THE ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER

Issue #2

Phil Bates Naked!

Don't worry, ELO Part II's singer and lead guitar player did not pose for some dubious x-rated magazine!. "Naked" is just the title of his current solo album. This is to be released shortly by Don't Panic Productions. This brand new CD features his wife, Jo Bates, as well as Part II's one and only Mik Kaminski! A review can be found on these webpages as soon as we've got a copy of the album. Watch this space!

UNEXPECTED MESSAGES Released

Finally the waiting's over: UNEXPECTED MESSAGES, the ultimate book on The Electric Light Orchestra and all it's members, related groups and artists has been released.

Find out more about UNEXPECTED MESSAGES and how to order your copy!

Eric, Jim, Bonnie and Celine

A double surprise for all ELO fans: FREE SPIRIT, BONNIE TYLER'S current album, contains two tracks which could be of interest: The first one is a song called TIME MENDS A BROKEN HEART and was penned by Jeff Lynne and Kiki Dee. Jeff didn't produce it though - production credits go to Christopher Neil who obviously tried to imitate Lynne's production style but didn't really succeed. The second song in question is MAKING LOVE (OUT OF NOTHING AT ALL), which was released as the first single of the album last year (at least in Europe). This track features none other than ELO Part II's ERIC TROYER on background vocals. He was also responsible for the vocal arrangement of this track, as he told FTM Germany. The funny thing about this song is that Eric already sung on the original version by AIR SUPPLY in 1983, which was also produced by his friend JIM STEINMAN, who is credited with the production of BONNIE TYLER'S cover version.

Eric has not been idle at all: He also features on two other productions by a certain Mr. Steinman: Eric sings background vocals (what else would you have expected??) on IT’S ALL COMING BACK TO ME NOW und RIVER DEEP, MOUNTAIN HIGH - two songs by the Canadian singer CELINE DION. The first of these songs is the cover version of a Steinman classic originally recorded by his band PANDORA’S BOX in 1989. Celines version of this song, as well as the remake of that old Spector classic RIVER DEEP, MOUNTAIN HIGH, can be found on her latest best selling album FALLING INTO YOU.

Trevor and Richard On Tape

Trevor Burton und Richard Tandy have released a live tape of their concerts. It is called LIVE AT THE ADAM & EVE and was recorded just there (a pub in Bradford Street, Birmingham) in June 1995. The label/number is RTTB 1C (= Richard Tandy Trevor Burton 1st class). Richard has polished the recordings at his own studio at home, and the band are selling the tape at their gigs.

Band members featured on this tape are TREVOR BYRNE on bass, MAZ MITRENKO on guitar, JIM SIMPSON on drums and, of couse, RICHARD TANDY on piano and TREVOR BURTON on guitar and vocals.

So, what's on this tape? HIT THE ROAD AGAIN and CALL ME THE BREEZE, punchy blues mixed with rock 'n' roll, FULL MOON ON MAIN STREET, a moody ballad, LEAN ON ME, a mainly instrumental jam showcasing everyone's special talents and WEREWOLVES OF LONDON, the first side's closing number, a song with a great slide, reminiscent of "Sweet Home Alabama". Side two opens with RUNNIN' OUT OF TIME, a rather dramatic ballad with a basic arrangement that reminds one of "Purple Rain", followed by BUFFALO RIVER HOME, a country rocker, and SUGAR MAMA, pure blues (with some characteristic guitar riffs and lamenting vocals). DOES YOUR MOMMA LIKE TO REGGAE, the tape's closer, is definitely not a reggae song, but a blues with rhythmic patterns reminiscent of "Papa was a Rolling Stone".

All in all a good old rough 'n' ready live blues set.

last modified: 26.02.2000