
Out Of The Blue
Released: October 1977
UK Chart Position 4
Single Releases

Turn To Stone - UP36313
UK Chart - 18


Mr Blue Sky - UP36342/Jet 104 - Black & Blue Vinyl
UK Chart - 6


Wild West Hero
Jet 109 & Jet 12 109
Black 7" & Yellow 12"
UK Chart - 6



Sweet Talkin' Woman
Jet 121 & Jet 12 121
Black 7", Purple 7" & 12"
UK Chart - 6
Album Track Listing
Side one
1.Turn to Stone
2.It's Over
3.Sweet Talkin' Woman
4.Across the Border
Side two
5.Night in the City
6.Starlight
7.Jungle
8.Believe Me Now
9.Steppin' Out
Side three
(Concerto for a Rainy Day)
10.Standin' in the Rain
11.Big Wheels
12.Summer and Lightning
14.Mr. Blue Sky
Side four
15.Sweet Is the Night
16.The Whale
17.Birmingham Blues
18.Wild West Hero
Re-issue CD Bonus tracks (2007 remaster)
18.Wild West Hero (Alt Version)
19.The Quick and the Daft
20.Latitude 88 North
Personnel
Jeff Lynne
Bev Bevan
Richard Tandy
Kelly Groucutt
Hugh McDowell
Melvyn Gale
Mik Kaminski
Louis Clark

Latitude 88 North - Download & 500 Ltd-Edition Orange 7" single. From 2007 Remaster CD edition. UK Chart -







Format
Vinyl
Label
Jet Records
Catalogue
UAR 100 / UAS 1100 + UAS 2100
Country
UK
1st Original Issue
Matrix / Runout (A-side): KEV ARTHUR UAS 1100 A-1U
Matrix / Runout (B-side): KEV ARTHUR UAS 1100 B-1U
Matrix / Runout (C-side): KEV UAS 2100 A-1U
Matrix / Runout (D-side): KEV UAS 2100 B-1U
Issued on Greenish/Blue Jet label with white/yellow light beams. Gatefold sleeve with :
-
Two inner square cut cardboard lyric sleeves
-
T-Shirt flyer
-
Band Poster
-
Press out Space Ship model with code UAR 100
Album sleeve is UAR 100, note label difference between UAR 100 & UAS 1100 + UAS 2100 below.
UAR/UAS issues had Out of the Blue above ELO on the record label. Distributed by United Artists.
The UAR/UAS issue's had a press / cut out cardboard space-ship insert with cat code UAR 100 printed by the multicolours stand push out piece.
Plus the poster has Out Of The Blue in White text.







There is a printing error on the "Out Of The Blue" Side 1 LP lyric inlay sleeve.
The "Across The Border" song title is printed in orange coloured text, where as it should be shown in white coloured text. See images below, under lined with a white line.
This printing error occurs on various UK, Canada, USA, Holland and Europe issues. Some 1980's editions seem to have corrected the error, but the orange text error can be seen again on 1990's Epic Re-issues and even on the Epic 2012 and later issues.
Spotted by Chris Harvey








Format
Vinyl
Label
Jet Records
Catalogue
UAS 1100 + UAS 2100 / UAR 100
Country
UK
2nd Original Issue (!)
Matrix / Runout (A-side): KEV ARTHUR UAS 1100 A-1U
Matrix / Runout (B-side): KEV ARTHUR UAS 1100 B-1U
Matrix / Runout (C-side): KEV UAS 2100 A-1U
Matrix / Runout (D-side): KEV UAS 2100 B-1U
This issue has the same Matrix / Run out details as UAR 100 issue above.
Further UAS issues have different Matrix / Run out details including Mastering by "Allen Zentz" rather than "Kev Arthur"
Issued on Greenish/Blue Jet label with white/yellow light beams. Gatefold sleeve with
Gatefold sleeve with :
-
Two inner square cut cardboard lyric sleeves
-
T-Shirt flyer
-
Band Poster
-
Press out Space Ship model with code UAR 100
Note, album sleeve is UAR 100, but actual vinyl's LP are UAS 1100 & UAS 2100.
UAR/UAS issues had Out of the Blue above ELO on the record label. Distributed by United Artists






Out Of The Blue was originally distributed by United Artists Records (UAR) upon it's 1977 release. However UAR was sold to Capitol Records in 1978. Don Arden (ELO Manager and Jet Records owner) wanted a change away from UAR. CBS Records then paid 11 Million dollars to get ELO on contract with them. Jet and CBS then sued UAR for not paying their royalties.
In retaliation United Artists flooded the UK market with every single copy they had of "Out Of The Blue" at budget prices with a USA issue version with "cut-out slit" in the cover, both UK issues and USA imported issues ended up in bargain bins at the same time as the full priced CBS issue was being sold.
So Jet Records came up with the notion to sue UAR for "allegedly selling defective copies“ just to convince the record buyer not to buy the UAR copies.
Jet Records took out a full page advertisement in all of the UK music papers telling people that if they didn't have a CBS record then their copy was defective.
This was a false claim as the UAR version was pressed in higher quality than the CBS issue !
After the change of distribution partner from Jet Records to CBS on 5 May 1978, there were logistical
problems at Jet Records because Jet in the UK had still printed a lot of LP covers, inner covers, posters
and spaceship inserts with the previous order number UAR 100 of the distribution company
United Artists. So the first CBS issues were delivered with JET DP 400 stickers on the UAR 1OO covers.
However, there is no single rule as UAR sleeves may contain Jet DP 400 records,
plus UAR/UAS/Jet DP inner LP slip covers would also be swapped around.
The inner sleeves, posters and spaceship assembly-kit were then successively replaced by the correct JET DP 400 covers, inner sleeves, posters and assembly-kits. On the UK poster the name ‘Out Of The Blue’ was accidentally printed in red instead of white.
The CBS covers were printed by two printers, Shorewood Packaging Co. and Robert Stace, due to high demand. The latter printed the album spine details and order number in yellow, rather than red, and the inner sleeves have full pointed corners rather than being rounded as at Shorewood.
1st re-issues used Catalogue Number JETDP 400 / UAR 100 with yellow & white light beams on the label. Early issues had the
LP title above the ELO name.
2nd re-issues used used Catalogue Number JETDP 400 with yellow & white light beams on the label.
3rd re-issues used used Catalogue Number JETDP 400 with yellow & pink light beams on the label
nd a larger Jet Records logo on the rear cover.
Thanks to Patrik Guttenbacher - Face The Music German - for images, info, help and corrections on this page.










Format
Vinyl
Label
Jet Records
Catalogue
Jet DP 400 / UAR 100
Re-Issue Year
1978
1st CBS distributed issue - 1978 - On Jet label with white/yellow light beams. Gatefold sleeve with two inner lyric cardboard sleeves & a poster.
The first issue of Jet DP400 / UAR 100 issue. Out of the Blue is still above ELO on the record label & UAR 100 is also listed.
UAR sleeves were re-used and a Jet Company sticker listing the new cat number was stuck over the old UAS/UAR cat no.
Gatefold sleeve with:
-
Two inner square cut cardboard lyric sleeves
-
Band Poster
-
Press out Space Ship model with code UAR 100 to use up current stock.
Labels can vary in colour from Green to Dark / Lighter Blue.

















Format
Vinyl
Label
Jet Records
Catalogue
Jet DP 400 / UAR 100
Re-Issue Year
1978
Re-issue of the 1st CBS distributed issue on Black Vinyl -- On Jet label with white/yellow light beams. Gatefold sleeve with two inner lyric cardboard sleeves & a poster.
Out of the Blue is now below ELO on the record label & UAR 100 is still listed on UAR style labels.
New sleeves were printed with just Jet DP400 on the rear, distributed by CBS. Along with new inner sleeves with rounded bottoms corners and angle cut top corners.
Gatefold sleeve with:
-
Two top angle corner cut paper lyric sleeves
-
Newly printed band poster
-
Press Out Space Ship model with JET DP 400 codes now printed on them at the bottom corner by the ELO logo.
Or sometimes UAR sleeves were re-used and a Jet Company sticker listing the new cat number was stuck over the old UAS/UAR cat no.















Format
Vinyl
Label
Jet Records
Catalogue
JET DP 400 / UAR 100
Re-Issue Year
Late 1978
1st CBS distributed issue on Special Edition Blue Vinyl - Jet label with white/yellow light beams, gatefold sleeve with two cardboard inner lyric sleeves.
Otherwise a new gatefold sleeve was printed with just Jet DP400 on the rear with a small Jet Records logo.
Gatefold sleeve with:
-
Two angle cut top corners paper lyric sleeves
-
Newly printed band poster in in red/pink text.
-
Press Out Space Ship model with JET DP 400 codes now printed on them at the bottom corner by the ELO logo.
Or still sometimes UAR sleeves were re-used and a Jet Company sticker listing the new cat number was stuck over the old UAS/UAR cat no.
Some early pressings missed off "Made In England" from the 4 LP labels. - Credit to Max Cawthray for this spot!
Early issues had an advert flyer for "Three Light Years" LP box set included .
Some releases also used a more basic colour vinyl sticker, as shown below.











There is also a rare early Promotional Limited Edition in a Blue "Artic Light" slip case that also has a Three Light Years flyer included. Plus the cut out space ship and band poster. Gatefold sleeve with two cardboard inner lyric sleeves. Same JetDP400 / UAR 100 Blue Vinyl as above.



There is also a VERY rare Orange Vinyl Edition. Only 12 of them are said to exist, pressed as either Promotional Records or Test Pressings.
Came with the cut out space ship, gatefold sleeve with two cardboard inner lyric sleeves.
One sold on eBay in 2020 for nearly £1,000
Missing From My Collection






Format
Vinyl
Label
Jet Records
Catalogue
Jet DP 400
Re-Issue Year
Late 1978
2nd CBS distributed issue - On Jet label with white/yellow light beams.
Gatefold sleeve with:
-
Two angle cut top corners paper lyric sleeves
-
Newly printed band poster in in red/pink text.
-
Press Out Space Ship model with JET DP 400 codes now printed on them at the bottom corner by the ELO logo.
This issue JUST lists Jet DP400 as cat number, but is still on older style UAR record label.
Early issues had an advert flyer for "Three Light Years" LP box set included .
New inner sleeves and main gatefold sleeve was with Jet DP400 on the rear.
Or still sometimes UAR sleeves were re-used and a Jet Company sticker listing the new cat number was stuck over the old UAS/UAR cat no.











Format
Vinyl
Label
Jet Records
Catalogue
Jet DP 400
Re-Issue Year
Late 1978 / Early 1979
2nd CBS distributed issue - Special Edition Blue Vinyl - On Jet label with white/yellow light beams.
Gatefold sleeve with:
-
Two angle cut top corners paper lyric sleeves
-
Newly printed band poster in in red/pink text.
-
Press Out Space Ship model with JET DP 400 codes now printed on them at the bottom corner by the ELO logo.
This issue JUST lists JET DP400 as cat number, but is still on older style UAR record label.
New sleeves were printed with Jet DP400 on the rear.
This issue may not exist, as so far no complete issue of both LP discs (sides 1, 2, 3 + 4) has been found to have all the labels with just JET DP 400 cat number, just odd sides with the other sides labeled JET DP 400 / UAR 100
Missing From My Collection








Format
Vinyl
Label
Jet Records
Catalogue
Jet DP 400
Re-Issue Year
1979/1980
3rd issue on Black Vinyl - On Jet label with yellow/pink light beams.
Gatefold sleeve with:
-
Two totally square paper lyric sleeves
-
Newly printed band poster in in red/pink text.
-
Some issues had the Press Out Space Ship model with JET DP 400 codes now printed on them at the bottom corner by the ELO logo.
New CBS distributed covers with a larger Jet logo on the rear cover and brighter record labels with the yellow beam over the top of the pink beam of light from Jet Records Tower.





Missing From My Collection or May NOT Exist
Format
Blue Vinyl
Label
Jet
Catalogue
JETDP 400
Notes
3rd issue on Blue Vinyl with Yellow/Pink Light Beams on Jet Label.




Format
Double CD
Label
Jet Records
Catalogue
JETCD 400 / CDJET 400
Re-Issue Year
1986
Notes
Rare 2 CDs in fatbox. First rare unique pressing for UK & parts of Europe
The reason for the 2 disc version was probably because the first generation cd-players could not play discs longer then approximately 60 mins.
One year later it was re-issued on one single cd for the UK / Euro market.
Manufactured by CBS/Sony in Japan for UK/Europe.
CDs are JET CD 400 & the box is CDJET 400!





Format
CD
Label
Jet Records
Catalogue
JET CD 400
Re-Issue Year
1987
Notes
1st UK / Euro issue in a Single CD format.
The first issue single CD was Made in Japan, the booklet was printed in Holland.
The CB price code is 801 under the Jet Logo on the rear cover.
Some copies came with a clear inlay tray as the rear cover is printed inside with a blue star field.
Note different CD Rim text.
Credit to Max Cawthray for this info.





Format
CD
Label
Jet Records
Catalogue
JET CD 400
Re-Issue Year
1988
Notes
2nd UK / Euro issue in a Single CD format
This second issue single CD was Made in Austria, the booklet was printed in Holland.
The CB price code is 782 under the Jet Logo on the rear cover.
Note different CD Rim text.
Credit to Max Cawthray for this info.






Format
Vinyl
Label
Epic - Nice Price
Catalogue
Jet DP 400
Re-Issue Year
May 1987
Notes
RARE Re-issue in 1987, in gatefold double LP sleeve, code DP 400 with large Jet logo on rear cover.
With paper or cardboard inner sleeves.
This was the last Jet DP400 issue, so the pressing/packaging plants would utilise inner sleeves that were left over in stock.
So each one maybe a different style or shade of blue.





Out Of The Blue - 450885 1 - Version 1




Out Of The Blue - 450885 1 - Version 2




Out Of The Blue - 450885 1 - Version 3




Missing From My Collection
Out Of The Blue - 450885 1 - Version 4





Format
Vinyl
Label
Epic - Nice Price
Catalogue
450885 1
Re-Issue Year
1987 + 1990 ?
Notes
Re-Issue in 1987 and further years, maybe 1990 - Double LP in a Single cover.
With two Nice-Price Inner-sleeves and featured a 4-page 11” lyric insert with black background and white lyrics and stars.
There 4 different issues / versions:
1st version :
• No “Nice Price” sticker on the sleeve
• The nice price inners text starts with the words "Timeless albums…"
• The legal lettering on the label rim ends with the words "EPIC & (Epic Logo) CBS INC."
• Rear cover has RED text info box and red spine text
• With a Lyric booklet
• PA under the bar code of the rear sleeve
• The matrices on all 4 sides are small text printed and end with A5 B2 C4 & D3
2nd version :
• With a “Nice Price” sticker on the sleeve
• The nice price inners text starts with the words "Timeless albums…"
• The legal lettering on the label rim ends with the words “Made In England”
• "EPIC & (Epic Logo) CBS INC." is at the bottom of the label rim.
• Rear cover has RED text info box and red spine text
• With a Lyric booklet
• PA under the bar code of the rear sleeve
• The matrices on all 4 sides are small text printed and end with A5 B2 C3 & D3.
3rd version :
• With a “Nice Price” sticker on the sleeve
• The sleeve artwork is a shade lighter
• The nice price inners are a different design and the text starts with the words "Hundreds of Great Value…"
• The legal lettering on the label rim ends with the words “Prohibited”
• There is no "Made in England" reference anywhere on the label
• "EPIC & (Epic Logo) CBS INC." is at the bottom of the label rim.
• Rear cover has ORANGE text info box and Orange spine text
• No Lyric booklet
• PX under the bar code of the rear sleeve
• This version is a different pressing.
The matrix on side 1 is exactly the same as the other 2 (small text printed and ending with A5), but the matrices on other 3 sides are all written with a scribe which indicates that the stampers could've been damaged during the production run and they had to cut new ones. They are as follows - side 2 (4508851 B3), side 3 (4508851 C5) and side 4 (4508851 D4).
4th version :
• With a “Nice Price” sticker on the sleeve
• The sleeve artwork is a shade lighter
• The nice price inners are a different design and the text starts with the words "Hundreds of Great Value…"
• The legal lettering on the label rim ends with the words “Made In England”
• "EPIC and Epic Logo CBS INC." is at the bottom of the label rim.
• Rear cover has ORANGE text info box and orange spine text
• No Lyric booklet
• PX under the bar code of the rear sleeve
• This version is a different pressing.
The matrix on side 1 is exactly the same as the other 2 (small text printed and ending with A5), but the matrices on other 3 sides are all written with a scribe which indicates that the stampers could've been damaged during the production run and they had to cut new ones. They are as follows - side 2 (4508851 B3), side 3 (4508851 C5) and side 4 (4508851 D4).
Credit to Max Cawthray for spotting these 4 issues






Format
CD
Label
Epic
Catalogue
450885 9
Re-Issue Year
1998
Notes
Re-issue 1998 - in 3 Tri-Cover fold out digipack, limited edition. No booklet, inside is a information and notes on the album from Rob Caiger.









Format
Vinyl
Label
Simply Vinyl
Catalogue
SVLP 101
Re-Issue Year
1999
Notes
Epic/Simply Vinyl, 180G - Black Vinyl from 1999. Issued in a clear plastic protection cover, including a 4 page lyric booklet with black text on white background.
Came with plain white inner sleeve with a "Simply Vinyl" Catalogue booklet.
The first shipped out copies came with a Bob Dylan lyric booklet/sheet by mistake !










Format
CD
Label
Epic
Catalogue
82796942722
Re-Issue Year
Feb 2007
Notes
Re-Master Issue - 30th Anniversary
with bonus tracks in normal CD jewel case and expanded booklet notes and pictures.
Rare And Unseen Photographs New Sleeve Notes By Jeff Lynne
There is a "Out Of The Blue - Revised" Promo CD-R, it may be fake as it splits Mr Blue Sky into two tracks. (unfortunately the CD itself is unplayable) - Credit & thanks to Euan Wilson





Format
CD
Label
Epic
Catalogue
88697053232
Re-Issue Year
Feb 2007
Notes
Re-Issue - ReMaster with bonus tracks - 30th Anniversary Limited Edition packaged in gatefold card sleeve Deluxe 24 Page Booklet... Plus ELO Spaceship!
Rare And Unseen Photographs New Sleeve Notes By Jeff Lynne



Format
CD
Label
Epic
Catalogue
88697123162
Re-Issue Year
2007
Notes
Re-Issue of Re-Mastered/Expanded edition, no booklet. Issued in Carbon neutral basic packaging











Format
Vinyl
Label
Epic
Catalogue
MOVLP383
Re-Issue Year
July 2012
Notes
"Classic Album" series re-issue by Epic/Music On Vinyl on 180g vinyl in gatefold sleeve.
The first 1000 came in Ltd Edition Blue Vinyl.
Including full colour cardboard inner lyric sleeves and a double side poster.





Format
Vinyl
Label
Epic
Catalogue
MOVLP383
Re-Issue Year
July 2012
Notes
"Classic Album" series re-issue by Epic/Music On Vinyl on 180g vinyl in gatefold sleeve.
Including full colour cardboard inner lyric sleeves and a double side poster, as shown above for the Blue vinyl edition.













Format
Vinyl
Label
Epic / Legacy
Catalogue
88875152421
Re-Issue Year
December 2015
Notes
Epic/Legacy Music - Reissue on double 180g Clear vinyl in gatefold sleeve.
Including full colour poster and inner lyric sleeves.
These are limited to 5,000 (of each) worldwide, with around 1,000 or so allocated to the UK market.










Format
Vinyl
Label
Epic / Legacy
Catalogue
88875175261
Re-Issue Year
May 2016
Notes
Epic/Music On Vinyl on 180g vinyl in gatefold sleeve.
Including full colour cardboard inner lyric sleeves and a double side poster, as shown above for the Blue vinyl edition.





Format
Vinyl
Label
Epic
Catalogue
88985456161
Re-Issue Year
Sept 2017
Notes
Epic/Legacy Music - 40th anniversary reissue on double 180G picture disc in clear sleeve.



