The Thermals Goddamn The Light

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.

Light plays Art-Rock with influences of Ekseption and Nice and integrates jazzy brass elements like Colosseum and Latin-American percussion work similar to Santana. Light were formed in the town of Gouda in the 1960s and toured through the provinces of the Netherlands in the late 60s. The band members were Adri Vergeer (piano, organ, mellotron, keyboards, vocals), Gerard Steenbergen (acoustic guitar), Joop Slootjes (bass), Hans de Bruin (saxophone, flute) and Sjaco van der Speld (drums, vocals). Eddy Barclay brought the band - then called "Light Formation" - to the attention of producer Bert Schouten. In 1972 "The Story of Moses" was published, having been recorded at Phonogram Studio in Hilversum. On the album Guus Willemse (bass), Hans Hollestelle (electric guitar) and Marian Schatteleyn and Robbie Dale (voices) appeared as guest musicians. The recording was a concept album, telling the story of the biblical figure of Moses. It was the only album ever recorded by Light.

Electric Light Orchestra Part II was formed in 1988 by drummer Bev Bevan, a founding member of the original ELO, the successful progressive pop group led by frontman Jeff Lynne from 1971 into the mid-1980s. After Lynne officially dissolved the band, Bevan assembled a new line-up including vocalist Neil Lockwood, keyboardist Eric Troyer and bassist Pete Haycock to tour under the Electric Light Orchestra banner; Lynne soon filed suit against the group, the resulting settlement appending the "Part II" tag to any new albums or live performances. One Night is a live album recorded and released by ELO Part II. The concert was recorded on 18-19 March 1995 at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, Australia while the band was on tour. It was called One Night since ELO Part II was in Australia only for one night. The album's official release was UK, 1996 2 CD and US, May 20, 1997 1 CD. This album contains a lot of ELO's greatest hits performed live. This release are taken from the same 1995 show.

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.