[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 #478 June 10, 2003 In this issue: * Super Active Wizzo LIVE? (cont.) * Song Of The Week (week of 5/26): "Sunshine Help Me" * NME 1976 "Roy Wood Story" review * Ace The Face * Reissues * Tell us the news about yourself... * IWICBCE - New Version? * Song Of The Week (week of 6/2): "Angel Fingers" * Carrott's New Caper * Mickie Most RIP * The 7 Ages of Man? ============================================================== 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: Super Active Wizzo LIVE? Date: Thu, 29 May 2003 22:58:01 -0700 From: "Andrew Footman" Super Active Wizzo muddy? It is one of the clearer sounding albums. It suffers from a dulled hi frequency like all UK WB albums, not it is a lot better sounding (sound quality not content i love both) than Eddy And The Falcons which is very muddy and dull sounding. Even the CD sounds like a AM radio. This stuff really needs Rob's First Light quality remastering. They are in the 5 year plan but could be years away. Rob wants all this stuff done right this time, no more crap sounding CD's Movement's and Mustard. The lp of Mustard has better sound quality than the CD i have! ********** Subject: Re: Super Active Wizzo LIVE? Date: Thu, 29 May 2003 22:59:23 -0700 From: Bob Hughes Mike wrote: >I find it hard to fathom how anyone can enjoy "Wizzard's Brew", >"Eddy and >the Falcons", and "Boulders", yet not find it in their >hearts to also enjoy SAW. I'd like to hear more from the folks >who don't/didn't like SAW. Be specific! Is it the lap-pedal >steel guitar embellishments that put you off? > >For reference, I like SAW a bit more than Main Street. The lap/peddle steel bits really shine through the rest of the turgid monotony. More guitar, less repetitive drum thumping! I keep hearing this is supposed to be a "jazz" album, but I don't hear any jazz. Most of it sounds like the money ran out before they got around to dubbing in the soloists. Now that's a little harsh, but I get that feeling in places. Lyrically, the whole thing is weak. The vocals tend to be under mixed- a definite Woody /Jeff problem of a certain era. To be more specific I'd have to dig it out and play it again. Which is not really a problem- just not tonight. ********** Subject: Re: Super Active Wizzo LIVE? Date: Fri, 30 May 2003 11:30:16 -0700 From: "Michael J. Cross" Bob wrote: >The lap/peddle steel bits really shine through the rest of the turgid >monotony... Maybe it's just that I have an unusually high tolerance for repeating phrases! I would acknowledge that that riffing in the first track is a bit repetitive, but it's a style of repetitiveness that holds some appeal to me. Perhaps I'm the one who needs to be more specific...:-) Bob, thanks for sharing openly and lucidly. To counter, I still prefer Roy's vocals on SAW than practically any other non-Move Roy offering. To me, his vox just sound balanced, strong and clear in the mix. Best to you all, Mike Cross Rochester, NY ********** Subject: Re: Song Of The Week: "Sunshine Help Me" Date: Fri, 30 May 2003 11:30:26 -0700 From: "Peter MANION" John DeSilva wrote: >From the opening guitar intro, through an excellent vocal from Charlie >Wayne, to the absolutely stellar Woody guitar solo and Ace Kefford >bass work (maybe Ace's best recorded bass), to the final outro with >the sublime harmony vocals - this is the best cover that the Move ever >did by far. >And I can't say enough about Ace's bass playing - he gets up front >with a crunching riff during the guitar solo that takes the song to >a higher level - and then does the droning raga backing for Woody so >he can play some 'sitar' riffs. You must be right about Ace playing bass, but I have for years imagined it was Trevor on bass, don't know why, just a feeling I had that this was recorded after Ace had left, not at all based on fact, I think the bass line is so much influenced by Hendrix and Redding on 'Hey Joe', the style and riff progression is very similar and with Trevor sharing a flat for a while with Noel it all seemed to fit, never mind, I am glad it was Ace because he was so underrated. ********** Subject: Re: Song Of The Week: "Sunshine Help Me" Date: Fri, 30 May 2003 13:35:15 -0700 From: John DeSilva Peter MANION wrote: >You must be right about Ace playing bass, but I have for years >imagined it was Trevor on bass, don't know why, just a feeling I >had that this was recorded after Ace had left, not at all based on fact, Pete: To be honest, I felt the same way you did - that it must be Trevor on bass by the time of this recording. After careful listening, you can hear a rhythm guitar on all the other "Something Else" tracks (which I would assume would be Trevor as Carl has stated that he never played an instrument on stage aside from a tambourine or maracas). Curiously, I don't hear any second guitar on "Sunshine Help Me", but maybe Roy and Trevor are simply matching each other on the main rhythm part (during the verses). In my never ending quest to not look like a complete idiot on this list, I then searched Google for info on the "Something Else" EP to determine which band was in existence at the date of the recording. The best data I found showed the recording to be early 1968, which should have been when Ace was still with the group. Anybody that has more definitive info on this, please come forward! ;-D JD San Jose, CA ********** Subject: Re: Song Of The Week: "Sunshine Help Me" Date: Fri, 30 May 2003 16:06:06 -0700 From: Richard Messum So my "Movements" box set is good for something after all! I'd never heard the original EP version, and so had nothing to compare the extended version to. And it was written by *that* Gary Wright? Well, we learn something new every day. I was never a huge fan of Spooky Tooth (i have a greatest hits collection but that's all -- it includes a superb version of "I am the walrus," btw, but "Sunshine help me isn't on it, so i can't compare it to that, either). As others have already mentioned, that is one superb guitar solo by our hero, the bass playing is tremendous and the interplay between the two is magic: proof positive that this was a live band at the top of its form. Wish i'd been there, that night at the Marquee Club ... you can almost smell the smoke and the spilt beer. ********** Subject: Re: Song Of The Week: "Sunshine Help Me" Date: Sat, 31 May 2003 00 From: Kevin Kunreuther According to liner notes from "Something Else ... Plus" release on Edsel, that is Chris Kefford on bass guitar and vocals, recorded Feb 27 11968. Due to a technical glitch on the vocal track, discovered upon playback, all band members (except Bev Bevan) returned to the Marquee one afternoon two or three weeks later to record the vocals. One month later, Chris had departed from The Move. Kevin Kunreuther Dallas TX ********** Subject: Re: Song Of The Week: "Sunshine Help Me" Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 12:38:56 -0700 From: Gmcorie i still say no one can do a cover like our guys, no one! louisiana george ********** Subject: NME 1976 "Roy Wood Story" review Date: Wed, 4 Jun 2003 00:25:31 -0700 From: Lynn Hoskins Courtesy Joe Doyle (thank you!) Any comments? New Musical Express April 10 1976 Roy Wood: McLuhanite purist or elaborate joker? "WHEN YOU'RE number two, you try harder." That used to be the slogan of Avis, the car hire group. (Most of you will probably be aware of this, unless, of course, you've been in suspended animation or hiding out in a Tibetan monastery with James Dean on account of your hideous disfigurement). For a long time it also seemed to be the slogan of Roy Wood. For a long time, he always seemed to be in hot pursuit of Pete Townshend for the title of Premier British post Beatle/Stone songwriter. I remember being at the Roundhouse on New Year's Eve 1966/7 and watching The Move achieve the same excitement as The Who had maybe an hour or so earlier. The only problem was that, in order to reach this peak, they had to expend about twenty times the energy. What Townshend did simply by hurling himself bodily into his stacks, The Move had to do by smashing up busts of Hitler, dozens of T.V. sets and an entire 1956 Chevy. The same kind of overkill effort was put into the creation of their early singles, particularly "I can Hear The Grass Grow", "Fire Brigade" and that marvellous, psychotic masterwork "Night Of Fear". Each one of them was a splendid addition to the catalogue of great British pop. It always seemed that Wood and The Move had to really bust a gut to get what they wanted, while The Who appeared to dash off their hits with consummate ease. Wood also showed an early tendency to pastiche. Of course he only took from the best and, on "Blackberry Way" he managed to catch The Beatles "Strawberry Fields" sound more successfully than any other imitator. The end of the 60's saw a sad decline in the fortunes of The Move. It was the age of the guitar heroes, and it began to look like Wood's complex little songs didn't fit in with the current demands of public taste. Tunes like "Brontosaurus" and the whole "Shazam" album had a massive amount of loving care lavished on them, but they hardly set the corporate balance sheets on fire. Next came Wood's short lived association with E.L.O. By now Townshend had wandered off to be Gilbert and Sullivan and the entire songwriter title fight was a thing of the past. Roy Wood had set course in a new direction. Using the established bopper media he appeared to be attempting to turn crass pop into a weird art form. He rejected the usual route of the rock and roll artist, monster double albums and the cover of Rolling Stone. Like some kind of McLuhanite purist he centered his creative push on "Top Of The Pops" and nifty three minute singles. The medium was definitely the message. Adolescent enthusiasts all over the country seemed to want nothing more that the pastiches of the '50's and early '60's that Wood served up with alarming regularity. From "Ball Park Incident," "See My Baby Jive" the now green haired and absurdly painted Wood gave the kids, exactly what they wanted and that little bit more. It was as though Andy Warhol had signed on with Marvel Comics and was producing peculiar variations of Captain America. There was virtually no part of the rock and roll archives that was safe from Wood's eclectic pillaging. Fats Domino horns turned up on "See My Baby Jive", the Phil Spector Wall of Sound was reproduced on "Angel Fingers." On "Eddy And The Falcons" album he managed to duplicate just about every recording mannerism of rock's golden age. So that's the Roy Wood story for you. Even after listening to it a few times there is still a certain mystery. Is it soap opera, an elaborate joke, sell-out, or the true function of pop? Let me know if you come up with an answer. Mick Farren ********** Subject: Ace The Face Date: Wed, 4 Jun 2003 11:41:53 -0700 From: steve22 Does anyone or Lynn/Rob know what's the progress being made on the "Ace The Face" Ace Kefford project? How it's going so far? I sure am looking forward to hearing this album sometime soon! Do we know if Ace is recording any new songs for either this album or an entirely new album? ********** Subject: Reissues Date: Sat, 31 May 2003 00:43:54 -0700 From: DjengoMan Hi, I'm new to this list so bear with me. This Rob fellow, he's the one who's behind the First Light reissues? People seem to be insinuating that he's going to reissue some Wizzard/Woody stuff. Is this the case? For all I know, it's just the First Light series. Boulders, Msg from the country, Elo 1 and 2. Is there more planned? If someone could clue me in, I'd appreciate it. I ordered Wizzard Brew. I'm not thoroughly convinced it's going to come through. Anyway, take care -Bofus ********** Subject: Re: Tell us the news about yourself... Date: Thu, 5 Jun 2003 18:58:38 -0700 From: "Martin Nielsen" Your name, age, location, occupation. - Martin Nielsen, almost 25, Arhus, Denmark, BA in English, currently studying "Aesthetics & Culture". How long have you been a Move and/or Roy Wood fan? - Since I was only this big :-) What was your first Move related experience? - Well, for some strange reason I managed to get my hands on a copy of Shazam when I was 11, believe it or not. Already being into The Beatles (not to mention E.L.O.'s Xanadu soundtrack!), I loved it immediately. It's still the album I like to cite as my all time favourite. Tell us about your top 5 favorite Move related tracks. - "Blackberry Way"; "Hello Susie"; "Beautiful Daughter"; "Cherry Blossom Clinic Revisited"; "The Rain Came Down On Everything" (I could mention several Jeff Lynne songs too!) What's your favorite Move related album, and why? - That would have to be Shazam. There's just something about the sound and the atmosphere of that record. The production is really outstanding and the playing is superb. I can listen to it sometimes just focusing on for instance the drums alone. The double tracked lead vocal....The string arrangement on Beautiful Daughter....The clarity of the sound....The sitar freak-out.... Astonishing stuff! What topics would you like to see discussed on this list? - Maybe stuff like the songwriting characteristics of Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne and the changes they've gone through in sound, production and mixing aesthetics! If you've seen the Move or any member of the Move in concert, tell us about that show. - I saw The Hollies with Carl Wayne recently. He still sings amazingly and I'm pretty sure he noticed the Move album cover I was waving in the air during "I Can Hear The Grass Grow"! Tell us about an amusing or interesting situation that has happened as a result of you being a Move/Roy Wood fan. - My being a Roy Wood / Move fan has resulted in probably no amusing or interesting situations (apart from hearing the music, that is) whatsoever. Sad, isn't it? Who are some of your other favorite artists/bands? - The Beatles; McCartney; The Who; The Kinks; Cheap Trick; Peter Gabriel's Genesis; Lemonheads; Sonic Youth; Guided By Voices; Frank Zappa; The Sweet; Deep Purple; Olivia Tremor Control; Of Montreal; The Searchers, and lots, lots more... Which Move related song do you wish one of your favorite bands would cover? - I don't generally care too much for cover versions. What I think would be great or funny, however, is if some MTV star covered some obscure Idle Race or Move song and took it to the top of the charts. Or maybe it would be awful! What is the one burning question that you have never had answered in relation to Move/Roy Wood history or music? - Well, when I first heard the Move and E.L.O., it was a long time before I starting reading music magazines and things, so I kind of figured that Wood and Lynne were as highly respected and legendary as The Beatles, and that they were someone I would get to read and hear a lot about later. I later found out that they're not. Why that isn't the case is probably the one burning question I'll never figure out the answer to. If Brian Wilson can be a legend, I don't see why Jeff Lynne can't. But I think it's because Lynne don't have a history of drugs and nervous breakdowns and psychotic behaviour. Music literature deals with all the things that has nothing to do with music. Wood and Lynne are among the greatest songwriters of the 20th century. Are you having trouble finding any Move related music on CD? - I think in general there are too few Idle Race things around. Luckily, I have a best of CD on See For Miles Records. I think they were really great and Jeff Lynne's songs from that period are amazing. Also, I think that some of the Move reissues we have seen so far have been kind of shoddy, especially the clumsy Movements box set, so I'm really looking forward to Rob Caiger's projects. ********** Subject: Re: Tell us the news about yourself! Date: Fri, 6 Jun 2003 00:26:20 -0700 From: "Andrew Footman" Martin Nielsen wrote: >- Well, for some strange reason I managed to get my hands on a copy >of Shazam when I was 11, believe it or not. Already being into The >Beatles (not to mention E.L.O.'s Xanadu soundtrack!), I loved it >immediately. It's still the album I like to cite as my all time >favourite. So you found Shazam when you were 11 Martin. The great production has you say is not on the C D versions! Cube Records edited it and sucked all the life out of it and lost the Tapes! I hope they are found but i am thinking that Rob will not have many places left to look now. I hope a decent copy Tape is found or the Multi tracks turn up so the album can be restored to its former glory. ********** Subject: IWICBCE - New Version? Date: Fri, 30 May 2003 11:30:21 -0700 From: VJOHN307 >I wonder if Roy has any plans for the 30th anniversary of "Christmas >everyday", later in the year? Maybe record a new version perhaps Please, no! There have been new versions (one and two bits - the one being the RW Big Band, 1995, and the two bits being those Jive Bunny, 1989, and Wombles, 2000, link-ups). Some of us might wish to draw a discreet veil over the two latter. The ideal celebration for 30 years would be a double CD, or maybe two single CDs, one of live material and one of the new songs Roy is rumoured to have been working on for goodness knows how long. EMI would probably be interested, but would Roy himself? I fear we know the answer... John Van der Kiste ********** Subject: Song Of The Week: "Angel Fingers" Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2003 23:56:15 -0700 From: Lynn Hoskins Song Of The Week: June 2, 2003 "Angel Fingers" by Wizzard Possible discussion topics: Vocals Songwriting Lyrics Instrumentation Arrangement/Production Strong or weak points *********************** "Angel Fingers" (R. Wood) As I was lying in my bedroom fast asleep Filled with those teenage pictures that you keep Will Dion still be so important to you on your wedding day? Angel Fingers, Angel Fingers How I sing for, the things you do How it lingers, Angel Fingers That's why I fell in love with you I drove my motor cycle to that small cafe That's when I heard our favourite record start to play If I'm not singing in a suit that's clinging Please don't walk away Angel Fingers, Angel Fingers How I sing for, the things you do How it lingers, Angel Fingers That's why I fell in love with you (Cello Solo) (Sax Solo) If I could lay a job with that cool rockin' band You'd notice me with that red guitar in my hand With money in my jeans, my baby We'd have all these things we planned Angel Fingers, Angel Fingers How I sing for, the things you do How it lingers, Angel Fingers That's why I fell in love with you Oh, oh Angel, Angel Fingers, How I sing for, the things you do How it lingers, Angel Fingers That's why I fell in love with you ********** Subject: Carrott's New Caper Date: Thu, 29 May 2003 23:45:39 -0700 From: Lynn Hoskins Some of you may remember Jasper Carrott's December 2001 fundraiser Christmas concert at the NEC that featured Roy, Carl and Bev. Not on stage at the same time, UNFORTUNATELY! But Carl (w/The Hollies) was introduced by Bev, so two at least. Thought you'd like to know how much money that show helped to raise, and what the money will be used for. ---- CARROTT'S NEW CAPER Star aids drive to help children Evening Mail; Birmingham (UK) May 23, 2003 by Sue Smith A school which has Brummie comic Jasper Carrott as a fundraising patron has begun work on a house for its severely autistic pupils. Staff at Sunfield, in Clent, have announced they are now only pounds 130,000 short of their target of pounds 975,000 for the specially-designed building. A spokesman said: 'The amount raised is a major achievement for Sunfield and it has only been made possible through the tremendous help of Jasper.' The comedian has been patron of the appeal and has raised many thousands of pounds. He and his daughter Jenny raised pounds 64,000 through Celebrity Who Wants to be a Millionaire and pounds 100,000 from a sell-out Christmas concert at the NEC, which featured Leo Sayer, Roger Daltrey, Ocean Colour Scene, Roy Wood and Victoria Beckham. Jasper adopted the charity after visiting Sunfield to present a Variety Club minibus and was so taken with the children and the work done on the site that he decided to become more involved. Sunfield provides educational and residential care for children with severe and complex learning needs, with a specialist provision for children with autism and challenging behaviour. A summer carnival is to be held at the school in Woodman Lane from noon to 4.30pm on July 19 and proceeds will go to the New House Appeal. Copyright © 2003 Birmingham Post and Mail Ltd. ********** Subject: Mickie Most RIP Date: Sun, 1 Jun 2003 15:38:40 -0700 From: Richard Messum Oh damn, damn, damn.... I do not want to be thought of as this list's necrologer, but i have just learned that Mickie Most has died from cancer. I am beginning to feel very old.... ********** Subject: Re: Mickie Most RIP Date: Sun, 1 Jun 2003 15:38:54 -0700 From: Lynn Hoskins Thanks for posting that, Richard. Here are some very good stories about Most's career, for those interested. I didn't realize that Most worked with Hank Marvin long ago. Pop producer Most dies http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2952822.stm Stars' tributes to producer Most http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2953380.stm And this from NME.com: Mickie Most Dies Legendary record producer Mickie Most has died after a year long battle with cancer. He was 64. Most, real name Michael Hayes, worked with a host of artists through the '60s, '70s and '80s including The Animals, The Sweet, Herman's Hermits, Jeff Beck and Lulu. He died at his home in North London on Friday (May 30) with his wife of 40 years Christina by his side. Most is reputed to have been responsible for more number one hits across the globe than any other producer. He was said to be worth £50million. His funeral will be held at the West Chapel in Golders Green, London, June 6. Published: 01-06-2003-14-55 http://www.nme.com/news/105179.htm ********** Subject: The 7 Ages of Man? Date: Mon, 2 Jun 2003 23:38:51 -0700 From: "Sandie Blickem" Richard wrote: >Oh damn, damn, damn.... I do not want to be thought of as this list's >necrologer, but i have just learned that Mickie Most has died from cancer. > >I am beginning to feel very old.... Hey - don't go getting all morose on us Richard! Just consider us (you/me etc) to be among the more fortunate ones!!!! Long Live the 60's!!!!!!! ------ and thank you so much Mickie - and those who have gone to the safe haven before you - for the music. End of Useless Information #478 ******************************* [This digest is the copyright of the Move "Useless Information" Mailing List. 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