ELO General Hits, Live, Box Sets, Best Of and Compilation LPs, Vinyl & CD issued in Germany
Harvest, United Artist and Jet Record LPs were issued in (West) Germany. LPs carried the "Gema" Rights Society text for the German market.
EMI, Warner Bros. & Polydor record companies did their own vinyl pressings in the early 1970’s.
EMI used codes starting 1C for Germany.
Warner Brothers: All of the sleeves were printed in Germany and the discs were pressed in Germany (GEMA is stated for Germany)
Polydor: All discs were pressed in Germany and all sleeves were printed in Germany.
United Artists: were distributed in Germany from Ariola Eurodisc, manufactured in Germany and sleeves printed in Germany.
CBS chooses in 1972 that they would manufacture all their records for Central Europe in a pressing plant in Holland. Germany (West) is the biggest music market in Central Europe with the most inhabitants.
When ELO changed to CBS for Distribution in May 1978, all German LP Discs were then manufactured in Holland and issued and available in some Central European Countries such as Holland, Belgium, Luxemburg, Austria, Switzerland...
Holland, being a smaller country, did not need the amounts of records they were pressing/manufacturing. So some "Made in Holland" products were NOT AVAILABLE in Holland and instead released only in Germany ! (E.G. Perfect World Of Music compilation)
The only remaining JET/CBS album was “Discovery” Half Speed Mastered, which was pressed Germany and available for all European Countries (including the UK)
The Label Code (LC XXXX) was invented implemented from 1st. May 1976 for German releases and then in 1977 it was implemented by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) for the rest of the world.
So if you bought a German record that was originally released before May 1976 which does not have a Label Code sign, it was manufactured prior 1st. May of 1976.
But if you bought a German record with a LC XXXX on it, it was manufactured after 1st May of 1976.
Note - this page is in Chronological Release Date order.
Thanks to Patrik Guttenbacher - Face The Music German - for information and details on this page.
Missing From My Collection
Title
Masters of Rock - Vol 12 - Showdown
Format
Vinyl
Label
Harvest
Catalogue
1C 054-05 698
Issue Date
1974
Chart Position
Notes
Made in Germany version of Holland/UK version of "Showdown" collection. Black vinyl with plain white window inner sleeve.
A later 1976 re-issue has "LC 1305 logo/stamp on the record label
Missing From My Collection
Title
The Night The Light Went On In Long Beach
Format
Vinyl
Label
Warner Brothers
Catalogue
WB 56 058
Issue Date
1974
Chart Position
Notes
Made and Issued in Germany in a Gatefold sleeve, plain white inner
There are 4 versions:
-
First 1974 issue with just WB logo and Cat Number WB 56 058 (Z)
-
Second version has the Warner Bros Logo with a "Records" in it and Cat Number WB 56 058 (Z)
-
Third version has the Warner Bros Logo with a "Records" in it and just has WB 56 058 on the label, so missing the (Z)
-
Forth version from 1976 has the Warner Bros Logo with a "Records" in it and just has WB 56 058 on the label, so missing the (Z) and has a "LC 0392" stamp/logo.
Versions 2, 3 & 4 have "A Warner Communications Company" in the label rim text.
Black vinyl with Inner sleeve which was either plain white or WEA advert inner sleeve.
Plus the original edition has Orange, instead of Red-Colour in the letters
Recorded live at the Long Beach Auditorium on the evening of May 12, 1974.
It is claimed that the quality of the recording was so poor the ELO 's UK management refused it let the LP be issued in the UK...
Title
The Night The Light Went On In Long Beach
Format
Vinyl
Label
Warner Brothers
Catalogue
WB 56 058
Issue Date
1974
Chart Position
Notes
Promo LP issued to German Radio stations to promote The Night The Light Went On In Long Beach
Came with inner sleeve which was either plain white or WEA advert inner sleeve.
Pictures and Info - Patrik Guttenbacher from Face The Music Germany
Missing From My Collection
Title
OLE ELO
Format
Vinyl
Label
Polydor
Catalogue
2310 475
Issue Date
1976
Chart Position
Notes
German issue of the original USA issue. Black vinyl.
For this German issue, the LP cover colours were changed.
The "Face The Music" font was green.
The "Eldorado" shoe was green, socks were pink and the fingers red !
Plus it credits Roy Wood for production on track A1 on the LP label and on the top on the rear back cover.
It came in a plain white inner sleeve.
Title
OLE ELO
Format
Vinyl
Label
Polydor
Catalogue
2310 475
Issue Date
1976
Chart Position
Notes
Promo LP issued to German Radio stations to promote OLE ELO issue from above.
It came with a plain white inner sleeve.
Pictures and Info - Patrik Guttenbacher from Face The Music Germany
Missing From My Collection
Title
Joyrider
Format
Vinyl
Label
United Artists
Catalogue
UAS 30 129 XOT
Issue Date
1977
Chart Position
Notes
Film sound track contained ELO tracks - Tightrope, Cant Get It Out Of My Headm Boy Blue, So Fine, Telephone line, Rockaria !
The German issue had the same sleeve as the USA issue except for the copy right info on the rear sleeve.
Inner sleeve was a UA advert sleeve.
It was withdrawn and only made the way into some shops.
Missing From My Collection
Title
The Light Shines On -The Early Years of E.L.O
Format
Vinyl
Label
Harvest
Catalogue
1C 054-06 292
Issue Date
1977
Chart Position
30
Notes
The German release on Black vinyl was issued with UK artwork on the sleeve, but with a different name on the LP label, being "The Early Years of ELO"
So the LP/Album’s title was not shown on the German issue main sleeve.
Title
The Light Shines On - Vol 2.
Format
Vinyl
Label
EMI Crystal
Catalogue
054 CRY 06 953
Issue Date
1979
Chart Position
-
Notes
The German release Black vinyl with was issued 1979 – on EMI Crystal.
Issued with plain white window inner sleeve.
Reissued 1981 on EMI MFP label, see below.
Title
The Light Shines On - Vol 2.
Format
Vinyl
Label
EMI MFP
Catalogue
1 M 054-06 953
Issue Date
1981
Chart Position
-
Notes
The German release was reissued 1981 on EMI MFP label, First issue's used the EMI Crystal sleeve.
With a plain white inner sleeve.
Missing From My Collection
Title
ELO Greatest Hits
Format
Vinyl
Label
Jet Records
Catalogue
Jet LX 525
Issue Date
1979 - Holland / Europe
Chart Position
--
Notes
1st Original Holland issue on black vinyl, inner sleeve with lyrics' and band photo.
The Holland issue has the track list in yellow and the Jet logo top right on the rear cover.
Two different text/font label layout versions exist.
Title
Four Light Years
Format
Vinyl
Label
Catalogue
Jet Records
JET BX2
Issue Date
Chart Position
1981 - Germany / Europe
--
Notes
The Germany issue was not made in Germany, the Holland issue on black vinyl with red inner sleeve was used instead.
See Holland Box Sets for full info.
Title
Collection - ELO
Format
Vinyl
Label
Harvest
Catalogue
1C 028-05 698
Issue Date
1981
Chart Position
Notes
Made in Germany collection on black vinyl, plain white inner sleeve.
There is also a European (EEC) issue with the same Cat Number, but with a different rear sleeve and rim text. See below.
Title
Collection - ELO
Format
Vinyl
Label
Harvest
Catalogue
1C 028-05 698
Issue Date
1981 - Germany / Europe
Chart Position
Notes
This is a "Made in EEC" issue on black vinyl, with a plain white inner sleeve.
It has the same Cat Number as the German issue (as it was Made in German) above, except with a different rear sleeve and different rim text on the LP labels.
It was issued for sale in the EEC area. The label has English and German rim text as West Germany has the most inhabitants in Europe.
Title
A Perfect World Of Music
Format
Vinyl
Label
Jet Records
Catalogue
JET 24043
Issue Date
1985 - Holland / Germany / Europe
Chart Position
53
Notes
A Perfect World Of Music, was a German product, but of course “Made in Holland”, cos in Haarlem, Netherlands province Holland the pressing Plant was built in the 1970 for German CBS records
Despite it stated “Made In Holland” it was never released in Holland. The “und viele , viele mehr…” is GERMAN
Plain white inner non windowed sleeve.
There was also a "Club" version issued, it is the same as the regular edition (label, record & sleeve) except for just a silver sticker attached on the back saying “JET CL 41 948 1”
Title
A Perfect World Of Music
Format
CD
Label
Jet Records
Catalogue
JETCD 24043
Issue Date
1985 - Holland / Germany Europe
Chart Position
53
Notes
Made In Holland for Germany/Europe Best of ELO on Jet Records
The CD was made in France, paper work was printed printed in Holland for the German/Europe market
Title
Electric Light Orchestra - ELO II
Format
Double LP
Label
Harvest
Catalogue
1C 128-15 7685 1
Issue Date
1987
Chart Position
-
Notes
This is a "Made in EEC" issue on black vinyl, German "Fame" Series from EMI Electrola. Re-issue Edition of ELO's first two albums in double gatefold sleeve in 1987. Made in Holland with an 1C… German Cat. No.
Issued for sale in the EEC area. The label has English and German rim text as West Germany has the most inhabitants in Europe.
This Editions Album’s name was not “ELO 1” – “ELO 2” as the Holland Issues. It was simply called “ELO II”. The II stands for the double pack.
So all 4 sides are called E.L.O. II
Front and rear covers had the "Milestones" printed sticker badly airbrushed out. The spine of the cover has the name ELO II and the 1C 128-15 7685 cat code.
The cat code was removed from inside the rear cover. Outside rear of the cover last line has "Printed in Germany". and has cat code 1C 128 157685 3 and a barcode printed top right.
Came with plain white inner sleeves.
Title
From the Sun To The World
Format
Vinyl
Label
Platinum
Catalogue
PLP 7
Issue Date
1985 - Germany
Chart Position
Notes
Made in Germany, black vinyl issued on Platinum label, may have also been on sale in Switzerland.
Plain white inner non windowed sleeve.
A rather unusual issue with just 2 tracks per side !
Title
Livin' Thing - Best Of ELO
Format
CD
Label
Zounds
Catalogue
27200460 B
Issue Date
1992 - Germany
Chart Position
Notes
Made in Germany, CD compilation.
Title
The Chart Singles Collection
Format
CD
Label
Bellaphon
Catalogue
288 07 237
Issue Date
1993 - Germany
Chart Position
Notes
Made in Germany, CD compilation.
For some reason the rear cover has images of Jeff, Bev, Richard and Hugh...
Title
Simply The Best
Format
CD
Label
Sony
Catalogue
450357 - 10
Issue Date
1998 & 2000
Chart Position
Notes
Made in Germany CD compilation for issue in all of Europe. It has the same track list as ELO Greatest Hits from 1979.
The first release was issued by mistake with a mirrored/reversed promo photo of the band (from Wild West Hero single) making the band member names become backwards !
In the year 2000 a corrected second edition with a 4-page booklet without survey was released, whereby a further misfortune happened.
The blue colour portions of the artwork were replaced now on the booklet by yellow. The cover shot was however now correctly printed and shifted into the upper cover half.
The artwork of the CD and the inlay under the transparent CD covering were adapted to that likewise.
Quickly a third version with blue dyed booklet was rush-released.
Whether the compilation “Simply The Best” had its own success, cannot be said.....
Re-issue in 2000
Title
ELO - Evil Woman
Format
CD
Label
Sony
Catalogue
450357 6
Issue Date
2001
Chart Position
Notes
In November 2001 Sony released “Evil Woman”. It is the second new edition of the album “ELO's Greatest Hits” from 1979, which had already been re-released in 1998 with the title “Simply The Best” as above.
Made in Holland and the CD was pressed in Austria as usual for Sony.
Title
ELO - The Ultimate Collection
Format
Double CD
Label
Epic/Sony
Catalogue
EPC 504428 2 & EPC 504428 9
Issue Date
2001 - Germany
Chart Position
63
Notes
The Ultimate Collection was a compilation for Germany with German liner notes issued in July 2001. The booklet/inlay was printed in Holland and the CD was pressed in Austria as usual for Sony.
The CD booklet is unique to Germany with different text layout to the UK/Euro version.
The Platinum Collection EPC 504428 9 (only printed on the cardboard slip case) was made later 2002
Title
The Best Of The Best Platinum
Format
Double CD
Label
Epic/Sony
Catalogue
EPC 504428 2 & EPC 504428 9
Issue Date
2002 - Germany
Chart Position
Notes
In the year 2002 the German edition of Electric Light Orchestra - The Ultimate Collection was re-released in a paper /cardboard slipcase in the series 'The Best Of The Best Platinum' as Low Price product with the order code EPC 504428 9, which is only printed on the slipcase.
Title
ELO Definitive Collection
Format
Double CD
Label
Epic
Catalogue
EPC 472421 5
Issue Date
2001 - Germany
Chart Position
Notes
The re-release of the “Definitive Collection” was intended as a German release of the already released in 1992 "ELO Definitive Compilation.
It was announced in June 2003, but was issued. However it was then only available in Switzerland in late 2003.
Missing From My Collection
Title
Good Times Collection
Format
CD
Label
Camden
Catalogue
86975 97202 9
Issue Date
2009
Chart Position
Notes
German Magazine "Good Times Magazine" Issue of the UK CD Camden “The Collection” in cardboard slip case – issued 2009