Dear Elaine

"Dear Elaine" is a song written and produced by Roy Wood. It was first released on Wood's July 1973 debut solo album, Boulders,^[1] before being issued as a single on 11 August 1973.^[2] Wood played all of the musical instruments on the recording, as well as supplying lead and multi-tracked backing vocals.^[3] The song was globally published by Essex Music International, Inc. (ASCAP).^[4]

The track reached number 18 in the UK Singles Chart.^[5] The single remained in the UK chart for eight weeks.^[5][6]

"Dear Elaine" was a "semi-classical" experimental pop song reminiscent of Pink Floyd and Queen.^[7] It featured a slow tempo, with Wood singing with acoustic guitar, French horns and bass, alongside sporadic usage of Wood's multitracked choir.^[8]

In 1994, Wood stated, "Even though we didn't actually record it as the Move, I had already written "Dear Elaine", which I subsequently put on the Boulders solo album. I thought that was probably the best song I'd written at that time".^[9]

The track has appeared on numerous compilation albums,^[10][11] including Wood's own Singles (1993, Connoisseur Records).^[12] The track is still played on national radio, with BBC Radio airing it in January 2019.^[13]