- Beatles Forever
Infobox Song
Name = Beatles Forever
Artist =Electric Light Orchestra
Released = Never
track_no =
Recorded = 1982-83 Wisselord Studios, Hilversum, Holland
Genre = Rock
Length = 4:26
Writer =Jeff Lynne
Label =Jet Records
Producer =Jeff Lynne |"Beatles Forever" is a song recorded by the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) in 1983, intended for the album "Secret Messages ". When the album was cut from a planned two-disc set to a single LP, "Beatles Forever" was abandoned — and somwhat abruptly, given that it had previously been cited as the likely lead-off single from the intended double LP. It currently remains the only "lost" track from the original "Secret Messages" album not to appear later as an official bonus track or part of a compilation. However, the chorus part of "Beatles Forever" was used byJeff Lynne on his "Video! " solo single.Acetates of "Secret Messages" are known to exist in the format of the originally-intended double album. At an ELO Fan Club Convention, "Beatles Forever" was played as a treat for fans under strict conditions concerning the presence of recording equipment. These conditions were evidently not strict enough, and a recording was made (somewhat ironically) using a portable video camera. This
bootleg recording was subsequently made available as anMP3 download, with predictably low sound quality given the source, format, and date of the recording.The track seems unlikely now to ever be given an official release, with plenty of speculation as to the reasons why. One likely explanation centers around some of Lynne's later involvements as a producer, first with
George Harrison and then with subsequently-releasedBeatles material; Lynne, now having had the opportunity to work closely with the subjects of the song (The Beatles and its members), may have later felt somewhat embarrassed by the track. Unfortunately for fans, "Beatles Forever" seems destined to remain in the vaults forever...Having said that, this is the latest from the official ELO mailing list:
"Nothing can be released without Jeff Lynne's approval but there currently is a proposal for a 2-CD Deluxe Collectors Edition of "Secret Messages" which includes the original unreleased 2-LP version (including "Beatles Forever"), the released 1-LP version and more. As with all the Legacy 1st edition remasters from 2001 ("Eldorado", "Discovery", "Time", "Secret Messages") there are full proposals in with SonyBMG for upgraded 2-CD Deluxe Collectors Editions. I'll let you all know how that goes..."
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
