BEATLES ANTHOLOGY 2025 ctd

BEATLES ANTHOLOGY 30 ctd

 

An early preview of the new Real Love.

FREE AS A BIRD - AUDIO

NEWS: BEATLES ANTHOLOGY 2025

 

It's been almost 30 years since the original Beatles Anthology aired around the world.  Now, team Beatles is revisiting the series with all new upgraded releases.  Included in that, of course, Free As A Bird and Real Love. 

From TheBeatles.com:

New for 2025, the video features newly remixed audio by its original producer, Jeff Lynne. Free As A Bird, a John Lennon demo from 1977, was first worked on in February 1995 by Paul, George and Ringo and, once final, was released as part of The Beatles’ Anthology project that same year. Joe Pytka’s (director) official music video, was also released in 1995, to great acclaim.

Real Love is also re-mixed with the AI-improvement of John's voice ala Now And Then.

 It also includes new mixes of The Beatles’ Anthology-associated hit singles: the GRAMMY-winning “Free As A Bird” and “Real Love,” given new life by their original producer, Jeff Lynne, using de-mixed John Lennon vocals.

The upgraded Anthology will not only have an additional 2-CD set called Anthology 4, but the video will have an additional episode spanning the mid-90s when the Threatles started work on the Anthology.  

There is now a completely new Episode Nine, including unseen behind-the-scenes footage of Paul, George and Ringo coming together between 1994 and 1995 to work on “The Anthology” and reflecting on their shared life as The Beatles.

 Free As A Bird is streaming live now on your favorite music service.  The YouTube video they have to fix still because the audio is the 1995 original.  

The final 3 tracks of this series. 

15. Free As A Bird (2025 mix)
16. Real Love (2025 mix)
17. Now And Then

The 8-CD or 12-LP boxed sets are released 21 November 2025 - almost 30 years to the day of Free As A Bird's premiere in 1995.  The Beatles Anthology will start streaming on Disney+ beginning 26 November 2025.

XANADU 4K cont'd

 Just an update regarding the new Xanadu 4K and Blu-ray Disc - out today.

 Making Xanadu (from 1980) was supposed to be featured mastered in 2k on the Blu-ray.  It is instead the original 1980 Sizzle Reel (or early abbreviated cut of the movie) with all demo versions of the songs - which made it's way around to some collectors over the years.  It's now mastered in 2K.

OT: JULIANNA RAYE - HUSH

 

Our dear old friend Julianna Raye has returned with a new video and new album called 'Hush'

OVER AND OUT

I'm way overdue to send my best wishes to everyone involved for our venture to see Jeff Lynne's ELO for the last time.  It's been nothing but busy work and chaos since my return home, but I'm finally catching up to reality.  My travel adventure to London involved the following:

• My home Metro train station to get to the airport was closed for 3 weeks of repairs.
• Initial flight delayed because of mechanical issues, will now miss my connecting flight
• Airport #1 gave me an unexpected taxi ride to Airport #2 to catch last-ditch direct flight - gate closed.
• Uber home for the night.  Uber back to the Airport #2 next day.
• Get to London - taxi dropped me off at the wrong hotel
• Departing flight delayed because of weather
• Connecting flight to go home cancelled because of weather
• Extra night in Montreal
• Finally arrive home and forgot my home Metro train station was still closed.

 Would I do it again?  Absolutely.  It was great seeing these guys again and while we were all bummed Jeff didn't get to the stage at Hyde Park, the thing that matters is that Jeff gets better.  I think I speak for all the guys (and then some) in the photo when I say, "Please, get well soon, Jeff!"

This photo was taken at one of the entrances to the old Phillips Studios where Roy Wood brought in a cello to the recording studio and ELO was born - 55 years and 1 day from the Hyde Park performance.

Ken Greenwell (in this shot) made a very valid point (had the Hyde Park show gone on) while we were all standing there.  That very spot where ELO started and the spot where Jeff Lynne would have ended ELO on stage were just a mere few feet apart.  Amazing.

FLAMING PIE MINI-LP

 

Paul McCartney's Flaming Pie is the latest to join the Japanese Mini-LP craze.  

From Universal Music Japan:

★ First paper jacket release
★ Jacket design using MPL-approved artwork
★ Reproduced obi with the design of the CD obi on the first Japanese edition
★ Includes 2020 international booklet
★ 2020 remastered audio/SHM-CD design
★ Includes English liner notes/lyrics and bilingual translation
★ Limited production edition

Release date: 27 July 2025 

GREG MASTERS

FROM FORBES - repost

 With everything going on, it seems we almost missed this from Forbes.

Five albums by ELO appear on at least one chart apiece in the U.K. this week. All of them live on the Official Album Downloads list, as it appears that many longtime lovers of the group wanted to own the group’s albums and compilations, and wanted to do so quickly.

And Long Wave is back on the charts too! 

Mr. Blue Sky downloads at #59 and Single sales are #63. 

All Over The World: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra and The Essential Electric Light Orchestra also seeing gains. 

OVER AND OUT - repost

 

REST IN PEACE, OZZY

 

RICHARD TANDY SCHOLARSHIP ctd

From the Birmingham Mail:

Electric Light Orchestra singer-songwriter Jeff Lynne has donated cash from his last ever UK tour to support the launch of a new production suite and scholarship in honour of his former ELO bandmate.

OVER AND OUT - THE HOME STRETCH

Jeff Lynne on stage with broken left hand. Involved in a taxi crash in London. “I’ve had a guitar in my hand all my life but not tonight. But nothing would keep you away from you,” he told sell out audience at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena pic.twitter.com/SlbiO5878L

— BBC Midlands (@bbcmtd) July 5, 2025

OUT OF THE BLUE ON RED/YELLOW VINYL

 Did you miss the HMV specialty day in the UK?  No problem.  The Official Jeff Lynne's ELO store has it available there.  Shipping mid-August.

XANADU 4K

Coming in August, a 2-disc Xanadu in 4K Ultra High Definition Blu-Ray.

 From Blu-ray.com: 

DISC ONE - 

4K BLU-RAY NEW 4K RESTORATION FROM THE ORIGINAL CAMERA NEGATIVE
DOLBY VISION/HDR PRESENTATION OF THE FILM
NEW Audio Commentary by Director Robert Greenwald, Moderated by Filmmaker Douglas Hosdale
NEW Audio Commentary by Filmmaker Jennifer Clymer and Film Historian Nathaniel Thompson
NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historians David Del Valle and Krystov Charles
NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian Samm Deighan
Original 4.0 Stereo | 5.1 Surround & Lossless 2.0
Optional English Subtitles

DISC TWO - 

BLU-RAY NEW 4K RESTORATION FROM THE ORIGINAL CAMERA NEGATIVE
NEW Audio Commentary by Director Robert Greenwald, Moderated by Filmmaker Douglas Hosdale
NEW Audio Commentary by Filmmaker Jennifer Clymer and Film Historian Nathaniel Thompson
NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historians David Del Valle and Krystov Charles
NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian Samm Deighan
Making Xanadu: 1980 Making-of the Musical Fantasy Movie (20:36) Newly Mastered in 2K
Going Back to Xanadu: 2009 Documentary with the Cast and Crew (27:15)
5 TV Spots (2:25)
17 Radio Spots (14:17)
Theatrical Trailer (2:05) Newly Mastered in 2K
Original 4.0 Stereo | 5.1 Surround & Lossless 2.0
Optional English Subtitles

 

So, we are getting a newly restored version of the original 1980 Making Of Xanadu feature.  For those in the know, it's got some really cool early bits of the songs.

Release day: 19 August 2025 

 

BRIAN WILSON 1942-2025

  Rolling Stone and Pitchfork among many mourning this incredible loss.  One of the true architects of 20th century popular music.

THANK YOU, TODD!

 

A quick thank you to Todd Stanton who made this amazing lighted ELO jukebox logo for some of us fans willing to take a chance.  He made it with a 3D printer and the inside is wired with an LED light.

He is reachable on Facebook if you're interested in one.  He'll fill you in on how much it will cost.

This is pretty (ahem) lit, isn't it!? 

OUT OF THE BLUE - 1921 VINYL WEEKEND EDITION

 From HMV.com, a new edition of ELO's Out of the Blue will be among 20 titles for HMV's Exclusive 1921 Vinyl Weekend Edition series.  Out of the Blue will be pressed on one yellow LP and one red LP. 

 Release day is 14 June 2025 

RICHARD TANDY SCHOLARSHIP

 

Richard Tandy will have a scholarship named after him with a charity auction organized by Jeff.  Expect to hear more on this in the coming days.

The BBC takes it from here...

ELO 1972 LIVE RADIO BROADCAST

 Coming up later this month (supposedly) to add to your bootlegs: Electric Light Orchestra Live 1972: Live Radio Broadcast.  It will be pressed on blue and white splatter vinyl, the front cover art is a mismatch for the content, but there you have it.  Release date: 27 June 2025

Side 1
1. "10538 Overture" (BBC 4th February 1972)
2. "Nellie Takes Her Bow"
3. "Battle Of Marston Moor (July 2nd, 1644)"
4. "Roll Over Beethoven" (BBC 1st November 1972, BBC Studios, London, England)
5. "Kuiama" (part 1)

Side 2
1. "Kuiama" (part 2)
2. "Queen Of The Hours" (Granada TV Studios, Manchester, England. 9th May 1972)
3. "Jeff’s Boogie No. 2 (aka In Old England Town - Boogie No 2)"
4. "Whisper In The Night"
5. "Great Balls Of Fire"
6. "10538 Overture"

'LET IT ROLL' COMING TO VINYL ctd

 

'LET IT ROLL' COMING TO VINYL

 

Super Deluxe Edition.com is reporting that George Harrison's 2009 career-spanning solo collection Let It Roll is being issued on 2LP vinyl for the first time.

 

Look for that starting 11 July 2025

Side A
Got My Mind Set on You
Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)
Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll)
My Sweet Lord
While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Live from Madison Square Garden, New York, U.S.A, 1971)

Side B
All Things Must Pass
Any Road
This Is Love
All Those Years Ago
Marwa Blues

Side C
What Is Life
Rising Sun
When We Was Fab
Something (Live from Madison Square Garden, New York, U.S.A, 1971)
Blow Away

Side D
Cheer Down
Here Comes the Sun (Live from Madison Square Garden, New York, U.S.A, 1971)
I Don’t Want to Do It
Isn’t It a Pity

PEM by Eric Idle

On Saturday Pembroke College had an open day to launch the new development that Ray Dolby funded. I had helped a little in the Fundraising and the Master asked me to make a thank you for our donors. Here it is. @pembroke1347 Thanks to @lynchland for the edit. pic.twitter.com/CLv8Lhg4R3

— Eric Idle (@EricIdle) May 14, 2025

REGINA SPEKTOR COLOR VINYL SET

 A line of albums from Regina Spektor are getting limited-edition colored-vinyl releases.  That includes Far, with four Produced by Jeff Lynne titles.

The site links you to pre-order links for a Velum Clear LP.  But if you look closely at the sticker on the album cover, it says Blue Vinyl.  Hhhhmmmmmm.

 Release day: 16 May 2025

 

MESSAGE FROM THE COUNTRY ctd

 The new Esoteric Recordings re-issue of The Move's Message From The Country is out.

 Nice inexpensive edition, but not sure anything will beat the 2005 CD edition. Although it does fix the bizarre indexing on the EMI edition.

VH1 STORYTELLERS

 Those of you with a Paramount+ subscription, you can now stream all of MTV Unplugged and VH1 Storytellers episodes including ELO's from 2001.

ARMCHAIR THEATRE 35

 

35 years ago, Jeff Lynne dropped his first solo album, and it’s still pure magic! ✨ From iconic melodies to timeless brilliance, this one’s a classic. What’s your favorite track from the album? Drop it in the comments! 👇 pic.twitter.com/SyESEoTxx6

— Jeff Lynne's ELO (@JeffLynnesELO) February 21, 2025

NOW AND THEN

 So, Now And Then captures the Grammy for Best Rock Performance.  Well deserved. 

 I really like Now And Then, and Jeff's portion (George Harrison's guitar solo etc) that was kept from the 90's recording is very apparent, especially in the beginning and the end.  The new strings were gorgeous.  It certainly topped my playlist for several months.  And it'll be interesting to see if the AI treatment makes it to Free As A Bird and Real Love and how such a thing would sound.

That doesn't mean I didn't have a bone to pick about it, though.  Sorry, Ed Ruscha, I really thought your cover art was place-cover art while we were waiting for the real Now And Then cover art.   I saw this 12" at a Barnes and Noble when it came out, and it looked like it had been sitting there for 10 years.

And you what else I'm ticked off about, No Richard in the Memoriams.

ANOTHER MESSAGE...

 

 

Cherry Red Records is releasing a new remastered CD of The Move's Message From The Country with nine bonus tracks.  The, er, exact same nine bonus tracks as the legendary 2005 edition from EMI.

*sigh*. The more things change....

Releasing 28 February 2025

Track list:

1 Message from the Country

2 Ella James

3 No Time

4 Don’t Mess Me Up

5 Until Your Mama’s Gone

6 It Wasn’t My Idea to Dance

7 The Minister

8 Ben Crawley Steel Company

9 The Words of Aaron

10 My Marge

Bonus tracks

11 Tonight (A-side of single – Released in May 1971)

12 Chinatown (A-side of single – Released in October 1971)

13 Down on the Bay (B-side of single – Released in October 1971)

14 California Man (A-side of single – Released in April 1972)

15 Do Ya (B-side of single – Released in April 1972)

16 Don’t Mess Me Up (alternate version)

17 The Words of Aaron (alternate version)

18 Do Ya (alternate version)

19 My Marge (alternate version)