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.
Overview: Afterglow
The box set mixes the usual hit singles with lesser known album tracks and non-album B-sides, and is most notable for including most of the Secret Messages (1983) tracks that were not released when the intended album was reduced from a double to a single LP as well as B-sides from Balance of Power (1986) singles.
The discs of the box set were labelled with letters "E", "L" and "O", each covering a different compilation set of albums:
- Disc "E" â The Electric Light Orchestra (1971; tracks 1âÂÂ2), ELO 2 (1973; tracks 3âÂÂ6), On the Third Day (1973; tracks 7âÂÂ9) and Eldorado (1974; tracks 10âÂÂ11) (with the exception of "One Summer Dream" from Face the Music (1975))
- Disc "L" â Face the Music (tracks 1, 3, 5âÂÂ6), A New World Record (1976; tracks 2, 4, 7âÂÂ10), Out of the Blue (1977; tracks 11âÂÂ15) and Discovery (1979; tracks 16âÂÂ17)
- Disc "O" â Time (1981; tracks 1âÂÂ2, 6 & 9), Secret Messages (1983; tracks 10 & 18) and Balance of Power (1986; tracks 13 & 16) (with the exception of "Shine a Little Love" from Discovery)
The songs from soundtrack album Xanadu (1980) were not included.
The song "Destination Unknown", which was previously released as a B-side to "Calling America" single, was issued as promo only CD single. This statement is untrue. It was a 10 track sampler, not a CD single.
Track listing: Afterglow
All tracks written by Jeff Lynne, except "Roll Over Beethoven" by Chuck Berry and Ludwig van Beethoven.
Disc E (Disc 1)
- "10538 Overture" â 5:32
- "Mr. Radio" â 5:04
- "Kuiama" â 11:19
- "In Old England Town (Boogie No. 2)" â 6:54
- "Mama" â 7:03
- "Roll Over Beethoven" â 8:08
- "Bluebird Is Dead" â 4:24
- "Ma-Ma-Ma Belle" â 3:52
- "Showdown" â 4:07
- "Can't Get It Out of My Head" â 4:25
- "Boy Blue" â 5:20
- "One Summer Dream" â 5:47
Disc L (Disc 2)
- "Evil Woman" â 4:18
- "Tightrope" â 5:03
- "Strange Magic" â 4:29
- "Do Ya" â 3:44
- "Nightrider" â 4:22
- "Waterfall" â 4:10
- "Rockaria!" â 3:14
- "Telephone Line" â 4:39
- "So Fine" â 3:54
- "Livin' Thing" â 3:31
- "Mr. Blue Sky" (Japanese 7" edit) â 3:44
- "Sweet Is the Night" â 3:27
- "Turn to Stone" â 3:48
- "Sweet Talkin' Woman" â 3:48
- "Steppin' Out" â 4:38
- "Midnight Blue" â 4:17
- "Don't Bring Me Down" â 4:03
Disc O (Disc 3)
- "Prologue" â 1:16
- "Twilight" â 3:33
- "Julie Don't Live Here" â 3:40
- *<small>B-side to the "Twilight" single, 1981</small>
- "Shine a Little Love" â 4:39
- "When Time Stood Still" â 3:33
- *<small>B-side to the "Hold on Tight" single, 1981</small>
- "Rain Is Falling" â 3:57
- "The Bouncer" â 3:13
- *<small>B-side to the "Four Little Diamonds" single, 1983; Previously unreleased in the US</small>
- "Hello My Old Friend" â 7:51
- *<small>Previously unreleased</small>
- "Hold on Tight" â 3:06
- "Four Little Diamonds" â 4:08
- *<small>features a slightly longer intro than the album version</small>
- "Mandalay" â 5:19
- *<small>Previously unreleased</small>
- "Buildings Have Eyes" â 3:55
- *<small>B-side to "Secret Messages" single; Previously unreleased in the US</small>
- "So Serious" â 2:39
- "A Matter of Fact" â 3:58
- *<small>B-side to "So Serious" single; Previously unreleased in the US</small>
- "No Way Out" â 3:23
- *<small>Previously unreleased</small>
- "Getting to the Point" â 4:28
- "Destination Unknown" â 4:05
- *<small>B-side to "Calling America" 12 inch UK single; Previously unreleased in the US</small>
- "Rock 'n' Roll Is King" (Single edit) â 3:07
Track listing: The Very Best Of The Electric Light Orchestra
All tracks written by Jeff Lynne, except "Roll Over Beethoven" by Chuck Berry.
Disc 1
- "Evil Woman" â 4:18
- "Livin' Thing" â 3:31
- "Turn to Stone" â 3:48
- "Can't Get It Out of My Head" â 4:25
- "Rockaria!" â 3:14
- "Telephone Line" â 4:39
- "Mr. Blue Sky" (Japanese 7" edit) â 3:44
- "Sweet Talkin' Woman" â 3:48
- "Confusion" â 3:42
- "Rock 'n' Roll Is King" (Album version) â 3:43
- "Strange Magic" â 4:05
- "Calling America" â 4:05
Disc 2
- "Don't Bring Me Down" â 4:03
- "So Serious" â 2:41
- "Getting to the Point" â 4:28
- "Do Ya" â 3:45
- "Hold on Tight" â 3:06
- "Secret Messages" (Album version) â 4:47
- "Wild West Hero" â 4:40
- "Here Is the News" â 3:49
- "Shine a Little Love" â 4:40
- "I'm Alive" â 3:45
- "All Over the World" â 4:01
- "Roll Over Beethoven" (Single edit) â 4:32
Personnel
- Jeff Lynne â vocals, guitars
- Bev Bevan â drums, percussion
- Richard Tandy â keyboards, guitar
- Kelly Groucutt â bass, vocals <small>(1974 onwards)</small>
- Mike de Albuquerque â bass <small>(to 1974)</small>
- Bill Hunt â French horn, hunting horn <small>(tracks 1 & 2 on Disc E)</small>
- Mik Kaminski â violin
- Wilfred Gibson â violin <small>(tracks 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 & 9 on Disc E)</small>
- Steve Woolam â violin <small>(tracks 1 & 2 on Disc E)</small>
- Mike Edwards â cello <small>(to 1974)</small>
- Melvyn Gale â cello <small>(1975 onwards)</small>
- Hugh McDowell â cello
- Colin Walker â cello <small>(tracks 3, 4, 5 & 6 on Disc E)</small>
- Marc Bolan â guitar <small>(on "Ma-Ma-Ma Belle")</small>
- Roy Wood â vocals, guitars, cello, bass, wind instruments <small>(tracks 1, 2 & 4 on Disc E)</small>
- Ira Robbins (Trouser Press) â liner notes (1990)
See also
References