Xanadu [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]

by Electric Light Orchestra, Olivia Newton-John

Overview

Hollywood never learns. Hot on the heels of box-office failures Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and Can't Stop the Music, comes the roller-skating Olivia Newton John in Xanadu. This soundtrack is fluff stuff to be sure, but some pearls float amongst the mire. Lead-off "Magic" remains a fine single. "Suddenly," a duet ONJ ekes out with British luminary Cliff Richard, seems better than most love themes. The sudden appearance of the Tubes almost saves the doomed swing/rock hybrid "Dancin," but the two styles should never meet. The second half glows from the Electric Light Orchestra, soaring at its commercial height, escaping this crippling fairy tale fairly untarnished with three more hit bits: "I'm Alive," "All Over the World," and the Olivia Neutron Bomb showcase title track. "Don't Walk Away" and "The Fall" stand as two of Jeff Lynne's finest, thus the flip nukes the front which should stay stuck to the theater floor. Listening to this soundtrack may beat watching the actual film, but know that if you didn't dig Xanadu when it came out, the platter gains nothing through time. ~ Doug Stone

Product Details

Release Date:	09/08/1998
Label:	Mca
UPC:	0008811185725
Rank:	27019

Tracks

1. Magic
2. Suddenly
3. Dancin' Round and Round
4. Suspended in Time
5. Whenever You're Away from Me
6. I'm Alive
7. The Fall
8. Don't Walk Away
9. All Over the World
10. Xanadu

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Electric Light Orchestra   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Olivia Newton-John   Primary Artist,Vocals,Lead Vocals,Vocal Group
Cliff Richard   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Gene Kelly   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
The Tubes   Primary Artist
Richard Hewson   Conductor,String Conductor
Louis Clark   Strings
David McDaniels   Bass
Roger Steen   Guitar
Lou Halmy   Whistle (Human)
Xanadu Big Band   Band
Jai Winding   Piano (Electric)
Fee Waybill   Vocals,Lead Vocals
David Hungate   Bass
John Farrar   Guitar,Vocals,Synthesizer,Vocal Group
Jeff Lynne   Guitar,Vocals,Keyboards,Lead Vocals,Synthesizer,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Bill Spooner   Guitar
Michael Cotten   Synthesizer
Michael Boddicker   Vocoder
Kelly Groucutt   Bass,Percussion,Guitar (Bass),Vocals (Background)
Bev Bevan   Drums,Vocals,Timpani,Percussion
Carlos Vega   Drums
Ed Greene   Drums
Richard Tandy   Piano,Keyboards,Synthesizer

Technical Credits

Jeffrey Mayer   Photography
Richard Hewson   Arranger,String Arrangements
Mike Fink   Reissue Design
Chris Platel   Assistant Coordinator
George Osaki   Art Direction
Jonathan Exley   Photography
Reinhold Mack   Engineer
Bernie Grundman   Mastering
Barry De Vorzon   Composer
Cliff Richard   Duet,Performer
Electric Light Orchestra   Performer
David J. Holman   Mixing,Engineer
John Farrar   Composer,Lyricist,Producer
Jeff Lynne   Composer,Lyricist,Producer
Roger Davies   Coordination
Olivia Newton-John   Performer
Darol Anger   Composer
Gene Kelly   Duet,Performer
The Tubes   Duet,Performer