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.

Overview: Afterglow 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: Disc "E" – The Electric Light Orchestra (1971; tracks 1–2), ELO 2 (1973; tracks 3–6), On the Third Day (1973; tracks 7–9) and Eldorado (1974; tracks 10–11) (with the exception of "One Summer Dream" from Face the Music (1975)) Disc "L" – Face the Music (tracks 1, 3, 5–6), A New World Record (1976; tracks 2, 4, 7–10), Out of the Blue (1977; tracks 11–15) and Discovery (1979; tracks 16–17) Disc "O" – Time (1981; tracks 1–2, 6 & 9), Secret Messages (1983; tracks 10 & 18) and Balance of Power (1986; tracks 13 & 16) (with the exception of "Shine a Little Love" from Discovery)

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. This statement is untrue. It was a 10 track sampler, not a CD single.

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

Disc E (Disc 1) "10538 Overture" – 5:32 "Mr. Radio" – 5:04 "Kuiama" – 11:19 "In Old England Town (Boogie No. 2)" – 6:54 "Mama" – 7:03 "Roll Over Beethoven" – 8:08 "Bluebird Is Dead" – 4:24 "Ma-Ma-Ma Belle" – 3:52 "Showdown" – 4:07 "Can't Get It Out of My Head" – 4:25 "Boy Blue" – 5:20 "One Summer Dream" – 5:47

Disc L (Disc 2) "Evil Woman" – 4:18 "Tightrope" – 5:03 "Strange Magic" – 4:29 "Do Ya" – 3:44 "Nightrider" – 4:22 "Waterfall" – 4:10 "Rockaria!" – 3:14 "Telephone Line" – 4:39 "So Fine" – 3:54 "Livin' Thing" – 3:31 "Mr. Blue Sky" (Japanese 7" edit) – 3:44 "Sweet Is the Night" – 3:27 "Turn to Stone" – 3:48 "Sweet Talkin' Woman" – 3:48 "Steppin' Out" – 4:38 "Midnight Blue" – 4:17 "Don't Bring Me Down" – 4:03

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

Track listing: The Very Best Of The Electric Light Orchestra All tracks written by Jeff Lynne, except "Roll Over Beethoven" by Chuck Berry.

Disc 1 "Evil Woman" – 4:18 "Livin' Thing" – 3:31 "Turn to Stone" – 3:48 "Can't Get It Out of My Head" – 4:25 "Rockaria!" – 3:14 "Telephone Line" – 4:39 "Mr. Blue Sky" (Japanese 7" edit) – 3:44 "Sweet Talkin' Woman" – 3:48 "Confusion" – 3:42 "Rock 'n' Roll Is King" (Album version) – 3:43 "Strange Magic" – 4:05 "Calling America" – 4:05

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

Personnel Jeff Lynne – vocals, guitars Bev Bevan – drums, percussion Richard Tandy – keyboards, guitar Kelly Groucutt – bass, vocals (1974 onwards) Mike de Albuquerque – bass (to 1974) Bill Hunt – French horn, hunting horn (tracks 1 & 2 on Disc E) Mik Kaminski – violin Wilfred Gibson – violin (tracks 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 & 9 on Disc E) Steve Woolam – violin (tracks 1 & 2 on Disc E) Mike Edwards – cello (to 1974) Melvyn Gale – cello (1975 onwards) Hugh McDowell – cello Colin Walker – cello (tracks 3, 4, 5 & 6 on Disc E) Marc Bolan – guitar (on "Ma-Ma-Ma Belle") Roy Wood – vocals, guitars, cello, bass, wind instruments (tracks 1, 2 & 4 on Disc E) Ira Robbins (Trouser Press) – liner notes (1990)

See also Flashback

References