In 2000, Jeff Lynne found a new impetus to work on the music of his old band and returned to the recording studio to work on an ELO project for the first time in some 15 years. This was just prior to his return to recording under the ELO name with the album Zoom in 2001. This work resulted in a digitally remastered compilation released in late 2000. Unlike its predecessors, this project, Flashback, was personally approved and endorsed by Lynne. The set includes songs featured from all 11 studio albums up to that point, including an edit of "Great Balls of Fire" from their live album The Night the Light Went On in Long Beach, most of their singles (albeit in their album versions) excluding 'Wild West Hero', the Double A-side "Ticket To The Moon"/"Here Is The News" and the tracks from the OST Xanadu plus some new recordings amongst the band's extensive back catalogue, most notably a reworking of Lynne's only UK number one hit "Xanadu". The album includes a booklet inside, plus liner notes by David Wild with quotes on each song from Lynne.