When you think about what music means in your life, isn’t it amazing to consider how essential it is in your emotional scrapbook? I grew up in the 70s and 80s; you can guarantee that whenever I witness a John Hughes movie on a screen, I’m going to pause and savor at least a minute or two immersed in his captivating audiovisual storytelling.
Exploring the On Demand offerings of my cable service, a particular listing caught my attention: “Jeff Lynne’s ELO: Wembley or Bust.” After watching it several times, I’m here to thank Mr. Lynne, his multiverse and all involved in this production – including director Paul Dugdale – for creating something so wonderful.
As a teenager, Electric Light Orchestra’s “Out of the Blue” double album was one of my first big purchases. My mother’s boyfriend possessed the premier sound system, and my first listen was at his apartment, studying the album’s mind-blowing artwork, scouring the liner notes, and discovering the masterpiece song-by-song, while reading the lyrics. I recall that the bandmembers’ photos where shown, and there weren’t too many of them. I was definitely intrigued with the idea of so few people making such opulent music.
The film is a marvel for so many reasons. It is absolutely a milestone achievement for a phenomenal artist… and yet, Jeff Lynne lives on, carrying this music onward and upward. Watching those in the crowd, I see my kindred spirits, so enraptured with each and every perfectly reproduced, harmonic note. We see and hear unadulterated greatness.
Check out this official link to reserve your seat for an unforgettable show: http://smarturl.it/WembleyOrBust. Oh, and there’s also this official YouTube Playlist I am happy to embed.
With cinematography by Bud Gallimore and Brett Turnbull, and sound by Tim Clark, the film’s credits also include producer Simon Fisher, executive producers Craig Fruin and Julie Jakobek, and post-production producer Suzie Swift, among many others. For more information on the illustrious Mr. Dugdale, visit https://dugdale.tv.
