[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 #403 October 19, 2002 In this issue: * Gerry Levene and the Avengers * Song Of The Week (week of 10/14): "Songs Of Praise" * I want to tell you a story! * London Calling * California Man by Union * Night Of Fear Promo * Move On Video (cont.) * Idle Race on CD (cont.) * Here We Go Round The Lemon Tree - Move & Idle Race * Brum is UK's 4th musical city * King Midas With A Curse ============================================================== 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: Gerry Levene and the Avengers Date: Thu, 17 Oct 2002 05:23:54 -0700 From: "Jim Onslow" could you please tell me why when anything is mentioned on early ROY WOOD Gerry Levene and the Avengers are rarely mentioned. They were the first band he recorded with, the band also featured GREAME EDGE (MOODIES) & MIKE HOPKINS (IDLE RACE). The record was called DR FEELGOOD (DECCA). just trying to put the record straight as it was the start of a lot of history. Myself and Roy were featured on backing vocals. http://www.jimonslow.bizland.com ********** Subject: Re: Gerry Levene and the Avengers Date: Thu, 17 Oct 2002 14:58:15 -0700 From: kakman1 Jim wrote: >could you please tell me why when anything is mentioned on early ROY >WOOD Gerry Levene and the Avengers are rarely mentioned. They were >the first band he recorded with ... Jim, Jim, Jim! You were there! tell us a bedtime story! Wait, let me get my woobie and hot cocoa ... o.k., all set (waiting eagerly with look of great anticipation on face)! What is the Gerry Levene and Avengers story? And how does Roy fit in? Thank you ...! Kevin Kunreuther Dallas TX ********** Subject: Re: Gerry Levene and the Avengers Date: Thu, 17 Oct 2002 14:57:51 -0700 From: "Sandie Blickem" How amazing! I'm pretty sure that I remember going to an Avenger's gig here in Cambridgeshire? I suspect the answer is that it was buried too deep in their brains - after all - I can't remember too much about the 60's now - just the odd most memorable moments! ********** Subject: Re: Gerry Levene and the Avengers Date: Fri, 18 Oct 2002 11:33:36 -0700 From: marmil (Marc) AND (if you look at Jim's website, listed below), he also played in the Diplomats w/ Bev!!! Jim! We need stories!!! ********** Subject: Re: Song Of The Week: "Songs Of Praise" Date: Thu, 17 Oct 2002 21:03:14 -0700 From: Richard Messum After Kevin and Tyler's eloquent postings lauding this song, i feel a bit uncomfortable saying that it's not one of my favourites: i find the speeded-up voices very off-putting, they sound almost like The Chipmunks or some such horror. That said, however, the song does have its appeal. A jaunty melody with an irresistible hook, a wonderful arrangement (love the rhythm guitar) and the energetic hand-clapping mean that it's far from unlistenable, and Roy (at normal speed) is in great voice. History question: if "McCartney" was the first album on which the performer played all the instruments, was "Boulders" the second? Just curious.... Cheers, Richard n.p. "Boulders! ********** Subject: Re: Song Of The Week: "Songs Of Praise" Date: Fri, 18 Oct 2002 04:26:01 -0700 From: kakman1 Don't feel too bad if you don't care for some elements of "SOP" because you find them off putting. Many people have a real passion against certain elements in "Miss Clarke And The Computer" (not I)(or is it me)(anyway). Roy began what became Boulders in 1968 and completed the album more or less by 1970. The record company released the album a couple of years later. Paul McCartney had merely released his solo opus first. Much of it had been written in India back in 1968 and was rejected by the Beatles; some written immediately after The McCartney's nuptials. The album was recorded in late '69 to early 1970, some on that famous farm in Scotland, some in various recording studios in London. "McCartney", aside from three or four tracks, has a 'rough' or less polished sound, very immediate, like it was recorded on the fly. "Boulders", on the other hand, has a highly polished sound, well crafted songs, very clear presence in the instrumentation and vocals, not a lot of echo and reverb washing over everything. While there are some elements that connect "Boulders" with early ELO ("Dear Elaine" and the rockin' sawin' cello in "Rock Down Low"), I feel this album has more of a connection with the sound and style from the from "Shazam"-era Move than say, "Looking On/Message"-era Move. It is Roy's solo album and there shouldn't be any link , per se, to any thing Move because it is supposed to be his own personal statement, blah, blah, blah, yada, yada, yada, woof, woof, woof, but that is a tall order considering Roy's contributions to and presence to all stages of the Move and early ELO. I do concede you can find a link to early Wizzard on "Locomotive" in the Medley section. I always wondered whether Roy had Wizzard in the back of his mind once him and Jeff got into the ELO project and just kept his thoughts about it to himself until he got back from ELO's Italian tour ... The man has more musical ideas than even he can fulfill. Kevin Kunreuther Dallas TX ********** Subject: Re: Song Of The Week: "Songs Of Praise" Date: Fri, 18 Oct 2002 04:26:59 -0700 From: kakman1 I'm having a brain fart moment myself, right now, I can't even use google to find what i'm looking for, but McCartney and Roy and Stevie Wonder were the first in pop and rock'n'roll to release albums where the artist played all the instruments (like a one man band), the first person to do this was some mad American jazz artist either from the mid to late 1930's or early 1940's. He did this before sound on sound recording on magnetic tape was invented. Was it Illinois Jacqui? Somebody help here. A lost genius and early influence on what became known as rhythm and blues. Kevin Kunreuther Dallas TX ********** Subject: Re: Song Of The Week: "Songs Of Praise" Date: Fri, 18 Oct 2002 04:24:42 -0700 From: "Richard Kenworthy" Richard Messum asked: >History question: if "McCartney" was the first album on which the >performer played all the instruments, was "Boulders" the second? >Just curious.... Surely you haven't forgotten it was engineer surfin' John Kurlander on the harmonium on Songs Of Praise. It does raise the question as to why. Was it a pedal driven harmonium and after blowing all the wind instruments was our Woody literally out of puff??? ********** Subject: Re: Song Of The Week: "Songs Of Praise" Date: Fri, 18 Oct 2002 04:25:20 -0700 From: Bob Hughes >History question: if "McCartney" was the first album on which the >performer played all the instruments, was "Boulders" the second? The performer playing all the instruments isn't that unique. There's a John Mayall album where he does that. Stevie Winwood did it frequently with Traffic (though never a whole album). Chuck Berry is rumored to have done it. Les Paul (of course). I believe the first person to ever do it was jazz giant Sidney Bechet (on 78's!!!). ********** Subject: Re: Song Of The Week: "Songs Of Praise" Date: Fri, 18 Oct 2002 05:06:36 -0700 From: "Tyler C.Sherman" Hi Richard, Actually, Emmit Rhoades was making "one man band" records well before Roy or McCartney. I believe his first LP came out in 1968 on Dunhill Records, two years before "McCartney" (1970). Not many people bought his stuff, though (similarity to Roy here in the states). He made a few more albums before fading away from cult status to total obscurity. Too bad because his stuff was quite good, nice little pop ditties on his albums. About Roy using sped up voices...he used this technique on quite a few of his songs. Do you find those difficult to listen to as well? I do recall having a bit of trouble listening to "You Sure Got It Now" on the "Mustard" album at first but once the technique is accepted for what it is, it becomes quite listenable. In any event, whether or not one likes the the sped up voices on the chorus of "Songs Of Praise" does not negate the brilliance of the song. Wizzards, Tyler ********** Subject: Re: Song Of The Week: "Songs Of Praise" Date: Sat, 19 Oct 2002 00:41:34 -0700 From: JAMESMDUCK Kevin writes: >the first person to do this was some mad American jazz artist either from >the mid to late 1930's or early 1940's. He did this before sound on >sound recording on magnetic tape was invented. Was it Illinois >Jacqui? Somebody help here. A lost genius and early influence on what >became known as rhythm and blues. I'll have to go with Bob Hughes on this one-it was Sidney Bechet. Your fellow Texan Illinois Jacquet, while quite the contributor to the concept of (I got) Rhythm and Blues did not make any one man band recordings to the very best of my knowledge. kindest regards, Jim Duckworth Memphis TN ********** Subject: Re: Song Of The Week: "Songs Of Praise" Date: Sat, 19 Oct 2002 00:48:42 -0700 From: Lynn Hoskins Here's what Rolling Stone had to say about the song back in 1972... "The opening tune, 'Songs Of Praise,' sets the tone accurately: A stately introduction swiftly punches into Wood's euphoric vocals, riding on a snappy, happy bleached gospel tune that offers the giddy pronouncement that, 'The Good Book's had it's day,' so let's all sing out. The statement is properly oxymoronic, with a chorus of chirping upper-register Woods, latter-day Chipmunks, blithely echoing the message." - Sam Sutherland ********** Subject: I want to tell you a story! Date: Fri, 18 Oct 2002 23:58:07 -0700 From: "Andrew Footman" I know a chap called Max Miller. He used to be a DJ in the 60's. He was DJing his first night at a club in Wolverhampton in England. The club was called the Lafayette (not sure on spelling). The club had all the great bands of the day play there. (Move, Fleetwood Mac, Spencer Davis, Idle Race. Etc.) Max was at the bar at the club while a band was on. Roy said "Hello" to Max. Max told Roy Wood it was is first night at the club and that he was very full of nerves. (Big hot spot for the 60's). Max asked Roy to pretend to know him. Max told Roy that if the boss of the club thought Max was a mate of Roy's he could get some more work at the club has a DJ. Roy said 'OK'. (Max is a great DJ, used to be BRMB radio DJ if i remember right.) Max said the boss of the club was coming over to see him at the bar in a few minutes could you just say "Hello". It would help my street cred if he thought i was a mate of yours. Roy Said "OK". The boss came over to Max at the bar (to pay him i think.) On cue Roy comes over "How are you Max". To which Max replies "F*** Off Roy can't you see i'm busy?" The Gaffers mouth fell open as he dropped his pint of beer on the floor!! Roy said "You F**king B*****d". Roy did see the funny side later. It did the trick he became one of the house DJ's at the club. ********** Subject: London Calling Date: Thu, 17 Oct 2002 14:57:42 -0700 From: MontyDaman (Harold) Well I'm on my way to London (29/Nov) to attend the Concert for George Harrison @ The Royal Albert Hall. First time since 1975. I get to meet up with list member Linda Janes too! Great pen friend. Anybody have any sightseeing "MOVE RELATED" tips for me???????????? PaaLeezz! I hope some of you write me (privately @ montydaman@aol.com). ********** Subject: Re: London Calling Date: Thu, 17 Oct 2002 14:58:46 -0700 From: Lynn Hoskins >Anybody have any sightseeing "MOVE RELATED" tips for me???????????? Harold, Not sure what your schedule is (apart from Nov 29) or how many days you're staying, but if I were traveling to England I would make it a point to go see the Trevor Burton Band in Birmingham. They play Mondays at The Old Railway in Digbeth and Fridays at The Old Mill in Northfield. Hope it works out for you to go. ********** Subject: Californian Man by Union Date: Fri, 18 Oct 2002 11:32:53 -0700 From: Roy Cooke Has anyone heard or got a copy of Californian Man by Union off the Cheap Trick tribute cd, I would like to know. ********** Subject: Night Of Fear Promo Date: Thu, 17 Oct 2002 21:02:27 -0700 From: Thomas Walsh Hi all Move list members...This is Thomas Walsh here from "PUGWASH". I've written on the E.L.O. list but this is my first time on the MOVE list!!!!! I've been the BIGGEST Move-Roy Wood-E.L.O-Idle Race fan since the year DOT...How F**kin' Incredible and Life changing are these guys!!!!! My reason for posting is that nobody on the list has mentioned the Promo for "Night Of Fear"???? I have it!!!!!!!!Please don't spread this news around... I copied it on the SLY!!!!! It was recorded as part of a look at "Swinging London" ...done by Swedish or German T.V I think (Maybe Rob could help us out on that one?) and the copy I obtained was given directly to a friend of mine from the original producer of the show!! It starts of with the presenter of the show asking various Londoner's had they ever heard of a band called "THE MOVE"....to which the general response is ..."THE OOOOOH". Then it cuts to a trendy Saville Row clothes shop and one by one Carl introduces each member of the band (in a mock "Spastic" John Lennon way!!!!) They are all REALLY YOUNG and it could be one of the earliest surviving clips? (over to Rob again?). They then proceed to mime "Night Of Fear" each one taking up a different position in the shop!! It's f**kin' Wonderful!! Please let me know if anyone else has seen this clip or can shed a more detailed description of it's origin? Speak to you again soon... Thomas Walsh (PUGWASH 2002) www.pugwashtheband.com ********** Subject: Re: Move On Video Date: Thu, 17 Oct 2002 18:43:13 -0700 From: "Greg Weatherby" Rob Caiger wrote: > It's also live and an incredible performance. I didn't find any > performance of Wave The Flag And Stop The Train in the archives I have the Move doing "Wave The Flag" on video over there in my archives, can't remember what show it was from, maybe "Beat Club" or "Beat Beat Beat". It was definitely a show from the Continent, and not the UK. They do the flip side of the platter, sports fans, as well, a little ditty about the grass. ********** Subject: Re: Move On Video Date: Fri, 18 Oct 2002 11:34:29 -0700 From: Guttpat (Patrik Guttenbacher) >I have the Move doing "Wave The Flag" on video over there in my >archives, >can't remember what show it was from, maybe "Beat Club" >or "Beat Beat >Beat". Beat Beat Beat and Beat Club, are German TV-shows, at Beat Beat Beat (Beat Club predecessor) they did Night Of Fear, I Can Hear The Grass Grow Walk Upon The Water (ie. Walk ON The Water) Could it be that you mixed Walk Upon with Wave The Flag????? ********** Subject: Re: Idle Race on CD Date: Thu, 17 Oct 2002 05:23:39 -0700 From: GeorMarin (George) i have the "idle race" double lp on the love label entitled "impostors of life's magazine". does this cover the entire "idle race" catalog? if not could someone post a discography if it is not too much trouble. there are some great songs on these lp's. you can hear where elo would be going after roy left. thank you. ********** Subject: Here We Go Round The Lemon Tree - Move & Idle Race Date: Fri, 18 Oct 2002 04:23:55 -0700 From: "Andrew Footman" I love the Move's version and the Idle Race version is amazing. Which version came first? I love the backwards bit in the middle on the Idle Race single. Will the Idle Race 'Back to the story' be rereleased on cd. I only recently found out about it and would love a copy if someone has got one for sale. ********** Subject: Brum is UK's 4th musical city Date: Thu, 17 Oct 2002 04:25:22 -0700 From: Lynn Hoskins Does the writer think that Roy was the only Move member to hail from Brum? I just might have to send Mr. Banner an e-mail about this (address at bottom.) The Moody Blues got no mention at all. It's good to see Birmingham recognized for its music. But I agree with the author - should have been #2. Who were some of the famous Manchester bands during the 60's? I'm drawing a blank. Brum is hailed UK's 4th musical city Evening Mail Birmingham (UK) October 11, 2002 by Phil Banner Birmingham was today named as Britain's fourth best musical city with Liverpool, home of the Beatles, taking the No 1 spot. But surprisingly, Britain's second city was behind Manchester, famous for Oasis and The Smiths, which was edged into runners up spot in a nationwide poll of music fans. Notorious Birmingham's musical tradition rests with chart topping groups like Black Sabbath and its notorious frontman Ozzy Osbourne who once bit off a live bat's head during a performance. UB40, led by brothers Ali and Robin Campbell from Balsall Heath, have also notched up a string of worldwide hits, along with Ocean Colour Scene and their singer Simon Fowler, from Moseley. Eighties superstars Duran Duran, Roy Wood of The Move and Wizzard fame and Jeff Lynne from Electric Light Orchestra are other famous musical stars from the city. Paul Jackson of Virgin Radio - which organised the poll - said Liverpool had 'a rich history of creative music that spans from the 1960s to the present day'. The Fab Four have been the city's best known musical export but there have been a stream of acts to emerge from Merseyside. The late Seventies punk scene centred on Liverpool club Eric's spawned acts like Echo and The Bunnymen, The Teardrop Explodes and Wah!. Further success came with OMD, Frankie Goes To Hollywood and The Las. It is undergoing another musical explosion with acts such as The Crescent and Mercury Prize nominees The Coral who are from nearby Hoylake. Manchester's musical exports are led by Oasis, but other top names have included New Order, The Smiths, The Fall, The Stone Roses and less well-known but influential bands such as The Chameleons. Despite south Wales's reputation as a breeding ground for talent in the last few years, with chart acts such as Catatonia, Super Furry Animals and Stereophonics, none of its towns merited a mention in the top ten. Nor did Leeds - a musical hotbed in the Eighties which spawned the Sisters Of Mercy, The Mission and Chumbawamaba - although nearby Bradford, where The Cult and New Model Army formed, is ranked number eight. Jackson, Virgin's programme director, added: 'It was a close run thing between Manchester and Liverpool and this is bound to spark debate up and down the country. 'Everyone will have their own opinion but The Beatles edged it for Liverpool this time.' The Top Ten Cities: 1. Liverpool 2. Manchester 3. London 4. Birmingham 5. Glasgow 6. Oxford 7. Hull 8. Bradford 9. Belfast 10. Edinburgh WHAT do you think? Write to 28 Colmore Circus, Birmingham, B4 6AX or email eveningmail@mrn.co.uk © Copyright 2002 Birmingham Post and Mail Ltd. ********** Subject: King Midas With A Curse Date: Thu, 17 Oct 2002 09:39:09 -0700 From: "Greg Weatherby" Lynn Hoskins wrote: > It's good to see Birmingham recognized for its music. But I agree > with the author - should have been #2. Who were some of the famous > Manchester bands during the 60's? I'm drawing a blank. errrrm.......the Hollies, for starters. ********** Subject: Re: Brum is UK's 4th musical city Date: Thu, 17 Oct 2002 09:18:11 -0700 From: Joe Doyle I believe that 60's bands Freddie and the Dreamers and Herman's Hermit's were from Manchester, that must have swayed the vote over such no name bands like Led Zeppelin that were left out of the Brum bands listed in the article.... :) In fact, with ELO and Led Zeppelin, haven't Brum had two of the world's largest selling bands (I think both have held the title at some point)? Mind you, I have to agree with the #1 spot, except they forgot to mention me in the article......... :) Joe2, your short haired lover from Liverpool ********** Subject: Re: Brum is UK's 4th musical city Date: Thu, 17 Oct 2002 14:58:21 -0700 From: Richard Messum How can we forget The Hollies, most of whom (in the 60's) hailed from Manchester, and The Bee Gees, whose massive popular successes probably boosted "Mad Chester" to the #2 spot. ********** Subject: Re: Brum is UK's 4th musical city Date: Thu, 17 Oct 2002 18:43:50 -0700 From: John DeSilva Richard Messum wrote: >How can we forget The Hollies, most of whom (in the 60's) hailed from >Manchester, and The Bee Gees, whose massive popular successes probably >boosted "Mad Chester" to the #2 spot. Richard: I thought the Bee Gees hailed from Australia ... were they based in Manchester during the 60s? JD San Jose, CA ********** Subject: Re: Brum is UK's 4th musical city Date: Thu, 17 Oct 2002 21:02:52 -0700 From: "STEVEN GRAHAM" I think The Bee Gees are `honorary` Aussies. They were born in Manchester (some of them anyway...maybe the Isle of Man?) The Gibb family emigrated to Australia but moved back to England later. ********** Subject: Re: Brum is UK's 4th musical city Date: Fri, 18 Oct 2002 04:27:29 -0700 From: Richard Messum >I thought the Bee Gees hailed from Australia ... were they based in >Manchester during the 60s? Hi John and all: The Gibb brothers were born in Manchester, and were performing there as early as 1956. The family emigrated to Oz in 1958, where the boys made a few tentative recordings (which became very popular down under), but it was upon their return to the U.K. (1967?) that, under the guidance of Robert Stigwood, they achieved their international fame 'n' fortune. End of Useless Information #403 ******************************* [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.]