Xanadu (Electric Light Orchestra and Olivia Newton-John song)

“Xanadu”
Single by Olivia Newton-John and Electric Light Orchestra from the album Xanadu
B-side	"Whenever You're Away From Me" [Olivia Newton-John, Gene Kelly] [U.S. version], "Fool Country" [Olivia Newton-John alone] [UK version]
Released	July 1980
Format	7"
Recorded	1980 Musicland Studios Munich
Genre	Pop rock, Disco
Length	3:28
Label	Jet Records
Writer(s)	Jeff Lynne
Producer	Jeff Lynne
Electric Light Orchestra singles chronology
"I'm Alive" (1980) "Xanadu" (1980) "All Over The World (1980)
Olivia Newton-John singles chronology
"Suspended In Time" (1980)	"Xanadu" (1980)	"Physical" (1981)

"Xanadu" is the title song from the album Xanadu, the soundtrack to the 1980 film of the same name.

Collaboration

The song is performed by the Electric Light Orchestra and Olivia Newton-John. Newton-John sings the primary vocals, with ELO adding "parenthetic" vocals in the style of their other songs on the "Xanadu" soundtrack, along with providing the instrumentation. A rare collaboration for ELO, the single reached no.1 in several countries and was the band's only UK #1 single when it peaked there for two weeks in July 1980. The song peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US.

New ELO version

In 2000, ELO's Jeff Lynne re-recorded the song with his own vocals for the box set Flashback and the All Over The World compilation. Although billed as ELO the song was recorded entirely by Lynne himself with no input from his former bandmates.

Cover versions

In early 1996, two Australian dance performers released versions of the song. Sydney singer Olivia Featuring Paula (on the MDS label) released a dance version first followed by Kirsty K. (on Central Station Records). Both versions charted on the ARIA Singles and Dance Charts in the first half on 1996.

The track was also covered by the Australian singer Dannii Minogue, and Xanadu was to be the seventh single from Minogue's album, Club Disco, but was cancelled due to filming commitments and forthcoming recording plans. The song is being performed as part of the 2007 Broadway musical Xanadu.

This is the only song beginning with the letter 'X' to ever chart on the Billboard Hot 100.

Charts

External links

• In-depth Song Analysis at the Jeff Lynne Song Database (jefflynnesongs.com)

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