Review of E.L.O. : All Over the World: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]
The Electric Light Orchestra were one of the biggest and most successful bands of the late 1970s, producing a massive string of hit singles and albums that almost any other band would envy. Their works have been cited as influences by such hip acts as Grandaddy and Super Furry Animals. Their frontman and leader Jeff Lynne has been the producer of choice for people like Paul McCartney, Tom Petty and George Harrison. From "Evil Woman", "Don't Bring Me Down" and "Mr Blue Sky" to "Livin' Thing" and "Hold On Tight", there are few duds amongst these 20 remastered tracks. ELO produced some of the biggest and best singles in rock & roll's history, and All Over The World: The Very Best Of ELO is an excellent reintroduction to this great band. Hopefully, this also signals the beginning of a long-overdue revival and re-evaluation. --Robert Burrow

Users's Reviews - E.L.O. : Rehash Of Existing Titles
A nice compilation if this was a two disc set like "Strange Magic". I'll get it to keep my collection to date. As for the line-up of tracks, reviewers have said it all. Also, the import has the new "Xanadu" version(from box set) & have no idea if it is the same one on the U.S. version. For a new fan it would be a nice set. For the collector, just the same recycled tracks but missing some of their big hits.

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Your latest reviews - E.L.O. : Not definitive ELO comp All Over the World
I, too was baffled by the omissions on this ELO comp. I wrote to a watchdog column to get answers.

Here's what I was told. This comp initially was only intended for the UK. Hence only the hit singles in that country were chosen. That is why Can't Get it Out of My Head is not on this - it didn't chart overseas. That is why Wild West Hero and Rockaria are on this.

It was then released worldwide with the track selection intact. Sounds plausible, and yet, the tracklisting does vary in Holland and Japan. So...back to the same question=why not vary it here?
Why the remake of Xanadu and not the UK hit with Olivia Newton John?

Skimpy liner notes and a slightly spotty track selection (no Do Ya, Twilight, Calling America, Roll Over Beethoven, 10538 Overture (the latter two both charted well in the UK), and the above Can't Get it Out of My Head knock this down one star. The four stars are for what IS on here and the remastering which is superb!