Radio Review: 26 September

What a crazy world we’re living in, as Joe Brown once sang. One of the biggest radio events of the year, and I chose to enjoy it through the medium of television. I’ll admit that doing so felt slightly wrong, and hope you’ll forgive me for the transgression. I am referring to the concert given by Jeff Lynne’s ELO as part of BBC Radio 2’s Live In Hyde Park mini-festival.

ELO -nut Chris Evans had persuaded Lynne to headline, and as a fellow long-time fan of the philharmonic Birmingham beardie, I’m glad he did. Apart from a few high notes on Roll Over Beethoven that were avoided tactically, Lynne sounded in good voice. ELO records are always big productions, so it helped that the BBC Concert Orchestra was there to add the requisite lushness.

The fact is that only a network like Radio 2 can make this happen. I know I bellyache about the management, but R2 is still my favourite. I was an odd child. When schoolmates loved Radio 1, I was devoted to Ray Moore. Now, my daughter, who’s six, has a radio in her bedroom, usually tuned to R2. She even sings along with the jingles. Fruit, tree, not fallen far.

What I found strange was that it was billed as Electric Light Orchestra performing ‘live for the first time in 28 years’. Not quite. The bulk of the 1970s line-up toured through the 1990s as ELO Part II . It was Lynne’s first live performance under the ELO name since 1986, but Lynne and keyboardist Richard Tandy were the only ‘proper’ ELO mni on stage. However, the others, mostly from Take That’s touring band, were damned fine, and if this lot slipped out for a tour as Jeff Lynne’s ELO , I’d be there, cheering.

Radio 2 Live In Hyde Park: on BBC iPlayer until mid-October.
Louis on Twitter: @LFBarfe or email: wireless@cheeseford.net