[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 #465 April 14, 2003 In this issue: * Song Of The Week (week of 4/7): "Night Of Fear" * Time For ELO To Face The Music * ELO 2 CD Review from Sunday Mercury * Carl Wayne on the radio (13 times!) this Wednesday * ELO 2!! * Roy - time for a change (cont.) * Timing is everything * Bev Bevan's Jukebox * The Lost Planet * Roy Wood - maybe he is just bored * Brendan Benson & The Move * Roy, Then and Now ============================================================== 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: "Night Of Fear" Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2003 02:09:32 -0700 From: "Tyler C.Sherman" Well, one wonders how Roy got from his first recorded composition, the lovelorn "Make Them Understand" in early 1965 by Mike Sheridan & The Nightriders to this Poe-inspired, trippy hippie song in late 1966. Nonetheless, "Night Of Fear" is a great first single by the Move. I agree with Kevin that it is mystifying how this this did not chart here in the states while another British act, Whistling Jack Smith, scored a top 20 hit here on Deram Records with "I Was Kaiser Bill's Batman" at roughly the same time. Go figure. Both singles were quirky, yet, the Move's stiffed. What was Deram thinking promotion-wise? Oh well, fate has done it's best to make sure no one finds out what a genius Roy is. Wizzards, Tyler ********** Subject: Re: Song Of The Week: "Night Of Fear" Date: Tue, 8 Apr 2003 01:39:25 -0700 From: "Andrew Footman" This was intended as the B side to Disturbance.A change of plan which resulted in there second most successful UK single. Roy even this early on was heading towards ELO. A clever use of 1812 Overture to sinister lyrics. Great lyrics, a contrast to the humour of Disturbance. A cracking Debut single. I am surprised that like many that they rested on there laurels and played safe but every Move single is nothing like the last one. Think Fire Brigade then Wild Tiger Woman, what a change, what a band! ********** Subject: Re: Song Of The Week: "Night Of Fear" Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2003 02:10:27 -0700 From: Gmcorie to me it is another drug song. a good night on LSD turns into a night night of fear. howling wind, spirits, things you hear are about to flip your mind while to trip your mind. every thing you see are hear makes no sense, image's shadows color's is about to flip your mind. it's a night of FEAR. louisiana george PS could this be a flashback? ********** Subject: Time For ELO To Face The Music Date: Sun, 13 Apr 2003 01:54:46 -0700 From: John Collins Under the large heading above, there is a nice CD review of ELO2 by Paul Cole in Birmingham's Sunday Mercury. Rob gets a big mention, even though they have spelt his name wrong :-( It is a very positive review, mentioning all the bonus material, in particular the appearance of Carl, Marc and Roy of course. He also mentions the booklets, a big selling point I feel. The article is quite big about 50% of the page, and has a nice pic of ELO (in dinner jackets) over the top of it. All in all, good publicity for the album in Birmingham and the West Midlands. ********** Subject: Re: Time For ELO To Face The Music Date: Sun, 13 Apr 2003 03:44:34 -0700 From: "Tyler C.Sherman" John, Any chance you or someone else on the list could scan this and post it so we in the states can see it? Wizzards, Tyler ********** Subject: ELO 2 CD Review from Sunday Mercury Date: Sun, 13 Apr 2003 12:24:27 -0700 From: "val burgess" Hi All, This review was taken from today's Sunday Mercury and the review was done by Paul Cole. 'TIME FOR ELO TO FACE THE MUSIC' Electric Light Orchestra ELO2 (Harvest) Amazingly it's 30 years since the release of the Birmingham band's sophomore set and fanzine Face The Music's Rob Caiger has helped Jeff Lynne put together an anniversary set bursting with surprises. The double CD features not only the remastered songs from the original album but EIGHTEEN bonus tracks, many of which have never been heard before, including sessions with T Rex legend Marc Bolan. Pre-dating ELO's rise to global fame, the album itself was regarded as subversive at the time of its release, its mixture of classical strings and rock 'n' roll band still very much an experimental exercise. During lengthy tracks like From The Sun To The World (Boogie No.1) and In Old England Town (Boogie No.2) Lynne got to try out many of the musical motifs that would later become his band's trademark. Sometimes the blend worked, sometimes it didn't. In between, the less ambitious Momma remains one of the best songs Lynne ever wrote and Roll Over Beethoven was seven minutes of rockabout fun. It all gelled, however, during the album's finale, Kuiama - arguably one of ELO's finest moments but little heard since. Of the bonus material, Bolan guests on early versions of Ma Ma Ma Belle and Dreaming of 4000, plus the never-heard-before-released Everyone's Born To Die-all recorded in April 1973. Move singer Carl Wayne fronts ELO on Your World, Get A Hold Of Myself and Mama, and there's confirmation that - contrary to the history books - Roy Wood still played a part on the album. Elsewhere there are live BBC sessions, early takes of songs including Showdown, some Goon-like goofing around and a typically manic solo from original violinist Wilf Gibson. Two booklets contain a wealth of archive material including photos from the the band's own scrapbooks and a "where are they now?" guide, making this an essential buy for anyone interested in Birmingham's popular music heritage. END Nice to see Rob get a mention for his tireless input!! ********** Subject: Carl Wayne on the radio (13 times!) this Wednesday Date: Mon, 14 Apr 2003 00:54:47 -0700 From: Lynn Hoskins Boy, I wish I had Carl's energy. To promote the new Hollies "Greatest Hits" 2CD that includes a brand new Hollies song, "How Do I Survive," featuring Carl on lead vocals, he's going to be interviewed by 13 radio stations this Wednesday, 16 April. As has been done in recent interviews, there will probably be some chit-chat about The Move. Some of the stations you have to tune in, some you can listen to on the Web. Below is the schedule (as we know it today!) with Web links underneath. If there's an asterisk (*) next to the station, that means it was pre-recorded and may not air on the same day. You'll also find this schedule on The Move Online (www.themoveonline.com), in case you lose this e-mail and need to know when he's on. By the way, does anyone in Guildford know if The Eagle and County Sound Radio are one and the same? Also, it's possible the Classic Gold interview is actually on Classic Gold Marcher 1260AM. If anyone knows, please give me a shout so I can amend the schedule. It looks to be a Carl-filled day! Carl Wayne on the radio - Wednesday, 16 April STATION TIME INTERVIEWER BBC 3 Counties - Beds, Herts & Bucks * 1020 Nick Lawrence BBC GMR - Manchester/Greater Manchester * 1040 Dianne Oxberry BBC GMR - Manchester/Greater Manchester * 1100 Natalie Anglesea (Arts) BBC Ulster - Northern Ireland 1120 BBC Suffolk 1140 Rachel Sloane BBC Cumbria 1200 BBC Cambridgeshire 1220 BBC Merseyside 1240 The Wave - Fareham & South Coast * 1420 The Eagle (County Sound Radio) - Guildford 1440 Dave Johns BBC Newcastle - Newcastle Upon Tyne * 1500 Julia Hankin BBC Scotland * 1520 Janice Forsythe (Arts) Classic Gold - N Wales/Cheshire/Merseyside 1540 Steve Marriott Metro Radio - Newcastle Upon Tyne * 1640 Alan Robson (All times are UK times.) Tune in: BBC 3 Counties: http://www.bbc.co.uk/england/threecounties/ BBC GMR: http://www.bbc.co.uk/england/gmr/ BBC Suffolk: http://www.bbc.co.uk/england/radiosuffolk/ BBC Cumbria: http://www.bbc.co.uk/england/radiocumbria/ BBC Cambridgeshire: http://www.bbc.co.uk/england/radiocambridgeshire/ BBC Merseyside: http://www.bbc.co.uk/england/radiomerseyside/ BBC Newcastle: http://www.bbc.co.uk/england/radionewcastle/ Listen live on the Web: BBC Ulster: http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/radioulster/ The Wave: http://www.wave105.com/ 96.4 The Eagle: http://www.964eagle.co.uk/ County Sound Radio: http://www.countysound.co.uk/ BBC Scotland: http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/radioscotland/ Classic Gold: http://www.classicgolddigital.com/ Metro Radio: http://www.metroradio.co.uk/ ********** Subject: ELO 2!! Date: Mon, 7 Apr 2003 18:23:52 -0700 From: "Joseph Davolt" WOW!! Just got my copy of "First Light Series: ELO2 + The Lost Planet" in the mail today, and...well, what can I say that hasn't been said?? Truly great package, this is. When I got "First Light: ELO + First Light", it was my first copy of "ELO/No Answer", so I couldn't really compare it to the sound quality of the original album, but as this was my 2nd "ELO2" CD, this time I was able to listen critically to the remastering, and I must say I can tell a big difference between them...listening to the drums on "From The Sun To The World", I could actually hear things I hadn't heard before...the overall sound is much cleaner, the instruments seperate more...just a great sound overall, definately a major improvement. And the bonus tracks! I hadn't heard the instrumental B-side version of "In Old England Town" or "Baby I Apologize" before, and I must say, I really do love these...and then there's the "Elizabeth Lister Observatory Sessions" with Marc Bolan, another of my favorite artists. "Everyone's Born To Die" is a wonderfull song. I don't understand why it was never released. The second CD of course has, amongst the outtakes and BBC Sessions that haven't had time to sink in yet, there's 3 ELO songs with Carl Wayne on lead vocals...I've always Loved Mr. Wayne's voice, and "Your World" is absolutely a brilliant song, should have been a single for Carl at the time...and the booklets!!! This series should be promoted as much as possible...I can't wait for the next release, as it is The Move's "Message From The Country", the album that sits atop my personal favorite albums of all time, as No. 1, just ahead of "Forever Changes" by Love...while FC is majestic, MFTC is...just so quirky...oh, and you're doing "Boulders" and "Wizzard Brew" too??!?! YAY!! And then there's the Move Fillmore, the rest of the Move's catalouge, The Idle Race, More ELO Remasters??, but what I'm really anticipating is "Super Active Wizzo" and "On The Road Again"...I would REALLY love to have those two CD's... Laterz Joseph Davolt, 18 McLeansboro, Illinois ********** Subject: Re: ELO 2!! Date: Tue, 8 Apr 2003 00:30:58 -0700 From: Bob Hughes ELO 2 has always been my least favorite ELO album. Jeff seemed to be truly idealess this go round and his vocals sounded strangled and over processed. The band was plodding and lugubrious and it looked like without Roy they were doomed. Of course, they weren't and by the time El Dorado came out I was a big ELO booster. But, this reissue brings a whole new meaning to the term re-mastering!!!! I have never heard such a big difference between an LP and CD before, not even including Dylan's Street Legal! Amazing clarity and presence. Everything is crisp and clean and the band rocks! Are you guys sure you didn't speed the tracks up? Bev is smokin' and Tandy is pounding away and even the string players sound like they know how to rock. It's great! Roll Over Beethoven take 1 is wonderful. They should have left the "vocals" in! It would have been an even bigger hit. Carl's tracks are wonderful. The man has a great voice. I get a little tired of hearing ROB over and over again, and I don't think we needed the single version as a bonus track but other than that, it's a wonderful project all around and I can't wait to see what Rob does to Message from the Country and Boulders! ********** Subject: Re: Roy - time for a change Date: Mon, 7 Apr 2003 00:23:25 -0700 From: kakman1 Well, Roy does still has a chance to promote "Main Street", that's readily available in the shops, right? How about Roy and band starting the show with the title track, then "Indiana Rainbow" followed by "I Can't Help This Feeling/Saxmaniacs" ? After initial applause dies down, really get the crowd going with "You Sure Got It Now (Mustard)", "Locomotive" and segue into "California Man" (ah a recognisable hit) and segue into a real rousing version of "Buffalo Station". Throw in "Goodnight Bodicea", "Big Girl's Blues" followed by "We're Gonna Rock and Roll Tonight". Allow the crowd to catch it's breath a bit with a nice rendition of "Dear Elaine" (ah another long ago hit) then sneak in a rendition of Beach Boys classic "California Girls" followed by "Forever", "Specktakular" and then "French Perfume". End evening with all the singalong favourites, say "Blackberry Way", "Flowers In The Rain", "(Here We Round) The Lemon Tree", and surprise, surprise "Chinatown" and "Tonight". If peopel clamour for an encore (Y KNOT?) then the ol' XMAS chestnut IWICBCE. Howzat for a good set list of rarely or not at all performed Roy Wood treats and familiar goodies? Would that be a memorable show, you think? Kevin Kunreuther Dallas TX ********** Subject: Timing is everything Date: Mon, 7 Apr 2003 10:55:49 -0700 From: John Collins Thanks for your posts Rob and Lynn I found them interesting. What Roy does not seem to get right is his timing. Do you remember Rock and Roll Winter, it would have been number one if it had been released in Winter and not the spring! :-( In 8 months time, Roy Wood will be played on every music station in the UK, and in Europe. He will appear at least 3 times on UK television. He has as long as I can remember. What airplay and publicity!!!! Are you all with me? If Roy can get some material released around the 1st December 2003, he would be able to use this to his advantage, it would be a golden opportunity. Instead of JUST hearing here he is Mr Christmas singing his Christmas anthem. IWICBCE. You would hear added, AND with a new album ************ which is out now Mr ROY WOOD!! Timing is everything (Chris de Burgh's new album incidentally which I recommend) P.S. yes I would recommend a Roy Wood album to the CDEB list if I ever get the chance! ********** Subject: Re: Timing is everything Date: Mon, 7 Apr 2003 18:23:44 -0700 From: "Tyler C.Sherman" Following this thread, I suggested a while ago that perhaps, since Roy is best known for his Christmas standard, putting out an entire Christmas album is long over-due. He could write a few new yuletide songs for it, cover a few classics and, of course, include "Christmas Everyday" and "Sing Out The Old..." and....bingo! A complete Roy Wood Christmas album that could potentially put him back in the limelight in a big way. Then follow it up in spring '04 with a new album of all new stuff. Makes sense to me. Any comments? Wizzards, Tyler ********** Subject: Bev Bevan's Jukebox Date: Mon, 7 Apr 2003 18:23:56 -0700 From: kakman1 Ah, nuts! I missed Bev Bevan's Jukebox. Did anyone on list catch it? Kevin Kunreuther Dallas TX ********** Subject: The Lost Planet Date: Tue, 8 Apr 2003 10:41:15 -0700 From: "davidburley" So ELO 2 originally began life as a Roy Wood concept album entitled The Lost Planet. Ok, so what songs did Roy plan/compose for it? Boulders was finished in 1970/71 and none of the Wizzard tracks seem to fit the ELO concept (or do they? - Wear a Fast Gun, perhaps?) Anybody any ideas? David Burley Burley Towers ********** Subject: Re: The Lost Planet Date: Wed, 9 Apr 2003 01:39:17 -0700 From: kakman1 David Burley wrote: >Ok, so what songs did Roy plan/compose for it? David, I think the idea of "The Lost Planet" was really very vague and not even sketched out. Probably the only residue of that idea that may have come to life was the album artwork for the UK and US versions of the album. Perhaps the genesis of the idea was in the lyrics of Boogie #1 (From The Sun To The World), and then Jeff and Roy just changed their minds and got on with recording the album. Kevin Kunreuther Dallas TX ********** Subject: Re: The Lost Planet Date: Sat, 12 Apr 2003 15:37:41 -0700 From: Lynn Hoskins David Burley wrote: >Boulders was finished in 1970/71 and none of the Wizzard tracks seem >to fit the ELO concept (or do they? - Wear a Fast Gun, perhaps?) I believe that "Dear Elaine" may have been intended for ELO, as when Electric Light Orchestra first performed live (around May, 1972) that song was in their set. I think it was introduced simply as "Elaine." Also, Bill Hunt's "The Carlsberg Special" has "ELO" written all over it. If you read Martin Kinch's interview with Bill from 1999 (http://martinkinch.members.beeb.net/bill.html) he seems to be saying that it was written after he left ELO. But, in my mind, it's an "early ELO" song. There was a lot of overlapping between the three bands, ELO, The Move & Wizzard, it seems logical that lines between the concepts would be blurred. Not sure why Bill doesn't think "The Carlsberg Special" is any good. He's wrong. Clearly! ;) ********** Subject: Re: The Lost Planet Date: Sun, 13 Apr 2003 21:57:01 -0700 From: "Rob Caiger" >Boulders was finished in 1970/71 and none of the Wizzard tracks seem >to fit the ELO concept (or do they? - Wear a Fast Gun, perhaps?) Wear A Fast Gun Part 1 and Part 2 were begun on 25 Sept. 1972. >I believe that "Dear Elaine" may have been intended for ELO... Dear Elaine was written (but not recorded) while Roy was in The Move, around 1968. Boulders itself was finished during winter 1971, the final recording session beginning on 5 September. Mixed masters were done on 25 January 1972. >Also, Bill Hunt's "The Carlsberg Special" has "ELO" written all over >it. If you read Martin Kinch's interview with Bill from 1999 >(http://martinkinch.members.beeb.net/bill.html) he seems to be saying >that it was written after he left ELO. But, in my mind, it's an >"early ELO" song. The Carlsberg Special took 5 takes to complete but the keyboards are all one take. It was recorded on 20 August 1972. I still believe if anything was intended for ELO, it would have been Farewell. This was recorded in Febuary 1973, and is absolute genius. Sadly, the stereo master tapes have been destroyed. ********** Subject: Roy Wood - maybe he is just bored Date: Wed, 9 Apr 2003 11:32:07 -0700 From: "maurice dockrell" Have been reading with interest and depression (thanks Rob for saying he will never record another album) - I suspect Roy needs to play the hits with the Big Band or Army or whatever he chooses to call them to earn a living - he can't just sit back and hope for ever dwindling royalties. He is probably not a rich man or he would have released material independently. He may also be suffering from a form of depression or drink too much - I don't know and don't really care to speculate about someone I know very little about. The way I see it is that Roy needs several things a. a patient team who can force him to finish projects - the proverbial kick up the backside (from what I can make out he tends to fall out with people who push him though - maybe I am wrong - any views here Rob - this is the big difference between him and Jeff Lynne) b. to produce an established artist or band and make some money that way so can fund his own material ala Jeff Lynne c. self belief ********** Subject: Brendan Benson & The Move Date: Fri, 11 Apr 2003 13:03:36 -0700 From: Lynn Hoskins A friend of mine caught Brendan Benson's show in Liverpool Thursday night and was very excited about telling me that Brendan played a real rockin' Move tune for his encore. It was introduced as a song by The Move, and Brendan added that he was "on a big Jeff Lynne kick at the moment." So I asked which song he performed... "Do Ya"? "Down On The Bay"? No... It was "Lightning Never Strikes Twice." (Hey, well, he got the name of the band right. ;) I'm told that Brendan Benson does one heck of a show, and he shows excellent taste in including a fantastic Move song in his set. ********** Subject: Roy, Then and Now Date: Wed, 9 Apr 2003 11:32:13 -0700 From: "Richard Strelitz" Oh, come on. The plaint that it is a drag to sing the same old songs is both wrong and a slur on Roy. A recording is a moment in time; much of the enjoyment comes from seeing how fertile a springboard it really is. The jazz musicians have long realized this, endlessly and creatively riffing on standards and the past. Bob Dylan and the Grateful Dead are both well versed in re-creating their seminal works, making them new and relevant. Maybe Do-Ya or I Can Hear the Grass Grow cannot be improved upon, but one could/should try for even a moment of transcendent joy. I start almost every day listening to a mini-disc of Eddie and the Falcons and Roy Woods' Wizzard; I always put it on shuffle, randomizing the playlist, and regularly modulating the tone controls to vary the mix even further, and, almost as regularly, I hear new things, find new bits to appreciate. Now, there will never be a replacement for the pure adrenalin joy of seeing the Move at the Whiskey in LA but then again I will never be (nor do I in any way want to relive ) 20, but then again there will never be the disappointment of seeing ELO dong bad shtick instead of playing. it seemed that they were trying to emulate the Bonzo Dog Band, their inestimable betters, instead of overwhelming us with their pop tunefulness. As to the question of a reunion; I quite agree that a jam band like the Army or Wizzard would be so much better than the more studio oriented Move. Well, maybe not studio, but singles oriented. Listening to live material from the Move shows great performing but inconsistent tone; the fullness and unity that Roy achieved with Wizzard and on Main Street, or even on Boulders and Mustard shows a pure genius and a genuine understanding of the dangerous line between musician and entertainer that so underscores the tension of performing. So, if there is not a box set retrospective already out, where do I go to get the most complete collection? End of Useless Information #465 ******************************* [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.]