Xanadu (Olivia Newton-John and Electric Light Orchestra song)

"Xanadu"
One of the UK releases, with pink vinyl
Single by Olivia Newton-John and Electric Light Orchestra
from the album Xanadu
B-side
  • "Whenever You're Away from Me" (with Gene Kelly) (US)
  • "Fool Country" (UK)
Released13 June 1980[1]
Recorded1979
StudioMusicland Studios (Munich)
Genre
Length3:28
Label
Songwriter(s)Jeff Lynne
Producer(s)Jeff Lynne
Electric Light Orchestra singles chronology
"I'm Alive"
(1980) 		"Xanadu"
(1980) 		"All Over the World"
(1980)
Olivia Newton-John singles chronology
"Magic"
(1980) 		"Xanadu"
(1980) 		"Suddenly"
(1980)

"Xanadu" is the title song from the soundtrack of the 1980 musical film of the same name. Written by Jeff Lynne of the English rock band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), the song is performed by British and Australian singer, songwriter and actress Olivia Newton-John, with Lynne adding parenthetic vocals in the style of his other songs on the Xanadu soundtrack, and ELO providing the instrumentation. It was Lynne's least favourite of his own songs.[2][failed verification] Released as a single in June 1980, it reached number one in several European countries and was the band's only UK number-one single when it peaked there for two weeks in July 1980.[3] It was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry.[4] It also peaked at number eight on the US Billboard Hot 100.[5]

  1. ^ "Music Week" (PDF). p. 26.
  2. ^ "Jeff Lynne interviewed by Simon Mayo in November 2017". YouTube. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2018.[failed verification]
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference OCC was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "British single certifications – Xanadu". British Phonographic Industry.
  5. ^ "Electric Light Orchestra – Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 March 2013.