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" – The Electric Light Orchestra (1971; tracks 1–2), ELO 2 (1973; tracks 3–6), On the Third Day (1973; tracks 7–9) and Eldorado (1974; tracks 10–11) (with the exception of "One Summer Dream" from Face the Music (1975))
  • Disc "L" – Face the Music (tracks 1, 3, 5–6), A New World Record (1976; tracks 2, 4, 7–10), Out of the Blue (1977; tracks 11–15) and Discovery (1979; tracks 16–17)
  • Disc "O" – Time (1981; tracks 1–2, 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)

  1. "10538 Overture" – 5:32
  2. "Mr. Radio" – 5:04
  3. "Kuiama" – 11:19
  4. "In Old England Town (Boogie No. 2)"  – 6:54
  5. "Mama" – 7:03
  6. "Roll Over Beethoven" – 8:08
  7. "Bluebird Is Dead" – 4:24
  8. "Ma-Ma-Ma Belle" – 3:52
  9. "Showdown" – 4:07
  10. "Can't Get It Out of My Head" – 4:25
  11. "Boy Blue" – 5:20
  12. "One Summer Dream"  – 5:47

Disc L (Disc 2)

  1. "Evil Woman" – 4:18
  2. "Tightrope"  – 5:03
  3. "Strange Magic"  – 4:29
  4. "Do Ya" – 3:44
  5. "Nightrider"  – 4:22
  6. "Waterfall" – 4:10
  7. "Rockaria!" – 3:14
  8. "Telephone Line"  – 4:39
  9. "So Fine" – 3:54
  10. "Livin' Thing"  – 3:31
  11. "Mr. Blue Sky" (Japanese 7" edit) – 3:44
  12. "Sweet Is the Night" – 3:27
  13. "Turn to Stone" – 3:48
  14. "Sweet Talkin' Woman" – 3:48
  15. "Steppin' Out" – 4:38
  16. "Midnight Blue"  – 4:17
  17. "Don't Bring Me Down" – 4:03

Disc O (Disc 3)

  1. "Prologue" – 1:16
  2. "Twilight" – 3:33
  3. "Julie Don't Live Here"  – 3:40
  4. <small>B-side to the "Twilight" single, 1981</small>
  5. "Shine a Little Love" – 4:39
  6. "When Time Stood Still" – 3:33
  7. <small>B-side to the "Hold on Tight" single, 1981</small>
  8. "Rain Is Falling" – 3:57
  9. "The Bouncer" – 3:13
  10. <small>B-side to the "Four Little Diamonds" single, 1983; Previously unreleased in the US</small>
  11. "Hello My Old Friend" – 7:51
  12. <small>Previously unreleased</small>
  13. "Hold on Tight"&nbsp; – 3:06
  14. "Four Little Diamonds" – 4:08
  15. <small>features a slightly longer intro than the album version</small>
  16. "Mandalay"&nbsp; – 5:19
  17. <small>Previously unreleased</small>
  18. "Buildings Have Eyes"&nbsp; – 3:55
  19. <small>B-side to "Secret Messages" single; Previously unreleased in the US</small>
  20. "So Serious"&nbsp; – 2:39
  21. "A Matter of Fact"&nbsp; – 3:58
  22. <small>B-side to "So Serious" single; Previously unreleased in the US</small>
  23. "No Way Out" – 3:23
  24. <small>Previously unreleased</small>
  25. "Getting to the Point"&nbsp; – 4:28
  26. "Destination Unknown"&nbsp; – 4:05
  27. <small>B-side to "Calling America" 12 inch UK single; Previously unreleased in the US</small>
  28. "Rock 'n' Roll Is King" (Single edit) – 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

  1. "Evil Woman" – 4:18
  2. "Livin' Thing" – 3:31
  3. "Turn to Stone" – 3:48
  4. "Can't Get It Out of My Head"&nbsp; – 4:25
  5. "Rockaria!"&nbsp; – 3:14
  6. "Telephone Line"&nbsp; – 4:39
  7. "Mr. Blue Sky" (Japanese 7" edit) – 3:44
  8. "Sweet Talkin' Woman"&nbsp; – 3:48
  9. "Confusion"&nbsp; – 3:42
  10. "Rock 'n' Roll Is King" (Album version)&nbsp; – 3:43
  11. "Strange Magic"&nbsp; – 4:05
  12. "Calling America"&nbsp; – 4:05

Disc 2

  1. "Don't Bring Me Down" – 4:03
  2. "So Serious" – 2:41
  3. "Getting to the Point"&nbsp; – 4:28
  4. "Do Ya"&nbsp; – 3:45
  5. "Hold on Tight"&nbsp; – 3:06
  6. "Secret Messages" (Album version)&nbsp; – 4:47
  7. "Wild West Hero" – 4:40
  8. "Here Is the News" – 3:49
  9. "Shine a Little Love"&nbsp; – 4:40
  10. "I'm Alive"&nbsp; – 3:45
  11. "All Over the World" – 4:01
  12. "Roll Over Beethoven" (Single edit) – 4:32

Personnel

  • Jeff Lynne&nbsp;– vocals, guitars
  • Bev Bevan&nbsp;– drums, percussion
  • Richard Tandy&nbsp;– keyboards, guitar
  • Kelly Groucutt&nbsp;– bass, vocals <small>(1974 onwards)</small>
  • Mike de Albuquerque&nbsp;– bass <small>(to 1974)</small>
  • Bill Hunt – French horn, hunting horn <small>(tracks 1 & 2 on Disc E)</small>
  • Mik Kaminski&nbsp;– violin
  • Wilfred Gibson&nbsp;– violin <small>(tracks 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 & 9 on Disc E)</small>
  • Steve Woolam – violin <small>(tracks 1 & 2 on Disc E)</small>
  • Mike Edwards&nbsp;– cello <small>(to 1974)</small>
  • Melvyn Gale&nbsp;– cello <small>(1975 onwards)</small>
  • Hugh McDowell&nbsp;– cello
  • Colin Walker&nbsp;– cello <small>(tracks 3, 4, 5 & 6 on Disc E)</small>
  • Marc Bolan&nbsp;– guitar <small>(on "Ma-Ma-Ma Belle")</small>
  • Roy Wood&nbsp;– vocals, guitars, cello, bass, wind instruments <small>(tracks 1, 2 & 4 on Disc E)</small>
  • Ira Robbins (Trouser Press) – liner notes (1990)

See also

  • Flashback

References