They had a muse.

Please, people, don't even get me started on the Don Bluth animation scene. Its relevance was, what, again?

Curiously enough, for all the film's shortcomings the music itself made up for about ten times over. (And granted, the musical sequences in the film were superb - well filmed and well choreographed, perhaps an indication of the MTV generation about five years before it really erupted?) The album is split into two sides, giving equal credit to both artists whose music was primarily showcased here: Olivia Newton-John, and Electric Light Orchestra.

Olivia takes the helm for side one, with a collection of dreamy pop tunes and forties-inspired swingfests. 'Magic' hints at the more edgy adult market Olivia was aiming for on her past record 'Totally Hot' (and would properly infiltrate with the uber-hit 'Physical' the following year), whilst 'Suspended In Time' remains the best pop ballad in Olivia's catalogue. 'Suddenly' was a colour-by-numbers duet with Cliff Richard which, perhaps due to John Farrar's lyrics or the natural chemistry between Britain's Peter Pan of Pop and Australia's girl-next-door, is turned into a specialty. 'Whenever You're Away From Me' is a catchy duet between Olivia and Gene Kelly paying homage to the swinging sounds of the forties, whilst 'Dancin'' sees Olivia and eighties rockers The Tubes go head-to-head in a Big Bang versus Synth-Rock sing off. The end result sees the two songs being sung over the top of each other ... and it works frighteningly well.

On the flipside of things, Electric Light Orchestra lend their chops to five songs which are equally as appealing as Ms Newton-John's contributions. Although Jeff Lynne shies away from the 'Xanadu' project now (sour grapes, mister?) the songs remain as strong as they were in 1980. 'I'm Alive' is a little lyrically blase, but its shimmering optimism amongst the synthesised bleeps and bloops makes it one of Lynne's best recordings. 'The Fall' is perhaps slightly darker than the rest of the songs on the soundtrack, an ode to lost love with a synthesised heartbeat, characteristically Jeff Lynne 'telephone line' vocals, and a booming chorus. 'Don't Walk Away' is the perfect pop ballad to compliment Olivia's 'Suspended In Time' on side A (as long as you can get that hideous Don Bluth animation sequence out of your mind ... yes, I'm bitter), and 'All Over The World' is The Last Great Disco Song of All-Time. Party sounds in the background, rollicking drums,delicious vocals from Lynne slipping up and down the melody, as well as a little 1980 rap-sequence. Poptastic!

Arguably the piece-de-resistance is the collaboration between Olivia and ELO, the film's title track. Olivia sounds divine (and have you SEEN how she looks at the end of the film?! Enough to melt even the gayest of hearts and send them hurrying back to the closet) and the melody is irritatingly catchy. It gave the musical pair a #1 hit in Britain and a lasting legacy at eighties nights and gay clubs alike.

This soundtrack is close to perfect. Varied enough to work as a soundtrack, but cohesive enough to warrant it being as much a 'concept record' as it was the musical companion to a film. This new 1998 issue from MCA Records US (an almost identical version issued a few months earlier is available from Sony in the UK) faithfully restores the original packaging of the record with album photos, lyrics, and superb sound quality. My only gripe is the ommission of three additional tracks from the movie which are now only available on the original vinyl pressings of the singles lifted from this soundtrack. 'Fool Country' is the fantastic punk-rock/country medley Olivia sings at the end of the film in tigerprint miniskirt and tassled cowboy gear respectively, whilst 'You Made Me Love You' is the forties cover you can hear Olivia singing when Sonny visits Danny's mansion. 'Drum Dreams' is the instrumental which you see Gene Kelly and the dancers skating to before Olivia sings 'Xanadu' at the end of the film.

Still, additional tracks or no additional tracks, 'Xanadu' remains one of the best soundtracks of the past thirty years. Do yourself a favour, set aside your bias against the shonky film, and indulge in a shockingly good album.

Xanadu: A True Masterpiece, In every sense of the word
I have seen the movie countless times. Olivia Newton-John is a true beauty in this musical.Gene Kelly and Olivia make an absolutely dynamic dance pair in "Whenever you're away from me" and ELO & Olivia stole the show when they sang the title song. I owned the LP many years ago, but that has faded out of existance, but I have plans to purchase the CD very shortly. In conclusion, the original soundtrack from Xanadu,as well as the motion picture,is a true Hollywood masterpiece in every sense of the word. It has absolutely breathtaking special photographic effects, great musical arrangements from John Farrar and Jeff Lynne, and finally some really beautiful love scenes with Michael Beck and Olivia Newton-John. Get the CD, please. You are in for a real treat. You will not be disappointed.

Soundtracks don't come better then this
A stunning showcase of production work from Jeff Lynne and John Farrar. Just like Abba's "Super Trouper", Xanadu is an album with a rock solid repertoire. The record contains many hits from Electric Light Orchestra and Olivia Newton John.

Olivia gave us "Magic", "Suspended in time", "Suddenly" with Cliff Richard, and the albums best offering "Xanadu". Olivia in combination with The Tubes, swirled together the 1940's cabaret sound of the Andrews Sisters Song "Forget about the Blues", with the electrifying early eighties sound of "Dancin", performed by the Tubes. The mix Jells like dynamite and gives both tracks a whole new sparkle. Jeff Lynne's contribution gave this album it's unique sound, that makes this soundtrack an unforgettable classic. Tracks like "I'm alive", "the fall", "Don't walk away", and "All around the world" were recorded by Electric Light Orchestra.

If I could only take ten albums to a desert island, this would be one of them

Don't spend extra!
One star isn't for the soundtrack itself, it's for the quality of the packaging. I was hoping that by buying a re-mastered import I'd get a little something in the liner notes. There ARE no liner notes, no lyrics, just a single sheet of flimsy paper with the song titles on it. Buy the domestic; even if it's the same stuff it's nearly 10 bucks cheaper.

Olivia's the Best!!
The movie that this soundtrack is from bombed at the box office in 1980 and sucked big time! But, the combination of the song Xanadu and Olivia together was "MAGIC". Olivia's vocals are absolutely breathtaking, and I still remember back in 1980 when she went on the t.v. show, "Solid Gold", and was singing some of the songs off of this album, including "Suspended", which at one point during the show while she was singing it, tears started coming down her face (she must have been relating to something in the lyrics to this song). Go ahead and get this, you will love it!
Unavailable on CD in the U.S., this is CBS's 1989 reissue ofMCA's top five & double platinum 1980 soundtrack to directorRobert Greenwald's 1980 musical starring Olivia Newton-John at a high point in her career and Gene Kelly at the bottom of his. The album features 10 tracks, five each from E.L.O. & Olivia Newton-John, including the #1 smash 'Magic' by Newton-John, the top 10 title cut by both her & E.L.O. and the top 20 duet 'Suddenly' by Newton-John and Cliff Richard!
Unavailable on CD in the U.S., this is CBS's 1989 reissue ofMCA's top five & double platinum 1980 soundtrack to directorRobert Greenwald's 1980 musical starring Olivia Newton-John at a high point in her career and Gene Kelly at the bottom of his. The album features 10 tracks, five each from E.L.O. & Olivia Newton-John, including the #1 smash 'Magic' by Newton-John, the top 10 title cut by both her & E.L.O. and the top 20 duet 'Suddenly' by Newton-John and Cliff Richard!