Former ELO cello player Mike Edwards has been killed in a hay bale accident in southern England.  He was 62.

News links:
Daily Mail
Telegraph UK
The Sun

Here's a head scratcher for you.  Well, a head scratcher or a really good sign...

BBC Four has just put out a press release regarding the upcoming shows for their Fall and Winter 2010/2011 season.  Here's the blurb:

ELO - 40 Light YearsCharting the fascinating story of musical genius, singer-songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist and Electric Light Orchestra leader Jeff Lynne, this film celebrates 40 years since ELO's first groundbreaking hit recording. The programme follows the band through their successes, up to their brand new ELO album – their first for almost 10 years.With exclusive access to Jeff Lynne, this documentary charts his story from his early years in Birmingham with cult legends the Idle Race, through to his first UK chart success with the Move. It also investigates his international mega-stardom with ELO and beyond, with The Travelling Wilburys – Tom Petty, Roy Orbison, George Harrison and Bob Dylan – Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, the Beatles, Del Shannon, Regina Spektor and many more.... this film celebrates 40 years??

...up to their brand new ELO album - their first in almost 10 years????

Stay tuned.

There's an update of sorts on the album Joe Walsh recorded with Jeff Lynne.  Mr. Walsh was apparently on I Heart Radio and revealed some details.  According to a reader of L&M's Eagles Fastlane:

I just spoke with Joe Walsh! I asked him about his new solo album coming up, and the specifically about the arrangements...I wanted to hear some songs centered around the acoustic guitar...like Indian Summer, Collage, etc.He said the album is done and in the can...and the overall process is 4/5ths done. He isn't sure when it will be out 'cause he's an eagle right now. But my impression is that it's close.He said working with Jeff Lynne was a total challenge (in a good way). It really forced him to challenge himself....he really likes the results! Said they were two old timers set in their ways, and it took a while to figure out how to work together.I mentioned that my daughter was mad 'cause I made her go to school today and miss hearing his call. He told her thanks for being a fan and to "grow up good."Joe was very down to earth, and the whole thing was pretty quick. It was, afterall, a business call recorded for the Eagles radio show. Still, it was pretty cool. And for the record, it appears The Eagles will be touring for the rest of this year.

I really don't know if this was standard procedure or if it was on purpose that the UK DVD was made Region 0.  Either way, I can't find a single reason to own the USA edition of this DVD, unless you're collecting.  I got mine from Key Mail Order for almost the same price as the USA edition and it shipped to me in a week.  You are welcome to post links where you got yours for fans who were waiting to get theirs. 
As for the DVD itself, it's amazing how much more enjoyable this footage is now that the audio and video is cleaner. I prefer the studio stuff over the live material in general.  But overall, thumbs up on this.

There's a Jeff Lynne doll for sale on eBay.  Seriously.  And the bidding is hot.
Kinda looks like a converted G.I. Joe doll to me.

Can anyone shed any light on this Xanadu DVD that was released earlier this month?  It's the same version put out recently, but it offers three bonus mp3's with the purchase.  I'm assuming you just get to choose three songs from the soundtrack.  Can anyone confirm this?

Out this week is a fan tribute to ELO.  The CD is called Scattered Light and contains 12 ELO covers all recorded by fans of the band.  The track list:
Mission (A World Record)- Triangle ParadiseStranger- Damien SpanjerStrange Magic- Nun The WiserDanger Ahead- Matt Abright & Bill CasperCan't Get It Out Of My Head- Rubber UniverseDaybreaker- Andy BrownOh No Not Susan- The BagweedsShowdown- Matthew GoughNight In The City- PoorboyFrom The End Of The World- Jamie Amos ft. Shaz Pratt & Conrad ShieldsWhisper In The Night- Casey McCammonMr. Blue Sky- Scattered Light Orchestra
CDs are only $10 and proceeds will benefit the Birmingham Children's Hospital and George Harrison's Material World Foundation.  You can order one from the Scattered Light website.

Some scans from the Early Years UK DVD.  On the inside:

The info:

NTSC?  And a 5.1 surround option??  Wow.  And finally the promo sticker:

Another thing I noticed is on the Eagle Rock website.  It looks like they're making both UK and USA editions available to buy.  There are two listings with different barcodes.  Why, then, buy the USA edition with three less tracks if the UK edition is watchable everywhere?

It was just pointed out to me that USA buyers don't have a "Buy Now" option on the UK DVD on their site, but you can still buy one elsewhere.

and for the USA fans, a preview clip of Strange Magic is on Amazon's page.

More from the BBC coming next week in the form of download-only releases.  This time, it's The Move and seemingly only a UK-release at the moment.

This is the Pete Drummond Session (15 December 1971) with the track list:

• Ella James
• Words of Aaron
• Message From The Country

They're available starting 16 August 2010 from Amazon UK. Nothing showing yet on iTunes or anywhere else...

Hey, UK fans!  How's the DVD?

Rossif Sutherland has updated his MySpace page.  The Jeff Lynne-produced Waiting For The Train and In The Clouds are new to the site...

I'm leaning towards In The Clouds.  Excellent track.  Waiting For The Train is pretty straight-forward, would fit snuggly on Highway Companion.  Overall, Rossif's songwriting is really pretty good and both tracks are as tight as you'd expect from Jeff Lynne's studio.

So, now my guess is (along with These Words) we have all three of the tracks Jeff Lynne produced for Rossif Sutherland back in 2005.  Sadly, nobody's given the guy a record deal yet.  But I'm glad these songs aren't sitting around unheard.

Not sure which I like more, the surprise of having these made available to hear with no warning, or a press release with a three-month wait.  Either way, the wait for a new disc from the big guy just got a bit more bearable.

The first review of Electric Light Orchestra Live - The Early Years DVD comes from the UK's Record Collector magazine.  In short:

Truthfully, there are few signs that ELO are on the verge of becoming one of the biggestselling acts in the world, though Evil Woman confidently stakes its claim as one of the most accomplished pop singles of the decade. Something for everyone, then, but especially followers who prefer their musical adventure without any intergalactic window dressing.
Read the rest of the three star review here.

The DVD is out 9 August in the UK, August 24 for the USA.

(Hat tip: Euan)

Ringo Starr celebrated his 70th Birthday with a concert at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.  He finished off With A Little Help From My Friends with help from some friends we recognize.



Steve Marinucci's Examiner blog has more on the big bash and the rather amazing guest list.  Even more here.  Happy Birthday, Ringo...

Eagle Rock Entertainment will issue the USA edition of Electric Light Orchestra Live - The Early Years on August 24.  Eagle Rock's website description is showing some notable exclusions (naturally) from the European version.

Brunel University 1973: 
1) King Of The Universe
2) Ma-Ma-Ma Belle
3) In The Hall Of The Mountain King
4) Great Balls Of Fire

Germany 1974 - Rockpalast: 
1) Daybreaker
2) Showdown
3) Orange Blossom Special
4) Ma-Ma-Ma Belle
5) In The Hall Of The Mountain King
6) Great Balls Of Fire
(This section omits Daytripper and Roll Over Beethoven)

London 1976 - Fusion:
1) Poker
2) Nightrider
3) Showdown
4) Eldorado Overture
5) Can’t Get It Out Of My Head
6) Poor Boy (The Greenwood)
7) Illusions In G Major
8) Strange Magic
9) 10538 Overture
10) Do Ya
11) Evil Woman
12) Ma-Ma-Ma Belle(This section omits Roll Over Beethoven)

Bonus Feature: 
Rockpalast interview

A few Idle Race 'live' tracks from the BBC have surfaced recently and are available for download on Amazon and iTunes pretty much worldwide including USA, UK, and Japan...

First up, The David Symonds Show from 7 January 1969.  The tracks:

• Days of the Broken Arrows
• Worn Red Carpet

And secondly, Symonds On Sunday from 16 Spetember 1969.  The tracks:

• Someone Knocking
• Come With Me
• Please No More Sad Songs

They have been available since the 7 June 2010 and cost the standard price of a single download per track, cheaper if you buy the full 'album'...

Amazon USA links:
The David Symonds Show, 7 January 1969
Symonds on Sunday, 16, Spetember 1969

The buzz about what may be on the horizon just got a lot louder in the past few days.  It started with this, an article by Adam Sherwin in a UK-based media-oriented news website, followed by this video sent to Nicolas at ELO Discovery. Apparently, Neil Hannon blurted out during a gig that an ELO album (not a Jeff Lynne solo album) is coming out soon... and then he was abruptly shushed.

Here's my unsolicited take on it and take from it what you will:  Of course, only Jeff knows what's happening and over years, we've learned that he announces nothing until it's totally set in stone.  For the record, I'm not totally convinced it'll be a new ELO album.  And this is just an opinion, but frankly I don't think it should be. (The remakes collection, of which I'm just assuming there is one, could be a different story.)
Why?  Take what happened 10 years ago.  The timing seemed to be right, Jeff had the sheer joy of playing with a new Pro-Tools suite in his house and came up a nice collection of new tunes.  Nostalgia for other bands of ELO's genre seemed quite high.  Then came the box set, which seemed to usher in the classic stuff again fairly well.  Then, the new album was released with some fanfare.  And because it was labeled as Electric Light Orchestra, the critics (and indeed some fans) automatically approached it with raised expectations.  The result: the critics shrugged their shoulders and the album sadly went nowhere fast.
Oh, and the tour.  Take, for instance, the tour stop closest to where I am, the First Union (now Wachovia) Center in Philadelphia, a 20,000 seat arena.  Look, I love ELO, I grew up listening to them, I'd be ecstatic to think they can pull it off.  But, even I knew there was no way a band who hadn't had a hit single in 15 years would fill a 20,000 seat arena as the headlining act.  No way.  As it turned out, the tour was called off before it even launched, clearly because ticket sales barely made a sound.  And $80 tickets didn't help.
I think it might be good to try a different approach. Let the guy take a crack at a solo career again; you can still drive home the point that this was the guy who brought us ELO.  But try to gear it away from the classic rock genre.  There is a huge case to be made for approaching non-commercial radio stations (ie WXPN, World Cafe-carrying stations, etc) for promoting and spreading the word about the album, not to mention using Facebook and MySpace.  Treat it as a new beginning for Jeff instead of resurrecting the past again.  Regina Spektor's Folding Chair (produced by Jeff Lynne) got steady airplay on these stations (at least here in Philly) and the track fit perfectly in their playlist.  A Jeff Lynne solo record, I think, would accomplish that before an  ELO record would.  It's too difficult to sell a new ELO track to a classic rock station.  People who listen to classic rock, want only classic rock.  Is Tom Petty's new record getting heavy airplay on classic rock stations?  I really don't know that answer, but XPN played at least 2 different songs in a 3 hour span just today... and it's their featured album of the week, so it will get way more airplay than any classic rock station.  I'd bet the house on it.  Flat out forget Top 40.
And for the love of God, if there's going to be a tour of any kind, try to sell out smaller venues first before attempting huge arenas that only Lady Gaga, Coldplay and Beyonce can sell these days.  I thought that was a no-brainer.
I want any new record of Jeff's to succeed.  But calling a new album ELO and slapping a spaceship on it didn't work very well a decade ago.  Even though we've seen ELO songs get great exposure in high-profile commercials in recent years, I don't see any evidence that same strategy of 10 years ago will work now.

Blogger.com just offered us some expanded designs for our blogs.  After some tinkering, I'm thinking of giving this design a try.  What do you think?