The Essential Electric Light Orchestra

The Essential Electric Light Orchestra
Greatest hits album by Electric Light Orchestra
Released	1 April 2003
Recorded	September 1972 – January 1986
Genre	Rock
Length	1:00:58
Label	Epic EK 89072
Producer	Jeff Lynne
Electric Light Orchestra chronology
ELO 2 (First Light Series) (2003) The Essential Electric Light Orchestra (2003) All Over the World: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra (2005)
Playlist: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

The Essential Electric Light Orchestra is a single CD, US-only compilation album by the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), released in 2003. It is part of Sony Music's The Essential series. It was preceded by US compilations Olé ELO in 1976 and Strange Magic: The Best of Electric Light Orchestra in 1995.

On 2 September 2008 an eco-friendly repackage of this album called Playlist: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra was released and included a multimedia section on the CD with photos, credits and two new wallpapers.

A third re-release in 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.

Original edition

Track listing

All tracks written by Jeff Lynne, except where noted.

1. "Evil Woman" (Single edit) – 4:19
2. "Do Ya" – 3:47
3. "Can't Get It Out of My Head" – 4:26
4. "Mr. Blue Sky" – 5:08
5. "Strange Magic" (UK single edit) – 4:07
6. "Livin' Thing" – 3:33
7. "Turn to Stone" – 3:48
8. "Sweet Talkin' Woman" – 3:49
9. "Telephone Line" – 4:40
10. "Shine a Little Love" – 4:42
11. "Hold on Tight" – 3:08
12. "Calling America" – 3:28
13. "Rock 'n' Roll Is King" (Edited version) – 3:17
14. "Don't Bring Me Down" – 4:04
15. "Roll Over Beethoven" (Single edit) (Chuck Berry, Ludwig van Beethoven) – 4:33

2011 Edition

2011 Edition
Greatest hits album by Electric Light Orchestra
Released	10 October 2011 (UK/Europe), 24 October 2011 (US)
Recorded	1970–2007
Genre	Rock
Label	Epic, Legacy, Sony Music
Producer	Jeff Lynne
Electric Light Orchestra chronology
Ticket to the Moon: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra Volume 2 (2007) The Essential Electric Light Orchestra (2 CD Edition) (2011) Mr. Blue Sky: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra (2012)
UK alternate album cover

Track listing

All tracks written by Jeff Lynne, except where noted.

Disc one "10538 Overture" (7" edit) – 4:05 "Roll Over Beethoven" (Single edit) (Berry, Beethoven) – 4:33 "Showdown" – 4:10 "Ma-Ma-Ma Belle" (Single edit) – 3:38 "Can't Get It Out of My Head" (7" edit) – 3:08 "Evil Woman" (Single edit) – 4:13 "Nightrider" (7" edit) – 3:43 "Strange Magic" (Single edit) – 4:08 "Livin' Thing" – 3:33 "Do Ya" – 3:46 "Rockaria!" – 3:13 "Telephone Line" – 4:41 "Turn to Stone" – 3:50 "Mr. Blue Sky" – 5:04 "Sweet Talkin' Woman" – 3:49 "Wild West Hero" – 4:43 "It's Over" – 4:10 "Shine a Little Love" – 4:11

Disc two "Don't Bring Me Down" – 4:04 "The Diary of Horace Wimp" – 4:17 "Confusion" – 3:40 "Last Train to London" – 4:32 "I'm Alive" – 3:44 "Xanadu (New version)" – 3:22 "All Over the World" – 4:03 "Don't Walk Away" – 4:47 "Hold on Tight" – 3:08 "Twilight" – 3:45 "Ticket to the Moon" – 4:08 "The Way Life's Meant to Be" – 4:40 "Rock 'n' Roll Is King" (Single edit) – 3:08 "Secret Messages" – 4:45 "Four Little Diamonds" – 4:07 "Calling America" – 3:31 "So Serious" – 2:44 "Surrender" – 2:33 "Latitude 88 North" – 3:23

References

1. The Essential Electric Light Orchestra at AllMusic