Recommended: Xanadu (Sharleen Spiteri)

#93: Hello ... Hello ... my old friends ... It's great to see you once again! Please find below the official Universal Music video featuring Sharleen Spiteri - she of Texas fame - singing lead single "Xanadu" (the Jeff Lynne penned ELO #1 classic) from her new album "The Movie Songbook", released here in the UK on Monday 1st March thus:

www.sharleenspiteri.co.uk   Texanadu

ELO Beatles Forever (ELOBF) recommends "The Movie Songbook" by Sharleen Spiteri to those enlightened folks who enjoy the music of ELO/Jeff Lynne, Roy Wood, The Move, 'Brum Beat', The Beatles and related artistes.

Until next "Time" in the ELO (and related) Universe ... KJS ... 27-Feb-2010

Recommended: Electric Live Orchestra @ 27/02/10

#92: Hello ... Hello ... my old friends ... It's great to see you once again! There is a relatively high probability that Yours Truly KJS shall be venturing down to The River Rooms in Stourbridge this weekend to see the Electric Live Orchestra on behalf on ELO Beatles Forever (ELOBF) on Saturday 27th February at 9PM thus:

www.theriverrooms.com/pages/whats_on.html 

ELO Beatles Forever (ELOBF) recommends the Electric Live Orchestra to those enlightened folks who enjoy the music of ELO/Jeff Lynne, Roy Wood, The Move, 'Brum Beat', The Beatles and related artistes.

Until next "Time" in the ELO (and related) Universe ... KJS ... 24-Feb-2010

Jeff Lynne News #2

#91: Hello ... Hello ... my old friends ... It's great to see you once again! There appears to be mounting excitement surrounding the impending release of Jeff Lynne's second solo album (or third if you count 2001's "Zoom" as a solo LP) following 1990's "Armchair Theatre" thus:

"I heard this from a person who was called in to work on the cover. The person said that an official announcement is likely coming pretty soon. Jeff is apparently at the point of picking an image for the album cover. The person doesn't know exactly what's planned, but things seem to be sort of on a fast-track now. His guess is an official announcement is coming fairly soon. Apparently other stuff (ELO? Idle Race? Move?) is also being worked on. And for the record, he said this is not a tease or wishful thinking. It's real! I have read information elsewhere giving sly hints about this, but the release date was never mentioned so I was skeptical. But this sounds like the real deal. Is anyone as excited as I am? The latest rumors are that the word "satellite" is in the album title and that it could be released in May, although I doubt it because the marketing campaign has not yet begun. I hope I put this in the right place, no one seems to be interested. Anyway ... here is the news, in case you thought it was just another rumour. "From what I understand, the music is done. (Although Jeff loves to mess around in the studio until he thinks it's just right.) Now it's down to putting it all together - formats, cover art , promotional material, etc." Now how long does that take? I hope they get the marketing right this time." 

Source: www.classicrockforums.com/forum/f53/new-jeff-lynne-solo-album-ready-roll-4974

Until next "Time" in the ELO (and related) Universe ... KJS ... 22-Feb-2010

Texanadu

#90: Hello ... Hello ... my old friends ... It's great to see you once again! Here's some interesting ELO related news. And that news is that Sharleen Spiteri of Texas fame - who has performed "Xanadu" live and unplugged on BBC Radio 2 and was recently interviewed by Terry Wogan - has re-recorded ELO's only #1 UK single and included it on her new album. She stated that she has always been a ELO fan and in particular she liked the song writing of Jeff Lynne. So when the opportunity came along to record an album of movie soundtracks, she said "Xanadu" just had to be on it as she loved the song. Here's a link to her official website: 

www.sharleenspiteri.co.uk

Recommended: Xanadu (Sharleen Spiteri)

"Xanadu" is (aptly) track #1. Sharleen's new album "The Movie Songbook" is released on Monday 1st March in the UK and pre-orders can be placed with amazon.co.uk via this link

ELO Beatles Forever (ELOBF) recommends "The Movie Songbook" by Sharleen Spiteri to those enlightened folks who enjoy the music of ELO/Jeff Lynne, Roy Wood, The Move, 'Brum Beat', The Beatles and related artistes.

Until next "Time" in the ELO (and related) Universe ... KJS ... 21-Feb-2010

Yours Truly 1968

#89: Hello ... Hello ... my old friends ... It's great to see you once again! Yours Truly KJS is no believer in coincidence for a great many reasons and, if you've spent any time with me lately, then you'll be aware of my criticism of the THEORY of evolution (whether it be my views re: the Creation account or Intelligent Design) and the other is that I've bought not a few Mike Oldfield albums recently including "Music Of The Spheres" (2008) and "The Songs of Distant Earth" (1995). So this news regarding a new Phil Bates project featuring Les Penning is therefore worthy of mention:

"Phil is hard at work at the moment recording tracks with Les Penning, who played the recorders on Mike Oldfield's 'Portsmouth' and In Dulce Jubilo', and who appeared on many of Oldfield's best-selling albums. Jo is also contributing low whistle, vocals and keyboards. The music is very English and very folky, and very interesting for someone working way out of his comfort zone. The album, when it appears, will most likely be under the name of Les Penning, and we are hoping to have it released in May in time for the Hay Festival. Maybe even some live dates at some point in 2010. Watch this space."

When I listened to to the introduction of "The Songs of Distant Earth" and heard the words of Bill Anders quoting from the Book of Genesis aboard Apollo 8 whilst orbiting the Moon during Christmas 1968 (with his fellow astronauts James Lovell and Frank Borman), my attention was again gotten. I repeat that I do not happen to believe in coincidence. But to be able to (again) link ELO Beatles Forever (ELOBF) and my personal beliefs together - from Phil Bates to Les Penning to Mike Oldfield to the Book of Genesis (when it was seemingly acceptable to quote it during a 'scientific' escapade some 42 years ago) - strikes me as an affirmation of kinds. My life is full of these thumbprints of design ... and not too many coincidences!

Until next "Time" in the ELO (and related) Universe ... KJS ... 13-Feb-2010

New Phil Bates Project: Wheels of Fire (with Mark Stanway)

#88: Hello ... Hello ... my old friends ... It's great to see you once again! My good friend Christian 'No Cause For Alarm' Evans has just informed me of yet more exciting news. His senses really are working overtime! That news is that Phil Bates of ELO Part II and now The Orchestra (former members of ELO & ELO Part II) fame is launching a new musical project:

"Phil Bates wants to tell everyone about my new project, a band called Wheels Of Fire, which is a sort of tribute to the great guitarists of the 60's/70's etc. Clapton, Hendrix, Page, Green and whoever else takes my fancy. Joining me in this project are Magnum keyboardist Mark Stanway (Whitmore Reans Cons!) and original Jethro Tull drummer Clive Bunker. Still to decide on a bass player. Look at my website for details. First gigs are The Diamond, Sutton-in-Ashfield on (Sunday) 30th May and The Robin 2, Bilston on (Friday) 6th August. Hope to see some of you there. This band doesn't affect my involvement with The Orchestra or Beatles, Blues and Blue Violin."

ELO Beatles Forever (ELOBF) recommends Wheels Of Fire to those enlightened folks who enjoy the music of ELO/Jeff Lynne, Roy Wood, The Move, 'Brum Beat', The Beatles and related artistes.

Until next "Time" in the ELO (and related) Universe ... KJS ... 06-Feb-2010

Mr. Blue Sky Facebook Campaign

#87: Hello ... Hello ... my old friends ... It's great to see you once again! My ELO gig buddy and good friend Christian 'A Matter Of Fact' Evans has just informed me of some interesting news. And that news is that a campaign has just started and is gaining momentum (over 500 folks have already signed up) on Facebook with the express aim of getting ELO's superb track (and UK #6 hit) "Mr. Blue Sky" up to the coveted #1 single slot in the UK Singles Chart this coming Summer 2010.

Apart from being included now in not a few film soundtracks including "The Magic Roundabout" and the recent release "The Invention of Lying" (and several others) as well as the fantastic ELO themed episode of Doctor Who entitled "Love & Monsters", it was voted #18 in BBC Radio 2's Top 100 documentary "Sold On Song" and it has also been voted the Midlands most fave song ever. It's a classic song by a classic band and well deserving to be ELO's second #1 hit (after "Xanadu") this summer.

Of all the feel good songs about - and boy do we need cheering up folks - this is the best one. Happy times are ahead - especially if  "One Summer Dream" is retained as the 'B' side!

Until next "Time" in the ELO (and related) Universe ... KJS ... 05-Feb-2010

Chart Tragedy: Honest Men

#86: Hello ... Hello ... my old friends ... It's great to see you once again! One of the major chart tragedies, for me, was the failure of Electrtc Light Orchestra Part Two's first single from their eponymously titled first album - "Honest Men" (Telstar #ELO100) - to do any better than reach #60 in the UK singles chart during May 1991 whereas it did manage a respectable #36 in the Dutch Top 40 in a nine week chart run.

Yours Truly KJS clearly remembers it being advertised and I still recall hearing it on Radio 1 at the time on not a few occasions. Maybe it was the fact that it was poorly promoted or that the label (Telstar) envoked a kind of musical snobbery not only with ELO fans but also the press/media.

What I do know is that this track is not only a great Eric Troyer composition, it is more 'classic ELO' than some of those classic ELO songs that we all know and love! I listened to it (again) this morning in the car on my way to work. It's just a fantastic song and arrangement. Here are two links to YouTube for the promo video and also for "Honest Men" being performed live with the Moscow Symphony Orchestra at the NEC, Birmingham back on Tuesday 28th May 1991 thus:

ELO Part II - "Honest Men" promo video

ELO Part II - "Honest Men" live 

Until next "Time" in the ELO (and related) Universe ... KJS ... 01-Feb-2010