"The Classic Albums Collection" by ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA [aka ELO] (November 2011 UK Sony/Legacy 11CD Box Set of Vic Anesini Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Mr. Blue Skies…"

Cheaper than a Waitrose Christmas Pudding (though with maybe not as much Brandy) - this Sony/Legacy ELO Box Set is like THE BYRDS and BILL WITHERS issues in this excellent series (see reviews) - chock full of tasty musical raisins and alarmingly good value for money. Here are the details and with no strings attached...

Released November 2011 - "The Classic Albums Collection" by ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA [ELO] is an 11CD Mini Box Set on Sony/Legacy 88697873262 (Barcode 886978732620) and breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 - "The Electric Light Orchestra" aka "No Question" - 59:38 minutes:

1. 10538 Overture

2. Look At Me Now

3. Nellie Takes Her Bow

4. The Battle Of Marston Moor (July 2nd 1644)

5. First Movement (Jumping Biz) [Side 2]

6. Mr. Radio

7. Manhattan Rumble (49th Street Massacre)

8. Queen Of The Hours

9. Whisper In The Night

Tracks 1 to 9 are their debut album "The Electric Light Orchestra" - released December 1971 in the UK on Harvest SHVL 797. It was released May 1972 in the USA as "No Question" on United Artists UAS 5573

BONUS TRACKS:

10. Battle Of Marston Moor (Take 1/Alternate Mix)

11. Nellie Takes Her Bow (Alternate Mix)

12. Mr. Radio (Take 9)

13. 10538 Overture (Take 1/Alternate Mix)

2006 CD Remaster used

Disc 2 - "ELO II" - 62:15 minutes:

1. In Old England (Boogie No. 2)

2. Momma

3. Roll Over Beethoven (Full Album Version)

4. From The Sun To The World (Boogie No.1) [Side 2]

5. Kuiama

Tracks 1 to 5 are their 2nd album "ELO II" - released February 1973 in the UK on Harvest SHVL 806 and April 1973 in the USA on United Artists UA-LA040-F

BONUS TRACKS:

6. In Old England Town (Instrumental)

7. Baby I Apologize (Session Outtake)

8. In Old England Town (Take 1/Alternate Mix)

9. Roll Over Beethoven (Take 1/Alternate Mix)

2006 CD Remaster used

Disc 3 - "On The Third Day" - 57:34 minutes:

1. Ocean Breakup/King Of The Universe

2. Bluebird Is Dead

3. Oh No Not Susan

4. New World Rising/Ocean Breakup Reprise

5. Showdown [see Note]

6. Daybreaker  [Side 2]

7. Ma-Ma-Ma Belle (Album Version)

8. Dreaming Of 4000

9. In The Hall Of The Mountain King

Tracks 1 to 8 are their 3rd album "On The Third Day" (UK Track Listing) - released December 1973 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56021 in a Die-Cut Gatefold Sleeve. Note: Although the CD uses the UK artwork, the tracks are sequenced like the American album (released December 1973 on United Artists UA-LA 188-F with different artwork). The US LP added "Showdown" as Track 5 - the last song on Side 1 (Side 2 is the same for both countries). MARC BOLAN of T.REX plays guitar on 7, 8 and 10 to 13.

BONUS TRACKS:

10. Auntie ("Ma-Ma-Ma Belle" Take 1)

11. Auntie ("Ma-Ma-Ma Belle" Take 2)

12. Mambo ("Dreaming Of 4000" Alternate Mix)

13. Everyone's Born To Die - Previously Unreleased

14. Interludes - Previously Unreleased

2006 CD Remaster used

Disc 4 - "Eldorado - A Symphony By The Electric Light Orchestra" - 47:59 minutes:

1. Eldorado Overture

2. Can't Get It Out Of My Head

3. Boy Blue

4. Laredo Tornado

5. Poor Boy (The Greenwood)

6. Mister Kingdom [Side 2]

7. Nobody's Child

8. Illusions In G Major

9. Eldorado

10. Eldorado Finale

Tracks 1 to 10 are their 4th album "Eldorado - A Symphony By..." - released October 1974 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56090 and in the USA on United Artists UA-LA 339-G

BONUS TRACKS:

11. Eldorado Instrumental Medley - Previously Unreleased

12. Dark City - Previously Unreleased

2001 CD Remaster used

Disc 5 - "Face The Music" - 52:33 minutes:

1. Fire On High

2. Waterfall

3. Evil Woman

4. Nightrider

5. Poker [Side 2]

6. Strange Magic (Full Album Version)

7. Down Home Train

8. One Summer Dream

Tracks 1 to 8 are their 5th album "Face The Music"- released October 1975 in the UK on Jet Records JET LP 11 and in the USA on United Artists UA-LA 546-G

BONUS TRACKS:

9. Fire On High Intro (Early Alternative Mix)

10. Evil Woman (Stripped Down Mix)

11. Strange Magic (U.S. Single Edit)

12. Waterfall (Instrumental Mix)

2006 CD Remaster used

Disc 6 - "A New World Record" - 59:12 minutes:

1. Tightrope

2. Telephone Line

3. Rockaria!

4. Mission (A World Record)

5. So Fine [Side 2]

6. Livin' Thing

7. Above The Clouds

8. Do Ya

9. Shangri-La

Tracks 1 to 9 are their 6th album "A New World Record" - released November 1976 in the UK on United Artists UAG 30017 (JET LP 20) and in the USA on United Artists UA-LA 679-G

BONUS TRACKS:

10. Telephone Line (Different Vocal)

11. Surrender

12. Tightrope (Instrumental Early Rough Mix)

13. Above The Clouds (Instrumental Rough Mix)

14. So Fine (Instrumental Early Rough Mix)

15. Telephone Line (Instrumental)

2006 CD Remaster used

Disc 7 - "Out Of The Blue" - 76:27 minutes:

1. Turn To Stone [Side 1]

2. It's Over

3. Sweet Talkin' Woman

4. Across The Border

5. Night In The City [Side 2]

6. Starlight

7. Jungle

8. Believe Me Now

9. Steppin' Out

10. Standin' In The Rain [Side 3 - "Concerto For A Rainy Day"]

11. Big Wheels

12. Summer And Lightning

13. Mr. Blue Sky

14. Sweet Is The Night [Side 4 - "Concerto For A Rainy Day"]

15. The Whale

16. Birmingham Blues

17. Wild West Hero

Tracks 1 to 17 are their 7th album - the double-LP "Out Of The Blue" - released November 1977 in the UK on Jet Records/United Artists UAR 100 and in the USA on Jet Records/United Artists JT-LA 823-L2

BONUS TRACKS:

18. Wild West Hero (Previously Unreleased Alternate Bridge/Home Demo)

19. The Quick And The Daft - Previously Unreleased

20. Latitude 88 North - Previously Unreleased

2007 CD Remaster used

Disc 8 - "Discovery" - 43:39 minutes:

1. Shine A Little Love

2. Confusion

3. Need Her Love

4. The Diary Of Horace Wimp

5. Last Train To London [Side 2]

6. Midnight Blue

7. On The Run

8. Wishing

9. Don't Bring Me Down

Tracks 1 to 9 are their 8th album "Discovery" - released June 1979 in the UK on Jet Records JET LX 500 and in the USA on Jet Records FZA 35769

BONUS TRACKS

10. On The Run (Previously Unreleased Home Demo 1979)

11. Second Time Around (Previously Unreleased Home Demo 1979)

12. Little Town Flirt - Previously Unissued

2001 CD Remaster used

Disc 9 - "Time"- 54:35 minutes

1. Prologue

2. Twilight

3. Yours Truly, 2095

4. Ticket To The Moon

5. The Way Life's Meant To Be

6. Another Heart Breaks

7. Rain Is Falling [Side 2]

8. From The End Of The World

9. The Lights Go Down

10. Here Is The News

11. 21st Century Man

12. Hold On Tight

13. Epilogue

Tracks 1 to 13 are their 9th album "Time" - released August 1981 in the UK on Jet Records JET LP 236 and in the USA on Jet Records FZA 37371

BONUS TRACKS:

14. The Bouncer (non-album track, B-side of "Four Little Diamonds" UK 12" single released October 1983 on Jet Records JETTA 3869

15. When Time Stood Still (non-album track, B-side of "Hold On Tight" UK 7" Single released July 1981 on Jet Records JET 7011

16. Julie Don't Live Here (non-album track, B-side of "Twilight" UK 7" single released October 1981 on Jet Records JET 7015

2001 CD Remaster used

Disc 10 - "Secret Messages" - 56:07 minutes:

1. Secret Messages

2. Loser Gone Wild

3. Bluebird

4. Take Me On And On

5. Time After Time [see Note]

6. Four Little Diamonds [Side 2]

7. Stranger

8. Danger Ahead

9. Letter From Spain

10. Train Of Gold

11. Rock 'n' Roll Is King

Tracks 1 to 4 and 6 to 11 are their 10th album "Secret Messages" - released June 1983 in the UK on Jet Records JET LX 527 and in the USA on Jet Records FZA 38490. The CD reissue in 1987 added on the song "Time After Time" as Track 5.

BONUS TRACKS:

12. No Way Out - Unused track from the original double album "Secret Messages"

13. Endless Lies - Previously Unreleased/Unused Track from the original double version of "Secret Messages"

14. After All (non-album track, B-side of "Rock 'n' Roll Is King" UK 7"single released June 1983 on Jet Records JETA 3500

2001 CD Remaster used

Disc 11 - "Balance Of Power" - 56:17 minutes:

1. Heaven Only Knows

2. So Serious

3. Getting To The Point

4. Secret Lives

5. Is It Alright

6. Sorrow About To Fall [Side 2]

7. Without Someone

8. Calling America

9. Endless Lies

10. Send It

Tracks 1 to 10 are their 11th album "Balance Of Power" - released May 1986 in the UK on Epic Records EPC 26467 and in the USA on CBS Records ZK 40048

BONUS TRACKS:

11. Opening

12. Heaven Only Knows (Alternate Version)

13. In For The Kill

14. Secret Lives (Alternate Mix)

15. Sorrow About To Fall (Alternate Mix)

16. Caught In A Trap (non-album track, B-side of "Calling America" UK 7" single (and 12") released February 1986 on Epic Records A 6844)

17. Destination Unknown (non-album track, B-side of "Calling America" UK 12" single released February 1986 on Epic Records QTA 6844)

2007 CD Remaster used

The clamshell box houses all 11 card-repro sleeves (1, 2 3, 7 and 8 are gatefolds) with a chunky 28-page booklet sat atop that pieces together the reissue liner notes from 2001, 2003 and 2007. JOEL PALMACCIO at Sony Music mastered the set but it's using the PETER MEW remasters and all the other quality engineers involved in the later issues. The audio quality is great and as you can see from the detailed lists provided - each album has retained their Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks. The only thing conspicuous by their absence - are the large number of 7" single edits and different mixes that are scattered through the Seventies especially (they're mostly available on the "Very Best Of" 2CD set). The booklet gives detailed credits on each album - ROY WOOD is on the first two albums - BEV BEVAN joins the group from the 3rd album onwards as does MICHAEL De ALBUQUERQUE with LOUIS CLARK (the unsung member of the band) providing String Arrangements for much of their classic albums.

Their Seventies output splits into three distinct phases - the first Prog Rock Harvest Records period - then into the more commercial Warner Brothers stretch - then finally into Global recognition on their own Jet Records where they simply became known to everyone as ELO. All the big chart hits are here (and more) -"10538 Overture", "Roll Over Beethoven", "Showdown", "Ma-Ma-Ma Belle", "Evil Woman", "Strange Magic", "Livin' Thing", "Rockaria!", "Telephone Line", "Turn To Stone", "Mr. Blue Sky", "Wild West Hero", "Sweet Talkin' Woman" "Shine A Little Love"' "The Diary Of Horace Wimp", "Don't Bring Me Down" and "Confusion/Last Train To London".

Fans of their fabulous Chuck Berry cover "Roll Over Beethoven" may find the full 6:47 minutes of the album version odd on the ears after hearing the (AWOL) single edit of 4:37 minutes for so long. That other superb rocker "Ma-Ma-Ma Belle" is the same - though at 3:57 to 3:21 minutes - the difference is less noticeable. What is very noticeable is Peter Mew's fantastic remaster - these suckers rock.

It's always strange to me how Jeff Lynne's ballads can be so moving - like being moved by a 10cc song - you just don't expect it (but then he's such a good songwriter). Songs like "Can't Get It Out Of My Head", "Strange Magic", "One Summer Dream", "Big Wheel" and "Need Her Love" have hugely emotive centres wrapped around fiendishly hooky melodies. By the time we get to the hits-heavy "Discovery" in 1979 - ELO are Number 1 in their native Blighty and an impressive Number 5 in the USA. From "Time" onwards commercial and public indifference had set in despite the quality of environmental/emotional songs like "The Way Life's Meant To Be" and "Getting To The Point".

Sweet presentation, quality mastering and eleven albums worth for roughly two round ones a go. One for the bedside stocking I think...