[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 #483 June 30, 2003 In this issue: * Upcoming Roy Wood's Army gigs * More mustard, anyone? * Bev Bevan's Jukebox online * Cheap Trick: "California Man" * Third "First Light" CD (cont.) * Brum Rocked On! (cont.) * Roy at the Robin 2 * Future Sound of London * Cheap Trick's new Move-sounding song * Pick of the Pops * Emotionally Weird * Ra-Ra Rasputin (scary theory) * Jeff Lynne video clip * Song Of The Week (week of 6/16): "Rob Roy's Nightmare" * Roy Wood at the Americana Festival (UK) * Super Active Wizzo (cont.) ============================================================== The contents of this digest are the copyright of The Move "Useless Information" Mailing List and may not be re-published or re-distributed elsewhere without permission and credit. 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: Upcoming Roy Wood's Army gigs Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2003 00:39:20 -0700 From: Lynn Hoskins For those new to the list, here's where Roy and his Army are going to be in July: 4 July, 2003 The Robin 2 Bilston, West Midlands Tickets: £12.50 (advance) and £13.50 (door) Showtime: 9:30pm More info: http://www.therobin.co.uk/ 13 July, 2003 Americana International Festival Newark County Showground, Nottinghamshire Tickets: £15 On stage: 7:00pm More info: http://www.americana-international.co.uk/ 18 July, 2003 Festival Too Tuesday Market Place, Kings Lynn, Norfolk Free admission More info: http://www.lynnnews.co.uk/ftpinc/lynndata/festtoo/index.html ********** Subject: More mustard, anyone? Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2003 10:55:02 -0700 From: "Martin Kinch" There has been some talk about Mustard here recently which made me go through my scrapbooks to see what I had on it. For your interest, here are a couple of reviews, There are more, but the album didn't get the best reviews here in the UK for some reason http://cherryblossomclinic.members.beeb.net/mustardreviews.jpg This is an advert that was in the UK music press http://cherryblossomclinic.members.beeb.net/mustardad.jpg And a nice pic of Roy in his greenhouse with a jar of Mustard. (these were given out as promo items, but of all the Woody fans that I know, I don't know of anyone that has one) You can't see it on this pic, but the label on the jar has a pic of Roy on it. http://cherryblossomclinic.members.beeb.net/roymustard2.jpg Martin ********** Subject: Re: More mustard, anyone? Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2003 20:50:25 -0700 From: Lynn Hoskins Thanks, Martin, for the reviews! >http://cherryblossomclinic.members.beeb.net/mustardreviews.jpg These reviews seem little harsh (but still a good read). Hard to tell what the writers were expecting to hear. Boulders Part 2? Probably not the Andrews Sisters. ;) >For your interest, here are a couple of reviews, There are more, but >the album didn't get the best reviews here in the UK for some reason I'm not sure it got the best reviews in the U.S., either. A couple years back Joe Doyle typed up a bunch of Roy Wood & Wizzard press for the list, including this one below. It's from 1974, Joe's guessing it's from Rolling Stone, judging by the U.S. spelling. (Can anyone confirm?) The last paragraph clinches that this is a U.S. review, where it says "The Move's success was dependent on the checks and balances between Wood and ELO's Jeff Lynne." Of course The Move had some solid Roy-penned hits in the UK, with no writing help from Jeff (Night Of Fear, Flowers In The Rain, Fire Brigade, etc.) Do Ya (written by Jeff) was the first and only Move song that charted in the U.S., and it only got as high as 88. So I'm guessing the writer must be a "Split Ends"-era fan. While Roy and Jeff did not do much collaborating, save for "My Marge," they did have a Lennon-McCartney "checks and balances" relationship in the studio. Any thoughts on the Mustard reviews? ---- "Mustard" review - 1974 (source unknown) Mustard is Roy Wood's second all solo effort and it's lacklustre quality when compared to his first, Boulders, parallels his creative stagnation since leaving the Electric Light Orchestra to form Wizzard. Wood has always been a musical parodist, but his writing with Wizzard stayed within a framework of Fifties rock and Spector-pop styles that feature blaring horn work and muddy, bass dominated production. Lacking the satiric detachment of the Move, Wizzard too often sounds like a parody of itself. Similarly, where Boulders reveled in Wood's inspired eclecticism, Mustard is prone to overworked conceits. The ballads - particularly "The Rain Came Down On Everything," which comes complete with a rainstorm - have neither the innocence or the unaffected music to make them work on their own terms nor the humor to make them effective satires. "Any Old Time Will Do" is the album's best tune, boasting the creative punch of Boulders' "Songs Of Praise" with its' harmonies accenting the lightly rocking piano/slide guitar melody. Though more labored, the Beach Boys replica, "Why Does Such A Pretty Girl Sing Those Sad Songs" and the Ronettes-like "Look thru the Eyes of a Fool" showcase Wood's ability to write within distinct rock genres. Like the rest, though, these performances are marred by Wood's one-man-band lapses. Wood plays an array of instruments but is master of only guitar and bass (seemingly acknowledged by the notes on the cover ballooned "clink" and "zoing"). While his horn and string ideas might work conceptually, their execution weakens even the best songs. The rockers suffer the most - Wood's overdubbed instrumentation lacks the tension and interactive chemistry to energize the tunes. Littered with studio gimmicks and studied enthusiasm, they fail to escape their heavy-handed pretensions. It's becoming clear that, like the symbiotic Lennon-McCartney relationship that sparked the Beatles, the Move's success was dependent on the checks and balances between Wood and ELO's Jeff Lynne. Without the creative and instrumental interaction found in that band, Roy Wood has progressively slipped into his own eccentric corner, much like the protagonist of "Any Old Time Will Do" who finds that "My only world is songs that I sing and hear." Unfortunately that world is getting pretty boring. ********** Subject: Bev Bevan's Jukebox online Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2003 20:50:47 -0700 From: kakman1 hello all Bev Bevan Jukebox fans, Is anyone having any problems receiving the SAGA 105.7FM online today? I was unable to listen to Bev's show online today for some unfathomable reason not listed in Saga FM's bug FAQ. Kevin Kunreuther Dallas TX ********** Subject: Cheap Trick: "California Man" Date: Tue, 24 Jun 2003 00:50:16 -0700 From: Gmcorie how d all I've been trying to find the Cheap Trick Lp that has California Man on it. I can't believe i haven't found it. guess i need a little help. HELP louisiana george ********** Subject: Re: Cheap Trick: "California Man" Date: Tue, 24 Jun 2003 00:50:31 -0700 From: Lynn Hoskins >I've been trying to find the Cheap Trick Lp that has California Man on >it. I can't believe i haven't found it. guess i need a little help. HELP Hi George, It's on Heaven Tonight, which came out in 1978. It's been remastered - you can get it from Amazon.com for $9.98. It was also included on these releases, which are easy to find: Budokan II (1994) Cheap Trick at Budokan: The Complete Concert (1998) Cheap Trick/In Color/Heaven Tonight box set (1998) Collection (1992) Don't Be Cruel - Sony budget release (1998) Hope you get it! ********** Subject: Re: Third "First Light" CD Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2003 18:23:52 -0700 From: "davidburley" Rob Caiger writes: >I'm putting together a third ELO title in the First Light series for >September release. Subject to Jeff's approval, this will include the >remaining Quad versions from the first album. So, Uncle Jeffrey is clearly up for sensible, sensitive reissues with alternate and live tracks. This is good news. My first question is: Rob, is there any way of getting Jeff and Bev to bend Roy's ear to get Message From The Country released? Question 2 (about Roy): Should we continue to call him 'Roy Wood', or should we call him 'Roy Wouldn't'? David Burley Burley Towers ********** Subject: Re: Brum Rocked On! Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2003 18:24:03 -0700 From: "Paul Scott" Thanks for the tip-off Lynn! I emailed Mike Lavender, the editor, direct. The mail order address is about a mile from where my folks live so I planned to call in personally to buy Brum Rocked On! to save a bit on p&p. I also enquired about getting hold of the first book 'Brum Rocked'. He came back to me very quickly and said that although Brum Rocked! is now out of print the Birmingham Post & Mail still had a few copies available. One quick visit to Colmore Circus later I now have both books. If anyone is keen to get hold of Brum Rocked! then you may need to contact the Post & Mail fairly quickly (or pay a visit if you are in the vicinity - good luck trying to find a parking space!) My first flick through the book was to mainly look at the pictures (we don't go big on words in Brum) and the real fascinating ones are those that are more of the private snapshot type. The photos are great and lots of venues are mentioned. Some of the place I know and are still standing although hardly any of them can claim to host live shows anymore - a shame. Before any of you lot ask, No I didn't see any of these bands! I was born in the middle of it all in 1966! My dad does seem to think that he once saw Carl Wayne and the Vikings so chances are he probably saw Bev playing drums. How about this? I have worked with a chap called Chris Brown for more than twelve years and he has a dark past: he used to play organ in a group called the Band of Joy with some blokes by the name of John Bonham and Robert Plant! I'm going to point him in the direction of these books as I'm sure he will have a few memories to add. My quest is now to get a few autographs in the book. Where to start? Paul Scott Birmingham ********** Subject: Re: Brum Rocked On! Date: Thu, 26 Jun 2003 01:38:58 -0700 From: Lynn Hoskins For those who don't want to do mail order... Brum Rocked On! is now in stock at several bookshops in and around Birmingham. It will soon be available to order from every UK bookshop. By the way, for those not sure if there's enough Move-related material in this book to be of interest, I just checked the Appendix and here's the page count for a few of our favorite artists: Bev Bevan: Text and/or photo on 9 pages Roy Wood: 18 pages Carl Wayne: 19 pages Jeff Lynne: 17 pages Ace Kefford: 17 pages The Uglys: 17 pages Richard Tandy: 5 pages Trevor Burton: 22 pages Idle Race: 12 pages Some of the photos are priceless. More info: http://www.brumrock.co.uk/ ********** Subject: Re: Brum Rocked On! Date: Thu, 26 Jun 2003 01:39:36 -0700 From: "Lynnette Cannell" >My quest is now to get a few autographs in the book. Where to start? Well, Roy Wood is playing the Robin2 at Bilston next Friday, july 13th - oh, and there's good parking! It's not too far from you, so you should be able to find it. He tends to walk back in the front door, (from the pub) at around 9-ish, and you might catch him then. Alternatively, you could wait afterwards - but as it is a local gig, he always has lots of family and friends there, and your wait might be a very long one!! And hasnt he been threatening to have Bev as a stand in drummer one of these days? You never know - could be this one! ********** Subject: Roy at the Robin 2 Date: Fri, 27 Jun 2003 11:55:17 -0700 From: "Jeff Cooper" >Well, Roy Wood is playing the Robin2 at Bilston next Friday, july 13th - >oh, and there's good parking! According to the Robin website http://www.therobin.co.uk/ this Robin 2 gig is actually on 4th July as follows: "Fri 4th July ROY WOOD's ARMY All the classic hits + much, much more. + support £12.50 £13.50 How to buy tickets: Telephone Box Office, Mon-Sat 9am-6pm - 01384 637747 or in person at both venues. NB. Robin 1 closed 21 June. Wish the gig was on 13th (or Fri 11th) as I can't make the 4th and this is literally only up the road from me. ********** Subject: Future Sound of London Date: Fri, 27 Jun 2003 16:45:16 -0700 From: Lynn Hoskins An item of interest (Rob's reply) posted to the ELO-Showdown list: Date: Fri, 27 Jun 2003 12:24:39 -0700 From: "James Griffiths" I've just been playing the Future Sound of London album The Isness, which is a kind of techno tribute to prog rock. There's a sample from 21st Century Man in it - fifth track, 4 minutes 10 seconds in. It's the opening keyboard refrain from the ELO song. Great album. Date: Fri, 27 Jun 2003 22:29:25 +0100 From: "Rob Caiger" The Future Sound Of London have also remixed an ELO song for a very interesting project which may - or may not - happen later this year. Tracks by Wizzard, Roy Wood and The Move are also involved. Great group - can recommend any of their ground-breaking albums, especially Dead Cities. Best - Rob Face The Music Online - www.ftmusic.com The official information service for ELO & all related artist ********** Subject: Cheap Trick's new Move-sounding song Date: Sun, 29 Jun 2003 00:05:32 -0700 From: Lynn Hoskins The Trick World website at http://www.trickworld.com/ features a "track-by-track" from Robin Zander and Tom Petersson about the upcoming Cheap Trick album "Special One." Here's what Tom says about the title track: Special One Tom: "Robin had been kicking this one around for a long time. When I first heard his basic idea, it was like an early ELO song, or from the late Move, like 'Message from the Country.' I thought, 'God, we've got to get this song together!" Cheap Trick are huge Move & Roy Wood fans, of course. They've covered "Brontosaurus," "California Man," "Rock and Roll Tonight" and "Down On The Bay." Can't wait to hear their new Move-inspired song! "Special One" is the band's first new studio album in six years. It comes out July 22 on Big3 Records. The official Cheap Trick website - www.cheaptrick.com - has a couple clips from the new album, for anyone interested. ********** Subject: Pick of the Pops Date: Sun, 29 Jun 2003 13:49:49 -0700 From: "George Mackenzie" As I was in the car yesterday listening to Radio 2. Dale Winton was on with his show "Pick of the pops", the years were 1968 & 1972. At No 7, 31 years ago this week was "California Man by The Move. Great to hear that song on the radio. I just turned the radio up full blast. Thanks Dale for making my car journey worthwhile. ********** Subject: Emotionally Weird Date: Sun, 29 Jun 2003 13:50:00 -0700 From: "George Mackenzie" My wife is reading a book at the moment titled "Emotionally Weird" by Kate Atkinson and there is a character called Robin who has been described as a cross between Rasputin and Roy Wood from Wizzard, scary eh. I wonder if Kate is a Woody fan? Thanks Kate, good to see Roy's not forgotten. ********** Subject: Ra-Ra Rasputin (scary theory) Date: Sun, 29 Jun 2003 17:28:51 -0700 From: "Chris Roberts" George was eagle eyed enough to spot the following and drag me out of lurkdome: >My wife is reading a book at the moment titled "Emotionally Weird" >by Kate Atkinson and there is a character called Robin who has been >described as a cross between Rasputin and Roy Wood from Wizzard, >scary eh? Three thoughts: One - George, you ask if Ms Atkinson might be a Woody fan? Is the double 'z' in Wizzard the way she writes it or is that your unintentional correction of her typo? If is two 'z's in the book then she' either a true fan of her proof reader is!!!!!! Two - The coupling remark linking Rasputin and our hero isn't new either. In his introduction to the only live gig that the Wizzo Band played, the announcer (Alan Black) made a sketch of Roy whilst saying his bit and upon apparently showing his work to the audience said some might think it looked like 'Rasputin'. So think you might be on to something here. Copies of the audio tape of that show are treasured items for those of us lucky enough to possess one and only a true fan would have tracked the rare item down. The remark could have been coincidence I suppose and a lot would depend when the book was written and if Roy was in the limelight at the time. Three - The character in the book is called Robin. And we all know Roy's favourite gig venue is called the ......... It's only a theory but if like me it's got you wondering, then what's the betting Ms Atkinson is a member of this fine 'list'? Ooooooooooh.......... Now THAT would be scary!! Don't have nightmares :O) Regards Chris Cardiff, Wales ********** Subject: Re: Ra-Ra Rasputin (scary theory) Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2003 01:55:43 -0700 From: "George Mackenzie" Chris Roberts wrote: >Is the double 'z' in Wizzard the way she writes it or is that your >unintentional correction of her typo? The double z is what's written in the book (page 57). Just for the record Kate was born in York but now lives in Edinburgh. ********** Subject: Jeff Lynne video clip Date: Thu, 19 Jun 2003 19:22:57 -0700 From: Mike F There is a video clip of Jeff Lynne talking about writing "Living Thing" here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/soldonsong/artandcraft/home/writingmusic.shtml He sings and plays guitar to demonstrate the songwriting process. (This is more ELO than Move related but I'm sure some folks here will be interested.) ********** Subject: Re: Song Of The Week: "Rob Roy's Nightmare" ABMH.A. Date: Thu, 19 Jun 2003 00:22:57 -0700 From: Gmcorie first I like roy's art. You all know he went to art school for a while. You have to admit he has his own style. You either like or not. I like it. believe it or not, this is kinda weird but this 45 came today. IWICBCE - it was in the Christmas card 1973, does anyone know if he did the art for it. when i put it on the turntable the song started with a little magic. next thing was how the room filled up with sax from every corner of the room except the drums behind me. they were everywhere. when the bees came in and spinned me around the room into the cello bit wow it was like i was listening to ELO First light, you know Roy does that a lot. You know everyone has there place in the song. He never forgets anyone. can anyone tell me if Mike wrote any more of Wizards songs, and what he is doing now. ********** Subject: Roy Wood at the Americana Festival (UK) Date: Thu, 26 Jun 2003 01:42:57 -0700 From: Silvereagleuk With less than two weeks to go to the "Greatest & biggest 'live' music & auto event" Americana International 2003 - 11-12-13th July. This festival is very unique and has no equivalent in Europe, check it out for yourselves. The man himself and his 'Army' will be rocking the spacious County Showground at Newark Upon Trent Nottinghamshire on Sunday July 13th. Advance bookings for this 23 year old event have rocketed since the final line-up was last released to the national media... ROY will be closing a long weekend of fantastic 'live' music and cool automobiles, with such luminaries as SUZI QUATRO, PAUL YOUNG & LOS PACAMINOS, JOE BROWN, BR549, GEORGE HEGE HAMILTON V and Sun Records legend SONNY BURGESS leading a 38 strong bill of music spanning from the 50s up to the 90s. Check out http://www.americana-international.co.uk for lots more information. In my teens I lived in Solihull a rich suburb of Birmingham and got to see CARL WAYNE & THE VIKINGS in their youth, and what a great rocking band they were. Later it was the MOVE, then WIZZARD and so on. I'm just happy that I got to see a bunch of brilliantly talented musos doing the business, so for me its a dream come true to be able to book one of my all time favourite singer song writers from my teen days... We are expecting over 50,000 visitors over the weekend, anyone wishing to attend can pay on arrival (see web site for admission fees) on a daily basis... Five weeks ago I was contacted by a top agent in the UK, asking me if I could fit another highly talented muso onto the festival either this year or in 2004, none other than DAVE EDMUNDS who has returned to the UK from a very long spell in the USA. So, with a bit of luck, DAVE will be with us next year along with many other great names from the 60s/70s/80s... Rock on, Chris R Jackson (Promoter: Americana International) ********** Subject: Re: Super Active Wizzo Date: Fri, 6 Jun 2003 23:31:41 -0700 From: Gmcorie Vellini wrote: >I have a copy of Supper Active Wizzo on vinyl. It's in great shape >played maybe twice. if anyone wishes to make an offer. I'll try here >1st before going to ebay. I had just heard of SAW right before Vellini wanted to sell his copy. I had just bid on one on ebay. I knew nothing about SAW. when I first listened to it at that time there was no way I could listen to it loud. ended Up using headphones blew me away. You know it was like the first time I heard SHAZAM. Who where these guy's what a Band. some people thought it was a bit repetitive, some wasn't sure what it was jazz or what ever, Well it's a little country, a little jazz & Rock What it is 100 per cent ROY WOOD with a great Band. Hope like hell it's on Rob's remaster program. I would have give anything to have heard them LIVE. THIS IS ROY'S BEST Lp. that's all I've got to say! louisiana george ********** Subject: Re: Super Active Wizzo Date: Sat, 7 Jun 2003 12:33:01 -0700 From: "Andrew Footman" Yes George, SAW is a front runner alright, it is better than Mainstreet and holds up well to Mustard and Boulders. The band are top notch and the In Sight And Sound concert which turned out to be their only concert shows how could they were. Soon please Rob, Roy is holding everything up. Some folks do not like it, others rate it has one of his best. It nearly equals Shazam which is the best Album Roy played on! Do not be put off buying the remaster, can Rob put a few sound clips from this in the future so folks can make their own minds up? End of Useless Information #483 ******************************* [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.]