Jeff Lynne Says Touring in Support of ‘Long Wave’ Album Is Not Likely

[METALPRIEST]

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Electric Light Orchestra singer Jeff Lynne has been busy over the past year, re-recording past favorites for the ‘Mr. Blue Sky’ album as well as taking on a number of older standards for the companion disc, ‘Long Wave.’ Despite the wealth of new music, it’s likely that Lynne will not be touring.

The singer tells L.A. Weekly, “I don’t actually like touring. I’m very grateful for all of the success. It was marvelous, but I had enough. I just want to be in the studio. When you’ve got all the gear you want in your own house, it’s difficult to go out and do something else, you know?”​

Lynne has definitely made the most of that home environment, revisiting a number of the band’s classic tracks for their 40th anniversary. The singer says that most of the re-recorded songs were done on his own and brought back a lot of great memories of when they were initially recorded. “I just love playing all the instruments and going back and thinking, ‘F—ing hell, I did all that,” says Lynne.

As for the ‘Long Wave’ collection, the set includes such old time favorites as Etta James’ ‘At Last’ and the Four Aces’ ‘Love Is a Many Splendored Thing,’ among others. Lynne says he had a hate/love relationship with the songs on the record, growing up not liking the music his father played, but accepting it over time. He explains, “I kind of hated it when I was a kid, but all these years later, I get all of this old stuff. Without being too slushy about it, I’ve never heard songwriting as good.”

‘Mr. Blue Sky – The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra’ and ‘Long Wave‘ are both in stores this week.

 

[LG]

I think "Fatso" is comfortable, and I wonder if the fact he would be playing smaller venues entered into his decision not to go on tour.

I think the main audience for any of his music is us MP, with a sprinkling of younger fans like Nolo so just releasing the album seems logical to me on that level.

Still undecided about the new album, I like the old classics the way they are. But I agree with him about old music his Dad listened to that he's fallen in love with, it's the same with me there are so many old standards that when I listen to them I feel like my Mom is sitting in the room with me, which is a good thing.