Recommended: elobeatlesforever #1

#21: Hello ... Hello ... my old friends ... It's great to see you once again! Please be advised that Yours Truly KJS also runs a YouTube channel entitled (strangely enough) elobeatlesforever which features (naturally) mainly ELO - and related artistes - videos thus:

www.youtube.com/user/elobeatlesforever

Please feel free to visit it and post your comment(s). All feedback is appreciated. Many thanx!

Until next "Time" in the ELO (and related) Universe ... KJS ... 30-Apr-2009

Jeff Lynne News #1

#20: Hello ... Hello ... my old friends ... It's great to see you once again! Yours Truly KJS and ELO Beatles Forever (ELOBF) have a little 'news' for you that is somewhat exciting regarding the prospects for the long-awaited new Jeff Lynne album so much hoped for by fans thus:

From Reuters (LA): "For a musician who claims to live a leisurely existence, rocker Jeff Lynne has plenty of projects on his plate. The brains behind the '70s art-rock band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) recently took a break from sessions for his first solo album in almost two decades to produce songs for quirky folk singer/songwriter Regina Spektor. He also has plans to write and record with Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh. The bearded Birmingham native has kept a relatively low profile since the 2001 album "Zoom," which was credited to ELO but was essentially a Lynne solo work. Sales were poor, and a scheduled arena tour was cancelled. But Lynne's legacy as the writer and producer of such ELO tunes as "Livin' Thing" and "Mr. Blue Sky" is secure. And then there was his tenure with the Traveling Wilburys, not to mention his collaborations on solo works by fellow Wilburys George Harrison, Tom Petty and Roy Orbison. As for his own album, he hopes to release it later this year. It would be his official solo follow-up to 1990's "Armchair Theatre" "It's coming, gradually," Lynne, 61, said in a recent interview with Reuters. "I can do 'em quick, but it depends whether you want 'em good or quick!" It is indeed a solo work, with Lynne playing all the instruments apart from the occasional violin or cello. As is his wont, he will be tinkering with the project right up until the last minute, and accordingly declined to reveal any titles."

Source: blogs.reuters.com/fanfare/2009/04/21/heart-jeff-lynne-to-be-honored-by-music-biz-in-hollywood

We'll have to wait and see whether any new album really is another "Zoom" or a "Armchair Theatre Part II". In any case, one cannot deny the songwriting prowess of Jeff Lynne so any new material will be a delight to our aural senses - when it finally arrives!

Until next "Time" in the ELO (and related) Universe ... KJS ... 29-Apr-2009

ELO: The Musical

#19: Hello ... Hello ... my old friends ... It's great to see you once again! Yours Truly KJS has some (hopefully) interesting news hot on the heels of the recent revelation that the Broadway musical version of "Xanadu" may be coming to London's West End (keeping the songs but ditching the film script) hot on the heels of the huge success of "Mamma Mia!"

While I was on vacation in Egypt last week, I got to chatting to one or two folks on varying subjects (those of you who know me will not be surprised at that). Jim - an Evertonian from Mold in North Wales -  introduced himself when he saw me wearing one of my ELO Part II tour T-shirts around the hotel. We got to talking about the music of ELO and also the ELOesque sound of the reformed Take That. He then revealed to me his long time ambition to pen a musical written around the music of ELO and asked me what eighteen tracks I would recommend.

I surprised him by selecting a couple of ELO Part II songs "Honest Men" and "Power Of A Million Lights" as well as a couple of album tracks so that there would be a few surprises and eye-openers. Hopefully, he'll be in touch with me soon and I'll let you know of any progress. You just never know what will happen in life from one day to the next. Maybe Jim will put something together in good "Time" with a good plot  to bring the music of ELO to a new audience.

Until next "Time" in the ELO (and related) Universe ... KJS ... 26-Apr-2009

Normal Service Resumed

#18: Hello ... Hello ... my old friends ... It's great to see you once again! Yours Truly KJS is back home, safe and sound from our trip to Egypt. Met some interesting folks, talked some ELO, was quite poorly (before and during), saw some amazing things but - most of all - enjoyed the break.

ELO Beatles Forever (ELOBF) has lots of things to talk about going forward and there are not a few challenges ahead. Please continue to visit &/or comment on our ELOBF articles. I'm encouraged by each click and each visit! Much is happening ...

Until next "Time" in the ELO (and related) Universe ... KJS ... 25-Apr-2009

Ticket To The Moon

#17: Hello ... Hello ... my old friends ... It's great to see you once again! Despite rumours to the contrary, you won't be hearing from Yours Truly KJS or ELO Beatles Forever (ELOBF) for about a week - unless circumstances allow - as we're off to the Middle East.

The title of this article is a cryptic clue to where we're headed. Please pray for us, for our home, for a safe journey and for a safe return. And don't forget this either: ELO rock!

Until next "Time" in the ELO (and related) Universe ... KJS ... 16-Apr-2009

Take That: Beautiful World #2

#16: Hello ... Hello ... my old friends ... It's great to see you once again! Whilst channel hopping the other day, I tuned into one of the Sky music channels and was listening to one of last years Take That reunion tour concerts at the O2 Arena in London and was (not) shocked to hear the finale of ELO's "Concerto For A Rainy Day" from "Mr. Blue Sky" leading into their recent #1 single "Shine".

Take That: Beautiful World #1

As mentioned previously, I was not a Take That fan first time around - having said that, "Back For Good" was a fantastic song - but the more I hear their new stuff and their ELOesque songs and vocal arrangements, the more I think that, second time around, they are much more complete and credible! Yours Truly KJS never thought that I'd ever say or write that about these guys! It just goes to prove that it's always good to keep an open mind on musical things.

Until next "Time" in the ELO (and related) Universe ... KJS ... 14-Apr-2009

Electric Dreams + Mik Kaminski Interview

#15: Hello ... Hello ... my old friends ... It's great to see you once again! Welcome to April! Yours Truly KJS has just received my DVD of the 1984 film "Electric Dreams" from amazon.co.uk (which includes, of course, two Jeff Lynne songs on the soundtrack in "Video" and "Let It Run"). I'll let you know my thoughts when my memory cells have reloaded after watching it! Me thinx I will feel my age! In other news, Mik Kaminski was interviewed by The Sunday Mercury in Birmingham about the upcoming Kelly Groucutt tribute gig at The Robin 2, Bilston on Monday 11th May. Here is the aforementioned interview for your perusal thus:

www.sundaymercury.net/news/sundaymercuryexclusives/2009/03/29/elo-star-kelly-groucutt-tribute-gig-to-raise-money-for-parrots-66331-23255182

KJS/ELOBF hopes that some of you will be able to make it to either The Orchestra (former members of ELO & ELO Part II)'s gig at Dudley Town Hall on Sunday 10th May (or any of the dates that they are playing) &/or Kelly's tribute gig on Monday 11th May. I suspect that the opportunity to hear the music of ELO live to the required quality by the right musicians is going to diminish. Enjoy it while you can!

Until next "Time" in the ELO (and related) Universe ... KJS ... 07-Apr-2009