MR. BLUE SKY: THE VERY BEST OF ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA

I was a fan of ELO from the 80s and found their blending of rock and classical music to be rather refreshing even in this day and age. I own many vinyl ELO albums as a shop was trying to get rid of them and practically gave them to me and really that is the way I fondly remember them. With massive vinyl album covers showing the iconic ELO spaceship emblazoned with rainbow streams and starry skies, the album covers are brilliaintly conceived. This latest album caught my attention as I had not seen this iconic spaceship for years.

The songs on this are the most famous from ELO and definitley the cream of the crop. These versions have been revisited and re-recorded for this special edition. My favourite is 'Mr. Blue Sky' that sprang to mind after seeing it used so well on the new Doctor Who series. This is followed by strange melodies on 'Evil Woman' and 'Strange Magic'. The drums and rhythm on 'Don't Bring Me Down' are exemplary and I love the stirring violins on 'Turn To Stone'. Next is the early single 'Showdown' from the 3rd album "On the Third Day" and the slower and rather somber 'Telephone Line'. Of course every ELO compilation features 'Livin' Thing' with its infectious chorus and this is followed by the raucous sounds of 'Do Ya'. The slow meandering 'Can't Get It Out Of My Head' is not a fave of mine but it is wonderful to hear a newer version of '10538 Overture (40th Anniversary Edition)' that is remastered and quite different musically. It closes with the not often heard 'Point Of No Return. I must admit it would have been better to include 'Horace Wimp' somewhere as its a work of genius. Also the inclusion of 'Shine A Little Love', 'Confusion' or 'Rockaria!' would have been welcome, the latter being indispensable ELO rock without a doubt.

So with this latest compilation, after an onslaught of compilations over the years, it again makes this band appear to be just a singles band when of course that is far from the truth, but alas most would remember this way, all sparkling clean sound and multi harmonies manufactured in a studio. In any case it is nice to revisit ELO in this mastered form with brand new versions and snazzy booklet and surprises thrown in, and the CD certainly sounds better than my scratchy old vinyls.