Afterglow (Electric Light Orchestra album)

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.

Afterglow
Box set by
Released15 June 1990
RecordedJuly 1970 – January 1986
GenreProgressive rock, pop rock
Length208:57
LabelEpic
ProducerJeff Lynne
Electric Light Orchestra chronology
Balance of Power
(1986)
Afterglow
(1990)
ELO's Greatest Hits Vol. 2
(1992)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
MusicHound3/5[2]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[3]

Overview: Afterglow

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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:

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.

Track listing: Afterglow

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All tracks written by Jeff Lynne, except "Roll Over Beethoven" by Chuck Berry and Ludwig van Beethoven.

Disc E (Disc 1)

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  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)

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  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)

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  1. "Prologue" – 1:16
  2. "Twilight" – 3:33
  3. "Julie Don't Live Here"  – 3:40
    • B-side to the "Twilight" single, 1981
  4. "Shine a Little Love" – 4:39
  5. "When Time Stood Still" – 3:33
    • B-side to the "Hold on Tight" single, 1981
  6. "Rain Is Falling" – 3:57
  7. "The Bouncer" – 3:13
    • B-side to the "Four Little Diamonds" single, 1983; Previously unreleased in the US
  8. "Hello My Old Friend" – 7:51
    • Previously unreleased
  9. "Hold on Tight"  – 3:06
  10. "Four Little Diamonds" – 4:08
    • features a slightly longer intro than the album version
  11. "Mandalay"  – 5:19
    • Previously unreleased
  12. "Buildings Have Eyes"  – 3:55
  13. "So Serious"  – 2:39
  14. "A Matter of Fact"  – 3:58
    • B-side to "So Serious" single; Previously unreleased in the US
  15. "No Way Out" – 3:23
    • Previously unreleased
  16. "Getting to the Point"  – 4:28
  17. "Destination Unknown"  – 4:05
    • B-side to "Calling America" 12 inch UK single; Previously unreleased in the US
  18. "Rock 'n' Roll Is King" (Single edit) – 3:07

Track listing: The Very Best Of The Electric Light Orchestra

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All tracks written by Jeff Lynne, except "Roll Over Beethoven" by Chuck Berry.

Disc 1

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  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"  – 4:25
  5. "Rockaria!"  – 3:14
  6. "Telephone Line"  – 4:39
  7. "Mr. Blue Sky" (Japanese 7" edit) – 3:44
  8. "Sweet Talkin' Woman"  – 3:48
  9. "Confusion"  – 3:42
  10. "Rock 'n' Roll Is King" (Album version)  – 3:43
  11. "Strange Magic"  – 4:05
  12. "Calling America"  – 4:05

Disc 2

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

Personnel

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Afterglow at AllMusic
  2. ^ Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel, eds. (1999). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Farmington Hills, MI: Visible Ink Press. p. 383. ISBN 1-57859-061-2.
  3. ^ Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian, eds. (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th edn). New York, NY: Fireside/Simon & Schuster. p. 274. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.