Mr. Blue Sky: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra

Mr. Blue Sky: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra (also known as Mr. Blue Sky) is an album of re-recordings by Jeff Lynne of hits by Electric Light Orchestra. It was issued in 2012 by Frontiers simultaneously with Lynne's cover album Long Wave.

Mr. Blue Sky: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra
Greatest hits album by Jeff Lynne
Released	8 October 2012 (UK) 9 October 2012 (US)
Recorded	2001–2012
Studio	Bungalow Palace
Genre	Rock
Length	48:51
Label	Frontiers
Producer	Jeff Lynne
Jeff Lynne chronology
The Essential Electric Light Orchestra (2 CD Edition) (2011) Mr. Blue Sky: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra (2012) Electric Light Orchestra Live (2013)

Background

Jeff Lynne told Rolling Stone magazine that the idea came from him listening to the original Electric Light Orchestra recordings, and thinking that he could produce a better result having since had a long career as a record producer.[1] Lynne decided to re-record a number of songs from scratch, and began with "Mr. Blue Sky". He told Rolling Stone: "I enjoyed doing that a lot, and when I listened back to it and compared it to the old one, I really liked it much better."[1] It was suggested by his manager that Lynne record a few more versions of Electric Light Orchestra songs, the results being recordings of "Evil Woman" and "Strange Magic". Lynne also liked these versions, so he continued by producing a full album of re-recordings.[1]

Release and content

The album features all new recordings of some of the group's hits,[2] as well as two bonus tracks: a new song, "Point of No Return", and a live recording of "Twilight" on Japanese releases. The album debuted at number 8 on the UK Albums Chart[3] and at number 2 on the UK Top 40 Independent Albums Chart,[4] then also at number 118 on the US Billboard 200 albums chart,[5] at number 29 on the Billboard Top Independent Albums chart[6] and at number 46 on the Billboard Top Rock Albums chart.[7]

Track listing

All tracks written, produced, and performed by Jeff Lynne.[8]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Mr. Blue Sky"	3:44
2.	"Evil Woman"	4:30
3.	"Strange Magic"	3:53
4.	"Don't Bring Me Down"	4:01
5.	"Turn to Stone"	3:46
6.	"Showdown"	4:16
7.	"Telephone Line"	4:30
8.	"Livin' Thing"	3:42
9.	"Do Ya"	3:56
10.	"Can't Get It Out of My Head"	4:35
11.	"10538 Overture" (40th anniversary version)	4:44
12.	"Point of No Return" (Previously unreleased)	3:14
Total length:		48:51

Japanese bonus track

No.	Title	Length
13.	"Twilight" (Live from CBS Television City, 2001)	3:40

iTunes Store "Deluxe edition" bonus tracks [9]

No.	Title	Length
14.	"Ma-Ma-Ma Belle"	3:52
15.	"Rockaria!"	3:13
16.	"Steppin' Out" (Live from Bungalow Palace)	3:23
17.	"Can't Get It Out of My Head" (Live from Bungalow Palace)	4:11

Personnel

Personnel per album booklet:[8]

Musicians

• Jeff Lynne – lead vocals, background vocals, lead guitar, rhythm guitar, piano, bass, drums, keyboards, vocoder, cowbell, production, mixing, engineering
• Marc Mann – string arrangements, Minimoog ("Turn to Stone"), engineering
• Laura Lynne – background vocals ("Evil Woman", "Strange Magic", "Showdown", "Livin' Thing")
• Steve Jay – shakers, tambourine, mixing, engineering
• Ryan Ulyate – piano solo ("Evil Woman"), engineering
• Howie Weinberg – mastering engineer
• Dan Gerbarg – mastering engineer

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts Chart (2012) Peak position Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[10] 119 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[11] 129 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[12] 78 UK Albums (OCC)[3] 8 UK Independent Albums (OCC)[4] 29 US Billboard 200[5] 118 US Independent Albums (Billboard)[6] 29 US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[13] 118 US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[7] 46

Certifications Region Certification Certified units/sales United Kingdom (BPI)[14] Gold 100,000^^ ^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Prato, Greg (21 September 2012). "Premiere: Jeff Lynne Covers Soul Nugget 'Mercy, Mercy'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
2. "Mr. Blue Sky: The Story of Jeff Lynne and ELO Coming To TV". Anti Music. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
3. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
4. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
5. "Electric Light Orchestra Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
6. "Electric Light Orchestra Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
7. "Electric Light Orchestra Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
8. Mr. Blue Sky: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra liner notes
9. "iTunes – Music – Mr. Blue Sky – The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra (Deluxe Edition) by Electric Light Orchestra". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
10. "Ultratop.be – Electric Light Orchestra – Mr. Blue Sky - The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
11. "Ultratop.be – Electric Light Orchestra – Mr. Blue Sky - The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
12. "Dutchcharts.nl – Electric Light Orchestra – Mr. Blue Sky - The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
13. "Electric Light Orchestra Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
14. "British album certifications – Elo – Mr Blue Sky - The Very Best Of". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 12 January 2021.