Tag: Jeff Lynne

Olivia Newton-John & Electric Light Orchestra – Xanadu (Europe 12″) (1980)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

Today’s Pride Month feature transports us straight to a fantasy realm of disco lights, roller skates, and synth-drenched euphoria—“Xanadu” by Olivia Newton-John & Electric Light Orchestra, the unforgettable title track from the 1980 cult musical film Xanadu.

I’m spotlighting the European 12” single, which includes the album version of “Xanadu” backed with “Fool Country,” a track featured in the film but not included on the official soundtrack. As a special treat, I’ve also added a bonus remix: the “Re-Glittered Mix” by Steve Anderson of DMC fame—a Pride-ready version that’s pure sparkle and spectacle.

🪩 Chart Success
“Xanadu” became a massive international hit. In the UK, it soared to #1 on the Singles Chart—making it ELO’s only UK #1 hit. In the U.S., it peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100, earning both Olivia and ELO another top 10 pop smash. The song’s jubilant fusion of Jeff Lynne’s symphonic rock production with Olivia’s airy, crystalline vocals captured the hearts of both disco and pop fans alike.

🎶 Soundtrack Anniversary
Here’s something special: the Xanadu soundtrack turns 45 years old today! Released in the U.S. June 1980, the album has become a cult classic—featuring side A by Olivia Newton-John and side B by ELO. While the film itself polarized critics, the music became a beloved part of pop culture, especially within LGBTQ+ communities who embraced its theatricality, glam, and fantasy.

🌈 A Legendary Mardi Gras Performance
Another magical Pride moment: In 2008, Olivia performed “Xanadu” live at Sydney’s Mardi Gras, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the event. Wearing a dazzling disco sequin kimono, she took the stage at 4AM at the Royal Hall Of Industries before a crowd of over 18,000 fans—serving vocals, glam, and sheer joy. The remix she performed to? Yes, the very same Steve Anderson Re-Glittered Mix included here. The audience, as you’d expect, went wild.

Why “Xanadu” for Pride Month?
Because it’s joyful. It’s camp. It’s fantasy. And it’s a radiant reminder that escapism, glamour, and individuality are powerful tools of self-expression. Olivia Newton-John has always been a beloved icon in the LGBTQ+ community, and Xanadu is one of the glittering jewels in her crown.

This track is an open invitation to dream—to step out of the gray and into the neon. And during Pride, what could be more fitting?

🎶 “Now that I’m here, now that you’re near… in Xanadu.” 🎶

SIDE A:
Olivia Newton-John & Electric Light Orchestra –  Xanadu 3:30
Producer – Jeff Lynne
Written-By – Lynne*

SIDE B:
Olivia Newton-John –  Fool Country 2:28
Producer – John Farrar
Written-By – Farrar*

BONUS REMIX:
Olivia Newton-John & Electric Light Orchestra –  Xanadu (Re-Glittered Mix) 10:30
Remix – Steve Anderson And His Merry Mirrorball Men*

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1980 Xanadu U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #8
1980 Xanadu U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary #2

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Jet Records – JET 12.185, Jet Records – 12.185
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo
Country: Europe
Released: 1980
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop, Disco

NOTES:
Made in Holland

Side A Taken from the soundtrack album “Xanadu”

Bonus Remix taken from DMC Hit Mixes 195

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for burningtheground.net

THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus:  Ortofon Concorde Music Black
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro Spin Acrylic Mat
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Jec Tube Box DS2
Tubes: Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 ECC83/B759 Gold Pins Vacuum Tube – Matched Pair
DAC: Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner

SOFTWARE:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 25 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

**24bit FLAC Only Available For Seven Days!


Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by donating using PayPal. I appreciate your help.


George Harrison – Got My Mind Set On You (Extended Version) (Europe 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1987

“Got My Mind Set on You” (also written as “(Got My Mind) Set on You”) is a song written and composed by Rudy Clark and originally recorded by James Ray in 1962.

In 1987, George Harrison released a cover version of the song on his album Cloud Nine, which he had recorded on his Dark Horse Records label.

The first time Harrison heard the song was during a visit to his sister in the United States in 1963–five months before the Beatles first appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show. His sister lived in the countryside of Illinois. While there, Harrison visited record shops and bought a variety of albums. One was James Ray’s 1962 album that contained the song “I’ve Got My Mind Set on You.” In January 1987, Harrison began recording the song at his Friar Park home studio, with Jeff Lynne (ELO) producing and playing bass and keyboards, Jim Keltner on drums, Jim Horn on sax, and Ray Cooper on percussion.

Of Harrison’s three number-one singles in the US, it was the only song not written or composed by Harrison himself. Not only was it the last US No. 1 hit by Harrison, but, as of 2022, his last top 10 hit in the US. When the song hit No. 1, it broke a three-way tie between Harrison, John Lennon, and Ringo Starr, all of whom had two No. 1 hit singles as solo artists (discounting Paul McCartney’s work with Wings). It also happened to be the No. 1 single in the US the week immediately preceding the induction of the Beatles into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, making Harrison one of the few inductees to have an active single on the US record charts at the time of induction. Billboard ranked the song as No. 3 for 1988.

The single’s B-side is “Lay His Head”, a remixed version of the unreleased song from Harrison’s originally intended Somewhere in England album. The 12-inch version of the single also adds an extended version of “Got My Mind Set on You”.

In the UK, the single spent four weeks at number two. It was kept off the number 1 spot by T’Pau’s “China in Your Hand” becoming the 5th best selling single of 1987.

SIDE A:
Got My Mind Set On You (Extended Version) 5:19
Engineer –  Bill Bottrell
Producer – Jeff Lynne
Written-By –Rudy Clark

SIDE B:
Got My Mind Set On You (Single Version) 3:51
Producer – Jeff Lynne
Written-By –Rudy Clark

Lay His Head 3:51
Producer – Ray Cooper
Written-By – George Harrison

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1987 Got My Mind Set On You U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #1
1987 Got My Mind Set On You U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks #1
1987 Got My Mind Set On You U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary #4

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Dark Horse Records – 920 802-0
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Maxi-Single
Country: Europe
Released: 1987
Genre: Rock
Style: Pop Rock

CREDITS:

NOTES:
Manufactured in Germany by Record Service GmbH. Alsdorf.

From the LP “CLOUD NINE”

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus:  Ortofon 2M Black PnP MkII
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro Spin Acrylic Mat
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Jec Tube Box DS2
Tubes: Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 ECC83/B759 Gold Pins Vacuum Tube – Matched Pair
DAC: Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner

SOFTWARE:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

**24bit FLAC Only Available For Seven Days!


Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by making a donation using PayPal. Thank you for your help.