Electric Light Orchestra & Olivia Newton-John - Xanadu (From The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (Remastered) (1980/1998)

Xanadu[Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] Review by Doug Stone
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.

Tracklist
01. Magic[0:04:29.42] performed by Olivia Newton-John
02. Suddenly[0:04:00.33] performed by Olivia Newton-John feat. Cliff Richard
03. Dancin'[0:05:15.52] performed by Olivia Newton-John feat. The Tubes
04. Suspended in Time[0:03:54.03] performed by Olivia Newton-John
05. Whenever You're Away From Me[0:04:21.37] performed by Olivia Newton-John feat. Gene Kelly
06. I'm Alive[0:03:45.18] performed by Electric Light Orchestra
07. The Fall[0:03:33.55] performed by Electric Light Orchestra
08. Don't Walk Away[0:04:47.02] performed by Electric Light Orchestra
09. All Over the World[0:04:02.25] performed by Electric Light Orchestra
10. Xanadu[0:03:28.18] performed by Electric Light Orchestra & Olivia Newton-John