ELO Beatles Forever: November 2015

Monday, 30 November 2015

Caught Live (3): Stand Up & Rock! @ Kidderminster 28/11/15

The Other Magnificent Seven: Stand Up & Rock!

#1,018: Hello ... Hello ... my old friends ... It's great to see you once again! The relatively short trip to The Glades Arena in Kidderminster on Saturday 28th November to see the final Stand Up & Rock! show of 2015 (and most probably 2016) was well worth the wait as Jasper Carrott, Bev Bevan and their fantastic company rolled back the years and truly rocked the proverbial joint.

Twenty three songs were performed in a show that lasted well over two hours covering four decades of music as this super septet delivered fantastic live renditions of classic tunes by the likes of Roy Orbison, The Beatles and, of course, ELO - amongst not a few others. The evening was perfectly balanced between the very funny observational comedy of an on form Jasper Carrott and the impressive machinations of this particular magnificent seven under the safe hands of Musical Director Tony Kelsey.

There were many highlights and memorable moments with each Stand Up and Rocker demonstrating their talents and thus making it very difficult to name my favourites but here goes: Bev was inspired all night with his world class drumming; Joy sang the Dusty Springfield classic "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me" beautifully; Geoff brought the house down with his amazing rendition of The Rockin' Berries' "He's In Town"; Abby nailed "A Big Hunk O'Love"; Phil's solid vocals were more than apparent with his take on The Small Faces' "Sha-La-La-La-Lee" and all night the guitar craft of Tony was simply stunning. A special mention is also deserved for certain individuals in their video exploits for "Addicted To Love"!

If the stand up antics of Jasper weren't enough (including some rather hurtful jokes on the subject of Wolverhampton!), he brought the audience to their feet with the return of his "Funky Moped" before a final twin salvo of ELO classics "Mr. Blue Sky" and "Don't Bring Me Down" closed a wonderful night of entertainment leaving those gathered looking forward to hopefully seeing Stand Up & Rock! again soon.

l-r: Phil Tree, Jasper Carrott, Abby Brant, Bev Bevan, Joy Strachan-Brain, Geoff Turton, Tony Kelsey

Set list: "Sha-La-La-La-Lee" ~ "Hard Days Night" ~ "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" ~ "When You Walk In The Room" ~ "Nut Bush City Limits" ~ "Don't Stop" ~ "Nights In White Satin" ~ "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" ~ "It Takes Two" ~ "Dancing In The Street" ~ "With A Little Help From My Friends" ~ "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" ~ "He's In Town" ~ "Running Scared" ~ "Be My Baby" ~ "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me" ~ "A Big Hunk O' Love" ~ "Addicted To Love" ~ : "Caroline" ~ "Funky Moped" ~ "Rockin' All Over The World" ~ "Mr. Blue Sky" ~ "Don't Bring Me Down"

Stand Up & Rock! featured Jasper Carrott, Bev Bevan, Phil Tree, Tony Kelsey, Abby Brant, Geoff Turton and Joy Strachan-Brain.

ELO Beatles Forever (ELOBF) recommends Stand Up & Rock! to those enlightened folks who enjoy the music of ELO/Jeff Lynne, Roy Wood, Quill, The Move, The Idle Race, 'Brum Beat', The Beatles and related artistes.

Until next "Time" in the ELO (and related) Universe ... KJS ... 30-Nov-2015

Friday, 27 November 2015

ChartWatch: Alone In The Universe Remains in UK Top 10

#1,017: Hello ... Hello ... my old friends ... It's great to see you once again! "Alone In The Universe" - the critically acclaimed new release from Jeff Lynne's ELO - continues to sell well and has slipped just the three places this week from #4 to #7 in the Official UK Albums Chart Top 100. An impressive performance remembering that Bryan Adams "Get Up" debuted at #2 yet fell to #21 in its second week.

The same can be said of ELO's best-selling 2005 compilation "All Over The World" which is at #36 (from #28 last week). Meanwhile, The Beatles "1" is now at #19 (from #11 last week) and Bryan Adams "Get Up" is at #63 (from #45 last week). That makes for three Jeff Lynne produced records in the Official UK Albums Chart Top 100 for the second week running. Long may it continue!

ELO Beatles Forever (ELOBF) recommends "Alone In The Universe" by Jeff Lynne's ELO to those enlightened folks who enjoy the music of ELO, Roy Wood, The Move, The Idle Race, 'Brum Beat', The Beatles and related artistes.

Until next "Time" in the ELO (and related) Universe ... KJS ... 27-Nov-2015

Wednesday, 25 November 2015

UCR Artist of the Year: Vote for Jeff!

#1,016: Hello ... Hello ... my old friends ... It's great to see you once again! Our friends at Ultimate Classic Rock are running their annual Artist of the Year Poll at the moment and Jeff Lynne is one of the 14 nominees whom you can vote for, as well as his Beatles pal Ringo Starr. You can vote for Jeff and Ringo every hour until midnight on Monday 4th January.

ELO Beatles Forever (ELOBF) is pleased to report that - at the time of writing - Jeff is just about ahead of the field but he'll need some regular and consistent voting by the ELO fan base in order to emerge victorious early next year. You can access the poll via the link below thus:

ultimateclassicrock.com/2015-ucr-awards-artist

Wouldn't it be great to see the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) and Traveling Wilburys maestro gain another accolade to round off a fantastic year? If you are in agreement, please get voting!

ELO Beatles Forever (ELOBF) recommends "Alone In The Universe" by Jeff Lynne's ELO to those enlightened folks who enjoy the music of ELO, Roy Wood, The Move, The Idle Race, 'Brum Beat', The Beatles and related artistes.

Until next "Time" in the ELO (and related) Universe ... KJS ... 25-Nov-2015

Tuesday, 24 November 2015

Gallery: Jeff Lynne's ELO @ Jimmy Kimmel Live 23/11/15

In their element: Jeff Lynne's ELO ...

#1,015: Hello ... Hello ... my old friends ... It's great to see you once again! ELO Beatles Forever (ELOBF) were present - at least in spirit - when Jeff Lynne's ELO performed four songs for The Jimmy Kimmel Live! show in Los Angeles, California yesterday (Monday 23rd November). The selected audience saw and heard the ELO maestro run through "When I Was A Boy", "Evil Woman", "All Over The World" and "Mr. Blue Sky". With "Alone In The Universe" entering the US Billboard 200 at #23, there was cause for double celebration with artiste and fans alike.

Photos courtesy Ursula and Ty David ...

Monday, 23 November 2015

ChartWatch: Worldwide Success for Alone In The Universe

#1,014: Hello ... Hello ... my old friends ... It's great to see you once again! "Alone In The Universe" - the long awaited new release from Jeff Lynne's ELO - is beginning to hit official album charts worldwide and is already looking good to be an amazing global success for the ELO maestro having already hit the Official UK Album Chart at #4 and the Top 10 in six other countries - at the time of writing.

#4: UK
#5: Netherlands; Sweden
#6: Republic of Ireland
#7: Germany; Japan; Switzerland
#8: Belgium
#9: Norway
#14: Austria
#15: Australia
#22: Finland
#23: Poland; USA
#24: New Zealand
#26: Spain
#34: Canada
#38: Denmark
#70: Italy
#127: France

Yours Truly KJS/ELOBF is now in the process of collating those global chart positions (see above). Please keep checking back for more updates as we await the confirmation of where "Alone In The Universe" lands in the US Billboard 200 and other countries worldwide!

ELO Beatles Forever (ELOBF) recommends "Alone In The Universe" by Jeff Lynne's ELO to those enlightened folks who enjoy the music of ELO, Roy Wood, The Move, The Idle Race, 'Brum Beat', The Beatles and related artistes.

Until next "Time" in the ELO (and related) Universe ... KJS ... 23-Nov-2015

Saturday, 21 November 2015

Recommended: Made In Brum (Switch Radio)

#1,013: Hello ... Hello ... my old friends ... It's great to see you once again! The man who brought us the excellent Mothers Club Reunion back in February is now at the helm of Made In Brum, a new show on Switch Radio 107.5FM which celebrates the immense legacy of 'Brum Beat'. My good friend DJ David Gordon can be found every Sunday afternoon at 4PM presenting an hour of musical magic that will feature the very best of the Birmingham music scene including The Idle Race, The Move, ELO and not a few others.

Tomorrow's show on Sunday 22nd November is set to cover the years 1964-1966 and includes the likes of The Moody Blues, The Spencer Davis Group, The Fortunes, The Rockin' Berries, The Move, The John Bull Breed, The Craig, The Senators, The Nightriders - featuring a young Jeff Lynne - at a time before they became The Idle Race - and Mike Sheridan's Lot, who included Roy Wood in their ranks. There is no podcast available for this show at the time of writing so be sure to tune in on 107.5FM or online at www.switchradio.co.uk/made-in-brum.

Made In Brum with Dave Gordon
Switch Radio 107.5FM DAB
Every Sunday @ 4PM

Dave Pritchard of The Idle Race and his lovely wife Fiona will be interviewed in the show next week (Sunday 29th November) in what promises to be another great show! We can also look forward to another Mothers Club Reunion next year on Saturday 28th May and in two locations: St. Barnabas Church, Erdington and The Robin 2 in Bilston.

ELO Beatles Forever (ELOBF) recommends Made In Brum with Dave Gordon to those enlightened folks who enjoy the music of ELO/Jeff Lynne, Roy Wood, The Move, The Idle Race, 'Brum Beat', The Beatles and related artistes.

Until next "Time" in the ELO (and related) universe ... KJS ... 21-Nov-2015

Friday, 20 November 2015

Jeff Lynne's ELO: Alone In The Universe Charts at #4

#1,012: Hello ... Hello ... my old friends ... It's great to see you once again! Having entered the Official UK Midweek Album Chart at #3, the new Jeff Lynne's ELO album "Alone In The Unive rse" has been confirmed this evening as a new entry at #4 in the Offic ial UK Album Chart - the highest album chart position for the Electric Light Orchestra since "Secret Messages" back in June 1983.

The impressive gatefold vinyl edition of AITU has also entered the Official Vinyl Albums Chart Top 40 at #1 too! And it's a triple celebration for the ELO maestro with the best-selling 2005 compilation "All Over The World" also confirmed as rising from #99 to #28 in the last week.

It looks like the intensive promotion campaign of interviews and live performances has paid dividends for Jeff Lynne's ELO as well as inspiring the addition of three extra dates for the much anticipated (and now sold out) "Alone In The Universe" UK and European tour from April to June next year.

ELO Beatles Forever (ELOBF) recommends "Alone In The Universe" by Jeff Lynne's ELO to those enlightened folks who enjoy the music of ELO, Roy Wood, The Move, The Idle Race, 'Brum Beat', The Beatles and related artistes.

Until next "Time" in the ELO (and related) Universe ... KJS ... 20-Nov-2015

Tuesday, 17 November 2015

Chart Chat: Twin Top 10 Hope for ELO

#1,011: Hello ... Hello ... my old friends ... It's great to see you once again! The welcome news that the new Jeff Lynne's ELO album "Alone In The Universe" has entered the Official UK Midweek Album Chart at #3 and that the best-selling 2005 compilation "All Over The World" has also re-entered said album chart at #20 means that there is the distinct possibility that more than one ELO album will be nestled in the Top 10 as of 5:45PM on Friday 20th November.

ELO & Jeff Lynne Dominate UK Top 10 Albums

Some fans might remember that back in October 2012 that ELO & Jeff Lynne held three slots in the UK Top 10 Album Chart with "Long Wave", "Mr. Blue Sky" and "All Over The World" at positions #7, #8 and #10 respectively. Hence, with "All Over The World" shooting up from #99 to #20 in just three days over last weekend, we could see AOTW (hopefully) join AITU in the Top Ten too!

ELO Beatles Forever (ELOBF) recommends "Alone In The Universe" by Jeff Lynne's ELO to those enlightened folks who enjoy the music of ELO, Roy Wood, The Move, The Idle Race, 'Brum Beat', The Beatles and related artistes.

Until next "Time" in the ELO (and related) Universe ... KJS ... 17-Nov-2015

Monday, 16 November 2015

Alone In The Universe Set Fair for Top Five

#1,010: Hello ... Hello ... my old friends ... It's great to see you once again! New Jeff Lynne's ELO album "Alone In The Universe" has entered the Official UK Midweek Album Chart at #3 and is currently on course to attain ELO's best UK Album Chart position since "Secret Messages" attained #4 in 1983.

It looks like intensive promotion campaign of interviews and live performances has paid dividends for the ELO maestro as well as inspiring the addition of three extra dates for the much anticipated "Alone In The Universe" UK tour next April. We look forward to AITU consolidating its hard won position when the full album chart is formally announced at 5:45PM on Friday 20th November.

Also of cheer to ELO fans will be the news that the best-selling 2005 compilation "All Over The World" has re-entered the album chart at #20 ensuring double chart delight for Jeff Lynne!

ELO Beatles Forever (ELOBF) recommends "Alone In The Universe" by Jeff Lynne's ELO to those enlightened folks who enjoy the music of ELO, Roy Wood, The Move, The Idle Race, 'Brum Beat', The Beatles and related artistes.

Until next "Time" in the ELO (and related) Universe ... KJS ... 16-Nov-2015

Saturday, 14 November 2015

Alone In The Universe: High Chart Hopes

#1,009: Hello ... Hello ... my old friends ... It's great to see you once again! Now that "Alone In The Universe" - the new Jeff Lynne's ELO album, released yesterday (Friday 13th November) - has hit the proverbial shelves, the attention will surely now shift for ELO fans during the next week to see where AITU lands in the Official UK Album Chart next week after what has been an intensive promotional campaign

Considering the previous chart placings for ELO and Jeff Lynne original LP's, "Alone In The Universe" will be in good company when (not if) it enters the upper reaches of the UK Album Chart, set to be announced on Friday 20th November at 5:45PM. Here's an ELOBF summary of those previous ELO UK album chart placings (excluding compilations) for you to peruse thus:

Yours Truly KJS is of the opinion that a Top 5 placing would be deemed a more than satisfying success for what is the first complete studio album of new ELO material since "Zoom". And don't be surprised if you also see a decent album chart re-entry for the best-selling "All Over The World" compilation too!

ELO Beatles Forever (ELOBF) recommends "Alone In The Universe" by Jeff Lynne's ELO to those enlightened folks who enjoy the music of ELO/Jeff Lynne, Roy Wood, The Move, The Idle Race, 'Brum Beat', The Beatles and related artistes.

Until next "Time" in the ELO (and related) Universe ... KJS ... 14-Nov-2015

Thursday, 12 November 2015

Review: Alone In The Universe (Jeff Lynne's ELO)

#1,008: Hello ... Hello ... my old friends ... It's great to see you once again! The Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) is now Jeff Lynne's ELO and a new generation of fans are emerging in the wake of their spectacular live return at Hyde Park back in September 2014 to join their already substantial loyal and hardy band of followers in welcoming the latest studio offering from Brummie legend and ELO maestro Jeff Lynne.

If 2001's "Zoom" was also termed by some as "Armchair Theatre, Part II", then "Alone In The Universe" (Columbia #888751451124) is nowhere near a "Zoom" follow-up. Fourteen years have elapsed and in that ensuing "Time", Jeff Lynne has become a real one man music machine who has managed to produce a long player that combines the different phases of that ELO 'sound' whilst retaining his own solo imprint and imbuing it with the afterglow of his heroes The Beatles and Roy Orbison. Jeff's love of The Fab Four is easy to identify with lead single and opener "When I Was A Boy" a now familiar autobiographical - if not beautiful - song with many Lennonesque facets with "Ain't It A Drag" a good 'ol sixties screamer with a hint of his Traveling Wilburys adventure. "I'm Leaving You" is made for The Big O and is the perfect partner to Lynne's other Orbison opus "Endless Lies".

My personal fave at the time of writing is "Love And Rain" - a return to the early ELO roots of "Showdown" which is nicely counterbalanced by the smashing disco foot stomper "One Step At A Time" - an excellent update from those heady "Discovery" days which is sure to be a live hit during the upcoming 2016 UK and Europe tour. "The Sun Will Shine On You" is sheer sonic class - a delight to the ears with the pensive "All My Life" and embittered "Dirty To The Bone" - the antithesis to "Evil Woman" - both truly enjoyable if not representative of the solo element of Jeff's career within the album. The reggae tinged rocker "When The Night Comes" could easily nestle in "Balance Of Power" with the haunting title track "Alone In The Universe" almost an echo of "Without Someone" but feeling like a rediscovered echo from the "Secret Messages" sessions.

This is not ELO as we knew it and it ain't a Jeff Lynne solo album either. It does what it says on the tin, a hybrid if you will. This is Jeff Lynne's ELO, pure and simple. Drawing upon the various phases of ELO and Jeff's projects thereafter, "Alone In The Universe" is a familiar record, built upon an epic legacy yet fresh and thrilling to behold here in Yours Truly 2015 ... and a certain Top 5 album. (10/10)

Trax: "When I Was A Boy" ~ "Love And Rain" ~ "Dirty To The Bone" ~ "When The Night Comes" ~ "The Sun Will Shine On You" ~ "Ain't It A Drag" ~ "All My Life" ~ "I'm Leaving You" ~ "One Step At A Time" ~ "Alone in the Universe" ~ "Fault Line" (Bonus) ~ "Blue" (Bonus) ~ "On My Mind" (Bonus - Japan edition)

www.jefflynneselo.com
Jeff Lynne's ELO: Alone In The Universe UK Tour Dates Confirmed
Jeff Lynne's ELO: Alone In The Universe European Tour Dates Confirmed

CD: www.amazon.co.uk/Alone-Universe-Jeff-Lynnes-ELO

Deluxe Edition CD: www.amazon.co.uk/Alone-Universe

LP: www.amazon.co.uk/Alone-Universe-VINYL-Jeff-Lynnes-Elo

iTunes.apple.com/gb/album/alone-in-the-universe

play.google.com/store/music/album/Jeff-Lynnes-ELO/Alone-in-the-Universe

CD: www.amazon.com/Title-Jeff-Lynne-Alone-Universe

Deluxe Edition CD: www.amazon.com/ELO-Universe-Exclusive

LP: www.amazon.com/Alone-Universe-VINYL-Jeff-Lynnes
iTunes.apple.com/us/album/alone-in-the-universe

Standard Blu-Spec CD2: www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/SICP-30891

Limited Edition Blu-Spec CD2: www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/SICP-30890

ELO Beatles Forever (ELOBF) recommends "Alone In The Universe" by Jeff Lynne's ELO to those enlightened folks who enjoy the music of ELO, Roy Wood, The Move, The Idle Race, 'Brum Beat', The Beatles and related artistes.

Until next "Time" in the ELO (and related) Universe ... KJS ... 12-Nov-2015

Tuesday, 10 November 2015

Jeff Lynne's ELO: Alone In the Universe European Tour Dates Confirmed

Hello ... Hello ... my old friends ... It's great to see you once again! ELO fans in Europe can now also look forward to a minimum of four large arena concerts by Jeff Lynne's ELO during April and May 2016 with tickets on general sale from 10AM on Friday 13th November thus:

Friday 29th April (Postponed)

3Arena, Dublin, Ireland

Tickets: from €80.50 each (*plus booking fee)