Xanadu [Soundtrack]

E.L.O., Olivia Newton-John, Cliff Richard | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 8, 1998)
• Original Release Date: August 8, 1980
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: MCA
• ASIN: B00000AG8R
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (142 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,809 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #41 in Music > Broadway & Vocalists > Musicals > General
  • #60 in Music > Rock > Progressive > Progressive Rock
  • #86 in Music > Pop > Soft Rock

Editorial Reviews

We've been selling this on Aussie import for years, but now it's available domestically for a heckuva lot less! Includes hits from ELO ( Xanadu; All over the World; I'm Alive ) and from Olivia Newton-John ( Magic; Suddenly ) plus original artwork, lyrics and photos.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

91 of 98 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Superb Mix of Genres, Voices and Styles April 29, 2002

By Jose R. Perez

Format:Audio CD

The film "Xanadu" received what I consider the best movie review of all time on its release in 1980: a single sentence that read... "In a word, Xana-don't"!

To be sure, this campy roller-dancehall fairy tale still has its enthusiasts and remains a guilty pleasure for some. In the end, the film was a catastrophe but remains in the Hollywood Babylon pantheon of nostalgia and cult classics for three reasons. First, it ended up being Gene Kelly's swan song from a 4 decade career in film as in the movie, he dances to a charming time-warping tune with a soft-shoeing Olivia Newton-John (his last on screen partner.) Second, ONJ met her future husband Matt Lattanzi on the film set, and the tabloids feasted on their decade-plus age difference while rumors of Matt (and Olivia's) sexual orientation percolated under the surface during the hateful "outing" campaigns of the early 80s.

Perhaps the most lasting legacy of the film, however, rests in this soundtrack - a uniformly strong collection of tracks from the former girl-next-door-gone-bad Olivia and the legendary Electric Light Orchestra, a fusion rock band of operatic depth (alongside the Moody Blues, Yes and Queen - ELO ranks as rock-opera royalty.) Thrown in for fun and easy digestion are guests like Kelly ("Whenever I'm Away from You") Sir Cliff Richard (the sweet easy listening classic "Suddenly" - a top 20 hit with Olivia) and the punkish sound of the Tubes ("Dancin'" - a pop-punk confection with an irresistible hook that gets lost when viewing the unwatchable scene on film or video.) Far superior to that other camp cult classic - "Can't Stop the Music" - Xanadu, the soundtrack, accomplishes a romantic, sweeping vision that the film could only struggle with. ELO's contributions are terrific - essential ELO songs in my opinion, from "All Over the World" and "I'm Alive" to the title song performed with Olivia (a gold selling, top 5 treat.) Stronger still is Newton-John, who comes into her own here in a passionate, forthcoming way. The astounding #1 track "Magic" remains one of the singer's shining moments, and Livvy takes unexpected risks in her delivery, at once gutsy and shy and always singing from the heart. Her "Xanadu" is pitch perfect, and "Suddenly" is every adult contemporary artist's dream song...a lilting ballad of fresh love and hopeful romanticism.

Simply said, say "Xana-don't" to "Xanadu" the movie. But say YES to its accompanying soundtrack, and you'll be singing your heart out before you know it. A true, indelible treat!

41 of 43 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Perfect Sountrack That Should Have Been A Disaster July 26, 2003

By guillermoj

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

When you consider that the music on this CD comes from the cheesy (guilty pleasure for some) 1980 musical "Xanadu", starring Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly, you'd assume that it's soundtrack would not have a chance; however this is soundtrack simply astounds as each song is simply amazing.

It features 10 tracks, including some of E.L.O.'s strongest songs ("I'm Alive, "All Over The World", among others), Olivia Newton John's #1 smash "Magic", a gorgeous duet by Newton John and Cliff Richard ("Suddenly") as well as the E.L.O penned "Xanadu" sung by Newton John. It also has a duet between Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly that would seem iffy at best on paper, but it also works.

I can't say enough about this release, which was unavailable in the U.S until a few years ago. It may be in my top 10 soundtracks ever. Enjoy the magic!!!! When I compare this CD to a lot of the junk that is put out there by way of soundtracks, it's amazing that a pre-marketing package can wipe the floor with all the focus group cross-marketing efforts that are now a material part of the music business.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A PLACE WHERE NOBODY DARES TO GO (but should!) July 6, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Audio CD

Hi. My name is Anxiety and I'm a Xanadu-aholic. It's taken me a long time to admit this to the world, but I think it's time. Do you think it's easy to have a reputation of listening to "cool" stuff like Gary Numan, Saint Etienne and Stereolab, all the while you're wishing you were holed up at home listening to Olivia Newton John and Gene Kelley?

I'm going to say it: I LOVE THIS ALBUM. EVERY NOTE OF IT. It's impossible for me not to harmonize with Livvy and the gals when the Andrew Sisters-esque part of "Dancin'" spins around. I've TRIED not to sing along. I CAN'T CONTROL MYSELF. Only recently have I curbed my desire to dance the jitterbug whenever it comes on my stereo!

Meanwhile, ELO's "I'm Alive" is soooooo GLAMOUROOSE that I'd rather jump off a cliff than keep myself from tying my hair in a topknot, slapping on the legwarmers, and skating up and down the street with a lusty smile on my face.

For those who worship the seminal, perhaps divinely touched slab of genius known as the soundtrack of "XANADU"....I salute you!

May the muse be with you.