Electric Light Orchestra - 2 re-issues & Live CD

Submitted by newseditor on Tue, 02/19/2013 - 19:02

On April 19th in Europe (April 22nd in the UK) and April 23rd in North America, Frontiers Records will release three albums: ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA LIVE and two reissues, ELO’s Zoom" (remastered and including a brand new track) and his debut solo album "Armchair Theatre" (also remastered, with two new brand new tracks).

It’s all part of the 40th anniversary of ELO, who’ve sold 50 million-plus records worldwide. These releases will all feature new packaging and the LIVE CD will come in a special ecolbook edition.

"Electric Light Orchestra Live" hasn’t been issued as an album until now. Taken from a 2001 performance for a PBS television special in Los Angeles at CBS Television City, the music was released as a DVD that year. The new hits-packed CD offers fans four tracks that weren’t on the DVD ("Secret Messages”, “Sweet Talkin’ Woman”, “Twilight” and “Confusion”) as well as two new, unreleased studio tracks, “Out of Luck” (recorded in 2010) and “Cold Feet” (recorded in 1992). Although the singularly accomplished British singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer has always preferred the creative experience of the recording studio, he is a compelling performer who's always figured out ways to bring his distinctive widescreen musical universe to life onstage when he needed to.

ELO’s "Zoom" - unavailable for over 10 years - has been remastered and features a brand new track, "One Day" (recorded in 2004) as an added bonus, along with a live version of “Turn To Stone” from 2001’s "Zoom" special on PBS. At the time of its original release in 2001, LYNNE hadn’t issued an ELO album since 1986’s "Balance of Power". He called upon notable friends for a little help, enlisting contributions from longtime ELO member Richard Tandy as well as good friends George Harrison and Ringo Starr. The result is an album rich in that distinct ELO sound-classic LYNNE melodies and songwriting, foot-stomping rock anthems and sweet, sexy strings.

LYNNE’s first solo album, 1990’s "Armchair Theatre", is a melting pot of different styles and influences featuring unexpected collaborations with LYNNE’s heroes and close friends, including Tom Petty, Richard Tandy and George Harrison. This reissue, unavailable for the last decade, includes two previously unreleased bonus tracks, “Borderline” and “Forecast” (both recorded in 1989). Interestingly, the album also features a few notable covers - “Don’t Let Go”, “Stormy Weather” and “September Song - -that demonstrated LYNNE’s flair for covers two decades before the release of 2012’s acclaimed "Long Wave". Suitably, the core of the album is LYNNE himself, though he also left room for the contributions of a few friends and fellow travelers. Harrison contributed guitars and vocals on a number of tracks. Petty co-wrote “Blown Away”, a gorgeously romantic ballad. Longtime ELO band member Richard Tandy also contributed on keyboards and other instruments. "Armchair Theatre" captures the musical genius of JEFF LYNNE when - perhaps more than ever before - the world was his stage.

"ELO Live" tracklist:

01. Evil Woman

02. Showdown

03. Secret Messages

04. Livin’ Thing

05. Sweet Talkin’ Woman

06. Mr. Blue Sky

07. Can’t Get It Out Of My Head

08. Twilight, Confusion

09. Don’t Bring Me Down

10. Roll Over Beethoven

11. Out of Luck (Bonus)