A Box of Their Best

A Box of Their Best
A Box of Their Best
Box set by Electric Light Orchestra
Released	7 August 1980
Recorded	May 1975 – April 1979
Length	2:35:52
Label	Epic
Producer	Jeff Lynne
Electric Light Orchestra chronology

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music	^[2]

A Box of Their Best is the first US box set by Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), released in 1980. It consisted of the albums A New World Record (with the sides reversed), Out of the Blue and Discovery. Also included was Jeff Lynne's first ever solo single, "Doin' That Crazy Thing". This single, a one-sided single that was marked as a promo, was not in all releases of the box. The box set is almost identical to the UK release Four Light Years, released the same year.

Track listing

All songs written by Jeff Lynne.

7" single

"Doin' That Crazy Thing" – 3:21

A New World Record

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"So Fine"	3:54
2.	"Livin' Thing"	3:31
3.	"Above the Clouds"	2:16
4.	"Do Ya"	3:43
5.	"Shangri-La"	5:32

Side two
No.	Title	Length
6.	"Tightrope"	5:03
7.	"Telephone Line"	4:38
8.	"Rockaria!"	3:12
9.	"Mission (A World Record)"	4:25

Out of the Blue

Side three
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Turn to Stone"	3:47
2.	"It's Over"	4:08
3.	"Sweet Talkin' Woman"	3:47
4.	"Across the Border"	3:52

Side four
No.	Title	Length
5.	"Night in the City"	4:02
6.	"Starlight"	4:30
7.	"Jungle"	3:51
8.	"Believe Me Now"	1:21
9.	"Steppin' Out"	4:38

Side five – Concerto for a Rainy Day
No.	Title	Length
10.	"Standin' in the Rain"	4:20
11.	"Big Wheels"	5:10
12.	"Summer and Lightning"	4:13
13.	"Mr. Blue Sky"	5:05

Side six
No.	Title	Length
14.	"Sweet is the Night"	3:26
15.	"The Whale"	5:05
16.	"Birmingham Blues"	4:21
17.	"Wild West Hero"	4:40

Discovery

Side seven
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Shine a Little Love"	4:43
2.	"Confusion"	3:42
3.	"Need Her Love"	5:11
4.	"The Diary of Horace Wimp"	4:17

Side eight
No.	Title	Length
5.	"Last Train to London"	4:32
6.	"Midnight Blue"	4:19
7.	"On the Run"	3:55
8.	"Wishing"	4:13
9.	"Don't Bring Me Down"	4:02
Total length:		155:52

Personnel

Jeff Lynne – vocals, guitars, piano, synthesizer
Bev Bevan – drums, percussion
Richard Tandy – piano, synthesizer, electric piano, clavinet
Kelly Groucutt – bass guitar, vocals

Additional personnel on sides 1–6

References

^ A Box of Their Best at AllMusic
^ Larkin, Colin, ed. (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th ed.). London: Omnibus Press. p. 916. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8.

[1] A Box of Their Best at AllMusic

[2] Larkin, Colin, ed. (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th ed.). London: Omnibus Press. p. 916. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8.

[1]

[2]

Electric Light Orchestra
Jeff Lynne Bev Bevan Roy Wood Richard Tandy Mike Edwards Wilfred Gibson Hugh McDowell Mike de Albuquerque Colin Walker Mik Kaminski Kelly Groucutt Melvyn Gale
Studio albums	The Electric Light Orchestra (No Answer) ELO 2 (Electric Light Orchestra II) On the Third Day Eldorado Face the Music A New World Record Out of the Blue Discovery Time Secret Messages Balance of Power Zoom Alone in the Universe From Out of Nowhere
Live albums	The Night the Light Went On in Long Beach Live at Wembley '78 Live at Winterland '76 The BBC Sessions Live at the BBC Electric Light Orchestra Live Wembley or Bust
Soundtracks	Xanadu
Compilations	Showdown Olé ELO The Light Shines On Three Light Years The Light Shines On Vol 2 ELO's Greatest Hits Four Light Years Afterglow ELO's Greatest Hits Vol. 2 The Very Best of the Electric Light Orchestra Strange Magic Light Years Definitive Collection Friends & Relatives Flashback The Ultimate Collection The Essential Electric Light Orchestra All Over the World Ticket to the Moon The Essential Electric Light Orchestra (2 CD Edition) Mr. Blue Sky
Singles	"10538 Overture" "Mr. Radio" (withdrawn) "Roll Over Beethoven" "Showdown" "Ma-Ma-Ma Belle" "Can't Get It Out of My Head" / "Illusions in G Major" "Boy Blue" / "Eldorado" "Evil Woman" "Strange Magic" "Nightrider" "Strange Magic" "Livin' Thing" / "Fire On High" "Rockaria!" "Do Ya" "Telephone Line" / "Poor Boy (The Greenwood)" "Turn to Stone" / "Mister Kingdom" "Mr. Blue Sky" / "One Summer Dream" "Sweet Talkin' Woman" "Wild West Hero" "It's Over" "Shine a Little Love" "The Diary of Horace Wimp" "Don't Bring Me Down" "Confusion" "Last Train to London" "I'm Alive" "Xanadu" (with Olivia Newton-John) "All Over the World" "Don't Walk Away" "Hold On Tight" "Twilight" "Here Is the News" / "Ticket to the Moon" "Rain Is Falling" "The Way Life's Meant to Be" "Rock 'n' Roll Is King" "Secret Messages" "Four Little Diamonds" "Stranger" "Calling America" "So Serious" "Getting to the Point"
Videography	Out of the Blue: Live at Wembley (1980) Fusion – Live in London (1990) Zoom Tour Live (2001) ELO – Total Rock Review (2006) Live: The Early Years (2010) Jeff Lynne's ELO: Live in Hyde Park (2015) Wembley or Bust (2017)
Tours	Jeff Lynne's ELO Tour 2019 The Over and Out Tour (2024–25)
Touring members	Louis Clark Dave Morgan Gregg Bissonette Matt Bissonette Marc Mann Rosie Vela
Related articles	Discography Members Song list The Move Wizzard ELO Part II The Orchestra Violinski Earthrise L.E.O. Juliana Hatfield Sings ELO
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