ELO Beatles Forever [ELOBF] was originally launched in February 2009 to campaign for the release of the original, full 18-track version of ELO's seminal 1983 album 'Secret Messages' including that long-lost gem 'Beatles Forever'. ELOBF has now expanded in scope to also include news on all things ELO; highlighting those links with its progenitors The Beatles and The Move whilst also reporting on ELO's many incarnations; friends; relatives and interested parties!
Hello ... Hello ... my old friends ... It's great to see you once again! To those of you who are regular visitors to: ELO BEATLES FOREVER [also known as ELOBF]; please consider 'following' my blog at:
You can then keep up-to-date with my latest postings et al. I'm thrilled by every visit; thankful for every comment and I value your feedback! Follow me?
Until next "Time" in the ELO [and related] universe ... KJS ... 25-Jan-2012
Hello ... Hello ... my old friends ... It's great to see you once again! Doubtless in the last few days you may have seen a fair few ELO fan sites and blogs publishing the preliminary details of the forthcoming '40th Anniversary Edition' of that seminal debut ELO release: "The Electric Light Orchestra" [also known as: "No Answer" in the United States] by EMI here in the UK. This must be the 10,538th re-issue of this material ... so I've waited a little while to post this blog whilst I check out one or three sources in order to collate as much pre-release information as possible! Our friends over at: Face The Music have provided this overview of the release whist we await pre-ordering information:
"To celebrate the 40th anniversary of ELO's first album 'Electric Light Orchestra', EMI are releasing both a CD/DVD and a 180 Gram Vinyl version on March 12th, 2012! The '40th Anniversary Edition' CD features the original album and has six [6] bonus tracks. The accompanying DVD features a Quad to 4.1 DTS 96/24 [taking the original 1973 Quad and adding a sub to create the 4.1] and a flat transfer of the original stereo analogue master from 1971 in 96kHz/24 bit PCM stereo. Sleeve notes for this release were written by Dom Lawson and the original "10538 Overture" promo clip is included as as a special bonus! The vinyl release will feature the original analogue stereo master." [end quote]
Whilst HMV @ Japan appear to be offering the release as an import on or about the 27th February [source: elodiscovery.com]; ELOBF has discovered that amazon.de [Germany] are offering this two [2] disc CD/DVD release on 24th February at the attractive pre-order price of: €14.99 [which equates to just approx. £12.50 at the time of writing] for these track listings:
CD #1
[1] 10538 Overture [2001 Remaster]
[2] Look At Me Now [2001 Remaster]
[3] Nellie Takes Her Bow [2001 Remaster]
[4] Battle Of Marston Moor [July 2nd 1644] [2001 Remaster]
[5] First Movement [Jumping Biz] [2001 Remaster]
[6] Mr. Radio [2001 Remaster]
[7] Manhattan Rumble [49th Street Massacre] [2001 Remaster]
[8] Queen Of The Hours [2001 Remaster]
[9] Whisper In The Night [2001 Remaster]
[10] 10538 Overture [Acetate]
[11] Mr. Radio [Take #9 Recorded 18/11/70]
[12] Nellie Takes Her Bow [Alternate Mix]
[13] Whisper In The Night [Take #1/Take #2 Edit Recorded 28/4/71]
STOP PRESS @ 27/01/12 It appears that the UK release date has now been confirmed for Monday 12th March as both the CD/DVD and vinyl LP editions are now being offered by amazon.co.uk who are now taking pre-orders attractively priced at £11.10 each and £17.93 each respectively thus:
Hence, whilst we await details of the UK release and pre-order information; this looks like an interesting release for the ELO completist especially when considered with the imminent re-release on vinyl of that classic 1974 ELO album: "Eldorado"[ELOBF: RETURN TO VINYL: ELDORADO].
Until next "Time" in the ELO [and related] universe ... KJS ... 24-Jan-2012
Hello ... Hello ... my old friends ... It's great to see you once again! I ventured out [again!] last night to go see one of those local bands in the ELO and Beatles universe who I thoroughly enjoy promoting and hearing: 'Band On The Runn' [BOTR] - who have previously featured on ELOBF thus:
BOTR are Craig Whale; Ian Hammond; Adam Willetts and Dave Cottle and last night they performed a tremendous set list at the likeable Tackeroo venue at Hednesford near Cannock in tribute to the whole musical career of : Paul McCartney with a specific focus on his time with: 'Wings'.
Yours Truly KJS was joined in the audience yesterday with Pete Dicks [see above] - founder and broadcaster of that long running worldwide phenomenon known as: Beatles and Beyond Radio [BBR]. We were joined by Peter March [a local; regular listener to BBR] and all three of us were mightily impressed by this relatively new band and the degree of professionalism and accuracy that they produced recreating the 50 year career of: Sir Paul McCartney live on stage. Highlights [for me] were: "The Long and Winding Road"; "My Love" and "C Moon" amongst many others.
ELO Beatles Forever [ELOBF] endorse and recommend: 'Band On The Runn' to all music fans who like the ELO; The Move and The Beatles music genres in particular. The band are now taking bookings for gigs via their web site at: BAND ON THE RUNN or via mobile 'phone on: [07538] 102177. You can catch the band again next Friday 27th January 2012 at 'The Kingfisher' in Kingswinford in south Staffordshire - with tickets priced at just £10 each. See you there?
Until next "Time" in the ELO [and related] universe ... KJS ... 21-Jan-2012
Hello ... Hello ... my old friends ... It's great to see you once again! Regular visitors to ELOBF will doubtless be aware that back on 10th December 2011; I posted this blog about Phil Bates' new musical project entitled: 'The Abbey Road Experience':
The ethos of the band is to cover live - note by note - the whole of : 'The Beatles' final seminal 1969 album: "Abbey Road" including - of course - those classics: "Come Together"; "Here Comes The Sun" and "Something" .
The band also consist of two [2] current members of that superb 'Eagles' tribute band: 'Desperado' [http://www.desperadolive.co.uk] in Chris Brighton and Steve James plus ex-'Climax Blues Band' founder Derek Holt and latest addition Pete Hughes. Their new web site has just been launched and contains details of their first six [6] concerts in March 2012 [with more to follow!] wherein they intend to both gauge the amount of interest in the project and also develop their act. Here is the detail of those first few gigs for your perusal:
Thursday 8th March: Academy Theatre; Birdwell; Barnsley. Tel: [01226] 744442
ELO Beatles Forever [ELOBF] supports; recommends and endorses: 'The Abbey Road Experience' to all music fans who like the ELO and Beatles genres in particular.
Until next "Time" in the ELO [and related] universe ... KJS ... 18-Jan-2012
Hello ... Hello ... my old friends ... It's great to see you once again! It is indeed a great pleasure to be able to able to go out and about to hear; see and support local bands in the ELO and Beatles universe doing their thing. Last Saturday, I [again] checked out: 'Band On The Runn' [BOTR] - a new four [4] piece Midlands based Paul McCartney tribute act - as they fine tuned their extensive and impressive set list [amongst friends] in the Black Country. BOTR have previously featured on ELOBF thus:
BOTR are Craig Whale; Ian Hammond; Adam Willetts and Dave Cottle and they will be playing two [2] much anticipated concerts in January 2012. It is my intention to attend both gigs in order to both support the band in their musical journey and appraise their development as a live act at these venues:
ELO Beatles Forever [ELOBF] endorse and recommend: 'Band On The Runn' to all music fans who like the ELO and Beatles genres in particular. The band are now taking bookings for gigs via their web site at: http://bandontherunn.com/ or via mobile 'phone on: [07538] 102177. See you there?
Until next "Time" in the ELO [and related] universe ... KJS ... 17-Jan-2012
Hello ... Hello ... my old friends ... It's great to see you once again! As we put our footprint into 2012; the wheels are starting to slowly turn again in the ELO universe as we look forward to the many releases and gigs that are now coming into view. One of those releases is the impending re-release on "180 grams audiophile vinyl" of that classic 1974 ELO album: "Eldorado" in all its glory on the 'Music On Vinyl' label.
"Eldorado" is one of two superlative concept albums released by ELO; the other being: "Time" back in 1981 - both being two of my favourite ELO albums. Originally released on Warner Bros. Records [#K56090] and later re-released on Jet/United Artists [#UAG30092] and Jet/CBS Records [#JETLP203] whilst also being included in the 1978 boxed set: "Three Light Years" [#JETBX1] - it is most welcome to see the original album reproduced and re-released here in 2012 although we are not sure if it is from the original tapes or a later digital source.
And here is what amazon.co.uk are saying about the release: "'To pick up where "I Am The Walrus" left off' ... that was the goal when the Electric Light Orchestra formed in the early seventies. They wanted to steep different music styles in a rock tradition and mix in some Beatlesque pop, but it took Jeff Lynne and company until their fourth album "Eldorado" to get on the right track. Their most ambitious album to date, they decided to hire a 30-piece orchestra and choir to fill out their sound, and the investment paid off. With the unforgettable "Can't Get It Out Of My Head" as the lead single, "Eldorado" was a commercial, as well as a critical success, and it would achieve gold status in the US. 'The English guys with the big fiddles' had arrived." [end quote]
This LP [c/w insert] is priced at just £20.15 and is available on pre-order from amazon.co.uk with a release date of 30th January. This is a worthwhile purchase for the record [and CD] buying ELO connoisseur - even if you don't currently possess a turntable!
Until next "Time" in the ELO [and related] universe ... KJS ... 15-Jan-2012
Hello ... Hello ... my old friends ... It's great to see you once again! I am always pleased to highlight those talented musicians out there in the ELOBF universe who either re-interpret or are influenced by or even compose music about [surprisingly enough!] ELO! And this week I have come across a great new tribute song to all things ELO by a Leeds based musician [and DJ] whose name is GEE RAY; who wrote a song last month entitled: "E.L.O. My Favourite Band" and performed it last week on the streets of Leeds. The whole thing was recorded on video and posted on YouTube the other day [see above] and Gee hopes to carry out a formal recording of the song soon. Here are Gee's [copyrighted!] lyrics for you to peruse:
"There was a band from Birmingham, They played classical rock,
Jeff Lynne wrote the songs, Bev played the drums,
Kelly was on the bass, Richard played the piano,
Mik Kaminski on the violin, Mel and Hugh on the cellos,
This is a song about my favourite band and they are called ELO.
They tour the world in their space ship all the way from Birmingham,
They toured the world and even played to uncle Sam,
They toured the world a classical band from Birmingham.
Roll Over Beethoven, Rock 'n' Roll Is King,
One Summers Dream, that's want Jeff sings,
Hold On Tight to that Livin' Thing,
There's gonna be a Showdown with that Wild West Hero,
Horace Wimp sent a Secret Message on the Telephone Line,
Just Shine A Little Love and you will be Above The Clouds,
Saying ELO Mr. Blue Sky, It was Xanadu,
This is a song about my favourite band and they are called ELO.
They tour the world in their space ship all the way from Birmingham,
They toured the world and even played to uncle Sam,
They toured the world a classical band from Birmingham.
I'm Alive, Don't Walk Away,
There's Confusion and Don't Bring Me Down,
I got a Ticket To The Moon and I Can't Get It Out My Head,
It's been 20 years since the band packed up,
Good music lives on and on and people still play their songs,
This a song of my favourite band and there called ELO
They tour the world in their space ship all the way from Birmingham,
They toured the world and even played to uncle Sam,
They toured the world a classical band from Birmingham."
I think you'll agree that Gee's song and lyrics are both truthful; ingenious and give great honour to Jeff Lynne and his ELO song legacy. ELOBF is happy to support and promote independent musicians like GEE RAY who ply their trade in the ELO [and related artistes] universe.
Until next "Time" in the ELO [and related] universe ... KJS ... 13-Jan-2012
