Xanadu

• Artist: Original Soundtrack
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1980 07
• Type: Soundtrack, Lyrics are included with the album
• Genre: Soundtrack

Review

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, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Magic	John Farrar	Electric Light Orchestra, Olivia Newton-John	(4:31)
Suddenly	John Farrar	Electric Light Orchestra, Olivia Newton-John	(4:02)
Dancin' Round and Round	John Farrar	Electric Light Orchestra, Olivia Newton-John, The Tubes	(5:17)
Suspended in Time	John Farrar	Electric Light Orchestra, Olivia Newton-John	(3:55)
Whenever You're Away from Me	John Farrar	Electric Light Orchestra, Olivia Newton-John	(4:22)
I'm Alive (Lyrics)	Jeff Lynne	Electric Light Orchestra	(3:46)
The Fall	Jeff Lynne	Electric Light Orchestra	(3:34)
Don't Walk Away (Lyrics)	Jeff Lynne	Electric Light Orchestra	(4:48)
All Over the World (Lyrics)	Jeff Lynne	Electric Light Orchestra	(4:04)
Xanadu (Lyrics)	Jeff Lynne	Electric Light Orchestra, Olivia Newton-John	(3:28)

Credits

Gene Kelly (Vocals), Gene Kelly (Performer), Electric Light Orchestra (Performer), Electric Light Orchestra (?), Jeff Lynne (Synthesizer), Jeff Lynne (Guitar (Acoustic)), Jeff Lynne (Guitar (Electric)), Jeff Lynne (Keyboards), Jeff Lynne (Vocals), Jeff Lynne (Vocals (Background)), Jeff Lynne (Producer), Olivia Newton-John (Vocals), Olivia Newton-John (Performer), Cliff Richard (Performer), The Tubes (Performer), Barry de Vorzon (Composer), Louis Clark (Strings), John Farrar (Synthesizer), John Farrar (Guitar), John Farrar (Vocals), John Farrar (Producer), Bill Spooner (Guitar), Bev Bevan (Percussion), Bev Bevan (Drums), Bev Bevan (Vocals), Bev Bevan (Tympani [Timpani]), Michael Boddicker (Vocoder), Michael Cotten (Synthesizer), Mike Fink (Reissue Design), Ed Greene (Drums), Kelly Groucutt (Bass), Kelly Groucutt (Percussion), Kelly Groucutt (Guitar (Bass)), Kelly Groucutt (Vocals (Background)), Richard Hewson (Arranger), Richard Hewson (Conductor), Richard Hewson (String Arrangements), David J. Holman (Engineer), David J. Holman (Mixing), David Hungate (Bass), Roger Steen (Guitar), Richard Tandy (Synthesizer), Richard Tandy (Piano), Richard Tandy (Keyboards), Carlos Vega (Drums), Jai Winding (Piano (Electric)), George Osaki (Art Direction)

Xanadu Rugs	Xanadu Rug Medallion