[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 #409 November 7, 2002 In this issue: * Song Of The Week (week of 11/4): "Cherry Blossom Clinic (Revisited)" * Dave Edmunds/Heartbeat concert * Looking On * Shakedown Sounds? * Concert for George Harrison * Roy Wood vs. Birmingham City Council * Tell us the news about yourself... ============================================================== 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: "Cherry Blossom Clinic (Revisited)" Date: Mon, 4 Nov 2002 07:06:54 -0800 From: "Dale G. Leopold" Live version???!!!!! (Just listened to it) Way cool! Unmixed, yes, but still surprisingly good quality (certainly better-sounding than the "Something Else" tracks). Can you say First Light? It's fun to hear the classical bits (Bach's "Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring," Dukas' "Sorcerers Apprentice," Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker"--did I miss any?); Roy must have just seen "Fantasia!" Clearly a precursor to ELO excursions. I think it says something about Roy's arranging skills that this sounds a lot more "orchestral" than the original CBC single with its annoyingly intrusive string arrangement, despite being played by just the rock band instrumentation. Anybody else reckon that this song could be the postscript to "Disturbance?" It makes a nice segue way. I used to play "Shazam" in the bookstore I worked in during college (late 70s). This song never failed to turn heads and produce delighted smiles. It still would today, I venture to say. Dale in Richmond ********** Subject: Re: Song Of The Week: "Cherry Blossom Clinic (Revisited)" Date: Mon, 4 Nov 2002 13:49:08 -0800 From: Keith.Fletcher Always a favourite just because of the sheer diversity of the movements within it, almost a mini operetta much like the Who's a Quick One. Full of Humour. Now to the live version, having heard the clip WHEN O WHEN IS THE FILLMORE CONCERT GOING TO GET AN OFFICIAL RELEASE!! ********** Subject: Re: Song Of The Week: "Cherry Blossom Clinic (Revisited)" Date: Tue, 5 Nov 2002 02:24:37 -0800 From: "Andrew Footman" > Glorify my... melancholy room Put missing lyrics on words above. I transfered this LP to CD recently and went round a fellow muso friends house for him to hear results. When CBC was played the smile on his face said it all. Now he has become a fan of the Move too. Rob's raw 1 min clip of the live version is great. I cannot wait to hear the cleaned up Abbey Road cd when it is released. Could we please have a full track listing of this concert? ********** Subject: Re: Song Of The Week: "Cherry Blossom Clinic (Revisited)" Date: Tue, 5 Nov 2002 22:26:07 -0800 From: John DeSilva This is my favorite Move song. Everything that I love about the Move is contained in this one song: incredible guitar work; loud, deep bass; inspired drumming from Bev; extended instrumental passages employing classical motifs; and lyrically bizzare and macabre content. Carl's vocal and introduction is perfect for the song - highly theatrical, it's no wonder why he was so highly regarded as the narrator in "Blood Brothers". The production by Roy is masterful; full-bodied, powerful, and dramatic. The guitar orchestra he creates with layers of guitars presages what he and Jeff would create a year later with ELO. Carl's high register vocalizations sparring with Roy's guitar is also very exciting. The high-water point of an album that has nothing but high points. Now about the live snippet ... how much more excited can one get about a CD release? This is why they call song excerpts "teasers" - for an unenhanced, unmixed performance it sounds damn good to me. The most intriguing aspect for me was the backing vocal (Roy and Rick presumably) doing the "horn" parts in the second verse. It begs the question: on the original album cut, was that part done by actual horns, or 'electronically processed' backing vocals? "Live at the Fillmore" can't come out soon enough for me - talk about your holy grails!! ;-D Thanks for this one Lynn! JD San Jose, CA ********** Subject: Re: Song Of The Week: "Cherry Blossom Clinic (Revisited)" Date: Wed, 6 Nov 2002 02:58:15 -0800 From: Richard Messum Surely there's a PhD. paper waiting to be written: "Mentally dysfunctional protagonists in the songs of Roy Wood".... Anyway, Lynn, you've done it again: this is the second week in a row the SOTW has been a personal favourite, not just favourite Move, but Favourite Song Of All Time, Ever. This has everything that made the Move extraordinary, both lyrically (i love the simile "up above the sun is high / like a tea tray in the sky") and structurally, and instrumentally (the soaring guitar and storming bass in particular). Right from the opening seconds, the sound effects (doorknob, etc.) you know you're in for something special. And then, is it our man Roy himself who speaks the opening lines? (It's not a particularly Brummie accent though, is it? More like Scouse to this Londoner's ears.... Of course, England ends at Watford.) (He says, ducking.) On the matter of the inclusion, or interpolation, of the fragment of Bach's "Jesu, joy of man's desiring," we've discussed the connections between The Move and The Byrds on the list before: The Byrds did it first, Roger McGuinn (or Jim, as he was then known) using the melody as a part of his solo in the Byrds' song "She don't care about time" (b-side of "Turn! Turn! Turn!" in 1965). The Nice were known to "interpret" Tchaikovsky, but to my knowledge no-one has ever done hard rock Dukas before or since. (I'm open to correction on this point.) As for the live version ... Alas, i couldn't download it, my antique version of Windows being without the necessary object handler, and Microsoft's website being utterly unwilling to upload it to me. Microsoft, how do i hate thee.... Linux, anyone? Cheers, Richard (R.I.P. Lonnie Donegan) ********** Subject: Re: Song Of The Week: "Cherry Blossom Clinic (Revisited)" Date: Wed, 6 Nov 2002 02:58:31 -0800 From: Lynn Hoskins Richard wrote: >As for the live version ... Alas, i couldn't download it, my antique >version of Windows being without the necessary object handler, and >Microsoft's website being utterly unwilling to upload it to me. Microsoft, >how do i hate thee.... Linux, anyone? Richard, and anyone else who's having trouble downloading the clip due to computer limitations... drop me a line if you would like me to e-mail the clip directly to you. It's 1MB so it shouldn't be too taxing on your mail program. I would hate for anyone to miss out on hearing it. ********** Subject: Re: Dave Edmunds/Heartbeat concert Date: Fri, 1 Nov 2002 01:24:26 -0800 From: kakman1 Tyler Sherman wrote: >Just a quick story related to a possible connection to Roy. Back in >the mid 80's I was listening to Scott Muni's program on WNEW FM. Dave >Edmunds dropped in to promote his new album and take phone calls from >listeners. He had just played at the infamous "Heartbeat" charity >concert in Birmingham that was organized by Roy. Au contraire, Tyler, the Heartbeat concert was organised by Bev Bevan. Kevin Kunreuther Dallas TX ********** Subject: Re: Dave Edmunds/Heartbeat concert Date: Fri, 1 Nov 2002 11:24:06 -0800 From: "Tyler C.Sherman" Kevin, I know Bev was involved on some level but at the time Roy seemed to be spear-heading the whole thing. I know Bev MC'ed the show but that doesn't necessarily mean he was the primary organizer. Probably it was a joint effort. Originally there was supposed to be a Move reunion for the Heartbeat benefit concert, featuring the original line-up. I think Bev may have gotten the ball rolling on the concert/reunion but Roy, once he got involved, really took command of things. Bev & Roy were in agreement about the reunion and it may have even gotten to the point of arranging a rehearsal. Apparently Roy & Carl had a disagreement and that put an end to the reunion. This was actually the genesis of the Big Band/Army because when the reunion fell thru, Roy had to throw together a band as he didn't have one at the time. I've got lots of printed matter sent to me at that time that makes it very clear that Roy was probably more involved in putting the show together than Bev was. I even have a promo poster designed by Roy for the concert, which was to raise money for a children's hospital in Birmingham. It's an image of a small child playing a guitar drawn by Roy. Perhaps more media attention was given to Roy than Bev but Roy was definitely very involved in putting it together, if not the principal organizer. Also I have video of the jam at the end of the concert that shows Roy trading licks with Dave Edmunds, George Harrison and all the others. At one point he gave his strat to Steve Howe to play as he was struggling to be heard on an acoustic guitar. Very gracious fellow, that Roy. Wizzards, Tyler ********** Subject: Re: Dave Edmunds/Heartbeat concert Date: Fri, 1 Nov 2002 20:35:56 -0800 From: Rob Caiger Tyler Sherman wrote: >I know Bev was involved on some level but at the time Roy seemed to be >spear-heading the whole thing. I know Bev MC'ed the show but that >doesn't necessarily mean he was the primary organizer. Bev was indeed the main organiser - the show was his idea and he put the whole thing together, inviting the artists to perform, setting up and chairing the committee which looked after the organisation of the show and also continued to raise funds long after the concert was over. All the media articles featured Bev as the mastermind behind the whole project, together with his friend and fellow Diplomats bandmate, Phil Ackrill. Bev didn't actually MC the show itself, that was left to Bev's old friend Jasper Carrott, while various other celebs (including Roger "Ollie" Spencer) took turns to introduce bands (Jasper introduced ELO). Roy designed the logo and appeared in the launch photos with various other artists and accompanied Bev to the hospital for promotional photos and cheque presentations. >Originally there was supposed to be a Move reunion for the Heartbeat >benefit concert, featuring the original line-up. I think Bev may have >gotten the ball rolling on the concert/reunion but Roy, once he got >involved, really took command of things. Er, not quite. The key word is the original line-up. >Bev & Roy were in agreement about the reunion and it may have even >gotten to the point of arranging a rehearsal. Apparently Roy & Carl >had a disagreement and that put an end to the reunion. This was >actually the genesis of the Big Band/Army because when the reunion >fell thru, Roy had to throw together a band as he didn't have one at >the time. No, not at all. And certainly no rehearsals. It turned out there was no real agreement for the "classic" Move to reform. Roy was scheduled to perform as a solo artist in addition to being a member of The Move and had to put together a band anyway. What actually happened was Bev approached Roy and then Carl to a reunion of The Move. Carl would only do it if it was the original line-up - Roy, Ace Trevor, Bev and himself - which was understood and apparently agreed. A few weeks before the show, nothing had happened, no rehearsals, no communication. As the band had not played together for almost 20 years, rehearsals were vital and necessary, so Carl started phoning round to find out what was going on. The Move don't all talk to each other, but all of them talk individually to Carl, possibly because he is the oldest in the group and its frontman and lead singer. After trying to find out exactly what was happening and when he should travel to Birmingham to rehearse, Carl was informed that Roy would only do The Move if it was himself, Carl, Bev and Rick Price. Which isn't the original line up and certainly not what Carl had agreed to. As the photo in the Heartbeat programme shows the 1969 line up, this appears to have been the plan from the start. FTM interviewed Bev a few years back, and he told us the reason The Move didn't reform was down to Carl disagreeing: "And really, at the the last moment, 48 hours before, Carl said he wouldn't." Not as dramatic as 48 hours, but true-ish, up to a point. Carl had agreed to do The Move as everyone in Birmingham remembered them, the original line-up. Finding out last minute The Move wasn't going to be the original line up because of still bitter and long running grievances between certain members meant he had no choice but to refuse. He was baffled that petty jealousies couldn't be put aside for 30 minutes to raise money for the Children's Hospital in front of a local audience. It was also baffling that the two members who formed the band originally weren't even considered to be part of the reunion. From what I can gather, the view at the time was that because the concert was for charity, a "version" of The Move would be ok and those in that particular line-up would still agree to do it. Hence the photo in the programme. Out of respect to Ace and Trevor (and because it appeared the original line-up was never a consideration in the first place) Carl refused. With only two original members left, it was decided to abandon a "Move" performance and shift the songs into Roy's set. The disappointment on the day was incredible, especially when Roy announced on-stage there would be no performance. The groans from the audience! This might give you a hint as to why The Move's catalogue is in such a mess... There's more on The Move's Heartbeat fiasco - visit The Move Online (http://www.themoveonline.com) and read Ace's interview. ********** Subject: Re: Dave Edmunds/Heartbeat concert Date: Sat, 2 Nov 2002 00:29:20 -0800 From: kakman1 Thanks Rob, great info. There always seems to be some odd relationship things still going on to this day concerning the past members of The Move. I always reckoned everyone more or less still got along with Carl, but Bev and Trev still had hard feelings towards each other; aside from Carl, I felt the other members had avoided Chris Kefford for unspecified reasons. I'm not sure whether a 'proper' Move reunion will ever occur, it does seems a little silly that after all these years that old animosities, fears and grudges would still be prevalent many years later. Kevin Kunreuther Dallas TX ********** Subject: Re: Dave Edmunds/Heartbeat concert Date: Sat, 2 Nov 2002 11:25:07 -0800 From: "Tyler C.Sherman" Rob, Thanks for setting the record straight on the Heartbeat concert / Move reunion. I never intended to perpetrate inaccuracies, just mimicked things I was told about it. It did seem at the time that a lot of attention was focused on Roy's involvement by the media. Oh that they could put aside differences and reunite for for an album and tour! Wizzards, Tyler ********** Subject: Looking On Date: Mon, 4 Nov 2002 13:49:59 -0800 From: "Stephen Murphy" I went to our gym at lunchtime today (at work) to do some stationary biking. I have heard from many people that this form of exercise is boring and that you don't get anywhere. Well, I went somewhere today, I listened to Looking On on my headseat while I was biking. I had only planned on biking for 20 minutes, but from the first notes I was drawn into a musical journey that lasted the entire album (about 50 minutes). It took me over, under, sideways, down, backward ,forward, square, and round (Yardbirds). This is a much too overlooked album. Musically, it is by far the best album by the band. Not only do Roy and Jeff cook on this record but Rick and Bev are also awesome. Jeff's piano work is tremendous throughout. If you get a chance, get the headphones out and listen to one of the HEAVIEST albums of all time. ********** Subject: Shakedown Sounds? Date: Tue, 5 Nov 2002 02:27:40 -0800 From: Lynn Hoskins Is anyone on the list familiar with who the Shakedown Sounds are/were? Ace mentions them in his interview: "Our idea was to be like the Shakedown Sounds, do you remember them? Well, that was me and Trev's idea. We'd got as far as me and Trev - then there are two - you know what I mean?" What style of music did they play? Would it have worked for Ace the Trevor? It's taking me a while to absorb everything in this really fascinating interview. It's like an amazing piece of music history that's been dormant for decades is suddenly talking to us... ********** Subject: Re: Shakedown Sounds? Date: Tue, 5 Nov 2002 12:18:28 -0800 From: Zabadak900 (Rick) Lynn Hoskins writes: >Is anyone on the list familiar with who the Shakedown Sounds are/were? >Ace mentions them in his interview: Perhaps I'm totally off base, but was not this band somehow associated with a pre-Mott The Hoople line up? ********** Subject: Re: Shakedown Sounds? Date: Thu, 7 Nov 2002 01:55:31 -0800 From: kakman1 Lynn Hoskins writes: >Is anyone on the list familiar with who the Shakedown Sounds >are/were? The Shakedown Sounds were Jimmy Cliff's backup band, used to play around Heresford. Eventually part of the band mutated into what became the original (uncommercial)Mott The Hoople before Bowie resuscitated their career. Isn't interesting how Bowie nee D. Jones keeps popping up? Kevin Kunreuther Dallas TX ********** Subject: Concert for George Harrison Date: Fri, 1 Nov 2002 01:24:46 -0800 From: MontyDaman (Harold) Anyone on the MOVE list going to this show other than me? ********** Subject: Roy Wood vs. Birmingham City Council Date: Fri, 1 Nov 2002 12:41:03 -0800 From: Lynn Hoskins You tell 'em, Roy! Stars in outcry at Town Hall plans Birmingham Evening Mail (UK) October 31, 2002 by Claire Newbon SHOULD the Town Hall plans be put to the public for approval before work goes ahead? Write to 28 Colmore Circus, Birmingham, B4 6AX or email eveningmail @mrn.co.uk MIDLAND performers today spoke out against ambitious city council plans for Birmingham's town hall. Singers, including ex-Wizzard star Roy Wood, believe the pounds 30 million project earmarked for the building should face public scrutiny before any alterations get the go-ahead. The council has not yet put the project out to public consultation, despite plans to find a further pounds 6 million of taxpayers' money. It has already announced plans to radically alter the interior of the Grade I listed venue, closed for six years. Roy Wood said improving acoustics at the hall would be an investment but he believed there were other ways to achieve this apart from gutting the interior. He said: 'These so called modern interior designers should not be given carte blanche in order to transform our heritage into some nasty Millennium project.' Peter Bancroft, former assistant manager at the town hall, said: 'Artists who played there have never complained about the size of audiences, so why is the council planning to make the hall smaller?' The council plans to liaise with the public over finer details and will begin discussions at a planning meeting today. © Copyright 2002 Birmingham Post and Mail Ltd. ********** Subject: Re: Tell us the news about yourself... Date: Thu, 31 Oct 2002 00:20:43 -0800 From: Mike Griffiths >Your name, age, location, occupation. My name is Mike Griffiths. I'm 53 years old and I live in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. I'm a dockhand and film projectionist. >How long have you been a Move and/or Roy Wood fan? I had read about the Move in British publications like Rave, Fabulous, Melody Maker, so I was aware of them early on, but I had never seen any of their records in the record stores over here nor heard any of their music. It was shortly after reading John Mendelson's review of Shazam in Rolling Stone that I went out and bought the album. It immediately became a classic for me and it still is a favourite. With Shazam, the Move took rock up to the next level in a much classier way than other bands of that period. They managed to retain the pop while adding the heavier feel. There are no bum cuts on the album and they did the whole thing with some humour. The spoken bits between the tracks are priceless. >Tell us about your top 5 favourite Move related tracks. Hello Suzie - A brilliant pop/rock mutation. One of Roy's best vocals - both raunchy and funny! Great guitar and drums as well. The Last Thing On My Mind - Folk standard done Move style with Carl's fabulous vocal. Don't Make My Baby Blue - The rock ballad of all time. The guitar and drums equal the power of Led Zeppelin. Carlís most heart wrenching vocal performance. Do Ya - Jeff's ELO remake could not equal the Move original. I never saw the Move or ELO, but I did see Todd Rundren's Utopia at Knebworth In 1976 do this song. Todd was doing Townshend windmills and leaps proving that it is the perfect Who song, even though it was written and recorded by someone else. California Man - simply one of the greatest rock and roll songs ever. >What topics would you like to see discussed on this list? I really enjoy the range of topics that are currently covered. I'm most interested in new facts and educated opinions, especially involving unreleased material. More updates from Rob Caiger! >If you've seen the Move or any member of the Move in concert, tell us >about that show. I did see Trevor Burton with the Steve Gibbons Band back in 1976 (opening for the Who, I think). I was not terribly interested in Steve's singing or songs, so I watched Trevor most of the time. He struck me as being very serious and his bass playing was very solid. He only did backing vocals so it was disappointing for me. >Tell us about an amusing or interesting situation that has happened >as a result of you being a Move/Roy Wood fan. In the summer of 1976, I visited London and actually managed to get a hold of Pete Meadon on the telephone. He was managing the Steve Gibbons band at the time and he invited me to the studio where they were currently recording, but for some reason I didn't go. Silly me. Who are some of your other favourite artists/bands? The Who, Kinks, Yardbirds, Small Faces, Zombies, Easybeats, Creation, Beach Boys, Georgie Fame, Manfred Mann... >What is the one burning question that you have never had answered >in relation to Move/Roy Wood history or music? In the last few years, why has Roy Wood not released any new recordings except for various remakes of I Wish Could Be Christmas Everyday? End of Useless Information #409 ******************************* [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.]