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.