SHOWDOWN

Showdown is a compilation of "the best" of ELO's first three albums with the focus strongly on their first two. Indeed, it contains four tracks from No Answer, three tracks from ELO II and only one from On the Third Day, that being Showdown, one of ELO's most famous hits. Because its focus is primarily on their first two albums, this is more or less a "greatest prog rock songs" compilation of the band. Showdown was released in 1974, long before ELO would transform itself into a hit-making pop machine fizzing with bubbles.

In my opinion, the two most progressive tracks on this album are In Old England Town (one of ELO's darkest songs ever made) and From the Sun to the World (with its majestic, yet simple Moog passages). It also includes the classic 10538 Overture, the song that started off the entire ELO project. Even though Jeff Lynne was in control of ELO by the time this compilation was released, two Roy Wood tracks appear on it (Whisper in the Night and First Movement (Jumpin Biz)).

As far as I know, this LP has never been released on CD, so it's only worth seeking out if you're an ELO completionist because all of the songs are already available on their first three albums which are quite easy to find. Even though this would be something only a collector would be interested in, musically it deserves four stars because it contains some of the best progressive rock ELO ever made (with the exception of Kuiama which wouldn't fit on this LP, but would if it were a CD).