UPDATE ON ROSSIF SUTHERLAND

Rossif Sutherland has just released an album of all-new material to his MySpace page.  No Jeff Lynne involvement, but it's worth checking out anyway.  These Words and Waiting For The Train are still available to hear.

KINDA OT: EARTHRISE

It appears a new day is dawning for Earthrise, the 80s project by ELO members Richard Tandy and Dave Morgan.  A new site has been launched in preparation for a new re-issue of the album.  Earthrise will be digitally remastered with bonus tracks and available as a CD, digital download and a limited edition picture disc with new artwork.  Pretty schnazzy...

WANDERING SOLDIER

 Many of you remember the rather amazing freshman album Something Peculiar from the rather talented Julianna Raye.  The album was produced and arranged by Jeff Lynne and was released in April 1993.  Now Ms. Raye is streaming the only known outtake from the Something Peculiar sessions, Wandering Soldier.  Enjoy.

ON THE RUN...

Just to let you know, this blog is now mobile device-friendly.  When you access this blog from any mobile device, you will get a page that loads quickly and is easy to navigate.  Ah, progress....

ALL OVER THE WORLD, AGAIN...

For the record, Sony is apparently re-issuing All Over The World: The Very Best of Electric Light  Orchestra in Europe (I believe) at the end of this month.  Same track listing, but in this case, with new artwork.

Release day 30 May 2011.

Order links:
Play.com
Amazon UK
HMV UK

RAVE ON BUDDY HOLLY

There apparently will be more than one Buddy Holly Tribute CD this year.  Rave On Buddy Holly which was mentioned earlier is not the Peter Asher project with Words of Love newly-recorded by Jeff Lynne.

Turns out, the Asher project is due later this year and is titled Listen To Me: Buddy Holly.

MECHANICAL SYMPATHY

ELO Discovery linked to this rather amazing short film using Steppin' Out from ELO.


Mechanical Sympathy from Tom McDermott on Vimeo.

From the creator of the film:

Created as part of my dissertation which is titled '‘Breathing life into an inanimate object using stop motion animation techniques’. This film is made up of 6,300 individual photographs and shot and edited in just over five weeks.

NITEY NITE...

While browsing what's probably the only CD shop within 25 miles of here, I came across this:

It's a lullaby tribute to Tom Petty and it leans heavily on Petty's collaborations with Jeff Lynne.

The track list:
Free Fallin'
I Won't Back Down
You Wreck Me
Saving Grace
Runnin' Down A Dream
Here Comes My Girl
American Girl
Learning To Fly
Into The Great Wide Open
The Waiting

The songs are available to download from iTunes and Amazon.  Other tributes in this series include Michael Jackson, Dave Matthews Band, Bruce Springsteen and Jimmy Buffett.

The tracks are instrumental and within an inch of complete kitch.  After a few minutes playing it, I strongly suspect the music will do anything but put a child to sleep.

BLAH-RAY...

Now, let me qualify this comment.  I'm playing the Concert For George Blu-Ray on a standard low-to-mid-price Sony Blu-Ray player.

Still, I'm expecting to be (even somewhat) wow-ed by the picture.  I'm not.  At all.

Anyone else?

CONCERT FOR GEORGE PRESS MATERIALS

(UPDATE: 1888 Media apparently removed their Concert For George content.  I amended the posting to take out the missing images.)

A reminder, Concert For George is out on Blu-Ray this week.  Thanks to Rob at 1888 Media for sharing some press materials for this week's release.  Enjoy.

The widget:

The trailer:

The press release:

CONCERT FOR GEORGE SET FOR BLU-RAY DEBUT

Legendary George Harrison Tribute Concert To Be Released
On Blu-Ray For First Time On March 22


Los Angeles, CA— CONCERT FOR GEORGE, the legendary tribute concert in honor of GEORGE HARRISON, will be released for the first time ever on Blu-ray on March 22. Originally released in High Definition, the CONCERT FOR GEORGE 2-disc Blu-ray will include the complete concert on the first disc, with a second disc containing the original theatrical version featuring concert highlights, interviews with the performers, rehearsals, and behind-the-scenes footage. The second disc will also include a previously unreleased interview segment entitled “Drummers,” featuring Ringo Starr, Jim Keltner and Ray Cooper.

CONCERT FOR GEORGE has been certified 8 times platinum by the RIAA since its initial release as a 2DVD set in November 2003 and earned a 2004 Grammy® Award for Best Long Form Music Video.

On November 29, 2002, one year after the passing of George Harrison, Olivia Harrison and longtime friend Eric Clapton organized a performance tribute in his honor. Held at London's Royal Albert Hall, the momentous evening featured George's songs, and music he loved, performed by a lineup that included Clapton, Jools Holland, Jeff Lynne, Paul McCartney, Monty Python, Tom Petty, Billy Preston, Ravi and Anoushka Shankar, Ringo Starr, Dhani Harrison and many more.

Directed by David Leland (whose credits include the feature Wish You Were Here, HBO’s Band Of Brothers and the Traveling Wilburys video “Handle With Care”), CONCERT FOR GEORGE captures stunning renditions of some of the most significant music of the 20th century, including “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” (featuring Clapton on guitar, McCartney on piano and Starr on drums), “Taxman” (performed by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) and “The Inner Light” (covered by Jeff Lynne and Anoushka Shankar). Lynne, Harrison’s longtime friend and collaborator, produced the audio elements of the concert, while Clapton oversaw the entire proceedings as Musical Director.

CONCERT FOR GEORGE
Track Listing

Your Eyes - Anoushka Shankar
The Inner Light - Jeff Lynne & Anoushka Shankar
Arpan - Conducted by Anoushka Shankar
Sit On My Face – Monty Python
The Lumberjack Song – Monty Python with Tom Hanks
I Want To Tell You - Jeff Lynne
If I Needed Someone - Eric Clapton
Old Brown Shoe - Gary Brooker
Give Me Love - Jeff Lynne
Beware Of Darkness - Eric Clapton
Here Comes The Sun - Joe Brown
That’s The Way It Goes - Joe Brown
Horse To The Water – Sam Brown
Taxman - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
I Need You - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Handle With Care - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers with Jeff Lynne & Dhani Harrison
Isn’t It A Pity - Billy Preston
Photograph - Ringo Starr
Honey Don’t - Ringo Starr
For You Blue - Paul McCartney
Something - Paul McCartney & Eric Clapton
All Things Must Pass - Paul McCartney
While My Guitar Gently Weeps - Paul McCartney & Eric Clapton
My Sweet Lord - Billy Preston
Wah Wah - Eric Clapton & Band
I’ll See You In My Dreams - Joe Brown

Purchase links for Amazon US  and Amazon UK ...

HALL OF FAME LIVE

Time-Life has issued what appears to be a download-only collection of Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame live performances.

Included with this particular collection is While My Guitar Gently Weeps performed by Tom Petty, a few of his Heartbreakers, Jeff Lynne, Dhani Harrison, Marc Mann, Ray Cooper (right?) Steve Winwood, and a hot guitar solo from Prince.

This is an audio-only download... available only on iTunes as of March 15... and you can buy any individual track for $.99...  

This particular one is way worth the money, whether or not you've already heard this...

CONCERT FOR GEORGE BLU-RAY; ctd

Here's what the new Concert for George Blu-Ray will look like.  This and the digital download are coming in less than two weeks.

Check out this review from Blu-Ray.com, it's more from a technical stand point.  The audio portion gets a rave review.

And according to Rhino's website, there will be bonus 'bonus' material, a feature called 'Drummers'...

FOUR FROM FAR

Here's one for the collectors.  Regina Spektor will celebrate Record Store Day next month by releasing a limited edition EP called Four From Far.  The 7" EP will be pressed on light blue vinyl and will be in shops on April 16.

The track list is:
Riot Gear
The Sword & The Pen (produced by Jeff Lynne)
Time Is All Around
Eet (Live in London)

THE BUDDY HOLLY PROJECT

The fine people at Direct Current have a title called The Buddy Holly Project, listing it for a June 28 release.  Is this Peter Asher's covers collection?

For those not in the know, Jeff Lynne has recently recorded a cover of Words of Love...

(Hat Tip: J.)

HAPPY MADISON JAM SESSION

Some pictures from Adam Sandler's big bash... (under the Happy Madison tab) at AdamSandler.com

(Hat Tip: Dave)

CONCERT FOR GEORGE; ctd.

Concert For George comes to Blu-Ray on March 22.

... AND AGAIN...

The re-recorded Mr. Blue Sky was used in the opening sequence of tonight's American Dad.

JUST FOR THE RECORD...

I went to a crafts store to buy a simple frame for this print. elo.biz/Fanfire lists the print as 14x20.  It's not.  It's actually 18x24.

I have to go back to the store.

OT: GERRY RAFFERTY

I'd be remiss if I didn't take a moment to recognize the passing of Gerry Rafferty on Tuesday.  The few songs that became mega hits for him were radio staples in my household growing up.  He was extremely talented with a large body of work but never quite got the recognition he deserved.

LONG ENDURANCE, BULKY CURTAINS; ctd...

Happy 63rd Birthday, Jeff....