Light Years, The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra
{{EngvarB|date=January 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}
{{Infobox album
| italic_title = force
| name = Light Years, The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra
| type = greatest
| artist = Electric Light Orchestra
| cover = Light Years ELO.PNG
| alt =
| released = November 1997
| recorded = July 1970–January 1986
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Rock
| length = 148:04
| label = Epic Records
| producer = Jeff Lynne
| prev_title = Strange Magic: The Best of Electric Light Orchestra
| prev_year = 1995
| next_title = Live at Wembley '78
| next_year = 1998
}}
{{Album reviews
|rev1 = Allmusic
|rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r342277}}
| rev2 = Encyclopedia of Popular Music
| rev2Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite book|editor-first=Colin|editor-last=Larkin|year=2011|title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th edn)|location=London|publisher=Omnibus Press|isbn=978-0-85712-595-8|page=916}}
}}
Light Years, The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra is a two CD compilation album by Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), released in 1997.
The album celebrates the band's 25th Anniversary singles career starting in 1972 and contains all of ELO's 29 UK hit singles plus other single edits that either didn't chart or were hits in other countries.
All the songs included are reputed to be the edited 7" single versions; analysis of the vinyl 7" singles contradicts the claim. For example, the intro/count-in of "Four Little Diamonds" was trimmed from the original 7", but included here; the intro of "Strange Magic" was shorter on the 7".
It is also the first ELO compilation to feature the song "Across the Border" which was scheduled to be released as an EP track in 1980 but was withdrawn. Although not in chronological order, it is however the most comprehensive assemblage of the band's hits of the many compilations available.
The album reached 60 in the UK Album Charts.{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/electric%20light%20orchestra/ | title= Electric Light Orchestra| publisher=Official Charts Company | accessdate=12 March 2013}} The album was also released in Europe with an identical track order under the titles, The Swedish Collection and The Danish Collection released in 2000.
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Disc one
| extra_column = Original album
| title1 = Turn to Stone
| extra1 = Out of the Blue, 1977
| length1 = 3:47
| title2 = Evil Woman
| extra2 = Face the Music, 1975
| length2 = 4:15
| title3 = Livin' Thing
| extra3 = A New World Record, 1976
| length3 = 3:32
| title4 = Twilight
| extra4 = Time, 1981
| length4 = 3:37
| title5 = Telephone Line
| extra5 = A New World Record
| length5 = 4:41
| title6 = Four Little Diamonds
| extra6 = Secret Messages, 1983
| length6 = 4:06
| title7 = Xanadu
| note7 = with Olivia Newton-John
| extra7 = Xanadu soundtrack, 1980
| length7 = 3:27
| title8 = Last Train to London
| extra8 = Discovery, 1979
| length8 = 4:32
| title9 = Strange Magic
| note9 = 7" edit
| extra9 = Face the Music
| length9 = 4:06
| title10 = Ma-Ma-Ma Belle
| note10 = 7" edit
| extra10 = On the Third Day, 1973
| length10 = 3:11
| title11 = Confusion
| extra11 = Discovery
| length11 = 3:40
| title12 = Rock 'n' Roll Is King
| extra12 = Secret Messages
| length12 = 3:05
| title13 = The Way Life's Meant to Be
| extra13 = Time
| length13 = 4:39
| title14 = Can't Get It Out of My Head
| note14 = 7" edit
| extra14 = Eldorado, 1974
| length14 = 3:07
| title15 = Secret Messages
| note15 = Special version from the LP
| extra15 = Secret Messages
| length15 = 3:34
| title16 = Calling America
| extra16 = Balance of Power, 1986
| length16 = 3:28
| title17 = Don't Walk Away
| extra17 = Xanadu soundtrack
| length17 = 4:39
| title18 = Don't Bring Me Down
| extra18 = Discovery
| length18 = 4:03
| title19 = Mr. Blue Sky
| extra19 = Out of the Blue
| length19 = 5:03
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Disc two
| total_length = 148:04
| extra_column = Original album
| title1 = Sweet Talkin' Woman
| extra1 = Out of the Blue
| length1 = 3:47
| title2 = I'm Alive
| extra2 = Xanadu soundtrack
| length2 = 3:43
| title3 = Shine a Little Love
| extra3 = Discovery
| length3 = 4:10
| title4 = Ticket to the Moon
| extra4 = Time
| length4 = 4:07
| title5 = Illusions in G Major
| extra5 = Eldorado
| length5 = 2:38
| title6 = So Serious
| extra6 = Balance of Power
| length6 = 2:41
| title7 = Nightrider
| note7 = 7" edit
| extra7 = Face the Music
| length7 = 3:43
| title8 = All Over the World
| extra8 = Xanadu soundtrack
| length8 = 4:01
| title9 = Here Is the News
| extra9 = Time
| length9 = 3:44
| title10 = The Diary of Horace Wimp
| extra10 = Discovery
| length10 = 4:17
| title11 = Across the Border
| note11 = EP version
| extra11 = Out of the Blue
| length11 = 3:51
| title12 = Showdown
| extra12 = On the Third Day (U.S.); Showdown, 1974
| length12 = 4:10
| title13 = Hold on Tight
| extra13 = Time
| length13 = 3:07
| title14 = Wild West Hero
| extra14 = Out of the Blue
| length14 = 4:40
| title15 = Do Ya
| extra15 = A New World Record
| length15 = 3:45
| title16 = 10538 Overture
| note16 = 7" edit
| extra16 = The Electric Light Orchestra/No Answer, 1971
| length16 = 3:56
| title17 = Getting to the Point
| extra17 = Balance of Power
| length17 = 4:29
| title18 = Rockaria!
| extra18 = A New World Record
| length18 = 3:14
| title19 = Roll Over Beethoven
| note19 = 7" edit
| extra19 = ELO 2, 1973
| length19 = 4:34
}}
Personnel
- Jeff Lynne – vocals, guitars, keyboards
- Roy Wood – vocals, cello, oboe, bass guitar
- Bev Bevan – drums, percussion
- Richard Tandy – synthesizers, mellotron, clavinet, piano, guitar
- Kelly Groucutt – vocals, bass guitar
- Hugh McDowell – cello
- Mik Kaminski – violin
- Melvyn Gale – cello
- Mike de Albuquerque – bass guitar, vocals
- Mike Edwards – cello
- Wilf Gibson – violin
- Colin Walker – cello
- Bill Hunt – French horn
- Steve Woolam – violin
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope=col | Chart (1997-1999)
!scope=col | Peak |
|---|
| {{album chart|Norway|10|artist=Electric Light Orchestra|album=Light Years - The Very Best Of|rowheader=true|access-date=February 28, 2024}} |
| {{album chart|Scotland|81|date=19990829|rowheader=true|access-date=February 28, 2024}} |
| scope="row"| Spanish Albums (AFYVE){{cite book|last=Salaverri|first=Fernando|title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002|edition=1st|publisher=Fundación Autor-SGAE|location=Spain|year=2005|isbn=84-8048-639-2 | language=es}}
| align="center"| 41 |
| {{album chart|UK2|60|date=19971102|rowheader=true|access-date=February 28, 2024}} |
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Norway|artist=ELO|title=Light Years|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=1997|certyear=1999}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=ELO|title=Light Years - The Very Best Of|award=Gold|type=album|certyear=2013|certmonth=7|id=9995-1604-2|access-date=10 April 2022}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|noshipments=true}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Electric Light Orchestra}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Light Years, The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra}}
Category:Albums produced by Jeff Lynne
Category:Electric Light Orchestra compilation albums