[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 #444 February 13, 2003 In this issue: * Song Of The Week (week of 2/3): "Wear A Fast Gun" * Who is Roy's "old friend"? (cont.) * Wizzard in Mojo * The Shazam/Move List Connection * Song Of The Week (week of 2/10): "The Last Thing On My Mind" * The Move/Bowie connection * The Shazam/Hello * Tell us the news about yourself... ============================================================== 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 TO UNSUBSCRIBE: Send an e-mail to move-digest-request@eskimo.com with the word "unsubscribe" (no quotes) in the subject line ============================================================== Subject: Re: Song Of The Week: "Wear A Fast Gun" Date: Sat, 8 Feb 2003 16:02:34 -0800 From: "Boz Mdcn" Richard wrote: >It's very dramatic, it's one of Roy's best vocals, and one of his best >melodies; the instrumental passage between the last verse and the >onset of the hymn could easily have been written by Vivaldi: excerpts >from the largo movement of a Concerto for mandolin, string quartet and >insane rock group. And what is that hymn, anyway? It's 'Abide With Me' by Henry Francis Lyte (1793-1847) sung to the tune 'Eventide' by William Henry Monk (1823-1889). The tune is played every evening by the church bells of All Saints Brixham, Devon where Lyte was curate. It is traditionally sung before the English FA Cup Final. ********** Subject: Re: Song Of The Week: "Wear A Fast Gun" Date: Mon, 10 Feb 2003 19:16:40 -0800 From: "Tyler C.Sherman" I'm a bit late posting on this one but I can't let it pass by. Next to "Buffalo Station/Get On Down To Memphis", my favorite track from "Wizzard Brew". It's a minor masterpiece in it's own right. I've always loved the obvious spiritual quality to it, what with Roy "borrowing" the main melody line from the hymn "Abide With Me" toward the end. Now that Lynn posted the lyrics (some of which were unclear to me till now), I can sense the overall immediacy of a Christian person facing death in a gun face-off of some sort. I can just imagine a minister in an old western movie being forced into a situation where he has to confront a "bad guy" in a duel. Great lyrical imagery. Thanks, Lynn, for clearing this one up for me. The music is just fantastic, can't wait to hear it remastered properly. The entire "Brew" album suffers from a muddy mix which, hopefully, will get cleared up in the forthcoming reissue. Wizzards, Tyler ********** Subject: Re: Song Of The Week: "Wear A Fast Gun" Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2003 09:54:13 -0800 From: "Tim Emerich" Tyler wrote: >The music is just fantastic, can't wait to hear it remastered properly. >The entire "Brew" album suffers from a muddy mix which, hopefully, >will get cleared up in the forthcoming reissue. there's a bit of flavor to that muddy mix (on my vinyl anyway). it would be cool to have a cleaner version of it, for guests. they're usually very excepting to anything ELO and The Move. i've only had one friend who really dug Wizzard's Brew. that crazy sax thing that sounds like a transformer fizzling out and making weird things happen to your ears at the beginning of Meet Me at the Jailhouse really impressed him. so much that i didnt see my record for about a year! Wear a Fast Gun. it's an emotional and moving song. i remember alot of discussion about this song when it was SOTW last. as much as i love Wizzard's Brew, i sadly cant say that i know who does what on the album. i know those guys always had pictures of a band on the ablums but when it got to things in the studio, you hear different things. did Roy actually play any cello tracks on WB or was that Hugh? ********** Subject: Re: Who is Roy's "old friend"? Date: Sat, 8 Feb 2003 11:12:00 -0800 From: "Peter MANION" >Rob: It will just be a teaser for starters, there will be more >information in March. >Me: Can't I just tell them who it is? >Rob: Not yet. Tell them, "It's Roy's oldest friend." >Me: But that could be one of several people. >Rob: No, it could only be one person. I think it has to be Carl Wayne, when I saw Carl and 'The Hollies' in Cheltenham Carl did an introduction to 'Blackberry Way' saying, 'this song was written by an old friend who I met when he was six and I was ten years old - Roy Wood.' Then there was that gig they did together a couple of weeks ago, so they are definitely in touch. It can't be anyone else, can it? Jeff Lynne, nar, my money is on Carl - and already I am becoming very excited! ********** Subject: Re: Who is Roy's "old friend"? Date: Sat, 8 Feb 2003 16:03:28 -0800 From: "Tyler C.Sherman" I think Peter may be on to something. I cast my vote for Carl as well. And I will speculate that the "rarities" project is the long awaited "Move Live At The Fillmore" CD we've all been waiting for with perhaps some added material from that period when Carl was still involved. Wizzards, Tyler ********** Subject: Re: Who is Roy's "old friend"? Date: Mon, 10 Feb 2003 12:08:22 -0800 From: wbonn987 Lynn writes: > Me: But MOST of them have. Who cares about New York? HEY! I care about New York :) BTW, I did get my bulletin on Saturday, so, if NY was all that was left, we all got it now. I won't tell the answer. :) My order is already out in the mail to you. Slipping back into lurkdom here in NY, Bill ********** Subject: Wizzard in Mojo Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 13:19:10 -0800 From: Richard Messum Hi, all ~ I just picked up the February issue of "Mojo" (the latest one that is available here), it's the "English Eccentric Weirdfest!" issue. As has been posted to the Move list, "Wizzard Brew" made their top 50 U.K. eccentric albums list. 'Having been the creative force in The Move before co-founding ELO with Jeff Lynne, Wood formed Wizzard, a cacophonous band of multi-instrumentalists. They achieved three number ones in 1973 but "Wizzard Brew" defied convention by omitting them in favour of a crazed Spector sound -- heavy brass, wild sax solos and little discernible commerciality. By 1974, they'd become outrageously glam practitioners of rock 'n' roll pastiche.' My comments on this thumbnail sketch: (a) I'm very uncomfortable with that final sentence, which, without clearly being so, sounds dismissive; (b) Roy "defied convention?" What an absurd notion :o^) and (c), what were their three 1973 number ones? "SMBJ," "IWICBCE" and ... what else? Anyone? Cheers Richard <^..^> <^..^> & <^..^> ********** Subject: Re: Wizzard in Mojo Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 14:24:49 -0800 From: "sjk0108" Richard Messum spriggsoc@cyg.net wrote: >and (c), what were their three 1973 number ones? "SMBJ," "IWICBCE" >and ... what else? Anyone? angel fingers???? ********** Subject: Re: Wizzard in Mojo Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 14:24:44 -0800 From: John DeSilva > (a) I'm very uncomfortable with that final sentence, which, without > clearly being so, sounds dismissive; Richard: My take on your (a) comment - since it appears that the issue is an irreverent tribute to "English Eccentrics", I'm thinking that they meant "outrageously glam practitioners of rock 'n' roll pastiche" in the most loving, flattering terms possible. The other # 1 you seek is "Angel Fingers". JD San Jose, CA ********** Subject: Re: Wizzard in Mojo Date: Thu, 13 Feb 2003 02:06:00 -0800 From: "Andrew Footman" They only had 2 number ones: SMBJ and AF. ********** Subject: The Shazam/Move List Connection Date: Sat, 8 Feb 2003 16:03:07 -0800 From: "Drew Jacobs" Lynn Hoskins wrote: >For new list members who aren't sure why a Nashville band called The >Shazam is of interest to this list... apart from the fact that >they're huge Move fans and named themselves after the second Move >album, they performed with Carl and Bev at Abbey Road Studios in May >2002, doing acoustic versions of "I Can Hear The Grass Grow" and >"Beautiful Daughter." Absolutely fantastic. Of course, Lynn is right! The Shazam are fantastic! However, due to modesty I am sure, Lynn didn't mention the other connection between the Move List and The Shazam (drumroll..........) According to theinside cover of their latest "Tomorrow The World", Lynn Hoskins handles Publicity for The Shazam, and Rob Caiger handles their Representation! If this isn't endorsement of this great group by our two favorite Move List Catalists, I don't know what is! Check out The Shazam! And great job Lynn and Rob! Drew Jacobs Latham, NY ********** Subject: Song Of The Week: "The Last Thing On My Mind" Date: Mon, 10 Feb 2003 17:30:06 -0800 From: Lynn Hoskins Song Of The Week: February 10, 2003 "The Last Thing On My Mind" from the album "Shazam" Possible discussion topics: Vocals Lyrics Musicianship Arrangement/Production Personal interpretation *********************** I took Tom Paxton's original lyrics and modified them to reflect what was sung by The Move. Okay, list... who sings what? :) "The Last Thing on my Mind" (by Tom Paxton) It's a lesson too late for the learn' Made of sand, on it's made of sand In the wink of an eye my soul keeps on turnin' In your hand, in your hand CHORUS Are you going away with no word of farewell? Will there be not a trace for me to find? Well, I could have loved you better I didn't mean to be unkind Oh, you must know it was the last thing on my mind As we walk on, my thoughts they are a-tumblin' down, down Round and round, round and round Underneath I hear subways rumblin' Underground, underground CHORUS (repeat): Are you going away with no word of farewell? Will there be not a trace left behind? Well, I could have loved you better I didn't mean to be unkind You know that was the last thing on my mind [guitar solo] You've got reasons a-plenty for goin' This I know, this I know For the weeds have been steadily growin' Please don't go, please don't go CHORUS (repeat): Are you going away with no word of farewell? Will there be not a trace left behind? Well, I could have loved you better I didn't mean to be unkind You know that was the last thing on my mind ********** Subject: Re: Song Of The Week: "The Last Thing On My Mind" Date: Mon, 10 Feb 2003 19:16:34 -0800 From: "Tyler C.Sherman" This beautiful Tom Paxton song gets an outstanding rendering by The Move from "Shazam". Actually, I heard The Move version first and then the original by Tom Paxton, which is a lovely little folk song that I have subsequently learned to play & sing as it was originally written. Paxton's stuff is wonderful, for those who have never checked out his music, please do! For those of us who have seen the "Color Me Pop" feature on The Move from early '69, in which they do "Last Thing", the evolution of the song from then till it's appearance on "Shazam" is quite interesting. It's fair to say it was probably part of their repertoire during their brief foray into cabaret at Carl's behest. By the time of the sessions for "Shazam", however, Roy had turned it into this wonderful, extended psychedelic epic. Some of Roy's finest guitar playing comes forth resplendently here. Bev's drumming is just incredible toward the end of the solo section in the middle. Carl, Roy & Rick Price sing beautifully in turn on the verses and their harmonies on the choruses kill! This is one of my all time fave Move tracks. Wizzards, Tyler ********** Subject: Re: Song Of The Week: "The Last Thing On My Mind" Date: Mon, 10 Feb 2003 22:59:42 -0800 From: "Andrew Footman" Now this is just fantastic. I have never heard better singing or playing on any record to match this. Roy to this day has never been rated has a great guitar player. Shazam is the most amazing guitar album i have heard. Hendrix himself could not better this track. You poor people who only have heard it on CD are missing how powerful this track is. It sort of makes you drift off to another world when the guitar solo comes in. The CD just sounds compressed and sucks the dynamics out of the whole album. If you only have Movements i feel very sorry for you. The Move do not sound like that, their records are lively and dynamic with the same power of the Who. Not dull and flat. You just have not heard this at all.Shazam is wrecked now it is to Rob now to put it right, I listen to my CDR remaster from the Regal Zonophone LP BECAUSE ALL THE CD VERSIONS ARE CRAP! I should know i have them all including the so called Jap 24 bit remaster CD'S. ********** Subject: Re: Song Of The Week: "The Last Thing On My Mind" Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2003 09:54:21 -0800 From: John DeSilva A fitting ending to one of the greatest albums of the 20th century (ok, ok, a little hyperbole is allowed when it comes to the Move, right? ;-D ). Roy's "guitar orchestra" is in full, beautiful flower here ... the shimmering rhythm of the 12 string electric is breathtaking. I'm guessing that the order of singers to verses is: Carl - verse 1, Rick - verse 2, Roy - verse 3 solo on lines 1 and 3, all on lines 2 and 4. The harmony singing on this track is unparalleled - it also makes me wonder if Rick Price was present for the vocals for "Message From The Country", another harmony vocal wonder from the Move. As Tyler pointed out Tom Paxton's version is indeed excellent, and I too would highly recommend it. But there's something about the Move's version that is transcendent and very powerful. A perfect song, not only for Carl's considerable vocal talents, but also for showcasing the brilliant arrangement by Roy. JD San Jose, CA ********** Subject: The Move/Bowie connection Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 13:31:52 -0800 From: Lynn Hoskins With so many new list members onboard, I thought I'd point the list to the fascinating Ace Kefford interview on The Move Online website (http://www.themoveonline) and ask if the Bowie connection that was revealed by Ace took anyone (besides me) by surprise. Can you detect Bowie's influence on their early recordings? This interview was done on BBC Radio WM last July, when Carl was guest DJ for a week. Here's an excerpt: Carl: Tell me about Davy Jones, which is where it all started. Ace: When you played that "Starman" track, it sounds the strangest, weirdest coincidence in the world, but this is the pop business and you have to be in the right place at the right time. Yeah, well, he was on as Davy Jones and the Lower Third at the Cedar where we all went. Me and Trev were just there, I don't think any of the rest of us were. Anyway, we saw him and he just blew us away. It was fashion, style, the way he looked. Like I say, we were 17, 18, and all the kids in Birmingham were Mods. Of course with the image we had with the Vikings - as much as I loved every guy in the Vikings, especially, God bless him, Johnny - it was an image, that wouldn't work. What happened was me and Trev approached Roy, but you know what Woody was like in those days. We didn't so much approach Roy as Roy drew us to him like a bloody magnet, he was that good. So Roy drew me and Trev to him, really. Carl: It's interesting you talk about image because we had Danny King in earlier. Of course you and I and everybody else acknowledges that Danny was the greatest singer of them all. The reason Danny probably didn't crack it was image, and Danny is quite open about that. Apart from Norrie Paramour and how he basically ruined the music business in Birmingham. Ace: Yeah. The thing that got me and Trev together, and then got us together with Roy, was that night when we met Bowie. He said we were enthusiastic and suggested the two of us form our own band. That was the only impetus, the catalyst we needed to go off and look for somebody else. Then that was it. We looked around and all that, and there was just nobody. To read the entire interview (highly recommended!) visit http://www.themoveonline.com/radiowm_ace.html ********** Subject: The Shazam/Hello Date: Fri, 7 Feb 2003 12:23:59 -0800 From: MarkP Hello All, Just joined this illustrious list last weekend and am quite impressed with the talk included on the two digests I've received so far. Let me begin with saying hello to one and all and that you would doing yourself a disservice in NOT investigating The Shazam. Fabulous band! If I were Roy and the lads I'd be honored a band their like chose a title as such ...that said ... Lynn's inquiry -- "Your name, age, location, occupation." Mark P, 44, Long Island, New York, USA "How long have you been a Move and/or Roy Wood fan?" Pretty long, really cannot pinpoint an actual year but it's safe to say it was probably around 70-71 ... eighth grade I began hanging around the "proper" record store ... I've been corrupted ever since! "What was your first Move related experience?" Finding out I wasn't alone liking stand out/monumental songs I was hearing on some newfound F.M. airwaves the likes of "Blackberry Way", "Fire Brigade", "I Can Hear The Grass Grow." This was 1971-ish, I was twelve years of age or so and in the eighth grade. It was around this point in time I began hanging down the "proper" record shop one Mother's Music Emporium I found out there were others that knew of the same bands I'd been hearing on said F.M. airwaves of the time ... but there were more down Mother's that actually knew allot more than I ..."how could this be!?!?" ;-) ... I found out alot about the human condition as well. I think it's safe to say that we all thought we were alone in liking a certain band, song, album, whatever and to find a certain camaraderie somewhere you never thought you would is a real bonus ... my good friend Marty was/is a Roy/Move/ELO FANATIC ... I guess The Move were a key factor in he and I connecting. "Tell us about your top 5 favorite Move related tracks." Five is tough but I love lists so here goes(this can change at the drop of a hat as well...) -- 1. Fire Brigade 2. Curly 3. The Girl Outside 4. Omnibus 5. Blackberry Way ... I can go on ...? "What's your favorite Move related release, and why?" Well, it's gotta be _Shazam_ ... obvious reasons that you are all QUITE well aware of me thinks? "What topics would you like to see discussed on this list?" Any Roy and related topics are fine where I'm concerned but I also like a list that doesn't mind veering off topic at times as well. As long as we agree we're all on the same page ... I think it's some of the off topic banter that really spices up a mailing list ... opens up some new avenues ... allows us to really get to know one and other. "If you've seen the Move or any member of the Move in concert, tell us about that show." I saw Roy and the gals last year in NYC and it was WELL worth the wait! Sadly, I missed Wizzard. Saw early ELO as well but not w/Mssr Wood. "Who are some of your other favorite artists/bands?" I can bore you for weeks on this subject and I know I shall given a chance, five of my favorites -- Let's Active - I run a Mitch Easter /Let's Active web site so I think it's safe to say this is #1. Robyn Hitchcock/Soft Boys The Church You Am I Be Bop Deluxe/Bill Nelson "Which Move related song do you wish one of your favorite bands would cover?" Love to see You Am I do "When Alice Comes Back To The Farm" as they do a good solid version of "I Can Hear The Grass Grow". Like to see Mitch do something in his newly formed Crackpots ensemble which is himself, Shalini Chatterjee and his old mate from Ledz days Eric Marshall. Anything by anyone would be interesting. Apologies for all the this "me" and "I" garbage, thanks for reading, glad to be here! Regards Mark ********** Subject: Re: Tell us the news about yourself... Date: Sun, 9 Feb 2003 13:32:44 -0800 From: Ccjroberts >Your name, age, location, occupation. My name is Curtis Roberts. I am in my 40s and live in Tuxedo Park, NY. I am an attorney/business executive. >How long have you been a Move and/or Roy Wood fan? I have been a Move/Roy Wood fan since I first heard Shazam in high school. >What was your first Move related experience? Hearing Shazam in a friend's bedroom. I simply couldn't believe it; it really jumped out and you and dragged you inside. I was hooked. >Tell us about your top 5 favorite Move related tracks. That's hard, but off the top of my head: Fire Brigade, Blackberry Way, Hello Susie, It Wasn't My Idea To Dance, Chinatown. I'm sticking to Move tracks, not Move-related tracks. >What's your favorite Move related album, and why? Shazam, I guess. I like them all but when I hear it, I'm constantly drawn back to the moment I first discovered The Move and that makes me very happy. >What topics would you like to see discussed on this list? So far, the list seems great and the comments seem to be of a higher order of intelligence than one finds on the lists of other (also very fine) groups. >If you've seen the Move or any member of the Move in concert, tell us >about that show. I saw Roy perform for the first time in the mid-1990s at a Bosnia relief effort concert at Irving Plaza in NY that Annie Haslam organized. My friends and I all had the same "and now I can die happy" feeling. There were other fine artists on the bill, including Gary Brooker, but Roy played last and there was no following him. It was simply one of the most intense, enjoyable performances I've ever seen, which mixed Move and Wizzard material. I also saw Roy at the Village Underground last year and it was pure magic. Roy is an extraordinary, magnetic performer -- simply put, one of the best. >Tell us about an amusing or interesting situation that has happened >as a result of you being a Move/Roy Wood fan. I made a lifelong friend during my freshman year in college by introducing a person (who was a fellow Kinks/Byrds fan) to the Move. I also met Roy backstage at a Ramones/Runaways show at the Academy of Music in NY during the 70s. (He was there with Annie Haslam who, like the Ramones, recorded for Sire. ) I got up the nerve to speak with him and he was very charming while giving me a false story for Wizzard's last minute cancellation at the Tower Theater in Philadelphia two years previously. The quality and spontaneity of his presentation made the whole thing forgiveable part of life's rich tapestry. >Who are some of your other favorite artists/bands? Kinks, Byrds, Kevin Ayers, Gene Clark, Slapp Happy/Peter Blegvad, Bob Dylan, Kirsty MacColl, Wailers, Gregory Isaacs. >Which Move related song do you wish one of your favorite bands >would cover? Useless Information or Ella James. I think both could be hits. >What is the one burning question that you have never had answered >in relation to Move/Roy Wood history or music? I would like to know why Roy has been SO low-profile in recent years and why there's been such a dearth of new material. The new songs he played in NY last year were wonderful. >Are you having trouble finding any Move related music on CD? Obviously, the situation's gotten better and continues to get better. What I'd love to see is that two-lp EMI compilation The Roy Wood Story reappear. That was SOME WONDERFUL long-player. End of Useless Information #444 ******************************* [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.]