Birthdays and annual holidays are great, but this year, it’s all about anniversaries at The Orchard, and here’s another one to tout: Jeff Lynne, the English Rock icon who has worked with the likes of The Beatles, Bob Dylan and Tom Petty, celebrates the 40th anniversary of Electric Light Orchestra this year, and to mark the event, he will be making a special appearance at The Grammy Museum in downtown Los Angeles tomorrow night.
What’s on the agenda?
Well, since you ask, the sold out event will include a screening of “Reel to Reel: Mr. Blue Sky: The Story of Jeff Lynne and ELO,” followed by a discussion about the film moderated by Vice President of the GRAMMY Foundation and MusiCares, Scott Goldman. This is all in anticipation of the release of not one, but TWO albums: Long Wave and Mr. Blue Sky – The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra, both out October 9 on Frontiers Records.
Celebrating his lifelong passion for music, Jeff Lynne composed Long Wave, a heartfelt and vivid tribute to some of the very songs that originally inspired him, somehow making pre-Rock standards his own in the meantime. Titles in this testament to music include “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered,” “Smile” and “Love Is A Many Splendored Many Thing” along with a few of his (and undoubtedly many others’!) favorite gems from the Sixties.
On the other hand, Mr. Blue Sky – The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra is a representation of Jeff Lynne, the legend, and his influence on our world. A blend of the past and present, Mr. Blue Sky – The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra represents a chance to hear classic ELO songs with an incredibly fresh sound. Do you remember “Evil Woman,” “Don’t Bring Me Down,” “Livin’ Thing” and “Mr. Blue Sky?” Whether your answer is yes or no, this is your chance to get to know them again!
If one anniversary and two albums isn’t enough, 2013 will also see celebratory releases of Jeff Lynne’s legacy with ELO Live! and expanded reissues of ELO’s 2001 album Zoom and Lynne’s first solo album in 1990, Armchair Theater.
The stuff of giants! We’re proud to be working with legends like Jeff Lynne.
