Armchair Theatre
By Jeff Lynne
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Track listing
Show track credits
- 1 Every Little Thing 3:41
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guitar, piano, keyboards, bass, background vocals, lyrics, music
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saxophone
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drums, percussion
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acoustic guitar, background vocals
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acoustic guitar
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background vocals
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Hema Desaivoice
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strings
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- 2 Don't Let Go 3:00
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piano, bass, background vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar
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saxophone
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drums, percussion
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background vocals
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background vocals
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Jake Commanderbackground vocals
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lyrics, music
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- 3 Lift Me Up 3:36
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piano, keyboards, bass, background vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, lyrics, music
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drums
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acoustic guitar, background vocals, slide guitar, harmony vocals
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acoustic guitar
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background vocals
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percussion
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Nellai D. Kananpercussion
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Fateh Singh Ganganipercussion
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percussion
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background vocals
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- 4 Nobody Home 3:51
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piano, keyboards, bass, background vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, lyrics, music
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drums
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background vocals
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- 5 September Song 2:57
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keyboards, bass, background vocals, electric guitar, drums, choir
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choir
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acoustic guitar, slide guitar
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piano, choir
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choir
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Jake Commanderchoir
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choir
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The Ordinaireschoir
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Sheila Tandychoir
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Ritasaw
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writer
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writer
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- 6 Now You're Gone 3:57
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guitar, piano, bass, background vocals, autoharp, lyrics, music
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drums, percussion, tambourine
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Hema Desaivoice
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percussion
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Nellai D. Kananpercussion
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Fateh Singh Ganganipercussion
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percussion, violin
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voice
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- 7 Don't Say Goodbye 3:09
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piano, keyboards, bass, background vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, lyrics, music
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drums
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background vocals
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- 8 What Would It Take 2:40
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piano, keyboards, bass, background vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, lyrics, music
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drums
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- 9 Stormy Weather 3:42
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keyboards, bass, choir, sound effects
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drums, choir
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acoustic guitar, slide guitar
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piano, choir
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choir
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string arrangements, conductor
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Jake Commanderchoir
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choir
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Sheila Tandychoir
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The Olton Orioleschoir
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writer
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writer
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- 10 Blown Away 3:29
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piano, keyboards, bass, background vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, choir, lyrics, music
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drums, choir, tambourine
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choir
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background vocals, choir
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Jake Commanderchoir
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choir
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Sheila Tandychoir
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background vocals
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The Warwickshire Wobblerschoir
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lyrics
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- 11 Save Me Now 2:39
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keyboards, background vocals, acoustic guitar, lyrics, music
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- - [Save Me Now] 1:50
- - [silence] 0:15
- - [sound effects] 0:25
- - [It's Still Going You Know (Spoken)] 0:02
- - [chimes] 0:06
- Total length: 39:19
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9 Issues
- Release view [combined information for all issues]
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Armchair Theatre [p]
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Armchair Theatre 33 rpm
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Armchair Theatre 33 rpm
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Armchair Theatre Bonus Tracks1990
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Armchair Theatre 180 gram, 33 rpm, Bonus Tracks
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Armchair Theatre Bonus Tracks, SHM
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Armchair Theatre Bonus Tracks, Paper/Cardboard Sleeve, Remastered
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Armchair Theatre 33 rpm, Bonus Tracks, Colored Vinyl, Gatefold, Limited Edition
26 Reviews
I've been spending at the very least several days revisiting these albums over and over (or, in the case of Xanadu and the double album version of Secret Messages, for the first time), but I don't really feel the need to do that for the rest of these albums, and I'll explain why!
After ELO broke up, Jeff Lynne did Traveling Wilbur's, produced George Harrison, and came back with a solo album. What I find fascinating about his "only" (more on that later) solo album is how little it sounds like ELO! He clearly wanted to make a ROCK album, and it's pretty admirable that he did it without resorting to his old ELO tricks.
It's fine.
After ELO broke up, Jeff Lynne did Traveling Wilbur's, produced George Harrison, and came back with a solo album. What I find fascinating about his "only" (more on that later) solo album is how little it sounds like ELO! He clearly wanted to make a ROCK album, and it's pretty admirable that he did it without resorting to his old ELO tricks.
It's fine.
Published
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I did a complete 180 on this album. At first it angered me. Jeff Lynne, master architect of lush, senses overloading pop does a solo album over 20 years into his career and it's a very casual, almost aggressively lazy set. I felt my time was being wasted by the tossed-off, unambitious material.
But then something clicked and I eventually came to enjoy it a lot. Look at the cover. Not only is there the image of relaxation, Lynne resplendent in idleness, but it says Jeff Lynne on it, not Electric Light Orchestra. Because this is Lynne, the man himself, hanging out with you for a pleasant, not too exciting evening together, and viewed through that lens it's very enjoyable.
This is an extension of the chill, don't-strain-yourself ethos of the Traveling Wilburys albums Lynne was producing while making this (indeed George Harrison is on four songs). The originals are easy-going, gently euphoric AOR head-nodders such as Lift Me Up, while a chunk of the album is given over to covers of Lynne's old favorites such as the enjoyably silly Don't Let Go. One exception to the likeable lameness of the record is the standout Now You're Gone, which features a surprisingly tense, haunting melody and some lovely backing vocal production. But mostly you'll be grinning mildly through the family friendly rock of Don't Say Goodbye and What Would It Take - nothing world-beating, but nothing offensive either.
A recorded vacation, Armchair Theatre is a bit naff but brings along enough charisma and good vibes that it gets away with it.
But then something clicked and I eventually came to enjoy it a lot. Look at the cover. Not only is there the image of relaxation, Lynne resplendent in idleness, but it says Jeff Lynne on it, not Electric Light Orchestra. Because this is Lynne, the man himself, hanging out with you for a pleasant, not too exciting evening together, and viewed through that lens it's very enjoyable.
This is an extension of the chill, don't-strain-yourself ethos of the Traveling Wilburys albums Lynne was producing while making this (indeed George Harrison is on four songs). The originals are easy-going, gently euphoric AOR head-nodders such as Lift Me Up, while a chunk of the album is given over to covers of Lynne's old favorites such as the enjoyably silly Don't Let Go. One exception to the likeable lameness of the record is the standout Now You're Gone, which features a surprisingly tense, haunting melody and some lovely backing vocal production. But mostly you'll be grinning mildly through the family friendly rock of Don't Say Goodbye and What Would It Take - nothing world-beating, but nothing offensive either.
A recorded vacation, Armchair Theatre is a bit naff but brings along enough charisma and good vibes that it gets away with it.
Published
You've likely heard Jeff Lynne's work with George Harrison, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, Del Shannon, and Traveling Wilburys. If you liked it, you're going to like this as well. If you didn't, then you won't like this either. The same sentiment wouldn't apply to his work with Electric Light Orchestra, which is light years away from the sound he's going for here. For the most part this is inoffensive and unobtrusive boringly-produced radio-friendly pop-rock. The only song i really care for is "Now You're Gone", and that mostly due to the Hema and Ashit Desai's backing vocals - those are really the only unexpected twist on the whole album and i dig it. I'm happy Lynne released this as a solo album rather than putting the ELO name on it. I wish he'd had the decency to do that on all of the other post-90 ELO albums.
Jeff Lynne (vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards, auto-harp, footsteps), Richard Tandy (acoustic guitar, piano, backing vocals), Mette Mathiesen (drums, tambourine, backing vocals), Phil Hatton (backing vocals), Jim Horn (saxophone on 2 tracks), George Harrison (guitar on 4 tracks, backing vocals on 2 tracks), Jake Commander (backing vocals on 4 tracks), Dave Morgan (backing vocals on 3 tracks), Hema Desai (backing vocals on 2 tracks), Vikram A. Patil (percussion on 2 tracks), Nellai D. Kanan (percussion on 2 tracks), Fateh Singh Gangani (percussion on 2 tracks), Sureesh K. Lalwani (percussion on 2 tracks, violin on 1 track), Sheila Tandy (backing vocals on 3 tracks), Rita (saw on 1 track), Ashit Desai (backing vocals on 1 track), Del Shannon (backing vocals on 1 track), Michael Kamen (strings on 2 tracks)
produced by Jeff Lynne
1990 Reprise Records 9 26184-2
highs - Nobody Home, Now You're Gone, Stormy Weather
lows - Don't Let Go
like this, go for: Traveling Wilburys, Vol. 1, Traveling Wilburys, Vol. 3, Zoom
cassette acquired some time at some place
cassette sold in a 42-cassette lot 05 January 2003 on eBay
acquired some time at some place
RYM review 12 Oct 2004 #1166984
produced by Jeff Lynne
1990 Reprise Records 9 26184-2
highs - Nobody Home, Now You're Gone, Stormy Weather
lows - Don't Let Go
like this, go for: Traveling Wilburys, Vol. 1, Traveling Wilburys, Vol. 3, Zoom
cassette acquired some time at some place
cassette sold in a 42-cassette lot 05 January 2003 on eBay
acquired some time at some place
RYM review 12 Oct 2004 #1166984
Published
9 26184-2 CD (1990)
e l o solo
saved by the bell before i was blown away by boredom was expecting much better but jeff will still be jeff this completes my prog rock collection represe once more "forgot lyric sleeve remember b j thomasPublished
Who can beat Jeff Lynne at his own game?
Published
7599-26184-1 Vinyl LP (1990)
Jeff was all over the place at this time and place. Jeff was producing mega albums and working will all stars in The Traveling Wilburys. Every other Wilbury had just done a solo album so why not Jeff? What you get is a typical mix of ELO meets The Wilburys. The album will not disappoint! BUT it will also not break new ground. Maybe Jeff was spreading himself a little too thin at the time?
Published
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After world-hits with E.L.O, a vast number of successful productions for various stars and the fun of what might have been the world’s best super-group, Traveling Wilburys, there is nothing left to prove. In situation like that, very often quite relaxed, easy-going albums are created, which do not promise any feats, but cater to the tastes of the converted and most of all are fun for their creators.
Armchair Theatre somehow already carries this attitude in its title. Jeff Lynne sits back and plays some old-fashioned pop-rock songs, without caring about whether they are heard by a wider audience or only enjoyed by himself and a few friends.
As usual with Lynn, he poaches in the regions of fifties-pop, Beatles melodies and early rock’n’roll for his purposes. And if it wasn’t for a few clunkers like “Blown away” and the rather clumsy ‘save the environment-message’ of “Save me now”, one could not find any fault with this album.
For those who liked the Wilburys’ output, Armchair Theatre is a more than welcome by-product for ‘bopping’ or just dreaming of the golden days.
Highlights: Don’t let go
Lowlights: Blown away; Save me now.
Armchair Theatre somehow already carries this attitude in its title. Jeff Lynne sits back and plays some old-fashioned pop-rock songs, without caring about whether they are heard by a wider audience or only enjoyed by himself and a few friends.
As usual with Lynn, he poaches in the regions of fifties-pop, Beatles melodies and early rock’n’roll for his purposes. And if it wasn’t for a few clunkers like “Blown away” and the rather clumsy ‘save the environment-message’ of “Save me now”, one could not find any fault with this album.
For those who liked the Wilburys’ output, Armchair Theatre is a more than welcome by-product for ‘bopping’ or just dreaming of the golden days.
Highlights: Don’t let go
Lowlights: Blown away; Save me now.
Published
After he ...err switched off his mega-successful Electric Light Orchestra project, Jeff Lynne for a time became the go-to producer for a certain type of ageing rock star in need of a pop-boost, witness Dave Edmunds, Tom Petty, plus the late George Harrison and Roy Orbison, not to mention the whole Travelling Wilburys thing, all of them achieving a degree of commercial success in the process.
So it probably seemed natural for him to do his own record and expect some chart action of his own, hence "Armchair Theatre", but despite being full of good songs, it failed to take off like say "Cloud Nine" or "Full Moon Fever".
Which is a shame, as there is some fine pop music here. Reflecting his influences of Beatles and Beach Boys-type harmonic pop and even more a love of pre-beat pop of the Roy Orbison-Del Shannon-Duane Eddy strain, perhaps Lynne's only mistake here is his predilection for over-production. Witness "Save Me Now" an otherwise affecting acoustic ecological protest song which unfortunately gets the full "Lynnethesiser" treatment, inadvertently watering down the song's message at the same time. Or the way he clumsily sets a marching beat to stomp an unwelcome counterpoint over a nice George Harrison solo on the old standard "September Song".
Speaking of whom, Jeff's new ex-Beatle best pal casts a pretty large shadow here. Not only does Lynne follow the quiet one's own practice of including remakes of old Tin Pan Alley tunes, there's also the Indian influence of "Now You're Gone" and its insert of the intro to "While My Guitar Gently Weeps".
That said, Lynne himself is in fine melodic form. The two should-have-been-hit singles "Every Little Thing" (with its nod to the big beat of "Oh Pretty Woman" and Motown's "Going To A Go-Go") and the, sorry, uplifting "Lift Me Up" are highlights while "Don't Let Go's" rockabilly romp recalls the Wilburys' "Rattled" as sung by the big O, although the best track for me is the twangy "What Would It Take".
After the commercial failure of this set, Lynne returned to production duties for the Threatles "Anthology" project and Paul McCartney's fine "Flaming Pie" set but fans of the man himself shouldn't be disappointed with this well-crafted set chock-full of stick-in-your-head tunes, even if then, as now, it does sound undeniably anachronistic and out of fashion.
So it probably seemed natural for him to do his own record and expect some chart action of his own, hence "Armchair Theatre", but despite being full of good songs, it failed to take off like say "Cloud Nine" or "Full Moon Fever".
Which is a shame, as there is some fine pop music here. Reflecting his influences of Beatles and Beach Boys-type harmonic pop and even more a love of pre-beat pop of the Roy Orbison-Del Shannon-Duane Eddy strain, perhaps Lynne's only mistake here is his predilection for over-production. Witness "Save Me Now" an otherwise affecting acoustic ecological protest song which unfortunately gets the full "Lynnethesiser" treatment, inadvertently watering down the song's message at the same time. Or the way he clumsily sets a marching beat to stomp an unwelcome counterpoint over a nice George Harrison solo on the old standard "September Song".
Speaking of whom, Jeff's new ex-Beatle best pal casts a pretty large shadow here. Not only does Lynne follow the quiet one's own practice of including remakes of old Tin Pan Alley tunes, there's also the Indian influence of "Now You're Gone" and its insert of the intro to "While My Guitar Gently Weeps".
That said, Lynne himself is in fine melodic form. The two should-have-been-hit singles "Every Little Thing" (with its nod to the big beat of "Oh Pretty Woman" and Motown's "Going To A Go-Go") and the, sorry, uplifting "Lift Me Up" are highlights while "Don't Let Go's" rockabilly romp recalls the Wilburys' "Rattled" as sung by the big O, although the best track for me is the twangy "What Would It Take".
After the commercial failure of this set, Lynne returned to production duties for the Threatles "Anthology" project and Paul McCartney's fine "Flaming Pie" set but fans of the man himself shouldn't be disappointed with this well-crafted set chock-full of stick-in-your-head tunes, even if then, as now, it does sound undeniably anachronistic and out of fashion.
Published
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Catalog
25 Apr 2024
16 Apr 2024
5 Apr 2024
5 Apr 2024
26 Mar 2024
25 Mar 2024
19 Mar 2024
18 Mar 2024
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1
Every Little Thing
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2
Don't Let Go
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3
Lift Me Up
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4
Nobody Home
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5
September Song
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6
Now You're Gone
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7
Don't Say Goodbye
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8
What Would It Take
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9
Stormy Weather
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10
Blown Away
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11
Save Me Now
18 Mar 2024
15 Mar 2024
19 Feb 2024
17 Feb 2024
6 Feb 2024
5 Feb 2024
23 Jan 2024
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