoom.

Flashback is the second box set compilation by Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), released in 2000. In 2000, Jeff Lynne found a new impetus to work on the music of his old band and returned to the recording studio to work on an ELO project for the first time in some 15 years just prior to the comeback album Zoom in 2001. This work resulted in a digitally remastered compilation released in late 2000. Unlike its predecessors, this project, Flashback, was personally approved and endorsed by Lynne. The set includes songs featured from all 11 studio albums up to that point, including an edit of "Great Balls of Fire" from their live album The Night the Light Went On in Long Beach, plus some new recordings amongst the band's extensive back catalog, most notably a reworking of Lynne's only UK number one hit "Xanadu". The album includes liner notes by David Wild with quotes on each song from Lynne and a booklet inside.

Sharing an identical track listing, albeit in a different order, with 1997's Light Years retrospective, The Ultimate Collection is a comprehensive overview of the hugely influential Electric Light Orchestra's illustrious career. Showcasing their signature melodic, classical rock sound, this 2001 release includes the hit singles "Xanadu," "Mr. Blue Sky" and "Sweet Talkin' Woman".

For the ELO lover who enjoyed the full sound from the early days heavy on cello and classical strings to accompany the developing ELO sound. These recordings were done live in the BBC studio in three seperate sessions during 1972-1974 and are made without a live audience. Great cuts from the first three ELO albums are featured and performed in grand style. If you enjoy early ELO, you won't be disappointed with this set.