ALL OVER THE WORLD: THE VERY BEST OF ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA

ELO plays quite specific kind of music: symphonic boogie. This music is not for everyone , but if you like it, ELO is king.

I think because of perfect melodies, beautiful but light symphonic arrangements, boogie/rock'n'roll rhythms and air-friendly oriented songs, ELO was always somewhere on the border of progresive rock world. From other hand, their direction bring them millions sales and huge popularity.

I think everyone will agree, that their best period is seventies, I can say till Xanadu album. Less commercial direction, more symphonic sound, absolutely all best songs are coming from that time. And "All Over The World" compilation is coming mostly from that time. You will find there att their best songs, so album is very representative. A believe if you are not ELO maniac or collector, this album is must have and enough to own.

Making a single-disc compilation of a band with so many rich albums in the course of their existence is never an easy task, and the labels "definitive," "complete," and "very best" are misleading at best, or patronizing at worst. This one doesn't do a bad job of it, though, as many of the crowd favorites are present. Noticeably absent is the ever-delightful "Boy Blue" (a favorite of mine), but it's replacement, the quirky "The Diary of Horace Wimp" (another favorite of mine) compensates. Nothing from the debut is included, nor is anything from the sophomore album here (likely due to time constraints with respect to the latter). The version of "Xanadu" is not the original, but is a complete overhaul by Jeff Lynne alone (meaning without input from either Olivia Newton-John or his anyone else in the band). While I myself would spring for the more robust double disc ELO compilation, Strange Magic, this is recommended; for someone wanting a fantastic single-disc compilation of the fabulous Electric Light Orchestra, this is an easy choice, one that should either satisfy or leave the listener with a desire for studio albums, and that I suppose is the idealistic motive of such a product.

This is one of the greatest ELO compilations after a tirade of comps over the years. It is all packed onto one CD and there are not many omissions when it comes to definitive ELO singles, though I am a fan of album tracks more than some of these.

To start off there are the quintessential tracks Mr. Blue Sky, Evil Woman, Don't Bring Me Down, Sweet Talkin' Woman, Shine A Little Love, Turn To Stone, The Diary Of Horace Wimp, Confusion, Livin' Thing, Telephone Line and Rockaria! that surely must represent the ultimate ELO collection on any compilation. Most comps feature these radio saturated manufactured pop gems, and for good reason; they are incredible slices of mainstream artistry.

Others that are included on this comp are popular but I was never that big a fan of them, namely Hold On Tight, All Over The World, Showdown, Ma-Ma-Ma Belle, Xanadu, Strange Magic, and Rock'n'Roll Is King. There is nothing wrong with these as in fact many have some wonderful melodies and musicianship, it is just that they are not as excellent as others. Then there are oddities on this comp that are rarely on comps, such as Wild West Hero, and Alright. Once again they are not too bad but it might have been nice to include Twilight, Here is the News and Overture. Xanadu could have been omitted too that features more Olivia Newton John than ELO; nice song but just not necessary on this comp.

The packaging is nice too with the cool trademark spaceship on the cover and some info inside. In any case this is definitely one to get if you are just after the radio hits that haunted airwaves. Every track is a piece of the magic that is ELO.