LONG ENDURANCE, BULKY CURTAINS ctd...

Happy 66th Birthday, Jeff!

See you all in 2014!

NOW STREAMING: STREAM OF STARS

From Lynn Hoskins at Showdown and Jeff Lynne's official Facebook Page: a link to hear Stream Of Stars.

STREAM OF STARS

The soundtrack to American Hustle, opening this month, will be available for digital download beginning this Friday December 6, 2013. (now December 10...)

In addition to including the original 10538 Overture from ELO in their film trailer, the soundtrack includes the remake of 10538 Overture, ELO's Long Black Road and (more to the point) a new solo track by Jeff Lynne titled Stream of Stars.  The film itself opens December 18.

UPDATE 12/4: A post on Jeff Lynne's official Facebook page mentions another new Jeff Lynne track used in the film but not on the soundtrack: Claire de Lune.

CHILDREN IN NEED ROCKS 2013 ctd

Enjoy these rather amazingly well-done live performances from Children In Need Rocks 2013...

CHILDREN IN NEED ROCKS

Jeff Lynne (and it looks like Richard Tandy too) was among the many performers who just played at the Children In Need Rocks 2013 concert - held over two days this week in London.  Two hours of it is slated to air on BBC One (tomorrow) Thursday November 14 at 8pm (or 20:00) -

From BBC One:

Fearne Cotton and Chris Evans present a spectacular concert featuring some never-before-seen surprise collaborations held in support of Children in Need, staged over two nights at the Apollo in Hammersmith, London. Brought together by one of Children in Need's biggest supporters, Gary Barlow, performers doing their bit for Pudsey include Robbie Williams, Kings of Leon, Barry Manilow, Ellie Goulding, Dizzee Rascal, Nicole Scherzinger, Little Mix, Tom Odell, Rizzle Kicks, Bastille, the Lumineers, Passenger and The Wanted.

From The Daily Star:

And the Take That star, (Gary Barlow) 42, also joined ELO great Jeff Lynne, 65, and Gareth Malone’s choir for a show-stopping Mr Blue Sky.

From The Telegraph - Mr. Blue Sky concluded the concert in a supposedly climatic fashion.

Another special guest, Jeff Lynne of Electric Light Orchestra, concluded the concert with Mr Blue Sky only for Chris Evans to enthusiastically call for more. A few sheepish looks later and the band launched into Mr Blue Sky – again. Clearly, an encore was not on Lynne's schedule, but nobody in the audience cared.

Pictures from Contact Music - clearly.

And one from Digital Spy: (hat tip: Neil)

Now, BBC has a slideshow of the event:

MORE BLU-SPEC CD2...

All Over The World, Sony's collection of ELO originals is coming their Blu-Spec CD2 format. Release date for the Japanese limited edition: December 11, 2013

... AND AGAIN...

The original 10538 Overture from ELO now featured in the new trailer for the film American Hustle...

LIVE FROM BUNGALOW PALACE

Here's another opportunity to catch Live From Bungalow Palace featuring Jeff Lynne and Richard Tandy on BBC Four.  (Early) next Sunday September 8 at 00:50.

ONE SUMMER DREAMY ctd...

Beginning today, Claudia Brucken's new single, her rather pleasant and trippy (and Stephen Hague-produced) version of ELO's One Summer Dream, is available for download.  The whole EP - which features remixes - is available to download from Amazon and iTunes.

WORLD CAFE

Here's an audio link to the full World Cafe interview between David Dye and Jeff Lynne.

REMINDER: WORLD CAFE

A reminder: Jeff Lynne is on the World Cafe today starting at 2:00pm Eastern Time.  Here's the webstream: WXPN 88.5.

And a website preview with a playlist:

ELO / "JUST FOR LOVE" / "Zoom" (remastered)
Jeff Lynne / " EVERY LITTLE THING / "Armchair Theater"
The Beatles / "FREE AS A BIRD"/ "Anthology 1"

AND NOW, RED WHITE AND BLUE VINYL , ctd...

Mark Dodsworth unboxes the new vinyl...

WORLD CAFE

Jeff Lynne will be David Dye's guest on NPR's World Cafe on Thursday July 25.  If it's anything like the other interviews David Dye has done over the years, this will be a treat. 

His show starts at 2PM Eastern Time:

Live Stream

Station finder

... AND AGAIN...

The re-recorded version of Don't Bring Me Down now featured in the film trailer for Disney's Planes.

FINALLY A STAR, ctd.

There's now a press release about Jeff's upcoming star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  His reaction:

“I’m thrilled to be recognized by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and feel honored to be in the great company of some of my biggest heroes,” says LYNNE of the honor. “Growing up in Birmingham, England, I never imagined my name on the Hollywood Walk of Fame–it really is fantastic.”

and new material next year:

He plans to release an album of all-new material in 2014.

The elo.biz article is here.

SECRET ANNIVERSARIES

Before we let June slip away, I thought it would be appropriate to note a landmark anniversary this month.  While some of ELO's earlier works got the 30th Anniversary treatment, this particular anniversary will go by quietly.

It is the 30th anniversary of ELO's Secret Messages, an album that, for many reasons, remains at the top of many fan's favorites list... and a release of the original 2LP version remains at the top of most every fan's wish list.  It was an album full of unique song ideas. The mythology behind its creation and subsequent cover artwork are about as layered as the sounds it featured.

During a mall visit in 1983, I spotted it in a record store bin... and my mom refused to buy it for me because I "already have too many records."  People then watched as a 12-year-old broke into an epic shitfit.  Those were the days.

Happy Anniversary, Secret Messages.  Here's to hoping...

FINALLY A STAR...

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce has announced the list of artists who will be in their Walk of Fame Class of 2014 - and Jeff Lynne is reportedly one of them.  He will be getting a star on the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame and will sit among his numerous friends and heroes who have received the honor over the years.

No date has been set for Jeff's star ceremony but when it is set, they will be streaming the event at walkoffame.com.

News links:
Examiner
Hollywood Reporter
Classic Hits 105.5

So, Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame, put that in your pipe and smoke it.

(Hat tip: Nicolas)

VINYL SLIDES AGAIN...

It appears the new 2LP color vinyl editions of Electric Light Orchestra Live, Zoom and Armchair Theatre, which were originally on the release schedule for May, then delayed until this month, are now sliding to July 8 (for now) from the UK-based Let Them Eat Vinyl...

UPDATE: Moved to 22 July 2013...

NOW AVAILABLE... DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU ARE ctd...

After a few weeks delay, Electric Light Orchestra Live is finally available digitally on iTunes in the UK...

AVAILABLE NOW... DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU ARE...

It is UK release day for ELO Live, Zoom and Armchair Theatre - but the day is not without its oddities.

ELO Live is available nowhere digitally except on iTunes and Amazon in the US.

In the US iTunes store, both ELO Live and Zoom are ready to buy today, but not Armchair Theatre.  Amazon USA appears to be holding until tomorrow.

No digital-only bonus material or digital booklets on any of the three yet.

MORE PRESS

Here are more articles and interviews with Jeff Lynne for this week's new releases of ELO Live, Zoom and Armchair Theatre.  Ultimate Classic Rock has a nice, long interview with Jeff (he's still at 8 songs) and the Daily Mail article ends with a check on where some other members of ELO are today.  Ultimate Classic Rock took the liberty of the listing (what they think are) the Top 10 ELO songs.

FROM JAPAN...

The new mini-LP edition of Zoom in Japan features not the live version of Turn To Stone, but the live version of Do Ya.

NEXT BATCH OF THREE ctd...

CD Japan is giving us a sneak peek into the front covers of the new Mini-LP versions of ELO Live, Zoom and Armchair Theatre out this week.

... AND THIS FROM CBS NEWS.

There's a fresh interview with Jeff Lynne on CBS News.com today including mentions of the upcoming Live, Zoom and Armchair Theatre releases this month.

AND NOW RED WHITE AND BLUE VINYL...

The folks at Let Them Eat Vinyl will be issuing the new Jeff Lynne and ELO titles on colored 140g vinyl.

Electric Light Orchestra Live will be on 2 red vinyl LPs.
SIDE A
1. Evil Woman 2. Showdown 3. Secret Messages
SIDE B
4. Livin’ Thing 5. Sweet Talkin’ Woman 6. Mr. Blue Sky
SIDE C
7. Can’t Get It Out Of My Head 8. Twilight 9. Confusion
SIDE D
10. Don’t Bring Me Down 11. Roll Over Beethoven 12. Out Of Luck (bonus track) 13. Cold Feet (bonus track)

Electric Light Orchestra Zoom will be on 2 white vinyl LPs.

SIDE A
1. Alright 2. Moment In Paradise 3. State Of Mind 4. Just For Love
SIDE B
5. Stranger On A Quiet Street 6. In My Own Time 7. Easy Money 8. Really Doesn’t Matter 9. Ordinary Dream
SIDE C
10. A Long Time Gone 11. Melting In The Sun 12. All She Wanted 13. Lonesome Lullaby
SIDE D
14. One Day (bonus track) 15. Turn To Stone (live from Bungalow Palace)

Jeff Lynne Armchair Theatre will be on 2 blue vinyl LPs.

SIDE A
1. Every Little Thing 2. Don’t Let Go 3. Lift Me Up 4. Nobody Home
SIDE B
5. September Song 6. Now You’re Gone 7. Don’t Say Goodbye
SIDE C
8. What Would It Take 9. Stormy Weather 10. Blown Away 11. Save Me Now
SIDE D
12. Borderline (bonus track) 13. Forecast (bonus track)

THE NEXT BATCH OF THREE, ctd.

Courtesy of eBay... the advance promos...

Armchair Theatre:

Electric Light Orchestra Live:

and Zoom:

NOW PREVIEWING: THE NEXT BATCH OF THREE

Amazon has ELO Live, Zoom and Armchair Theatre mp3 albums up for pre-order with 30 second clips of each track:

Electric Light Orchestra - Live 

1. Evil Woman  (4:27)
2. Showdown   (4:08)
3. Secret Messages   (4:06)
4. Livin' Thing   (4:09)
5. Sweet Talkin' Woman   (3:15)
6. Mr. Blue Sky   (3:31)
7. Can't Get It Out Of My Head   (4:11)
8. Twilight   (3:30)
9. Confusion   (3:34)
10. Don't Bring Me Down   (4:08)
11. Roll Over Beethoven   (6:26)
12. Out of Luck (Bonus - 2010 recording)   (2:36)
13. Cold Feet (Bonus - 1993 recording)   (2:17)

Electric Light Orchestra - Zoom

1. Alright   (3:12)
2. Moment in Paradise   (3:35)
3. State of Mind   (3:03)
4. Just for Love   (3:38)
5. Stranger on a Quiet Street  (3:39)
6. In My Own Time   (3:03)
7. Easy Money   (2:51)
8. It Really Doesn't Matter   (3:19)
9. Ordinary Dream  (3:22)
10. A Long Time Gone   (3:15)
11. Melting in the Sun   (3:10)
12. All She Wanted   (3:14)
13. Lonesome Lullaby   (4:04)
14. One Day (Bonus - 2004 recording)   (3:03)
15. Turn to Stone (Live From CBS Television City) (Bonus)   (3:40)

Jeff Lynne - Armchair Theatre

1. Every Little Thing   (3:42)
2. Don't Let Go   (3:01)
3. Lift Me Up   (3:37)
4. Nobody Home   (3:53)
5. September Song   (2:59)
6. Now You're Gone   (3:57)
7. Don't Say Goodbye   (3:10)
8. What Would It Take   (3:41)
9. Stormy Weather   (3:42)
10. Blown Away   (3:30)
11. Save Me Now   (1:54)   ("It's still going, you know" is apparently lopped off)
12. Borderline (Bonus - 1989 recording)   (2:24)
13. Forecast (Bonus - 1989 recording)   (3:53)

ELO Live and Zoom are now also appearing iTunes... with 1:30 clips.

FIRST LOOK: BLU-SPEC CD 2

Here's our first look at the new Sony Blu-Spec CD 2 editions of A New World Record, Out of the Blue, Discovery and Time.

The Out of the Blue set, like the previous Blu-Spec edition, comes in a rare thicker jewel case to accomodate all the booklets and other items inside.  A New World Record, again like the previous Blu-Spec version, comes in the now rare opaque CD tray and a more bare bones package for some reason.  Uniform design red discs?  Eh.  

AND NOW VINYL, TOO...

It appears 'the next batch of three' will get vinyl editions as well - ELO Live, Zoom and Armchair Theatre will all be 2LP sets in the weeks following the CD and download editions.  Release date is May 27, 2013 - again from the UK-based Let Them Eat Vinyl.

DAVE EDMUNDS INFORMATION

Here's another opportunity to grab some harder to find music from Dave Edmunds.  Sony Music is issuing an "Original Album Classics" box set featuring 5 Dave Edmunds albums including Information and Riff Raff - both featuring collaborations with Jeff Lynne... (but no idea what masters they plan to use for this set...)

The box will contain:

Subtle As A Flying Mallet

D.E. 7th

Information [Slipping Away, Information]

Riff Raff  [Something About You, Breaking Out, Far Away, S.O.S., Hang On]

I Hear You Knocking

UK release date: April 1, 2013

JAPANESE BONUS TRACKS

HMV Japan is the first retailer to list the suspected additional bonus tracks on the upcoming Japanese editions of:

Electric Light Orchestra Live  - Telephone Line [Live from Bungalow Palace]
Zoom - Lucky Motel [Previously Unreleased]
Armchair Theatre - Strange Magic [Live from Bungalow Palace]

Again, like Long Wave and Mr. Blue Sky, these CDs will be SHM-CDs.  Release date: April 17, 2013.

THE NEXT BATCH OF THREE

The official announcement was made today.  Electric Light Orchestra Live, Zoom and Armchair Theatre are now on the release schedule for April 19 in Europe and Japan, April 22 in the UK and April 23 in the USA from Frontiers Records.

Again, the Japanese editions of Armchair Theatre, ELO's Zoom and Electric Light Orchestra Live will be first out of the gate, but no word yet whether they will contain additional bonus material.

Electric Light Orchestra - Live

1. Evil Woman
2. Showdown
3. Secret Messages
4. Livin' Thing
5. Sweet Talkin' Woman
6. Mr. Blue Sky
7. Can't Get It Out Of My Head
8. Twilight
9. Confusion
10. Don't Bring Me Down
11. Roll Over Beethoven
12. Out of Luck (Bonus - 2010 recording)
13. Cold Feet (Bonus - 1993 recording)

Electric Light Orchestra - Zoom

1. Alright
2. Moment in Paradise
3. State of Mind
4. Just for Love
5. Stranger on a Quiet Street
6. In My Own Time
7. Easy Money
8. It Really Doesn't Matter
9. Ordinary Dream
10. A Long Time Gone
11. Melting in the Sun
12. All She Wanted
13. Lonesome Lullaby
14. One Day (Bonus - 2004 recording)
15. Turn to Stone (Live From CBS Television City) (Bonus)

Jeff Lynne - Armchair Theatre

1. Every Little Thing
2. Don't Let Go
3. Lift Me Up
4. Nobody Home
5. September Song
6. Now You're Gone
7. Don't Say Goodbye
8. What Would It Take
9. Stormy Weather
10. Blown Away
11. Save Me Now
12. Borderline (Bonus - 1989 recording)
13. Forecast (Bonus - 1989 recording)

ADDED TO ITUNES

More vintage videos have made their way out on iTunes...

Wild West Hero, Showdown, Turn To Stone from Wembley are new - as well as the original promos for Rockaria, Livin' Thing and It's Over.  And also oddly thrown in, the TV performance of Telephone Line.

UPDATE: COMING SOON ON BLUE VINYL...

The new color vinyl editions of Long Wave and Mr. Blue Sky are sliding to February 11...