The Collection [Box Set] [Long Box]

Performer: Electric Light Orchestra
Engineer: Ryan Ulyate; Jimmy; Mack
Distributor: Sony Music Distribution (

Notes: Originally released as three separate albums, FACE THE MUSIC, A NEW WORLD RECORD and DISCOVERY. Electric Light Orchestra: Jeff Lynne (vocals, guitar, piano, synthesizer); Kelly Groucett (vocals, bass); Richard Tandy (piano, clavinet, synthesizer); Bev Bevan (drums, percussions). Producers include: Jeff Lynne. THE COLLECTION contains: FACE THE MUSIC (1975)/A NEW WORLD RECORD (1976)/DISCOVERY (1979). Personnel: Jeff Lynne (vocals, guitar, piano, synthesizer, background vocals); Kelly Groucutt (vocals, bass guitar, background vocals); Richard Tandy (guitar, piano, grand piano, electric piano, Clavinet, synthesizer, Moog synthesizer); Hugh McDowell, Melvyn Gale (cello); Bev Bevan (drums, percussion, background vocals). Recording information: De Lane Lea Studios, London, England (1979-2001); Musicland Studios, Munich, Germany (1979-2001). Photographers: Stan Avedon; Norman Seeff; Jim Shea; Fred Valentine; Fin Costello. This three-disc set collects three of ELO's classic late-'70s albums in their entirety, and as such, it's an excellent overview not only of Jeff Lynne's musical genius, but of commercial '70s pop as a whole. 1975's FACE THE MUSIC, 1976's A NEW WORLD RECORD, and 1979's DISCOVERY--1977's double-disc OUT OF THE BLUE is omitted for space--are as good as Top-40 pop got in the last half of the '70s, and hearing the three together sketches out the arc of Lynne's career. FACE THE MUSIC, ELO's fifth album, is slightly rough-edged, but its enormous hit singles paved the way for the staggeringly good A NEW WORLD RECORD, Lynne's best and most consistent work. After the overwhelming commercial success of OUT OF THE BLUE, DISCOVERY is a bit more self-consciously experimental, with new-wavish Vocoders and disco beats coloring the typically excellent songs. All three are simply essential.

ELO began as an outgrowth of '60s UK psych-rockers the Move and the Idle Race, but when former Move frontman Roy Wood departed early in the game, Jeff Lynne fashioned the band as a high-tech Beatles for the '70s. Featuring a full-time string section, ELO picked up where "Strawberry Fields" left off, creating orchestral Britpop without the pretense of prog-rock. The band's slick, lush sound helped define '70s pop, and proved influential decades later to the likes of Air and the Polyphonic Spree.

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