[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 #453 March 12, 2003 In this issue: * Song Of The Week (week of 3/3): "The Words Of Aaron" * Fields of People by Ars Nova * ELO 2 - ooh! + addendum * It's up! * Ordering ELO 2 * Ace in Mojo * Woody Gig * Woody Gig: without the rosy glasses * Your World * Wood-less Move (cont.) * Move is dead? * Move without Woody ============================================================== 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: "The Words Of Aaron" Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2003 11:17:14 -0800 From: John DeSilva One of Jeff's best ever compositions and performances, I think. I love the way the beginning of the song brings the listener in with just the echoey piano and Jeff's double-tracked voice - then the absolutely massive bass and drums kick in and propel the song to another level entirely. Great electric piano in there as well - and then the great long fade (complete with false ending!) with Woody on recorder or wood flute (it has a much duskier tone than a recorder, so I'm not sure what he's playing there). Musically one of the highest of the high points of "Message From The Country". Lyrically it continues the highly personal, impenetrable themes of Jeff Lynne that he honed on "Looking On". Not sure what it all means, but the feel of the lyrics suggest a longing to contact someone from beyond this mortal coil, or saying goodbye, or something ... A great one, that's for sure. JD San Jose, CA ********** Subject: Re: Song Of The Week: "The Words Of Aaron" Date: Fri, 7 Mar 2003 20:11:50 -0800 From: Gmcorie what i notice first is the driving force of the bass coming in like the charge of the light brigade. vocals are kind of gloomy, but the harmony's are great. the piano coming in and out like a psychedlic wind all coming together to be one of their best. louisiana george ********** Subject: Re: Song Of The Week: "The Words Of Aaron" Date: Sun, 9 Mar 2003 02:09:20 -0800 From: Richard Messum Oh, that thundering bass... makes my tummy rumble. This is perfect Jeff Lynne Move (as opposed to Roy Wood Move), (and if i had to choose between the two, i couldn't). Very obscure and cerebral, the lyrics. Does anyone with knowledge of the Bible know if it has any relation to the story of Aaron, who was, if i remember my Bible classes aright, the brother of Moses? Listening to this i'm aching for the release of the remaster. ********** Subject: Fields of People by Ars Nova Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2003 11:27:14 -0800 From: "Borja Ferrer" A friend of mine sent me the original version of the song Fields of People by Ars Nova. I have uploaded the song for the people of the Movelist. The web page where the song is: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/astrabu/files What do you think about this song? I love the song but I still prefer the Move version. ********** Subject: Re: Fields of People by Ars Nova Date: Wed, 5 Mar 2003 10:55:00 -0800 From: kakman1 I heard this shortly after I purchased my first copy of "Shazam" (in 1979 I believe, shortly after I got a copy of A&M's Best of The Move. )The record dealer shown me the single and played it for me. He thought I may be interested to buy the original if I heard it and he actually thought it was pretty cool to turn me onto different stuff. At the time I sorta gave it a pass. I kept thinking maybe I ought to buy it since he appeared to my young eyes to have gone to some trouble. In the end I kept my money. Hearing it again years later, it's still interesting to hear, the brass is pretty good, but I'm still glad I kept my money. The Move version on "Shazam" is far superior. The live interviews that Carl did on Great Portland Street that were sprinkled throughout the album I thought may have influenced Pink Floyd to try something similar when they assembled "Dark Side Of The Moon" several years later. Kevin Kunreuther Dallas TX ********** Subject: Re: Fields of People by Ars Nova Date: Sun, 9 Mar 2003 22:37:56 -0800 From: Richard Messum Borja, thank you so much for uploading that, I'd never heard it before. It made for a fascinating comparison: same guitar figure, otherwise entirely dissimilar. The Move's version is far superior, much more energetic and i think more sincere. The finest compliment i can pay is that it *could* have been a Woody original. So whatever happened to Ars Nova, anyway? (Actually, i keep getting them mixed up with another group from that era who had a Latin name, Circus Maximus). ********** Subject: ELO 2 - ooh! Date: Mon, 10 Mar 2003 01:41:29 -0800 From: Lynn Hoskins http://www.ftmusic.com/elo2 And when you're done reading everything on this site (hours and hours later) you can check out a little news feature about Roy and ELO 2 on The Move Online - http://www.themoveonline.com But do visit the ELO 2 site first. The Sound Files page has some nice surprises. Me, I'm blown away by the photos of Marc Bolan playing with ELO. If my memory serves, Roy and Marc once jammed together... ********** Subject: It's up! Date: Mon, 10 Mar 2003 01:42:04 -0800 From: kakman1 Hey gang, just spent a couple hours perusing the ELO II site at FTM (www.ftmusic.com.elo2). This is the really absolutely fantastic. Tons of never before seen photos, new and re-printed interviews, informative articles, nice teaser sound files of the new ELO II re-issue, and other stuff I have yet to uncover, oh yes, news and links to participating websites in the Move/ELO family. After you start visiting and reading all the additional material, I'm sure the lists (Showdown & Useless Information) are going to be abuzz with tons of comments, praise, questions and raspberries at one certain you know who! Great job and kudos to Rob, Lynn and Ken. Kevin Kunreuther Dallas TX N.P. Dreaming Of 4000, ELO, On The Third Day (is this album going to be part of Third Light series, too, or is that it for ELO albums in the series?) ********** Subject: ELO 2 - ooh! (addendum) Date: Mon, 10 Mar 2003 04:12:32 -0800 From: Lynn Hoskins Whenever I post an announcement to the list, I say to myself just before hitting the "SEND" key... "Watch, as soon as I send this, all the info is going to change..." What's that they say about self-fulfilling prophecies? ;) EMI has just moved the release date for the ELO 2 30th Anniversary Remastered Expanded Edition to 31 March, 2003. Bad news for those who are climbing the walls in anticipation of this long-awaited release. Good news for those who need more time to order. Bad news for Ken Greenwell and myself who have to go through the entire ELO 2 site and change all the 24's to 31's!! ********** Subject: Re: ELO 2 - ooh! Date: Mon, 10 Mar 2003 04:13:17 -0800 From: andrew codd The website is chock full of good stuff. I won't spoil it for everyone but just when I think I've nearly finished it there is even more to be read. OOOh I never knew there was so much stuff I wanted till I saw some of this. The LIVE AT THE RAINBOW section has me all a quiver. ELO with support from Thin Lizzy what a dream gig for me. Shame I was only two years old at the time or I would have been there. (I bet my parents were and left me at home that night!) You tease us with the comments that it was recorded and filmed. Right that does it. I'm resorting back to the two year old I would have been at the time. I want, I want, I want, I want. Don't make me lay on the floor and embarrass you all! Isn't it all exciting. ********** Subject: Re: ELO 2 - ooh! Date: Mon, 10 Mar 2003 19:04:25 -0800 From: MKELO Amazing! Wallpaper! Audio! This is site should win an award. It's the ultimate music fan site. ********** Subject: Ordering ELO 2 Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2003 01:33:38 -0800 From: Lynn Hoskins I've gotten some questions about ordering, so I'll send my response to the whole list. It seems there are a number of list members who, due to their heavy work schedule, haven't had a chance yet to peruse the dedicated ELO 2 website and are waiting for ordering instructions to be posted to the list. There's an order page available from every page of the site. Just go to http://www.ftmusic.com/elo2 and click on any main menu section. When a page opens, you'll see a link to the order page at the bottom of the menu (left side of the page) or a text link at the bottom that says "Order ELO 2 Now." That will bring up an order page that gives you three ordering options: PayPal, Cheque or Postal Money Order, CCNow. If you are interested in using PayPal and don't already have a PayPal account, please note that it's FREE to sign up for an account. I think they have an incentive program where you need to have a minimum of $250 in your account to get a $5 bonus, or something. Ignore that, and opt for the free account. Once you're signed up you can pay by credit card or eCheck (checking account debit.) If you want to pay by cheque or postal money order, try to mail your payment as soon as possible so Rob knows what he's working with. You can order from FTM UK, FTM USA, FTM Australia or FTM Germany. The CCNow payment option is at the bottom, so just keep scrolling down. Originally, FTM wasn't going to use CCNow for this release due to their high processing fees, but it seems to be the only way that some are able to pay. Hopefully the exclusive promo leaflet that comes with every FTM order will help make up for this. Any questions, just drop me a line and I'll help as best I can. If you don't have Web access, I can e-mail you cheque/postal money order instructions. ********** Subject: Ace in Mojo Date: Wed, 5 Mar 2003 12:49:38 -0800 From: Lynn Hoskins This list has been growing rapidly during the past several months. We get an average of 15 new subscribers each week, some of whom are big Marc Bolan fans and want to know more about Marc's contributions on the upcoming ELO2 Remastered Limited Edition. For new subscribers, you might want to pick up the March issue of Mojo. In the "Collections" section on Pg. 144 there's a nice piece on Ace Kefford and a "new" Ace Kefford record. Rob Caiger is interviewed, and there are two photos, one of Ace and one of The Move from the "I Can Hear The Grass Grow" shoot. The Move Online has more info: http://www.themoveonline.com ********** Subject: Woody Gig Date: Fri, 7 Mar 2003 20:11:45 -0800 From: "Andrew Footman" Just got back from a great packed gig. The girls were on fantastic form. It was the best i have seen them play in years. I AM A BIT SHELL SHOCKED! I do not know why but i made a copy of my audiophile Shazam remaster. On the way to the Robin my brother Gary and I bumped into Roy and some of the band in the street (They were on the way to a pub i bet). I said "Hello Mr Wood, i have got something for you". Man was his face a picture, i handed him the CDR. I said "I know the master tape is missing. I have sent a copy to your remaster Guy Rob. This is your Shazam lp restored of audiopohile gear." He shook my hand and thanked me. Honest i bet Lynn can confirm this. My brother could not believe his eyes! Boy am i a happy man i never even asked for him to sign the CD on me. Shaking hands with this great man was priceless!!!! ********** Subject: Woody Gig: without the rosy glasses Date: Sun, 9 Mar 2003 22:38:46 -0800 From: "Christian Storm" Andy wrote: >Just got back from a great packed gig. The girls were on fantastic >form. It was the best i have seen them play in years. I AM A BIT >SHELL SHOCKED! I think I just got back from the same gig. But it was bloody awful. Roy Wood was so obviously out of his face drunk that it was almost embarrassing to watch as he sang the wrong lyrics to the classic tunes he should know so well. I have seen the Army before, twice last year in fact. So I do know what a cracking performance it can be. This was by far the worst I have seen him. I think whoever is in charge of him should get him into the clinic. Or at the very least explain to him that we dont travel miles to see him pissed. I was looking forward to my first mail to this list being a glorious review but I was thoroughly disappointed, so I shall crawl back into lurkdom with my tail between my legs. ********** Subject: Re: Woody Gig: without the rosy glasses Date: Sun, 9 Mar 2003 23:41:19 -0800 From: "Lynnette Cannell" Well, just in case you are worried about being fired upon, Chris - I will back you up here. It was a heck of a night - I drove 70+ miles through a torrential storm, at times literally driving blind to see what is usually a good gig. But not only could he not remember the words, the sound mix was dreadful, the drums being FAR too loud, Roy and Neil, the bassist were out of synch on more than one occasion, as Chris says, he was forgetting the words, and the running order, and was even asking the audience to applaud more, after each and every song - well, he didnt deserve it!! The band were trying hard, but were nowhere near up to their usual quality, probably because so many members have changed, mainly due to their going off to have babies/returning etc., but they were clearly unrehearsed. I found the whole thing sad and disappointing, and drove home (thankfully the storm had stopped) in a sombre mood, instead of my usual singing all the way in a happy glow. I never thought Id hear myself say it, but after 35 years of going to see the man play, and enjoying every moment - I dont think I'll be repeating the experience for a very long time, if ever. ********** Subject: Re: Woody Gig: without the rosy glasses Date: Sun, 9 Mar 2003 23:41:51 -0800 From: Lynn Hoskins Lynnette, as someone who seems to be drawn to "tortured artists," I can say one thing for sure: When they're on, they're astounding. When they're not... oh dear. There doesn't seem to be any middle ground. If there's a positive aspect to this, hopefully it's a sign that Roy has finally gotten tired of playing the usual pubs and will decide to do something that's more challenging. Boredom can be numbing for an artist of his calibre. ********** Subject: Re: Woody Gig: without the rosy glasses Date: Mon, 10 Mar 2003 04:14:14 -0800 From: kakman1 Good gosh, are some of you who went to the Bilston gig trying to make me thankful I wasn't able to go? And I thought I was having a lousy Friday night! Good job the press doesn't report on such shenanigans of our Roy anymore (fingers crossed!) I don't know if it is my place to comment on what transpired on Friday at The Robin 2 (since I obviously was not there and I'm just going by reports I've read on the list and some comments I've received off the list), but if this happened because Roy is getting bored out of his skull (playing all his hits at the cabarets and the pubs) perhaps he should take some time off, regroup and try to develop something new if he wants to go back out on the live circuit. Granted, everyone has the off night and Roy isn't the first musician of a certain caliber to muck up a gig due to a quick stop at the pub. This isn't a regular habit with Roy before gigs, right? If it's once in a blue moon, then last Friday was just bad judgement. Hopefully, he'll cut back or hold off until after the show next time. Perhaps this gig will be a sobering experience for him. People don't pay to see drunks perform, unless you're Foster Brooks (I'm not sure who the U.K. equivalent would be). Then again maybe I'm to blame! I did complain earlier about not being able to go to the gig and asked everyone on the list going there to have a pint for me. Maybe Roy got wind of that and was drinking to my health before the gig!! If that's true, my apologies to everyone who attended and I'll be more careful of what I post next time so close to a Roy gig. Kevin Kunreuther Dallas TX I Can Hear The Grass Grow - The Move - Best Of The Move (A&M) [Much more on this in the next issue of Useless Information...] ********** Subject: Your World Date: Mon, 10 Mar 2003 13:28:14 -0800 From: "Andrew Footman" Have you checked Carl Waynes site. Lovely sound clip of him with ELO. I was surprised how different it sounded to what i thought it might sound like. It is hard to believe its the same period of ELO II album. I cannot even imagine now what Marc Bolan will sound like with ELO. Now i am even more full of intrigue to whats to come. And this is only the second remaster set! I wonder what else is up Robs sleeve? ********** Subject: Wood-less Move Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2003 11:16:42 -0800 From: "Bill Krouwel" Wood-less Move? An interesting set of views being exchanged on this one (and a marvellous rant from Dunks - always entertaining and intelligent. You should take up rock journalism, mate - or maybe not, if it would turn you into the type you rightly despise....) My first thoughts were that it wasn't a good idea. Then last Saturday, in lieu of anything at all on the real telly, I was watching and deeply enjoying a video of Cropredy 1998, and it struck me that the Fairport I was so enjoying had one - yes one! - original member on display (and even he wasn't continuously a member of Fairport). Not one of the original writers/movers and shakers. Not one Richard Thompson solo. Chris While standing in for Sandy. Ric Sanders instead of Dave "Compo" Swarbrick. Even the drummer's changed, with Gerry Conway occupying the drum stool vacated (in reverse order) by Dave Mattacks and - so sadly - Martin Lamble. But was it good? yeah......... Was it fun? Yeah............ Am I going again this year? - yeah!!!!! So if a Fairport which is a completely different band from the one which made the name can wow 'em, why not the Wood-less Move? Of course it would be better with Woody's involvement. Fairport would be fantastic if some of its surviving alumni were to rejoin, not just turn up a Cropredy every other year.......but three out of four sounds good to me - and considerably better numbers than Fairport's one out of five! There's talent there, so if they've got the commitment, I'd go and see 'em. Give the guys a chance, say I. ********** Subject: Re: Wood-less Move Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2003 11:17:05 -0800 From: "Bill Krouwel" A thought. If the "new Move" just had originals Charlie and Bev in it, wouldn't it be the new Carl Wayne and the Vikings??????? At least that would appeal to Brummies of a certain age....... ********** Subject: Move is dead? Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2003 11:18:49 -0800 From: Luke and Efi Sacrilege! Sorry, folks, but I think if the Move would reform in any form, er, um, ...it would have happened already. There, I said it. I've broken through my denial. But it would be a blessing to have any former member play just one gig in L.A. at least. sobbingly, Luke California man ********** Subject: Move without Woody Date: Sun, 2 Mar 2003 23:47:46 -0800 From: Bob Coulter Cast your minds back twelve years to FTM mag number 12... When Bev was unveiling ELO Part Two and teaching me that nothing was impossible, I asked in a guest column how Move fans would feel if Bev's next project was going to be The Move Part Two without Roy Wood. Roy was never quite the undisputed front man/leader/creative force in the Move that Jeff was (and is again) in ELO. Carl was essentially the front man during his time in the Move, and then Jeff joined as a junior member with a fair amount of creative input. But there are enough similarities between Roy's relationship to the Move and Jeff's relationship to ELO, that I'm surprised Bev is thinking about venturing down this path again. Roy's approval of the idea does at least prevent the friendship between Roy and Bev from suffering the same fate as Bev's former friendship with Jeff. Roy will probably not refer to Bev only as "the drummer". My main objection to ELO Part Two was always the recording of new material. They were a good live band, and I enjoyed hearing Jeff's songs performed by former ELO members. I disputed the claim that some Part Two fans made that the band were "keeping ELO's music alive". This suggests that ELO's hits would otherwise have been forgotten if Part Two hadn't been playing them live, which is absurd. ELO Part Two gave enjoyment to fans who wanted to hear ELO songs performed live, which was great, but it was the enduring nature of the songs that brought the fans to the Part Two concerts, not the other way around. ELO Part Two's original material was a different story however. There was the occasional good song, but most were mediocre and often dissimilar to anything Jeff would have written. So what lessons from ELO Part Two could Bev apply to a new Move project? Here's a few suggestions: 1. Try to limit it to live performances. 2. Try to use only former members of the Move. If you have to recruit musicians who were not in the Move, do not put them in prominent positions. Hearing ELO songs sung by Pete Haycock or Eric Troyer or Phil Bates felt wrong. Nobody with headbands! 3. Do not record new material, unless Roy agrees to write it. If the new Move must go into the studio without Roy songs, do cover versions of the songs the Move used to do live. 4. Try to perform at decent venues. No ribfests. No "Puppet Show and The Move". I don't really know to what degree Bev intends to pursue this. Is it just a few brief reunion shows? I doubt Bev would want to do this for ten years like he did with ELO Part Two. Bev has to realize that whatever he does will affect the reputation of the Move. For every one ELO Part Two concert at the Royal Albert with full orchestra, there were five shows at ribfests or fireworks displays or seedy bars that devalued the ELO name. Please be careful! I would still go see a Move reunion show, even if none of my suggestions was followed. But I would not travel very far to see Bev performing Move songs with Lockwood, Haycock, Troyer and Bates. Bob Coulter Bobcaygeon, Ontario End of Useless Information #453 ******************************* [This digest is the copyright of the Move "Useless Information" Mailing List. 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