Beatles Forever

Unreleased song by Electric Light Orchestra

"Beatles Forever"

Song by Electric Light Orchestra
Released| Unreleased
Recorded| 1982, Wisseloord Studios, Hilversum, the Netherlands
Genre| Rock
Length| 4:28
Label| Jet Records
Songwriter(s)| Jeff Lynne
Producer(s)| Jeff Lynne

"Beatles Forever" is an unreleased song by Electric Light Orchestra in 1983, written by Jeff Lynne and intended for the album Secret Messages.[1] Initially, it was to be the seventh track of the double album configuration, featured on side two of the LP.[2] When the album was shortened to a single LP by CBS Records, eight of the eighteen total tracks were removed, including "Beatles Forever."

The other seven tracks have since had official releases on various albums and remasters in some form prior to the 2018 double album release. Though this reissue of the parent album was meant to follow the original 1983 intended configuration, "Beatles Forever" was again excluded, making it the only track from the original album not to appear later as an official bonus track or part of a compilation.[1][3]

## Recording and composition

[edit]

Recorded in February, 1982, "Beatles Forever" was one of the first songs recorded for Secret Messages. The band was in the middle of the Dutch portion of the Time Tour when they visited Wisseloord Studios to record a few new songs— something that Lynne would later refer to as a "flying visit."[4] Along with the songs "Train of Gold", "No Way Out" and "Motor Factory" (early version of "Rock 'n' Roll Is King") that were all started during that same session, "Beatles Forever" is known as one of the four tracks bassist Kelly Groucutt performed on the album.

The track is a Beatles tribute song, with lyrics that express high admiration for the band and their songs.[5] Throughout the chorus, various Beatles' song titles are sung and quoted,[5] with some including their corresponding motifs played on either Lynne's guitar or Richard Tandy's synthesizers. The song is in C major and has a main tempo of roughly 77 beats-per-minute while the second half of the chorus has a faster 152 bpm. Along with drummer Bev Bevan's playing and common on the parent album, the drum machine Oberheim DMX is featured, providing additional percussion elements, though it is unclear whether Lynne or Tandy specifically contributed this. Lynne, Groucutt and touring musician Dave Morgan provided backing vocals on the pre-chorus and chorus; Morgan later recalled in an interview that he was mimicking the vocals of John Lennon.[6] No orchestral strings are featured on the song. At the end of the track, the sounds of a cheering audience are heard as the chorus fades out.

Parts of the chorus and chord progression would later appear in the Jeff Lynne song "Video!" from the soundtrack to the film Electric Dreams in 1984.[5]

## Legacy

[edit]

As of 2025[update], "Beatles Forever" remains unreleased officially. Acetates of the original 1983 double LP configuration that include the song do exist and have appeared on eBay on several occasions.[7] Bootlegs of the song have circulated online, with one of them being a low-quality recording of the song being played at an ELO fan convention in 2001.[8] Despite its unreleased status, the song has been covered by others on YouTube. In mid-to-late 2020, the song was leaked in significantly higher quality twice, once in July and once in September with a fanmade music video. Both leaks claim to be a recording of the acetates.[citation needed]

Jeff Lynne has since labelled the song as one he is not fond of. In a 2001 interview with Rockline, he stated:

> "It's 'cause it's so fawning, y'know. It's so over the top, y'know. Um... maybe one day it'll come out. I'd like to sort of redo it or something."[9]

Although not released on any official medium, a small snippet of the song's intro can be heard on the final fade-out of the 2018 double LP version of "No Way Out" via print-through, if the volume is turned up.[10]

## Personnel

[edit]

* Jeff Lynne – vocals, guitar, Oberheim DMX
* Bev Bevan – drums, percussion
* Richard Tandy – synthesizer, harmonica, Oberheim DMX
* Kelly Groucutt – bass guitar, backing vocals
* Dave Morgan – backing vocals

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Electric Light Orchestra – Beatles Forever (24 January 2008). "Music Reviews - Electric Light Orchestra – Beatles Forever". Thelogbook.com. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
2. ^ Caiger, Rob (June 2001). "SECRET MESSAGES". Face the Music. Archived from the original on 7 November 2015.
3. ^ "Jeff Lynne revisits hs roots with ELO, classic covers efforts". Goldmine. 24 June 2013.
4. ^ Secret Messages 2001 remaster liner notes.
5. ^ a b c "Electric Light Orchestra – Beatles Forever". thelogbook.com. 24 January 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
6. ^ "Dave Morgan Interview". Welcome to The ELO Network. 4 March 1999. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
7. ^ Sinclair, Keith J. "In Pictures: Secret Messages 2LP Acetates". Retrieved 30 January 2020.
8. ^ ELO - Beatles Forever (unreleased), 21 January 2009, archived from the original on 15 December 2021, retrieved 30 January 2020
9. ^ "Jeff Lynne Song Database - Song Details". www.jefflynnesongs.com. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
10. ^ No Way Out, 2 August 2018, archived from the original on 15 December 2021, retrieved 30 January 2020

* v
* t
* e

Electric Light Orchestra

* Jeff Lynne

* Bev Bevan
* Roy Wood
* Richard Tandy
* Mike Edwards
* Wilfred Gibson
* Hugh McDowell
* Mike de Albuquerque
* Colin Walker
* Mik Kaminski
* Kelly Groucutt
* Melvyn Gale

Studio albums|

* The Electric Light Orchestra (No Answer)
* ELO 2 (Electric Light Orchestra II)
* On the Third Day
* Eldorado
* Face the Music
* A New World Record
* Out of the Blue
* Discovery
* Time
* Secret Messages
* Balance of Power
* Zoom
* Alone in the Universe
* From Out of Nowhere

Live albums|

* The Night the Light Went On in Long Beach
* Live at Wembley '78
* Live at Winterland '76
* The BBC Sessions
* Live at the BBC
* Electric Light Orchestra Live
* Wembley or Bust

Soundtracks|

* Xanadu

Compilations|

* Showdown
* Olé ELO
* The Light Shines On
* Three Light Years
* The Light Shines On Vol 2
* ELO's Greatest Hits
* A Box of Their Best
* Four Light Years
* Afterglow
* ELO's Greatest Hits Vol. 2
* The Very Best of the Electric Light Orchestra
* Strange Magic
* Light Years
* Definitive Collection
* Friends & Relatives
* Flashback
* The Ultimate Collection
* The Essential Electric Light Orchestra
* All Over the World
* Ticket to the Moon
* The Essential Electric Light Orchestra (2 CD Edition)
* Mr. Blue Sky

Singles|

* "10538 Overture"
* "Mr. Radio" (withdrawn)
* "Roll Over Beethoven"
* "Showdown"
* "Ma-Ma-Ma Belle"
* "Can't Get It Out of My Head" / "Illusions in G Major"
* "Boy Blue" / "Eldorado"
* "Evil Woman"
* "Strange Magic"
* "Nightrider"
* "Strange Magic"
* "Livin' Thing" / "Fire On High"
* "Rockaria!"
* "Do Ya"
* "Telephone Line" / "Poor Boy (The Greenwood)"
* "Turn to Stone" / "Mister Kingdom"
* "Mr. Blue Sky" / "One Summer Dream"
* "Sweet Talkin' Woman"
* "Wild West Hero"
* "It's Over"
* "Shine a Little Love"
* "The Diary of Horace Wimp"
* "Don't Bring Me Down"
* "Confusion"
* "Last Train to London"
* "I'm Alive"
* "Xanadu" (with Olivia Newton-John)
* "All Over the World"
* "Don't Walk Away"
* "Hold On Tight"
* "Twilight"
* "Here Is the News" / "Ticket to the Moon"
* "Rain Is Falling"
* "The Way Life's Meant to Be"
* "Rock 'n' Roll Is King"
* "Secret Messages"
* "Four Little Diamonds"
* "Stranger"
* "Calling America"
* "So Serious"
* "Getting to the Point"

Videography|

* Out of the Blue: Live at Wembley (1980)
* Fusion – Live in London (1990)
* Zoom Tour Live (2001)
* ELO – Total Rock Review (2006)
* Live: The Early Years (2010)
* Jeff Lynne's ELO: Live in Hyde Park (2015)
* Wembley or Bust (2017)

Tours|

* Jeff Lynne's ELO Tour 2019
* The Over and Out Tour (2024–25)

Touring members|

* Louis Clark
* Dave Morgan
* Gregg Bissonette
* Matt Bissonette
* Marc Mann
* Rosie Vela

Related articles|

* Discography
* Members
* Song list
* The Move
* Wizzard
* ELO Part II
* The Orchestra
* Violinski
* Earthrise
* L.E.O.
* Juliana Hatfield Sings ELO

* Category

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