[This digest is the copyright of the Move "Useless Information" Mailing List. Re-publication or re-distribution of "Useless Information" content, in any form whatsoever, is expressly prohibited without prior written consent.] USELESS INFORMATION The Move Mailing List Digest Issue #343 April 18, 2002 In this issue: * Billboard interview with Roy * Song Of The Week (week of 4/15): "Beautiful Daughter" * Carl runs in the London Marathon * Tell us the news about yourself... (cont.) * Ace's singing * Move live clips * Rock and roll weekend * Thunderbirds / Woody film score ============================================================== To POST TO THE LIST: Send an e-mail to: move-list@eskimo.com Useful Web addresses: TheMoveOnline: http://www.themoveonline.com Official Roy Wood site: http://www.roywood.co.uk Face The Music Online: http://www.ftmusic.com Join the ELO List: http://www.eskimo.com/~noanswer/showdown.html Move List Info & Archives: http://www.eskimo.com/~noanswer/movelist.html TO UNSUBSCRIBE: Send an e-mail to move-digest-request@eskimo.com with the word "unsubscribe" (no quotes) in the subject line ============================================================== Subject: Billboard interview with Roy Date: Tue, 16 Apr 2002 23:01:36 -0700 From: Lynn Hoskins Elusive cult figure Roy Wood is delving into the sounds of salsa. Words & Music Billboard April 13, 2002 by Jim Bessman General Roy Wood: It was like a "lodge meeting of sad record-convention guys," to use liner-note writer Crescenzo Capece's accurate assessment. For sure enough, Roy Wood brought out jaded rock critics and fans -- not to mention old friends who rarely venture out past 8 p.m. anymore -- at the elusive English rock legend's otherwise jubilant four-night stand at Manhattan's village Underground. Aside from a few gigs with U.S. disciples Cheap Trick four years ago, it was the first stateside appearance since 1976 by the hugely influential founder of the Move, Electric Light Orchestra, Wizzard, the Wizzo Band, Helicopters, the Roy Wood Big Band and most recently, Roy Wood's Army. Long a hero to domestic rock cognoscenti, Wood remains only a cult figure here, due to what he feels was inadequate promotion of his U.S. releases. But he has regularly toured Europe with his Army -- a 13-member show band featuring an eight-piece horn section (including seven female players), two female backup singers, and Wood's own splendid guitar and bagpipes. But while he wows crowds with well-orchestrated masterworks like "California Man," "Angel Fingers," "See My Baby Jive, "Flowers In The Rain," and "Blackberry Way," he's ready to make his next career move. "I've been singing the hits a long time and as you might imagine, I've got to the point where I'm slightly bored," says Wood, who was 17 in 1967, when the Move first hit with his "Night Of Fear." "It's like having the same job since you left school." Having surveyed the U.K. salsa club scene, Wood is now writing salsa songs, looking for percussionists, and planning to transform the Army into at least a 15-piece salsa band called the Mega Dance Orqesta. "I'm leaving my name off to give it a chance at radio," Wood explains, noting that the "ageist" U.K. music industry is unlikely to promote anyone older than 35. The anonymous band name, he adds, will also prevent potential programmers from being prejudiced by "what they expect from me." He says that the salsa genre is ripe for pop crossover -- especially considering that clubgoers "are still dancing to salsa records that are 10 years old. Since my hobby is writing horn parts, if I can get a dance rhythm right, with a memorable pop tune and jazzy horn parts on top, it's probably worth a go." But this requires a modified songwriting approach. "I usually start with a little bit of melody or a few lyrics or the song title," Wood says. "But with salsa, first and foremost is to get the rhythm right for the dancers -- and then plant the other stuff around it." The self-published Wood (PRS) has already written and recorded one salsa song, "Spektacular," and has shelved a live hits album recorded two years ago at a festival in Wales in the U.K. so as "not to let people think I can't do anything new." Incidentally, Wood's Army takes the stage to late composer Barry Gray's rousing theme to Gerry Anderson's eternally popular '60s futuristic British "supermarionation" TV series "Thunderbirds" -- also the nickname of the band's horn section. (c)2002 Billboard ********** Subject: Re: Billboard interview with Roy Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2002 16:07:25 -0700 From: "Rich Lamphear" > "I've been singing the hits a long time and as you might imagine, > I've got to the point where I'm slightly bored," says Wood, who was > 17 in 1967 I thought Roy was 55? If this is true he's only 52. > The self-published Wood (PRS) has already written and recorded one > salsa song, "Spektacular," and has shelved a live hits album recorded > two years ago at a festival in Wales in the U.K So it's officially "shelved" now? Bummer. ********** Subject: Re: Song Of The Week: "Beautiful Daughter" Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2002 23:49:42 -0700 From: "Drew Jacobs" Great Song. I was listening to it at full blast on cd in my car and it sounds like Carl is sitting in the back seat! Drew Jacobs Latham NY ********** Subject: Carl runs in the London Marathon Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2002 00:02:23 -0700 From: Lynn Hoskins Carl's confirmed time, as published today in The Times' list of official London Marathon finishers was 3 hours 37 minutes 17 seconds. He came in 6,157th out of over 32,000 runners, which is an incredible achievement. Rumors that Roy Wood will be running with Carl next year were unconfirmed at press time... ********** Subject: Re: Tell us the news about yourself... Date: Tue, 16 Apr 2002 10:49:03 -0700 From: "Jason McCollam" Name - Jason McCollam Age - 28 Location - Arlington, VA What was your first Move related experience? Buying the Move BBC CD. It sparked my interest, to say the least. Top 5 Move songs? 1. Omnibus 2. Fire Brigade 3. Down On the Bay 4. Here We Go Round the Lemon Tree 5. Night Of Fear What's your favorite Move related album and why? The BBC album, because it was the first. Other favorite bands? Cheap Trick, The Posies, Teenage Fanclub, Big Star/Alex Chilton, Redd Kross, the Connells, Which Move song do you wish one of your favorite bands would do? None really, but the Liquor Giants do a kick ass version of Fire Brigade. Just wanna also say seeing Roy in NYC was really something I'll remember for a very long time, he puts on one great show. Thanks, Jason ********** Subject: Re: Tell us the news about yourself... Date: Tue, 16 Apr 2002 01:36:30 -0700 From: Richard Messum Name: Richard Messum, 52 yrs. old, Stratford, Ontario. I'm still trying to determine whether i'm a writer who also cooks, or a cook who happens to write..... I've been a Move fan since Flowers in the Rain (1967). It's very difficult to choose five favourite tracks: Blackberry Way, definitely; Fields of People (although i can live without the extended instrumental coda); Until your Mama's Gone; Chinatown; See my Baby Jive. But how can i leave off Wear a Fast Gun? Hello Suzie? Tonight...? May i cheat a bit with my choice for favourite album? It's "Movements," a 3-CD set of the first three LPs plus some singles and rare and unreleased stuff. My favourite individual album is "Shazam," though. My favourite groups and artists would include The Beatles, The Kinks, Peter Hammill, Fairport Convention (a Roy Wood connection there!), Steeleye Span. My favourite new group is The Strokes. I'm still trying to work out the lyrics to the 3rd verse of "Blackberry Way" after all these years. I agree with Ray Fister that most average record stores haven't a clue -- about a lot of things -- but i have virtually everything on LPs and i've taken good care of my vinyl over the years, so i've never really looked for Move CDs, but i ordered "The BBC Sessions" from Amazon.co.uk last year and had it four days later. Best wishes to all. ********** Subject: Re: Tell us the news about yourself... Date: Tue, 16 Apr 2002 14:10:42 -0700 From: Mark Minsky > Your name, age, location, occupation. Mark Minsky, 33 yrs.old, South Lake Tahoe, Ca., Surveillance Supervisor. > How long have you been a Move and/or Roy Wood fan? Since 1998, I think. > Tell us about your top 5 favorite Move related tracks. It is very hard to come up with just five. Especially when you include all "Move related" songs. So, to make it easy on myself, I will list five of my favorite Move only songs. And they are as follows (in no particular order}: 1. Fire Brigade 2. Useless Information 3. Hello Susie 4. Cherry Blossom Clinic Revisited 5. Turkish Tram Conductor Blues and When Alice Comes Back To The Farm (I had to include both of these together because their both great songs and both have a similar feel to them). I like "Fire Brigade" for its great pop melody and great vocals by Roy. "Useless Information" also has a solid melody with a catchy bass line. "Hello Susie" grabs me with those great "hard" vocals and insistent loud drums (great job Bev). Every aspect of "Cherry Blossom Clinic" is fantastic (especially that middle section with the classical piece)! "Turkish Tram" and "Alice" both have that "Heavy" rock sound that I probably like the most out of all the rock/pop styles today (I am a Black Sabbath fan, as you might have guessed). > What's your favorite Move related album, and why? Another tough question. It would have to be a tie between "Shazam" and "Looking On." I like "Shazam" because of the diversity of the songs, and the live "Bonus Tracks." Especially, their versions of "So You Want To Be A Rock 'n' Roll Star" and "Stephanie Knows Who." "Looking On" is a favorite of mine for the simple fact that it has that "Heavy" sound that I mentioned earlier. I also like the use of the sax that Roy employs on some of the songs. > What topics would you like to see discussed on this list? I think the members of this list do a good job of discussing many different topics which makes it interesting. I have always been interested in why people like a particular group, album, and song. That makes the last two questions on this Move "Survey" interesting for me to write about, and read from others. > Who are some of your other favorite artists/bands? I have a LOT of favorite artists/bands. Here are a few :-) The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Small Faces, The Who, Kinks, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Peter Frampton, Black Crowes, Grateful Dead, Big Star, Velvet Underground, Oasis, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Stone Temple Pilots, Foo Fighters, Phish, Badfinger, Pink Floyd, Chris Isaak, Bush, Gov't Mule, The Band, Blind Melon, Beau Brummels, Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Jimi Hendrix, Traffic, The Nazz, Spirit, Beck, Tom Petty, Neil Young, Love, The Doors, The Rutles, Donna The Buffalo, and of course The Move, ELO, and Roy Wood. > Which Move related song do you wish one of your favorite bands > would cover? Off the top of my head, I would like to see Black Sabbath reform with Ozzy to do a version of "Turkish Tram Conductor Blues." One problem though. Who would play the sax part? Maybe Roy would like to reprise his role!! > Are you having trouble finding any Move related music on CD? One CD in particular I would really like to own is the two CD box set "Back To The Story" by the Idle Race. I hear it is out of print. Does anyone know if it will be re-released in the near future? ********** Subject: Re: Tell us the news about yourself... Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2002 22:59:28 -0700 From: Greg Weatherby >Your name, age, location, occupation. Greg Weatherby, errrrrm, same age as Roy Wood, give or take, Redwood City, Ca, about 25 miles north of John DeSilva!, I "sell stuff" >How long have you been a Move and/or Roy Wood fan? Since March 1967, when I bought "ICHTGG" >What was your first Move related experience? I was in the U.S. Army (drafted), stationed near Bitburg, Germany, and turned on Radio Luxembourg, and heard "ICHTGG". I flipped. >Tell us about your top 5 favourite Move related tracks. "ICHTGG", "Flowers In The Rain", "Blackberry Way", "(Here We Go Round) The Lemon Tree", and "Useless Information" >What's your favourite Move related album, and why? The first album, because that was the only album with the 5 man line-up, and the songs are consistently good except "Zing". Plus the very cool cover by The Fool. >What topics would you like to see discussed on this list? Pretty happy with the way it flows now, I still like the Song of The Week concept. >If you've seen the Move or any member of the Move in concert, tell >us about that show. The first and only time to see Roy Wood was at the VU. San Jose John's review pretty well co-incides with mine! >Tell us about an amusing or interesting situation that has happened >as a result of you being a Move/Roy Wood fan. I would agree with John, the chance to see Woody in NYC and meeting some of the other fans who are on this list! >Who are some of your other favourite artists/bands? Aw man......The Creation, The Smoke, Small Faces, UK Kaleidoscope, Kevin Ayers, Pretty Things, John Kongos, John Pantry's various permutations, Richard Thompson, The Smoking Popes, The Zambonis, Mott The Hoople, Kinks, The Sweet, Beatles, Peter Daltrey, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich, The Attack, Fairfield Parlour, Fairytale, The Mirage, XTC, The Hollies, Headstone, Idle Race, Jason Crest, Slade, Jet, Syd's Pink Floyd, and about 10,000 others >Which Move related song do you wish one of your favourite bands >would cover? Nazareth doing "I Can Hear The Grass Grow"..........errrrrm, oh yea, that's been done, and it's 'orrible >What is the one burning question that you have never had answered >in relation to Move/Roy Wood history or music? Was that a wig on Ace's head in his 'curly locks' period? >Are you having trouble finding any Move related music on CD? errrrm, still hunting for that "Live At The Fillmore West" CD! Other than that, no! ********** Subject: Ace's singing Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2002 18:32:41 -0700 From: Lynn Hoskins John DeSilva wrote: >I know for sure that Ace sang lead on "Yellow Rainbow", the lead-off track >on the first album. He sings the verses, and Roy takes the lead on the >chorus. He is definitely a background vocalist on most all of the songs >from '66 - April '68 where there are background vocals. Here's an Ace verse that stands out for me: "Get a hold of yourself now baby See I need you to help now baby Get a hold of yourself now baby" I look forward to the live Fillmore release so that I'll be able to SEE Ace's and Trevor's singing contributions. ********** Subject: Re: Ace's singing Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2002 21:37:15 -0700 From: John DeSilva Lynn Hoskins wrote: > Here's an Ace verse that stands out for me: > > "Get a hold of yourself now baby > See I need you to help now baby > Get a hold of yourself now baby" Lynn: Thanks for bringing up the vocals on "I Can Hear The Grass Grow" - that clarifies something for me that I've always wondered about that song. I've always thought that Trevor sang that verse, because on the "Colour Me Pop" show from 1969, I believe Trevor sings that verse. Of course, Ace had been out of the Move for almost a year at that point, so just as Trevor took over bass duties from Ace, he must have also taken over the backing vocal bits that Ace sang. I imagine that the live Fillmore material will be the "holy grail" for us Move fans. Needles and pins Rob, needles and pins!!!!! ;-D JD San Jose, CA ********** Subject: Re: Ace's singing Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2002 23:35:50 -0700 From: Lynn Hoskins John DeSilva wrote: >Thanks for bringing up the vocals on "I Can Hear The Grass Grow" - >that clarifies something for me that I've always wondered about that >song. I've always thought that Trevor sang that verse, because on the >"Colour Me Pop" show from 1969, I believe Trevor sings that verse. >Of course, Ace had been out of the Move for almost a year at that point, >so just as Trevor took over bass duties from Ace, he must have also >taken over the backing vocal bits that Ace sang. Okay, before the rumormill goes crazy, I made what I refer to as a "wishful thinking typo" in a previous post when I used the word "SEE" instead of "HEAR." I have no idea why I made that typo. The Fillmore show was not videotaped. It will be an audio CD release. Maybe I meant that I can "see" it in my head. ;) I checked with Rob on who sang the Ace part in the Fillmore show and he recalls that Roy and Carl sang it together. So, my comment about looking forward to the Fillmore release so that I can HEAR (ahem) Ace's vocals makes no sense since Ace wasn't even in the group then. I would have been very disappointed, wouldn't I? :) ********** Subject: Re: Ace's singing Date: Tue, 16 Apr 2002 10:48:31 -0700 From: "Tyler C.Sherman" Hi Lynn, A forgivable error, especially considering the agregate age of folks responding to the "Tell us..." query. I know my synapses don't all fire at the same time anymore. Maybe we've all got a bit of "Grass Growing" in our brains! Wizzards, Tyler ********** Subject: Re: Ace's singing Date: Tue, 16 Apr 2002 10:49:48 -0700 From: Patrik Guttenbacher Bobby Sutliff wrote: >I can tell the difference vocally between Roy, Carl, Bev, Trevor, Rick >and Jeff, so what if anything did Ace Kefford sing? Hi Bobby, Ace sings the lead vocals on Yellow Rainbow. Ace sings on Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart all the non-Bev bass parts. Roy said this in an interview about the first album entiled "Move" and should be entitled "Move Masses" (thats the clue why the artwork featured so many Move musicians...!) Ace also has some singing bits in Night Of Fear, I Can Hear The Grass Grow and Walk Upon The Water, as you can see clearly on the Live TV-Show "Beat Beat Beat" broadcasted in the German television in 1986. It was the predecessor of famous BEAT CLUB. Bye Patrik Guttenbacher Author of Unexpected Messages. ********** Subject: Re: Ace's singing Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2002 10:21:01 -0700 From: David Friedman Bobby -- Yes, Ace sang lead on Yellow Rainbow. He was also featured in several songs like I Can Hear the Grass Grow (the 'get a hold of yourself baby' section) and Night of Fear (the 'just about to flip your mind' section). I wish that I figured this out on my own, but a video of the Move from German TV (probably early '67) playing those two songs and Walk Upon The Water helped me in the process. I am sure there are other sections of songs he sings lead...thats what I love about the way the early Move songs are arranged. I'm presuming the multiple vocalists was Roy's idea and I LOVE IT! I wish that more groups today did that. DAVID FRIEDMAN ********** Subject: Re: Ace's singing Date: Thu, 18 Apr 2002 23:38:57 -0700 From: Greg Weatherby David Friedman wrote: > I am sure there are other sections of songs he sings lead...thats > what I love about the way the early Move songs are arranged. I'm > presuming the multiple vocalists was Roy's idea and I LOVE IT! > I wish that more groups today did that. Well, exactly. That was one of the things that made the 5 man line-up so very cool. Four of them sang and Bev tried. Trading off vocals, each great musicians, killer songs.....the 5 man line-up was the nazz, no doubt about it. ********** Subject: Re: Ace's singing Date: Tue, 16 Apr 2002 15:40:26 -0700 From: "Robert Sutliff" Thanks to all for the Ace Kefford singing info!! I went back and listened and you know what - he was good enough to be a lead singer in anybody's band. So what did the Ace Kefford Stand material sound like? BTW - dunno if any of you have have ever heard any of my recorded stuff. but it's a good bit Move influenced (or so I like to think). I had the infinite pleasure of redoing 10538 Overture for the recent Lynne Me Your Ears tribute and it was a total blast trying to recreate that absolutely magical track. I had the hopeless task of playing Roy's cello bits (I play like a 10 year old), but I think it worked out alright. I hate all of you who got to see Roy in NYC!! Bobby Sutliff http://www.houseofideas.com/bobby_sutliff/ ********** Subject: Move live clips Date: Tue, 16 Apr 2002 10:47:45 -0700 From: "Jason McCollam" I have a thirty minute video of random Move live clips. There was some TV program that they did "Night of Fear", and "I Can Hear the Grass Grow". It was in black and white. It then has a video for "Flowers in the Rain which is in color and they run around in paisley outfits in the grass. then it has some german video show which I don't speak, this was a live clip from some studio circa Jeff Lynne phase. Roy was playing slide guitar. I can't remember the song to save my like right now. I can hum it in my head but can't remember the title. I don't know if this was pretty common or not. It was the only thing I've ever seen in terms of live videos. ********** Subject: Rock and roll weekend Date: Wed, 3 Apr 2002 10:36:58 -0800 From: "prplhaz" Anybody out there that is a travel agent, or know one, or who are just possibly rich enough to fill a plane to the UK and there about for a Rock/n/roll weekend. Find a place to see Woody. And how about some of those other great bands across the big water. Pretty things, Stray, Man, Groundhogs, Status Quo, Oh how I wish Alex Harvey was still with US. I am sure you all can add a few more to this list. But my point is lets get together and try to see some of these bands before they are gone. Please take me with you. ********** Subject: Thunderbirds / Woody film score Date: Tue, 2 Apr 2002 14:20:28 -0800 From: "Dave Woodier" Leigh wrote: > Just so you know.... it is the theme tune to the Gerry & Sylvia > Anderson puppet TV series of the same name. It was original aired > in the 60's but is still being repeated on UK TV. (It was a successor > to 'Fireball XL5' and 'Stingray' and a predecessor to 'Captain Scarlet'. > > How sad am I? Leigh, And so are all us XX years old men from the UK - I still love watching the innocence of those programmes but with the foresight on technology. Thunderbirds was positioned as an 'American' International Rescue organisation, to help sell the series in the states - not sure how successful it was - anyone throw any light from US side? After that little digression... I think it would be really intriguing to see how Roy would fair with a film score - with the BIG Band sound of the Army, Jolly Cup of Tea, Premium Bond theme and some of his other instrumental wanderings he has the skills I believe. Wouldn't it be great, the next Bond film with a score by Woody? What film score would you love to see Woody do? End of Useless Information #343 ******************************* [This digest is the copyright of the Move "Useless Information" Mailing List. 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