#ELO50

2021 marks 50 years of ELO. We’ve been all over the world and have so many incredible memories to look back on, and more to create! Throughout the year, we will be sharing special 50th anniversary surprises with you. Follow along to see what we have in store! 🛸#ELO50 pic.twitter.com/biPT7WVi5N

— Jeff Lynne's ELO (@JeffLynnesELO) February 22, 2021

LOUIS CLARK

A huge loss.  The sounds of those classic ELO records we loved so much were thanks, in no small part, to Louis Clark.

I WON'T BACK DOWN - ISOLATED VOCAL

 Here's a little something for your ears to enjoy - the isolated vocal track from Tom Petty's I Won't Back Down:

LONG ENDURANCE, BULKY CURTINS ctd

 Happy 73rd Birthday, Jeff Lynne!

 

So, it goes without saying, 2020 has truly been a terrible year.  In 2021, there will be (fingers crossed) much more to celebrate including the 50th birthday of the groundbreaking Electric Light Orchestra debut album.  Hope you all have a Happy New Year - and a great 2021!  We all deserve it!

"...TO SAY THE LEAST..."

Wishing you a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from Jeff Lynne’s ELO! 🛸 pic.twitter.com/QlGyHxmGRN

— Jeff Lynne's ELO (@JeffLynnesELO) December 24, 2020

TRAVELING WILBURYS VOLUME ONE - ORANGE VINYL

To celebrate @AlbumDayUK this Saturday 10th October, The Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 will be reissued on orange-coloured vinyl for the first time! Available at UK independent record stores & @hmvtweets.

More info here: https://t.co/rOTCyU2Eaq#NationalAlbumDay pic.twitter.com/Rg2qFjsS39

— George Harrison (@GeorgeHarrison) October 10, 2020

HELEN REDDY

 Just wanted to recognize the recent passing of Helen Reddy.  The Jeff Lynne original song Poor Little Fool has been a big fan favorite all these years.

ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE

JUST ANNOUNCED: Jeff has received an OBE (Order of the British Empire) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.
“I am extremely humbled and grateful to be awarded this honour for my services to music. To be recognised for my work is an extraordinary privilege.” -Jeff Lynne pic.twitter.com/6KvXJ65xoV

— Jeff Lynne's ELO (@JeffLynnesELO) October 10, 2020

XANADU - 40 YEARS LATER

Xanadu, the movie, arrived in theaters 40 years ago (yesterday) and sadly, the landmark anniversary will go by quietly.  I don't care what anybody says, the opening dance sequence is still the greatest thing ever.

Happy 40th Anniversary XANADU! https://t.co/jvtMKFpMaj

— Olivia Newton-John (@olivianj) August 8, 2020

NOW SERVING: FLAMING PIE

NOW SERVING: FLAMING PIE

Ask Alexa to play 'Flaming Pie' by Paul McCartney on @amazonmusic 🎧

The #FlamingPie Archive Collection is available now as Deluxe Edition, 3LP, 2LP, 2CD, and digital album: https://t.co/x9MJq9johK pic.twitter.com/orZrtfwhjV

— Paul McCartney (@PaulMcCartney) July 31, 2020

BEAUTIFUL NIGHT EP

Now streaming and available to buy, the 2020 remastered edition of Paul McCartney's Beautiful Night co-produced by Jeff Lynne.  Today's EP release includes the remastered LP version, a 1995 demo, and run-through version with Ringo!



Also, the remaster of the original music video for Beautiful Night is now available to see.  The entire Flaming Pie collections are out two weeks (July 31, 2020) from today!!  There's even a new website promoting the releases.

YOU DON'T KNOW HOW IT FEELS

A bit off-topic, but.... many of us who followed Tom Petty past the Wilburys years had an especially strong affection for his incredible 1994 album Wildflowers.  Now, Tom's family just released this great lyric video for the home demo of You Don't Know How It Feels with strong hints that a Wildflowers sessions set may finally not be far behind.

NOW PLAYING: THE WORLD TONIGHT

pic from personal collection

Now available: The 2020 remastered version of Paul McCartney's The World Tonight co-produced by Jeff Lynne.  Today's EP release includes the original LP version remastered, the newly released home demo, the splendid new Rough Mix plus two promo videos from the upcoming new Flaming Pie Archive Collection.

 The second (fully unseen) video of The World Tonight premiered as well, only a few scenes were used in the original documentary In The World Tonight which is included in the Flaming Pie re-issue out 31 July 2020.

NEW ROY WOOD REISSUES - MORE

Cherry Red Records are reissuing two titles from Roy Wood/Wizzard in August.  First up, Main Street.

Cherry Red:

• NEW REMASTERED RELEASE OF THE LEGENDARY SHELVED 1976 ALBUM BY ROY WOOD & WIZZARD
• WITH A RARE BONUS TRACK
• FULLY RESTORED ARTWORK AND NOTES

Esoteric Recordings are pleased to announce the release of a new re-mastered edition of the legendary, mysteriously shelved album MAIN STREET by ROY WOOD & WIZZARD.

After earning success as a performer and songwriter with THE MOVE, THE ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA and WIZZARD, the supremely talented Roy Wood recorded the material for what should have been his third solo album in the Spring of 1976.

The album was originally intended to have been released under the title WIZZO and was to have showcased a different musical side to Roy Wood and his band, with the material taking on a more jazz-rock influence. The resulting album was a magnificent work and showcased the multi-faceted talent of Wood.

A single, ‘Indiana Rainbow’ was released by Jet Records in 1976 but failed to gain airplay or commercial traction and so the release of the album was shelved. Roy Wood later reflected;

“The album was probably a last attempt to retain some sort of sanity, trying to grow up, and not carry on indefinitely being just another pop group”.

In 1999 the master tapes were re-discovered and MAIN STREET finally saw the light of day for the first time on CD. However, the title was deleted within a few years and has remained unavailable for nearly two decades.

This welcome Esoteric Recordings edition has been newly re-mastered and includes the bonus track ‘Human Cannonball’ which was recorded during the album sessions. The release also restores the original artwork and features a new essay.

TRACK LISTING
1. MAIN STREET
2. SAXMANIACS
3. THE FIRE IN HIS GUITAR
4. FRENCH PERFUME
5. TAKE MY HAND
6. DON’T YOU FEEL BETTER
7. INDIANA RAINBOW
8. I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN

BONUS TRACK
9. HUMAN CANNONBALL
RECORDED AT THE MUSIC CENTRE, WEMBLEY –
25TH APRIL 1976 DURING SESSIONS FOR “MAIN STREET”

 ...and also Introducing Eddie & The Falcons.  Again, from Cherry Red:

• NEW REMASTERED RELEASE OF THE 1974 ALBUM BY WIZZARD
• WITH FIVE BONUS TRACKS
• FULLY RESTORED ARTWORK AND NOTES

Esoteric Recordings are pleased to announce the release of a new expanded re-mastered edition of the 1974 album INTRODUCING EDDY AND THE FALCONS by WIZZARD.

After earning success as a performer and songwriter with THE MOVE and THE ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA, Roy Wood formed Wizzard in 1972. The band stacked up a series of classic hit singles and released the album WIZZARD BREW for EMI’s Harvest label before departing for Warner Bros in 1974.

Wood and his band embarked on the recording of their second album, a loose concept base around a fictitious British Rock band of the early 1960s, Eddy and the Falcons. The resulting album was a triumphant pastiche and was a top twenty hit upon its release.

Unavailable on CD for many years, this welcome Esoteric Recordings reissue has been newly re-mastered and includes five bonus tracks drawn from singles all issued in 1974, including the top ten hit ‘Are You Ready to Rock’. The release also restores the original artwork and features a new essay and a replica poster included with the original 1974 LP release.

TRACK LISTING
1. INTRO
2. EDDY’S ROCK
3. BRAND NEW 88
4. YOU GOT ME RUNNIN’
5. I DUN LOTSA CRYIN’ OVER YOU
6. THIS IS THE STORY OF MY LOVE (BABY)
7. EVERYDAY I WONDER
8. CRAZY JEANS
9. COME BACK KAREN
10. WE’RE GONNA ROCK N’ ROLL TONIGHT

BONUS TRACKS
11. ROCK N’ ROLL WINTER (LOONY’S TUNE)
12. DREAM OF UNWIN
A & B SIDES OF SINGLE – RELEASED IN APRIL 1974

13. NIXTURE
B-SIDE OF SINGLE – RELEASED IN JULY 1974

14. ARE YOU READY TO ROCK
15. MARATHON MAN
 A & B SIDES OF SINGLE – RELEASED IN DECEMBER 1974

 If you pre-order through Cherry Red, both titles will come with a bonus postcard.  Street date for both: 28 August 2020.

NEW ROY WOOD REISSUES

Roy Wood & Wizzard reissued @yesofficial return on picture disc vinyl, new albums from @mrjimBob & @TheResidents limited edition vinyl by Kevin Rowland & @mercuryrevvd plus new compilations packed full of Punk, Prog, Rock & Britpop! Latest newsletter here: https://t.co/9sGCFaRrM5 pic.twitter.com/NKeU5SMVTD

— Cherry Red Records (@CherryRedGroup) June 21, 2020

FLAMING PIE - ARCHIVE COLLECTION

 Great news from Paul McCartney today.  His Archive Collection of mega-releases is finally finding its way to 1997's Flaming Pie.  Hope you saved your pennies, though.

The re-issues of Flaming Pie will include:
2 CD
2 LP
3 LP
a 5CD/2DVD Deluxe Edition box set
Deluxe Edition Digital:
iTunes
Amazon
and a whopping $600 5CD/2DVD/4LP Collector's Edition box set

For now, let's focus on the 5CD/2DVD deluxe set:

CD1 – Remastered Album
1. The Song We Were Singing
2. The World Tonight
3. If You Wanna
4. Somedays
5. Young Boy
6. Calico Skies
7. Flaming Pie
8. Heaven On A Sunday
9. Used To Be Bad
10. Souvenir
11. Little Willow
12. Really Love You
13. Beautiful Night
14. Great Day

CD2 – Home Recordings
1. The Song We Were Singing [Home Recording]
2. The World Tonight [Home Recording]
3. If You Wanna [Home Recording]
4. Somedays [Home Recording]
5. Young Boy [Home Recording]
6. Calico Skies [Home Recording]
7. Flaming Pie [Home Recording]
8. Souvenir [Home Recording]
9. Little Willow [Home Recording]
10. Beautiful Night [1995 Demo]
11. Great Day [Home Recording]

CD3 – In The Studio
1. Great Day [Acoustic]
2. Calico Skies [Acoustic]
3. C’mon Down C’mon Baby
4. If You Wanna [Demo]
5. Beautiful Night [Run Through]
6. The Song We Were Singing [Rough Mix]
7. The World Tonight [Rough Mix]
8. Little Willow [Rough Mix]
9. Whole Life [Rough Mix]
10. Heaven On A Sunday [Rude Cassette]

CD4 – Flaming Pies
1. The Ballad Of The Skeletons
2. Looking For You
3. Broomstick
4. Love Come Tumbling Down
5. Same Love
6. Oobu Joobu Part 1
7. Oobu Joobu Part 2
8. Oobu Joobu Part 3
9. Oobu Joobu Part 4
10. Oobu Joobu Part 5
11. Oobu Joobu Part 6

CD5 – Flaming Pie At The Mill
1. Intro – Paul chats about instruments from Abbey Road Studios
2. Paul Demos
3. Mellotron And Synthesizer / Mini Moog
4. Harpsichord
5. Celeste
6. Piano
7. Bill Black Bass
8. Drums
9. Höfner Bass
10. Guitar
11. Spinet
12. Bells
13. Control Room

DVD1 – In The World Tonight

DVD2 - Bonus Film
1. Beautiful Night
2. Making Of Beautiful Night
3. Little Willow
4. The World Tonight [Dir. Alistair Donald]
5. The World Tonight [Dir. Geoff Wonfor]
6. Young Boy [Dir. Alistair Donald]
7. Young Boy [Dir. Geoff Wonfor]
8. Flaming Pie EPK 1
9. Flaming Pie EPK 2
10. In The World Tonight EPK
11. Flaming Pie Album Artwork Meeting
12. TFI Friday Performances
13. David Frost Interview

The Deluxe Edition will also come with a download card for a 24bit/96kHz digital version. 

It doesn't appear the $600 Collector's Edition will have any further Jeff Lynne-related content.  But even if the Deluxe Edition is too expensive for you, iTunes will still offer the audio content for US$24.99.

Also from the press release, the Young Boy EP is now available to hear with the Jeff Lynne co-produced Looking For You.  The World Tonight EP will be 'issued' on June 26 and Beautiful Night will follow July 17.

More on these sets at SuperDeluxeEdition.com
Official Press Release from PR News Wire

Release date: 31 July 2020

2020 TOUR CANCELLED

pic.twitter.com/pbbjSPMZSW

— Jeff Lynne's ELO (@JeffLynnesELO) May 15, 2020

WHILE IN QUARANTINE...

Jeff Lynne’s ELO Puzzles are available online now! How long did it take you to solve them? https://t.co/HyuvwMUnTy pic.twitter.com/kCVd0ZRUgI

— Jeff Lynne's ELO (@JeffLynnesELO) April 6, 2020

THE BIRTHDAY PARTY - EXPANDED

Grapefruit Records, part of the Cherry Red Records group will release a 2-CD expanded edition of The Birthday Party by The Idle Race.  One disc will be the original mono LP with some of the alternative versions that we were released previously.  The other disc will contain the original stereo LP, plus the electronically-enhanced stereo version of Sitting In My Tree released on vinyl in the 70s.

Track list from Cherry Red:

DISC ONE (MONO)
1. SKELETON AND THE ROUNDABOUT
2. HAPPY BIRTHDAY
3. THE BIRTHDAY
4. I LIKE MY TOYS
5. MORNING SUNSHINE
6. FOLLOW ME FOLLOW
7. SITTING IN MY TREE
8. ON WITH THE SHOW
9. LUCKY MAN
10. DON’T PUT YOUR BOYS IN THE ARMY, MRS. WARD
11. PIE IN THE SKY
12. THE LADY WHO SAID SHE COULD FLY
13. END OF THE ROAD
BONUS TRACKS
14. (HERE WE GO ROUND) THE LEMON TREE
15. MY FATHER’S SON
16. IMPOSTERS OF LIFE’S MAGAZINE
17. KNOCKING NAILS INTO MY HOUSE
18. LUCKY MAN (ALTERNATIVE VERSION)
19. FOLLOW ME FOLLOW (ALTERNATIVE VERSION)
20. DAYS OF THE BROKEN ARROWS
21. WORN RED CARPET
22. DAYS OF THE BROKEN ARROWS (ALTERNATIVE VERSION)

1-13 The album The Birthday Party, Liberty LBL 83132, released October 1968
14-15 US-only single, Liberty 55997, released September 1967
16 Single, Liberty LBF 15026, released September 1967
17 B-side of single, Liberty LBF 15054, released March 1968
18-19, 22 Alternative versions, first issued on Back To The Story, Zonophone 72438 3816224, released 1996
20-21 Single, Liberty LBF 15218, released May 1969

DISC TWO (STEREO)
1. SKELETON AND THE ROUNDABOUT
2. HAPPY BIRTHDAY
3. THE BIRTHDAY
4. I LIKE MY TOYS
5. MORNING SUNSHINE
6. FOLLOW ME FOLLOW
7. SITTING IN MY TREE
8. ON WITH THE SHOW
9. LUCKY MAN
10. DON’T PUT YOUR BOYS IN THE ARMY, MRS. WARD
11. PIE IN THE SKY
12. THE LADY WHO SAID SHE COULD FLY
13. END OF THE ROAD
BONUS TRACK
14. SITTING IN MY TREE (ALTERNATIVE VERSION)

1-13 The album The Birthday Party, Liberty LBS 83132, released October 1968
14 Electronically processed stereo version, from reissue of The Birthday Party, Sunset SLS 50381, released February 1976

And the description also from Cherry Red:

• Having emerged from the ashes of beat boom hopefuls Mike Sheridan and The Night Riders, by late 1966 Birmingham band The Idle Race were looking for a new guitarist. The successful applicant was local teenager Jeff Lynne.

• By the time the band signed to Liberty Records, the prodigiously-talented Lynne – several years younger than his new colleagues – had been promoted to frontman status, blossoming as the band’s chief songwriter while also taking lead vocals.

• After ‘Skeleton And The Roundabout’ had attracted much airplay but fallen just short of the charts, the band cut their debut album. Issued in October 1968, the idiosyncratic “The Birthday Party” gave notice of a major new talent on the British pop scene. A dazzling creation that matched Beatle-ish melodic flair and witty, surreal vignettes with the heightened ambition of psych-era British studio pop, the set attracted rave reviews and the support of Radio One DJs including Kenny Everett.

• Sadly, however, “The Birthday Party” failed to sell in any great quantity after Liberty mysteriously chose not to issue a single in support of the release (‘I Like My Toys’ was scheduled to appear, but cancelled at the last minute), and the wider world wouldn’t notice Lynne until he joined The Move in early 1970.

• Now acknowledged as a classic album of song-based British psychedelic pop, “The Birthday Party” finally gets the attention that it deserves with this definitive new 2-CD package. The original stereo album is joined by alternative versions, stand-alone singles and, most notably of all, the first-ever official CD release of the original, substantially different mono version of the LP, taken from the original masters.

• A digipak release, this essential set features a 24-page booklet containing numerous rare photos and memorabilia as well as a new essay on the album.

Release date is 20 March 2020.