Released Unreleased Length 4:26 Writer(s) Jeff Lynne | Genre Rock Label Jet Records | |
Recorded 1982–83 Wisseloord Studios, Hilversum, the Netherlands | ||
"Beatles Forever" is an unreleased song by Electric Light Orchestra in 1983, intended for the album Secret Messages, written by Jeff Lynne. Originally, the album was planned to be a double album, but after shortened to a single album, "Beatles Forever" was abandoned. It is the only "lost" track from the original album not to appear later as an official bonus track or part of a compilation. However, the chorus part of "Beatles Forever" was used by Lynne on his "Video!" solo single.
Acetates of the double album version of Secret Messages are known to exist. At an ELO Fan Club Convention, "Beatles Forever" was played as a treat for fans under strict conditions concerning the presence of recording equipment. These conditions were evidently not strict enough, and a recording was made using a portable video camera.
However, a statement from the official ELO mailing list indicates the song may ultimately be released as part of a 2CD Secret Messages set: "Nothing can be released without Jeff Lynne's approval but there currently is a proposal for a 2-CD Deluxe Collectors Edition of Secret Messages which includes the original unreleased 2-LP version (including "Beatles Forever"), the released 1-LP version and more. As with all the Legacy 1st edition remasters from 2001 (Eldorado, Discovery, Time, Secret Messages) there are full proposals in with SonyBMG for upgraded 2-CD Deluxe Collectors Editions. I'll let you all know how that goes..."