[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 #399 October 9, 2002 In this issue: * Move biog on BBC's website * Next...Idle Race? * Ace and the frontmen / Wild Tiger... * Piece Of My Heart (cont.) * Where is...Cherry Blossom Clinic? * The Lost Album * I Can Feel The Fire by Roy Wood ============================================================== To POST TO THE LIST: Send an e-mail to: move-list@eskimo.com Move List Info & Archives: http://www.eskimo.com/~noanswer/movelist.html Join the ELO List: http://www.eskimo.com/~noanswer/showdown.html Other official websites: The Move: http://www.themoveonline.com Roy Wood: http://www.roywood.co.uk Face The Music (for all ELO & related news): http://www.ftmusic.com TO UNSUBSCRIBE: Send an e-mail to move-digest-request@eskimo.com with the word "unsubscribe" (no quotes) in the subject line ============================================================== Subject: Move biog on BBC's website Date: Sat, 5 Oct 2002 20:57:22 -0700 From: Lynn Hoskins John Duffy reminded the ELO List today that the BBC website has a rather comprehensive biog section, courtesy "Encyclopedia of Popular Music." So I went here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/muze/biog.shtml And typed "The Move" And got this: Move (The) Formed in 1966 in the Cedar Club from the ashes of several Birmingham beat groups, the original Move comprised Roy Wood (b. Roy Adrian Wood, 8 November 1946, Birmingham, England; vocals/guitar), Carl Wayne (b. Colin David Tooley, 18 August 1943, Birmingham, England; vocals), Chris "Ace" Kefford (b. 10 December 1946, Birmingham, England; bass), Trevor Burton (b. Trevor Iresons, 9 March 1944, Ashton, Warwickshire, England; guitar) and Bev Bevan (b. Beverley Bevan, 24 November 1945, Birmingham, England; drums). Under the guidance of Tony Secunda, they moved to London, signed to Decca Records' hit subsidiary Deram Records, and rapidly established themselves as one of the most inventive and accomplished pop bands on the live circuit. In 1967, their first two UK Top 5 singles, the classically inspired "Night Of Fear" and upbeat psychedelic "I Can Hear The Grass Grow" sounded fresh and abrasive and benefited from a series of publicity stunts masterminded by Secunda. Like the Who, the Move specialized in "auto-destruction", smashing television sets and cars onstage and burning effigies of Adolf Hitler, Ian Smith and Dr Veerwoord. Later in the year, they signed to the reactivated Regal Zonophone Records label which was launched in September with the fashionably titled "Flowers In The Rain", the first record played on BBC Radio 1. The mischievous Secunda attempted to promote the disc with a saucy postcard depicting Harold Wilson. The Prime Minister promptly sued for libel, thereby diverting Roy Wood's royalties from the UK number 2 hit single to charity. In February 1968, the band returned as strong as ever with the high energy, 50s inspired, "Fire Brigade", which provided them with their fourth Top 5 single. Soon afterwards, Ace Kefford suffered a nervous breakdown and left the group which continued as a quartet, with Burton switching to bass. The catchy but chaotic "Wild Tiger Woman" fared less well than expected, as did their bizarrely eclectic EP Something Else. Management switches from Tony Secunda, who was sacked, to Don Arden and then to Peter Walsh brought further complications, but the maestro Wood responded well with the evocative "Blackberry Way", a number 1 on some UK charts. A softening of their once violent image with "Curly" coincided with Burton's departure and replacement Rick Price. The band were then finding they were being booked into the cabaret circuit by Walsh's Starlight Agency. Carl Wayne finally left after an altercation in Sheffield although increasing friction within their ranks culminated Wood planning the ELO Wayne's enforced departure in January 1970 for a solo career, leaving the Move to carry on as a trio. The heavy rock sound of "Brontosaurus" and "When Alice Comes Down To The Farm" supplemented their diverse hit repertoire, and further changes were ahead. The recruitment of Jeff Lynne (b. 30 December 1947, Birmingham, England) from the Idle Race in February 1970 encouraged Wood to experiment with cellos and oboes while simultaneously pursuing their career as an increasingly straightforward pop act. The final flurry of Move hits ("Tonight", "Chinatown" and "California Man") were bereft of the old invention, which was henceforth to be discovered in their grand offshoots, the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) and Wizzard. DISCOGRAPHY: The Move (Regal Zonophone 1968)****, Shazam (Regal Zonophone 1970)****, Looking On (Fly 1970)***, Message From The Country (Harvest 1971)***. COMPILATIONS: California Man (Harvest 1974)***, The Collection (Castle 1986)***, The Early Years (Dojo 1992)***, The BBC Sessions (Band Of Joy 1995)**, Movements: 30th Anniversary Anthology 3-CD box set (Westside 1997)****, Looking Back ... The Best Of The Move (Music Club 1998)***, Omnibus: The 60s Singles As And Bs (Edsel 1999)***, Hits & Rarities Singles A's & B's (Repertoire 1999)****, The Complete Singles Collection And More (Crimson 2000)****. Encyclopedia of Popular Music Copyright Muze UK Ltd. 1989 - 2002 [Roy's middle name isn't Adrian...] ********** Subject: Re: Move biog on BBC's website Date: Sat, 5 Oct 2002 20:58:04 -0700 From: Lynn Hoskins From The Move's biog in the Encyclopedia of Popular Music "Carl Wayne finally left after an altercation in Sheffield although increasing friction within their ranks culminated Wood planning the ELO Wayne's enforced departure in January 1970 for a solo career, leaving the Move to carry on as a trio." This is a very strange sentence. Am I just not reading it correctly, or are there words missing? ********** Subject: Re: Move biog on BBC's website Date: Sun, 6 Oct 2002 02:41:48 -0700 From: kakman1 Apparently something got mangled from the biographer's brain to the keyboard. I'm surprised who ever was in charge of editing the pieces submitted didn't spot this and the flag the writer. With a grammatical correction and punctuation, the sentence should be read as follows: "Carl Wayne finally left after an altercation in Sheffield although increasing friction within their ranks culminated in Wood planning the ELO; Wayne's enforced departure in January 1970 for a solo career left the Move to carry on as a trio." Whaddya think, better? Kevin Kunreuther Dallas TX ********** Subject: Re: Move biog on BBC's website Date: Sun, 6 Oct 2002 02:42:35 -0700 From: Richard Messum From The Move's biog in the Encyclopedia of Popular Music >"Carl Wayne finally left after an altercation in Sheffield although >increasing friction within their ranks culminated Wood planning the >ELO Wayne's enforced departure in January 1970 for a solo career, >leaving the Move to carry on as a trio." I think the sentence is missing a couple of conjunctions: culminated "with" Wood, ELO "and" Wayne's. I have worked occasionally as a proof-reader myself; the BBC needs me! ********** Subject: Re: Move biog on BBC's website Date: Mon, 7 Oct 2002 12:03:49 -0700 From: Joe Doyle >....and Bev Bevan (b. Beverley Bevan, 24 November 1945, >Birmingham, >England; drums). Isn't Bev's real first name Michael? ********** Subject: Re: Move biog on BBC's website Date: Tue, 8 Oct 2002 00:42:15 -0700 From: Lynn Hoskins Joe Doyle wrote: >Isn't Bev's real first name Michael? You may be thinking of Michael Groucutt who joined ELO under his nickname, "Kelly." As far as I know, Bev's first name is Beverley. ********** Subject: Next...Idle Race? Date: Mon, 7 Oct 2002 23:26:10 -0700 From: JAMESMDUCK Lynn writes: >To name just a couple, Amazon in the U.S. have it >The price is $23.99 Hi and thanks! They did indeed have it and for a goodly bit less (used). Next on my list is anything by The Idle Race. Any suggestions on that one? Jim Duckworth Memphis TN ********** Subject: Re: Next...Idle Race? Date: Tue, 8 Oct 2002 00:43:31 -0700 From: kakman1 If you got about $150 or so to spare, you could try to successfully bid for "Back To The Story" collection on ebay; currently there is an ongoing auction and it's just over the $100 mark at present. It will be over in a day or two. Badly promoted and deleted far too soon by EMI, it had all three Idle Race LPs and non-LP traxcks and early Mike Sheridan and The Nightriders singles on two CDs. If I remember from an earlier post this year from Rob Caiger, there is a chance this, or a newer collection may be issued sometime in the future. So the question is, do you hold on to your ducats and wait in earnest for a new collection overseen by Rob Caiger sometime in the near future, or shell out the sheckels and miss a few meals this month just to own this exquisite collection? I'm saving my cash, myself.... Kevin Kunreuther Dallas TX ********** Subject: Re: Next...Idle Race? Date: Tue, 8 Oct 2002 04:09:04 -0700 From: "Tyler C.Sherman" Hi Jim, It may be out of print now but EMI put out a collection of Jeff Lynne stuff (contains Idle Race as well as Move & ELO) called "Message From The Country: The Jeff Lynne Years 1968-1973" (EMI CDP -7 -92585 -2). It's very nice single CD that is well worth looking for. If out of print, you may find it used at Amazon or some other internet store. Wizzards, Tyler ********** Subject: Ace and the frontmen / Wild Tiger... Date: Tue, 8 Oct 2002 11:52:55 -0700 From: Supertzar Hi guys, Mike G, where did you get the videotape? Would love to see some more of The Move in full flow, especially mark 1 line up. I've got footage of many of my heroes (The Creation, The Action, Small Faces..) but am yet to see The Move other than a couple of well known Beeb clips (TOTP, Colour Me Pop). Have heard the legends of just how charismatic Ace and Carl were, as well looking extremely cool in their '66 post-mod/gangster chic look! Imagine a full DVD of the boys coming out, all singing and dancing including British and European appearances and lingering promo films that may (or may not? Guys?) exist....wouldn't be bad, would it? Also Kevin was talking about "Wild Tiger Woman", I agree the relative failure of that single is something of a pivotal moment in the band's history. Clearly way ahead of it's time, it sounds like a '72 glammish rocker except it's '68 and hence very avant-garde in my opinion. The Move always moved very quickly (a very Mod trait) one or two steps too fast in that instance perhaps. It's this ingenuity that ironically worked against them in the long run, with Secunda's early encouragement it could all have been easily dismissed as band wagon jumping I suppose. Anyway, a really incredible record that sounds very fresh today, with great vocal hooks ("wild,wild,wild!") and a lovely Elmore James tribute sneaking into the guitar line! Is there a live recording in existence...? Cheers, JR ********** Subject: Re: Ace and the frontmen / Wild Tiger... Date: Tue, 8 Oct 2002 15:09:18 -0700 From: kakman1 JR wrote: >Anyway, a really incredible record that sounds very fresh today, with >great vocal hooks ("wild,wild,wild!") and a lovely Elmore James tribute >sneaking into the guitar line! Is there a live recording in existence...? "Live At The BBC", but that's live in the studio. I forget, did they perform that on Colour Me Pop broadcast? Wouldn't expect it on upcoming Live At The Fillmore release next year (possibly the most eagerly awaited release of a Move album in years!) Kevin Kunreuther Dallas TX ********** Subject: Re: Piece Of My Heart Date: Tue, 8 Oct 2002 13:06:11 -0700 From: Zabadak900 (Rick) Andrew Footman writes: >I think you will find the 'Move' recorded their BBC session before >the Janis Joplin single was recorded. Both versions are cover >versions of the 'ERMA FRANKLIN' older sister of Aretha Franklin >single. The Move must have heard the original just like Janis and >gigged it. There was recently released a box-set of "lost" Motown songs from it's "Golden Years." It consisted of couda-shuda-wouda been hits & rareties quite unknown to Americans. Though totally obscure here in the US, some of these sides were "hits" in the UK, owing to a club/disco circuit, devoted to American RnB music, based in the north of England. This might explain how many British singers/musos visiting soul-circuit clubs, became exposed to such items. ********** Subject: Re: Piece Of My Heart Date: Wed, 9 Oct 2002 03:34:05 -0700 From: Richard Messum Andy, i bow to your superior knowledge on this point and thanks for the info. I knew that it wasn't a Big Brother original, but theirs was the only version i had ever heard until The Move's. But my question -- asked purely out of idle curiosity -- concerned The Byrds, as The Move did three songs on "BBC Sessions" which were also recorded by the Byrds -- "So you want to be a rock 'n' roll star," "Goin' back" and "Christian life." Did they ever meet up, jam together, play together, etc? Just wondering..... ********** Subject: Where is...Cherry Blossom Clinic? Date: Tue, 8 Oct 2002 00:58:58 -0700 From: Lynn Hoskins It's the name of an American pop band, the name of Martin Kinch's website, and the name of a radio show on WFMU in New Jersey. But where did the name originate in the 60's? In Roy's head, or is it an actual place in the UK? ********** Subject: Re: Where is...Cherry Blossom Clinic? Date: Tue, 8 Oct 2002 01:22:28 -0700 From: Keith Fletcher >But where did the name originate in the 60's? In Roy's head, or is >it an >actual place in the UK? I seem to remember Cherry Blossom being a kind of Shoe polish in the UK. Not sure how related that is? ********** Subject: Re: Where is...Cherry Blossom Clinic? Date: Tue, 8 Oct 2002 02:12:35 -0700 From: kakman1 It does sound like a made up name (else we'd have hundreds of fans making a pilgrimage to said Clinic to this day!) BTW, The Quisling Clinic from Elvis Costello's "Green Shirt" actually did exist (Minnesota) until recently (knocked down for a shopping center). BTW (again!), that is Roy's voice doing the little exposition as the patient on "Cherry Blossom Clinc Revisited" on Shazam before Carl Wayne's vocal kicks in, isn't it? Kevin Kunreuther Dallas TX ********** Subject: Re: Where is...Cherry Blossom Clinic? Date: Tue, 8 Oct 2002 11:53:04 -0700 From: John DeSilva Kevin wrote: >BTW (again!), that is Roy's voice doing the little exposition as the >patient on "Cherry Blossom Clinc Revisited" on Shazam before Carl >Wayne's vocal kicks in, isn't it? I've always assumed that it was Carl playing the part. Somebody out there must know the definitive answer on this ... JD San Jose, CA PS. I'll bet it was Mike Tyler (Sheridan) ... or Phil Copestake ... ;-D ********** Subject: Re: Where is...Cherry Blossom Clinic? Date: Tue, 8 Oct 2002 11:53:08 -0700 From: "Joe Doyle" Kevin, that's Carl speaking at the beginning of Revisited. ********** Subject: Re: Where is...Cherry Blossom Clinic? Date: Tue, 8 Oct 2002 15:09:29 -0700 From: kakman1 I'm assuming it is Roy because I have a videotape of an interview of him (Channel Four special on Birmingham Rock) and it sounds like him talking and not Carl (for years I used to assume that it was Carl speaking). Kevin Kunreuther Dallas TX ********** Subject: Re: Where is...Cherry Blossom Clinic? Date: Tue, 8 Oct 2002 15:09:38 -0700 From: Rob Caiger It's Carl. Cheers - Rob ********** Subject: The Lost Album Date: Wed, 9 Oct 2002 12:32:21 -0700 From: Lynn Hoskins I was listening to "Main Street" this morning (it's one of my favorites) and I remembered an interview with Roy that was done around the the time the album was released, two and a half years ago. Thought the list would enjoy a "re-print." Those who bought "Main Street" when it came out in 2000, are you still listening to it? I seem to enjoy it more as time goes by. ---- "The Lost Album" Birmingham Evening Mail March 24, 2000 by Dave Freak TWENTY-FOUR years after it was first recorded, Wizzard's long lost third album is finally set for release! At the time, Roy Wood - the founder of Brum beat stalwarts The Move and ELO - was at the height of his creative powers, but the eight-track Main Street was mysteriously rejected outright by his record label and consigned to the archives. 'It's really a solo album, although there were two or three members of the band still around and they worked on it,' recounts Woody, who played virtually all the instruments on the album. 'Basically, Wizzard disbanded in 1976, that's why we've called it 'by Roy Wood and Wizzard'.' The album, which fans have long speculated about, mixes Beach Boys harmonies with Hendrix riffs, electric sitar and jazz horns in a surprisingly coherent collection which the label considered too uncommercial for release. 'I delivered the tapes to the record company, Jet, who were also the management at the time, and they reckoned it wasn't 'pop' enough as Wizzard were known for their pop singles and this was a completely different style. 'This was the sound of me growing up from being a pop singer to experimenting, arranging the horns parts and using jazz themes. 'A single, Indiana Rainbow, was released - or rather escaped - but other than that none of the tracks have ever been released before. In 1977 we did record some of the songs as the Wizzo Band for a BBC TV programme called Sight & Sound which was also broadcast on the radio simultaneously and there are a couple of bootlegs as well, although I have no idea how people managed to get hold of the tapes.' Confused at the rejection, Woody soldiered on and forgot about the album until reissue label Demon got in contact with him after researching re-releases of his solo Mustard album and Wizzard's Introducing Eddy & The Falcons. Never released 'The original tapes were sold to someone else, and then passed to Demon who contacted me. I said I'd get involved as it was never released before. This is, in a sense, all new stuff rather than being some compilation album of old material.' And has it stood the test of time? 'It was recorded on old equipment, so I wasn't expecting much but I was pleasantly surprised. It does sound a bit dated but in many ways it's closer to the stuff I'm doing now with Roy Wood's Army.' Are there any other lost gems buried in the archives? 'I made an effort not to leave any spare stuff about. We pretty well released everything we recorded,' he says. Wood has been an active member of the Midlands music community for over 40 years. Making waves with Mike Sheridan And The Nightriders, he later formed The Move in 1966, a band who earned the honour of being the first band to be played on Radio One. As the combo wound down, he linked up with fellow Brummie Jeff Lynne to form ELO before jumping ship to captain Wizzard. 'I've been playing since I was 14. My first band was The Falcons, and we played working men's clubs, school clubs... It was just a laugh although I always wanted to be a musician. I did go to art college and wanted to be a commercial artist, but as soon as I started playing I couldn't think of doing anything else.' Despite this, he has continued to fall back on his artistic training. 'I did design my solo album sleeves and some Wizzard stuff, including the artwork for Main Street, which I enjoyed doing as it gave me an opportunity to let out my artistic tendencies and justify my going to college,' he jokes. With such a fantastic body of hits behind him - including See My Baby Jive, Blackberry Way, I Can Hear The Grass Grow, and I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday - it would be easy for Roy to rest on his laurels and milk the nostalgia circuit, but Roy Wood's Army has other plans. Nostalgia 'We have been going out and playing the hits as that's what the agents demand as it guarantees more bums on seats, but I'm getting a bit bored with all that,' he admits. 'I've never wanted to do that nostalgia thing. I'm a songwriter before I'm a performer. 'I've been writing some new stuff. It's more danceable, and I'm not saying any more than that at the moment as I don't want to give too much away. It will hopefully be ready later in the year, but I've got a lot more writing to do yet.' And as critics continue to reassess his career, he's quick to quash any rumours of an ELO reunion. 'I don't know anything about that. I wouldn't be interested in it if it happened and I doubt whether you'd get Jeff Lynne over from America for it,' he says. Main Street by Roy Wood & Wizzard (Edsel) is out on Monday. Roy Wood's Army will be appearing at The Robin 2, Bilston on Friday 31 March. © Copyright 2000 Mirror Regional Newspapers ********** Subject: Re: The Lost Album Date: Wed, 9 Oct 2002 14:59:32 -0700 From: "Tyler C.Sherman" Thanks, Lynn, for re-posting that, I missed it first time. I still play "Main Street" periodically and hear something I never noticed before each time. Sometimes to amaze musician friends, I'll play "I Should Have Known" with it's complex intro/recurring riff just to watch the puzzled looks on their faces. Great fun! A week ago, in a rambling narrative, I mentioned a post -Roy Wizzard album helmed by Rick Price titled "Bathe Your Feet" that was also never released, another "lost album" as it were. I have a copy of a letter from Jet Records indicating it's existence and a track listing. Anyone on the list know anything more about it? Wizzards, Tyler ********** Subject: I Can Feel The Fire by Roy Wood Date: Tue, 8 Oct 2002 11:53:34 -0700 From: "maurice dockrell" Does anyone know this Roy Wood song - if so where is it from? ********** Subject: Re: I Can Feel The Fire by Roy Wood Date: Tue, 8 Oct 2002 13:07:05 -0700 From: "Rob Shuman" I know that "Ron" Wood has a song called "I Can feel the Fire". ********** Subject: Re: I Can Feel The Fire by Roy Wood Date: Tue, 8 Oct 2002 13:05:58 -0700 From: marmil@MUZE.com It's by RON Wood. Marc End of Useless Information #399 ******************************* [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.]