Audio CD review:
Electric Light Orchestra - Afterglow

Electric Light Orchestra - Afterglow

Band: Electric Light Orchestra Title: Afterglow Rating: Release Date: 15 June, 1990 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: 10538 Overture 2: Mr. Radio 3: Kuiama 4: In Old England Town (Boogie #2) 5: Mama 6: Roll Over Beethoven 7: Bluebird Is Dead 8: Ma-Ma-Ma Belle 9: Showdown 10: Can't Get It Out My Head 11: Boy Blue 12: One Summer Dream 13: Evil Woman 14: Tightrope 15: Strange Magic 16: Do Ya 17: Nightrider 18: Waterfall 19: Rockaria! 20: Telephone Line 21: So Fine 22: Livin' Thing 23: Mr. Blue Sky 24: Sweet Is The Night 25: Turn To Stone 26: Sweet Talkin' Woman 27: Steppin' Out 28: Afterglow: Midnight Blue 29: Don't Bring Me Down 30: Prologue 31: Twilight 32: Julie Don't Live Here 33: Shine A Little Love 34: When Time Stood Still 35: Rain Is Falling 36: Bouncer 37: Hello My Old Friend 38: Hold On Tight 39: Four Little Diamonds 40: Mandalay 41: Buildings Have Eyes 42: So Serious 43: A Matter Of Fact 44: No Way Out 45: Getting To The Point 46: Destination Unknown 47: Rock 'N' Roll Is King

Customer Reviews Essential for ELO fans, but only for 5 exclusive songs I'm surprised this "Afterglow" set is still in print. This set, released in 1990, has been surpassed by several other more recent ELO compilations, including 2000's 3-CD set "Flashback" (which benefits from vastly improved sound quality, direct input from Jeff Lynne himself, better track selection, and several previously unreleased tracks). "Afterglow", though, is still a must-have for ELO fans because of the inclusion of tracks from the unreleased half of the aborted double album version of 1983's "Secret Messages. " Lynne originally planned that 1983 album as a double album, but it was eventually released as a single album. "Afterglow" presents, by my best count off the top of my head, six of the rejected cuts from that album ("Hello My Old Friend", "Mandalay", "Buildings Have Eyes", "A Matter of Fact", "No Way Out", and "Destination Unknown"). The reason this set is still a must-have is because, for some reason, only one of those above-mentioned cuts ("No Way Out") was included on the 2001 remastered reissue of the "Secret Messages" album. That 2001 reissue included two additional bonus tracks as well ("Endless Lies" and "After All"). In any event, you need the "Afterglow" set for the five tracks that have not been released anywhere else. I would only recommend "Afterglow" for those tracks, as everything else on the set can be found in better sound quality elsewhere. I'm surprised other reviewers question the track selection for the third disc of this set, as that disc is the only thing that makes the set of any consequence to ELO fans. . Disappointing No ELO collection can possibly be complete without "Fire On High", "Poker", "Eldorado Overture", "Shangri-La", "In The Hall Of The Mountain King" etc. An unfortunate compilation, focusing on the sappy, AM-radio side of ELO, and ignoring the artistic and classic rock-oriented material that ELO are loved for by their fans. Disk two is a little better, featuring several ELO classic rock warhorses, but also containing some weaker material. Third disk is full of mediocre outtakes and adds nothing of lasting value to the ELO repertoire. This collection sadly misrepresents ELO as a pop group, whereas their reputation with the fans rests upon the material that is more classically influenced. My advice is to stay away from this and get the classic albums instead - "ELO II", "Eldorado", "Face The Music" or "New World Record" are timeless recordings, and are ELO's true legacy. Exceptional collection All of these criticisms are from people who haven't bothered to listen to ELO from beginning to last and who are too obtuse to realize that Jeff Lynne is a musical genius (and no, I don't use that word lightly). I am sick of ELO being bashed as the poor man's Beatles, as sappy, as "disco-flavored violin trash," and as infantile muzak. Yes, his lyrics are banal, but with this type of music, who on earth cares? The lyrics to "Ob La Di, Ob La Da" are trite too, but with such catchy music, one can overlook the banality of the words. This set might be the definitive set of the three issued ELO compilations. "Xanudu" is still a limping dog of a song, but there are some remastered gems here. ALl of the first 2 discs are pure magic, including ELO's most underrated (and, I think, best) song, "Nightrider. " And how about "Four Little Diamonds" on disc three, where you can Lynne counting down the intro and sounding exactly like Ozzy Osbourne, in their mutual Birmingham accents. The sound quality is excellent and the track order is pleasing. There are no omissions and only a few questionable inclusions, and they all appear on disc three. I bought my first ELO single when I was 10 years old and I never looked back. If you've read this far, you're a fan like me and you will devour this set. Long live this sappy, trite, banal band. . . I still love 'em forever!. . You can see a complete list of all Electric Light Orchestra discography, or go back to the Electric Light Orchestra tabs