The Friday Vinyl Club: Music Memories and Album StoriesMemories of Jeff Lynne's ELO | Out of the Blue with BBC Producer Miles Mendoza (Steve Wright)
How does growing up around the tv show The Tube, carving out a legendary radio career behind the scenes at GLR and Radio 2, and falling in love with a 1977 double-album masterpiece shape a lifelong music lover? In this episode of The Friday Vinyl Club, Jamie sits down with BBC digital content producer and former Steve Wright in the Afternoon regular Miles Mendoza to trace how Electric Light Orchestra's ambitious 1977 double-album, Out of the Blue, served as a masterclass in symphonic pop, sci-fi stage production, and bold artistic vision. CONNECT WITH THE CLUB: • Our Official Website: https://www.thefridayvinylclub.com/ • Contact / Guest Inquiries: TheFridayVinylClub@hotmail.com • Connect with Jamie on Instagram: @jamieb1nine73 INSIDE THE EPISODE & TIMESTAMPS: 00:18 - Introduction: Welcome to The Friday Vinyl Club with guest Miles Mendoza. 01:31 - Catching up with Miles: From storage shed vinyl to digital formats. 04:46 - Early musical memories: Beatles, glam rock, Top of the Pops, and The Tube. 11:08 - Teenage transitions: ABBA, the Wombles, discovering metal, and buying Out of the Blue. 16:43 - First gigs: Blondie at Hammersmith and being picked up by the "dad taxi" brigade. 19:54 - Working in radio: The GLR era, acoustic sessions, and meeting Crowded House. 31:22 - Moving to Radio 2 and joining Steve Wright's on-air posse. 44:21 - Rediscovering ELO: From childhood blue vinyl to the Hyde Park live reunion. 53:37 - Diving into Out of the Blue: Standout tracks, "Wild West Hero," and "Turn to Stone." 1:07:30 - Concerto for a Rainy Day and the enduring joy of "Mr. Blue Sky." 1:12:16 - The iconic spaceship album artwork and its accidental genius. 1:16:08 - The Friday Spin: Miles' recommendation (Night Flight – Exit Stage Left / "Alimony"). TOPICS COVERED: Miles Mendoza, Electric Light Orchestra, ELO, Out of the Blue, vinyl record collecting, BBC radio history, GLR, Steve Wright in the Afternoon, Crowded House, classic 1970s rock, and physical media. THE FRIDAY SPIN: MILES MENDOZA - 'NIGHT FLIGHT' SPOTLIGHT: • The Recommendation: Radio veteran Miles Mendoza and his standout Friday Spin selection, Night Flight's Exit Stage Left featuring the track "Alimony". • The Vibe: Rich vintage rock energy, brilliant deep cuts, and the timeless nostalgia of childhood gateway records. FOR FANS OF: If you love music memories, physical media, and human stories behind the songs on podcasts like The Vinyl Guide, Back to NOW!, Music Is None Of Our Business, Desert Island Discs, or A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs, you are right at home in the club! Leave us a review wherever you listen to help our independent community grow!
