The only new song by Jeff Lynne in 2012, from Mr. Blue Sky: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra, bravo!
i can't stand it when someone decides to re-record their songs, and i think most fans feel the same.
when i hear this type of thing the first thing that pops into my head is that they obviously haven't got any new music.
if one of my most favourite bands did this i simply wouldn't even listen to a second of the new recordings.
songs are a product of their times. i don't want a song that may of sounded a little rough from the 70s, to now sound slick and overproduced in 2012.
i suppose the artists know they will sell at least a particular amount of the records to certain old fans, so they'll be able to pay the mortgage off.
i don't believe this type of thing encourages new people to become fans.