"Xanadu" by Olivia Newton-John and Electric Light Orchestra

Top 10 Alert!

Song#:  0292
Date:  08/09/1980
Debut:  79
Peak:  8
Weeks:  17
Genre:  Pop, Soundtrack



Pop Bits:  This fourth single from the "Xanadu" soundtrack was a combined effort between the two main contributors to the album, ELO and ONJ. Written by Jeff Lynne, it is basically an ELO track sung by ONJ. The pairing worked and it became the second Top 10 hit from the bombed movie's soundtrack. For the British band ELO, this song ended up being their one and only #1 UK chart hit.

ReduxReview:  This was an inspired pairing. ONJ's voice fits so perfectly with ELO's sound and style. It's too bad this was their only collaboration. They should have done a full album together - or at least have Jeff Lynne produce an ONJ album. I think that was a missed opportunity. But then had that happen, we might have never gotten ONJ's next solo mega-smash, "Physical."

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  This song was the very first to hit the chart where the title began with the letter "X." It remained the only "X"-letter song to make the chart until 2000 when rapper Xzibit's song "X" debuted and peaked at #76. However, "Xanadu" still remains the only "X"-letter song to hit the Top 10.

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