[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 #395 October 5, 2002 In this issue: * Roy Wood Christmas tree ADDENDUM * Song Of The Week (week of 9/30): "Lightning Never Strikes Twice" * Does Jeff play piano on "Brontosaurus"? * Roy on Bo Diddley album * Roy on Evita * Move milestone (cont.) * The Harold Wilson postcard incident * The postcard * Rick Price articles * TOTP 2 (cont.) * Who did ROY play with? The Beach Boys story! * Where's Woody? (cont.) ============================================================== 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: Roy Wood Christmas tree ADDENDUM Date: Fri, 4 Oct 2002 14:50:33 -0700 From: Dan Ream I knew I'd forget something! Please indicate your location/country when you sign up for the tree, so I can put branches together with leaves from the same area for easy mailing. ********** Subject: Re: Song Of The Week: "Lightning Never Strikes Twice" Date: Wed, 2 Oct 2002 17:37:45 -0700 From: "Richard Kenworthy" As promised I've now dug out "This is to certify that..." Sheridan/Price GME1002 from the wall cupboard behind the sofa, and I have compared the Move version of this song on CD with the vinyl of Rick and Mik. Some further thoughts. The Move version was released earlier and so I assume was the original version. Which would mean that the version on This is to certify that ...sung by Mik Sheridan was the cover. Alternatively it could be that Rick and Mik recorded their version first and this was used as a demo before the Move recorded it. In Rick's sleeve notes to his album he says "This album is the end of a period of musical frustration for me. I've spent a lot of time looking forward to the end product and now it's finished I must own up - I'm chuffed." The Move's version is more ponderous and has good interplay between the bass and the lead guitar. It is this one that has the harmonies of Carl and Rick on "Lightning Strikes". It sounds as though someone is playing acoustic guitar under the harmonies. I have a question for the completeists out there - On what other Move songs can we hear Rick Price sing? I wonder whether it was this part of the song that was taken as the inspiration for the vocal acapellas on Message from the Country. Light- ning Striiiiikkkkeeeeees Bah-bah-bah-bah-bah, bah-bah,bah-bah,bah,bah.... Maybe not then! The sitar solo at the end brings to mind both the instrumental passage at the end of Omnibus and also from Shazam. Was it Fields of people ? The version on This is to certify that... is full of jangly electric guitar and seems much quicker in comparison. It's as though they had to record the song in a hurry at the end of a session. There are pounding drums at a frenetic pace which sound like they've been recorded in a wardrobe - a very dull bass thud. Mik Sheridan sings solo on this one. Oddly enough on this one the bass guitar is hidden much lower down in the mix. There are two guitar solos one of 25 secs which comes about a minute into the song and a shorter one at the end. On the album there are no credits as to the musicians playing on the tracks. Two very different versions of the same song. On balance I reckon that I prefer the Move version, for the harmonies and generally a cleaner recording. Don't expect to hear from me until another 6 months now... ********** Subject: Re: Song Of The Week: "Lightning Never Strikes Twice" Date: Wed, 2 Oct 2002 23:33:26 -0700 From: kakman1 Richard: >"I have a question for the completeists (sic) out there >On what other Move songs can we hear Rick Price sing?" On Shazam, Rick Price clearly sings on "Fields Of People". Everone except Bev has a go at a verse or chorus. BTW, I like The Move's version of FOP. Everybody else's version sound awfully twee in comparision. Probably from their cabaret days. I think they did it when Trevor was still in the group, he sings Rick's part on the Colour Me Pop broadcast from 1968. Kevin Kunreuther Dallas TX ********** Subject: Re: Song Of The Week: "Lightning Never Strikes Twice" Date: Thu, 3 Oct 2002 17:14:26 -0700 From: kakman1 What the hell was I thinking? I meant "Last Thing On My Mind" not "Fields of People". That's what happens when you stay up way past your bedtime with an empty stomach and take a percodan and black coffee. The mind "foggles" ;0) Kevin "foggler" Kunreuther Dallas TX ********** Subject: Re: Song Of The Week: "Lightning Never Strikes Twice" Date: Thu, 3 Oct 2002 17:14:43 -0700 From: "Tyler C.Sherman" Well, this one has grown on me over the years. I've never heard the version on Rick's solo album "This Is To Certify" so I can't compare (perhaps someone on the list who has the capability to post the track will oblige us). But this is a pleasant enough effort from Rick that probably deserves more respect than it has gotten. And being the "B" side of a mega-Move hit no doubt padded his bank account a bit. Excellent drumming from Bev really propels this track. Is Rick playing bass or rhythm guitar on it? It almost sounds like Roy playing bass, that sort of barking, high end sound he often used. Is Jeff even present on this session? He had just joined the Move and, correct me if I'm wrong, the "A" side "Brontosaurus" was his first session with them. Anyone know? Wizzards, Tyler ********** Subject: Re: Song Of The Week: "Lightning Never Strikes Twice" Date: Fri, 4 Oct 2002 02:00:25 -0700 From: kakman1 You know, ever since Bev's infamous liner notes to the U.S. A&M collection Best Of The Move, there's been the big question did Jeff and/or Carl appear on "Brontosaurus" and "Lighting Strikes". I've heard evidence say "Brontosaurus" was cut as a trio before Jeff was assimilated into the group but Carl may actually have been present during "Lightning" session. Though Jeff is credited on "Best Of" as playing on "Brontosaurus", I can't honestly say there's anything in there that suggests he was there. At that point Roy was very capable of doing everything on the track, except for Bev's distinctive drumming. I suppose we'll get the full story when "Looking On" is finally re-issued. Kevin Kunreuther Dallas TX ********** Subject: Does Jeff play piano on "Brontosaurus"? Date: Fri, 4 Oct 2002 03:27:06 -0700 From: Bob Hughes Isn't that Jeff on piano? ********** Subject: Re: Does Jeff play piano on "Brontosaurus"? Date: Fri, 4 Oct 2002 12:15:47 -0700 From: kakman1 You'd think it was Jeff on piano, but Roy was capable of pounding the keys pretty hard himself and doing a fair job of boogie woogie, no Ian Stewart at all, mind you, but passable. ********** Subject: Re: Does Jeff play piano on "Brontosaurus"? Date: Fri, 4 Oct 2002 13:04:28 -0700 From: Joe Doyle >Isn't that Jeff on piano? Personally, knowing who did sessions at the time, if it wasn't Jeff, I would guess that Richard Tandy or Bill Hunt did the keyboards on Brontosaurus. ********** Subject: Roy on Bo Diddley album Date: Thu, 3 Oct 2002 17:15:12 -0700 From: "Tyler C.Sherman" A footnote to my last post. Regarding my comment about Roy's excellent bass playing, I wondered how many list members are aware that he played bass as part of the backing band on Bo Diddley's "London Sessions" LP on Chess records in 1972? He appears on roughly half the tracks on that album. Thought I'd provide this info for the completists (like me) who must have all things Roy. It does exist on CD, by the way. ********** Subject: Re: Roy on Bo Diddley album Date: Fri, 4 Oct 2002 12:16:25 -0700 From: marmil Tyler - Actually, it's out of print, but was available for a long time...and apparently (I didn't know this 'til just now), it was recorded in Chicago as well as London. Marc ********** Subject: Roy on Evita Date: Fri, 4 Oct 2002 02:01:01 -0700 From: kakman1 Here's a real treat if you can find it: Roy sings one line vocal on "(Let's Hear It For The) Rainbow Tour" from the original UK Evita album (featuring Julie Covington as Eva Peron) as one of the generals. 1976 was a real interesting year for Woody. He appeared on Evita, All This And World War II and cut an album that was buried under a rucksack at the bottom of the filing cabinet in a storage closet behind a locked door in a damp unlit basement for twenty five years. Kevin Kunreuther Dallas TX ********** Subject: Re: Move milestone Date: Wed, 2 Oct 2002 11:50:12 -0700 From: Joe Ramsey "Tyler C.Sherman" wrote: > > Wouldn't it be a kicker if the alleged Wilson affair turned out to be > true! Could the court decision then be overturned and all royalties > due Roy be paid ...with interest! Let justice prevail! Wasn't there a similar situation a few years ago where a British newspaper was sued by Liberace in the late fifties because they wrote that he was gay? Then we found out to everyone's COMPLETE surprise (gasp!) that it was TRUE!!! I think the paper demanded their 50,000 pounds that they lost back. Don't know if they got it though. PS. My mother, bless her heart, REFUSED to believe that Liberace was gay. EVER! Once, on a blind date, she had dinner with Libby, his brother George and their mother(!). That just very well may be the best "brush with celebrity" story that I've ever heard. ********** Subject: Re: Move milestone Date: Sat, 5 Oct 2002 01:21:29 -0700 From: Joe Doyle Joe Ramsey wrote: >Wasn't there a similar situation a few years ago where a British >newspaper was sued by Liberace in the late fifties because they wrote >that he was gay? Then we found out to everyone's COMPLETE surprise >(gasp!) that it was TRUE!!! Even more contemporary Joe, is John Major, ex British PM. He successfully sued a couple of periodicals a few years ago, because they claimed that he had had affairs. This week, an ex Conservative MP is publishing her memoirs in one of the UK papers, detailing her four year affair with him....... ********** Subject: The Harold Wilson postcard incident Date: Wed, 2 Oct 2002 13:04:44 -0700 From: Lynn Hoskins This is for the new list members who aren't familiar with the Harold Wilson postcard incident... In 1967 The Move released "Flowers In The Rain" as a single. Their manager Tony Secunda wanted to turn the release into an EVENT so he had a friend of his make a promotional postcard which depicted then-Prime Minister Harold Wilson in a "compromising sexual situation" with a young woman who looked suspiciously like the secretary he was rumored to be involved with. The caption read: "Disgusting, despised and despicable though Harold may be, beautiful is the only word to describe 'Flowers in the Rain' by the Move." The Prime Minster didn't get the joke. He took the band to court and won, and from that point forward all the royalties from the record were given to charity. The single was a huge hit, of course, but the band got nothing. However, because of the publicity, The Move quickly became very well-known in the UK. Here's an excerpt from an interview Roy did with Goldmine Magazine in 1994: Goldmine: "Flowers In The Rain" was very controversial due to the Harold Wilson postcard. Whose idea was it? Roy Wood: That was Tony Secunda (laughs). That's why we ended up breaking away from him. In fact, a friend of his had a postcard printed with Harold Wilson, who was the prime minister, on it. It was a libelous thing. He showed it around to a few people. In fact, Carl Wayne was the only person that saw it and he showed it to a lawyer who said, "Stay away from it." But when Secunda heard that he had the band's name printed at the bottom of this postcard. One of his friends posted one to No. 10 Downing Street (laughs) in the days you could get down there. The game was up, really. We had the big black limousine waiting for us after a gig. It was quite scary at the time. I was only 17. Goldmine: What actually was on the cover of the postcard? Roy Wood: It was a card that was sent out to press people and things. I can't say too much about it. It intimated that Harold Wilson was having an affair with his secretary, which everyone knew was the truth (laughs). Obviously, you can't put that sort of thing into print. You probably could get away with it now but not in those days, it was really libelous. We've never received a penny from it. I lost more than everybody else because I wrote it. And here's an excerpt from an interview that Carl did earlier this year with the Japanese magazine Strange Days (thanks again to Toshiki for translating it for us!) that offers another perspective: [Strange Days] The Move scored a series of hits from their debut and soon became big. It is also said they performed a terribly violent stage act. There are many stories about their escapades: their manager, Tony Secunda, promoted them in such an extreme way they were sued by the-then British Prime Minister, Harold Wilson - and there are many, many more. But what were The Move REALLY like? [Carl Wayne] Tony Secunda, our manager, was a very skillful businessman. He was also creative and had an artistic mind. He was the best manager I ever knew and did his job not just for the money but was the kind of guy who let the band make their dreams come true. He tried to give The Move the same sort of reputation the Rolling Stones had - not the Beatles - a band with a dangerous image. Tony was really a rebellious guy and he hated 'the Establishment' and all it stood for. It might be why he suggested promotional ideas such as demolishing TV sets on stage. He also saw in me a performer that would do the stunts and promotional gimmicks he invented. "Speaking of the lawsuit from Harold Wilson, Tony did that without telling the group beforehand. He collected all the gossip and rumour floating around London at the time to create an incredible advertisement for the band. Looking back, I think we should have continued with Tony's ideas and not cared about what the public felt about us, building our career by using the publicity from the scandal, but ultimately, we left him. If we had taken advantage of the publicity surrounding the Wilson case and continued with Tony as manager, I'm sure we would have been a worldwide success, including the States and Japan. Of course, The Move might not have passed immigration checks! I heard then that Japan was very strict in such controls. Japanese people are very kind and polite, while the British are decadent! ---- Interesting stuff, to be sure. Anyway, hope that fills in some of the blanks for those who didn't know about the "Flowers In The Rain" royalties situation. ********** Subject: The postcard Date: Wed, 2 Oct 2002 17:36:08 -0700 From: Gmcorie The story of Tony, Harry and the postcard are in the middle of Best of the Move. It was a story of the history of the Move. Singed Bev Bevan the ELO july 1973 louisiana george ********** Subject: Rick Price articles Date: Tue, 1 Oct 2002 22:44:16 -0700 From: Lynn Hoskins As we're talking about Rick Price in connection with "Lightning Never Strikes Twice" I thought I'd re-post a nice interview he did with the Birmingham Evening Mail back in September 2000, for anyone interested. Also, as Richard Kenworthy mentioned in his post, Rick wrote an excellent "in his own words" piece for Martin Kinch's site: http://www.cherryblossomclinic.freeserve.co.uk/ Extremely interesting reading, especially the parts about The Move and Wizzard. At the bottom of Rick's own words, you'll see mention of two fairly new CD's that Rick recorded with Dianne Lee. Details are here: http://martinkinch.members.beeb.net/rickcd.html Plus, the CD's are reviewed by John van Der Kiste. Don't know if any fans on this list have checked out these CD's. If you have...what do you think? ---- WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Rick Price of The Move and Wizzard Birmingham Evening Mail September 9, 2000 by Andy Coleman In 1973 the Christmas edition of the Top of the Pops TV programme featured Wizzard singing Angel Fingers and Peters & Lee performing their number one hit Welcome Home. At the time, little did Wizzard's guitarist and vocalist Rick Price suspect that 27 years later he would be duetting on stage with Peters & Lee's Dianne Lee. 'We were watching a video of that show the other day and the camera moved from middle of the road Peters & Lee, who I thought at the time were really twee, to Wizzard who were just being mental,' says Northfield-born Rick, now aged 56 and living in Weston-Super-Mare. 'I could really see the difference in the styles of music.' But Rick is performing again - this time with Dianne, with whom he has lived for 17 years. 'We're just starting off slowly because I'm semi-retired now so I don't want to go in for full-on tours,' he explains. 'We're doing theatres and aim our act at 35 - 40-year-olds. It's likely to appeal to Di's fans rather than those of Wizzard. 'We've supported the likes of The Bachelors, Bernard Manning, The Wurzels and Ted Rodgers. 'I sing Angel Fingers, I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day and Flowers in the Rain, with Di backing me, then I back her on Welcome Home and a couple of her other hits. 'We're both into New Country music so the rest of the act has that kind of flavour.' Rick teamed up with Peters & Lee after successful years in The Move and Wizzard. 'With Wizzard, the members seemed to leave one by one as the hits dried up but I stuck around until I was desperate for money. 'Peters & Lee's manager Laurie Mansfield contacted me and asked if I was interested in doing some stage lighting and sound for them. I said I wasn't - but he was offering pounds 100 a week so I eventually agreed. 'I toured with them working behind the scenes and didn't pick up a guitar for two years. But then I couldn't resist it and went out and bought some more instruments and began playing on stage with Peters & Lee's band. 'I played with them for five years, until 1980, and also produced a couple of their albums.' When the duo quit working together Dianne did some solo work, aided by Rick. He also began working with comedian Jim Davidson, running the comic's sound and light companies. 'Working with Jim was full-on, 24 hours a day, but I started to design sound systems for West End theatres and, when Peters & Lee reunited for a new album, it was recorded at my home.' Lennie Peters sadly developed cancer and died in 1992, aged 59. 'I semi-retired last year, but I still worked for Jim on a freelance basis,' Rick reveals. 'Di and I began working as a duo - with the imaginative name of 'Dianne Lee & Rick Price'!' They occasionally perform in the Midlands, at the Old Sills Club in Solihull with musician pal Mike Sheridan. Rick has also helped out Wizzard singer Roy Wood when he needed some technical assistance with his live solo work. 'I don't get the urge to join him on stage,' admits Rick. 'He's got some terrific musicians around him - all young, and most of them girls. If I was up there I'd just feel like an old man!' ©2000 Mirror Regional Newspapers ********** Subject: Re: TOTP 2 Date: Wed, 2 Oct 2002 11:49:01 -0700 From: MontyDaman >The BBC are offering you the chance to choose your own line-up for a >Top of the Pops 2 special! Here's the website to go to: > >http://www.bbc.co.uk/totp2/vote_2000/index.shtml NO overseas voters. UK only. Harold =( ********** Subject: Re: Who did ROY play with? The Beach Boys story! Date: Wed, 2 Oct 2002 23:33:42 -0700 From: BigLarry26 Kevin writes: >Brian Wilson was very aware of Roy's ouvre and during Wizzard's 1974 >USA Tour invited Roy to play sax and sing on "15 Big Ones". Roy had >been equally enamoured of Brian Wilson and his production technique >since the Beach Boys Pet Sounds and had openly thanked them on the >sleeve of the "Forever" 45 rpm. Hey folks! Here's a story which has circulated for years... Brian Wilson spent most of his time in bed, for several months. His mental problems were getting serious. He rarely left the bedroom, and had a lot of recording equipment moved into it, so he could work. Roy released "Forever" as a single. Brian heard the song. Due to Roy's excellent skills as a musical mimic, Brian thought that his own brother Carl had recorded and released the song behind his back! Eventually, Brian learned who Roy Wood is, and invited him to visit. Roy and Rick Price (I think?) went to Brian's house. They were greeted by Brian's young daughters singing "Forever". They met for brief chat in Brian's bedroom. He invited them to join in a recording, which was "It's OK". I'm unclear whether this was recorded in the bedroom, or if Brian was able to bring himself to a real studio. Also, does anyone know... is this the time that Roy hung out with Led Zeppelin? Hope this gives some insight. Larry Harris Dallas, Texas ********** Subject: Re: Who did ROY play with? The Beach Boys story! Date: Thu, 3 Oct 2002 02:41:21 -0700 From: Bob Hughes "It's Ok" and the rest of the "15 Big Ones" album was recorded during one of those short "Brian Is Back" phases of his career. Brian and the Beach Boys were working in a regular studio together at the time. By contrast the next album, Love You, sounds like Brian recorded the entire thing with a Casio keyboard and Drum machine and then the Boys overdubbed extra vocals when he wasn't looking. Brian of course is now touring all over the world, releasing live albums and appearing on TV, enjoying a career resurgence that all the world thought impossible. ********** Subject: Re: Who did ROY play with? The Beach Boys story! Date: Fri, 4 Oct 2002 13:08:29 -0700 From: marc haines I know that three songs were recorded. One of the other two (yet unreleased ones) was called "Honeycomb". I can't remember the 3rd title though.. ********** Subject: Re: Where's Woody? Date: Mon, 30 Sep 2002 13:12:17 -0700 From: Nreentrant Without a doubt it's St Pancras Station - gateway to the midlands but NOT Birmingham - except by rather odd routes. Why am I so certain - after commuting through the station for years one gets the feel for the place! John Derby, UK End of Useless Information #395 ******************************* [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.]