[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 #346 April 26, 2002 In this issue: * Song Of The Week (week of 4/23): "Fight For My Country" * Never mind the balls, here comes Trevor * Roy's slide guitar * Tell us the news about yourself... (cont.) ============================================================== To POST TO THE LIST: Send an e-mail to: move-list@eskimo.com Useful Web addresses: TheMoveOnline: http://www.themoveonline.com Official Roy Wood site: http://www.roywood.co.uk Face The Music Online: http://www.ftmusic.com Join the ELO List: http://www.eskimo.com/~noanswer/showdown.html 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: "Fight For My Country" Date: Tue, 23 Apr 2002 22:07:36 -0700 From: John DeSilva > Song Of The Week - April 22, 2002 > "Fight For My Country" > Balls - featuring Trevor Burton (guitar & lead vocals), Denny Laine > (guitar & vocals), Alan White (drums) > > http://www.newwavesales.com/FightForMyCountry.mp3 Well, I'll give it a go ... Thanks to Greg for posting up the mp3 on this - it's probably been 25 years since I heard this last. A song very much of its time - anti-war sentiment in the US was at a fever pitch at the beginning of the Seventies, and John and Yoko's "Give Peace A Chance" and "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" singles would indicate it was also strong in the UK. It's an interesting juxtaposition with today's public opinion of the war on terrorism, isn't it? Musically it's a bit repetitive, but the guitar solo is pretty cool - a kind of backward guitar sound in places, giving it that psychedelic flavour ... Who's playing the solo, Trevor? If he could play like that I would love to hear "guitar wars" with he and Roy recorded back in the early Move days. Denny? I saw Wings in '76 - no screamin' leads traded between Denny and Jimmy McCulloch that I recall ... ;-D It's too bad that we didn't hear more from Balls - definitely a musically talented bunch. BTW, I've always wondered if the line in the Move's "Open Up Said The World At The Door" was a small tribute to Trevor and Denny's group: "Brother beware, nobody care anymore, since the days back when Balls were the thing"?!?!? :-D JD San Jose, CA ********** Subject: Re: Song Of The Week: "Fight For My Country" Date: Wed, 24 Apr 2002 09:27:44 -0700 From: "stephen mulcahy" i actually dislike this song except for the guitar work. i think that the ace kefford stand song was much better. i also have to disagree with the guy who prefers the move rendition of moby grape's hey grandma. while it is good, i feel that it can't compare to the original. moby grape's first album, in its entirety, was one of the truly great discs of the era-certainly better than the overrated output of most of the san fran scene (airplane, dead, quicksilver, big brother etc.) ********** Subject: Re: Song Of The Week: "Fight For My Country" Date: Wed, 24 Apr 2002 10:45:24 -0700 From: David Alff hey, all, a great tune, good crunching guitar. i first heard this on wmmr in philadelphia when it was a new single. in those days, it was the "underground" radio station and played the move (shazam, mostly) and all sorts of good stuff. i bought the UK single years and years ago, and have a question for others who have this: the 45 starts to fade at the buildup to the last chord (which doesn't last long). i once heard a version on the radio that didn't fade and had a longer, loud final chord. is there such a version out there somewhere? ********** Subject: Never mind the balls here comes Trevor Date: Wed, 24 Apr 2002 10:45:02 -0700 From: "Doyle, Joe" Sadly, technically challenged at work, I've been unable to listen to the SOTW. I read John's review with interest, but would be intrigued to see what others think too. Doesn't anybody else have an opinion? Surely Jeff, California Man, Ramsey must have one ;) On the subject of Trevor, the Move's own Sid Vicious years ahead of his time, one thing that has surprised me over the years, especially when you take into account his not inconsiderable talent, is his mystifying lack of success. I know that he has 'ballsed' up and 'monkeyed' around (ouch!!) quite a bit, but he has not had anywhere near the success that I believe he could have. Was this down to his heavy drug use - I can recall him saying that Tony Secunda (or was it Don Arden?) throwing a couple of hundred quid at him and telling him to get the hell out of London before he killed himself? Did he just not have 'what it takes' to get a successful band together? I am asking most of these questions out of ignorance, as I know very little about his post Move career, apart from some of the bands that he played with, so I would be eternally grateful if there's anybody on the list who's a Trevor fan and could give a bit of insight into his last 30 years or so. I understand that he is touring again with his own blues band, but they seem to be limiting their gigs to local Midland bars and clubs - is there a reason for that that anybody is aware of? It's not much to ask, I know :), but I would like to fill this gap in my knowledge. I used to be an angry young man myself, so I've always been attracted to the likes of John Lennon (not in the Epstein sense, of course), Trevor and yes, my ultimate anti-hero Sid. Yours waitingly. ********** Subject: Re: Never mind the balls here comes Trevor Date: Wed, 24 Apr 2002 17:55:31 -0700 From: Rob Caiger Joe Doyle wrote: > I understand that he is touring again with his own blues band, but > they seem to be limiting their gigs to local Midland bars and clubs - > is there a reason for that that anybody is aware of? Yes, they are building slowly - the band has undergone some changes (one of their members died recently from cancer) but they are starting to build a following again and want to break out of the Birmingham area. There will be more news soon, including an updated website and biography. The Blue Moons Cd is incredible - I can't recommend it highly enough. Recorded at BBC Studios, Pebble Mill Birmingham, the CD features 11 tracks, with two written by Trevor, one by Richard Tandy and the rest covers (John Hyatt, Jim Byfield, JJ Cale, Warren Zevon and more). It has just gone into a second pressing and as soon as those are ready, we'll be offering signed copies via the list. If anyone would be interested in a copy, please let me know as soon as possible. A full review will follow shortly to give a flavour of how good this is and hopefully we'll have some sound files available for preview. ********** Subject: Re: Never mind the balls, here comes Trevor Date: Thu, 25 Apr 2002 19:45:18 -0700 From: Richard Messum I have that Trevor Burton song Stephen referred to, "Down down down," on a Dave Edmunds CD entitled "The collection" (1997). The writing credit goes to "Burton" and i didn't twig until now that this was our man himself. It's a good song, it's a great CD as well, but that's for a different list. Cheers, Richard ********** Subject: Roy's slide guitar Date: Thu, 18 Apr 2002 23:58:19 -0700 From: Lynn Hoskins Jason McCollam wrote: >then it has some german video show which I don't speak, this was a >live clip from some studio circa Jeff Lynne phase. Roy was playing >slide guitar. I can't remember the song to save my like right now. >I can hum it in my head but can't remember the title. I don't know if >this was pretty common or not. It was the only thing I've ever seen >in terms of live videos. Hi Jason, I do know the one you're talking about. "When Alice Comes Back To The Farm." Wow. It's been a while since I've seen this video, but I think the image of Roy sitting alone on the stage playing an AMAZING slide guitar is one that will never leave my memory banks. It's funny you would mention that clip. Just the other day Tim Emerich e-mailed me and said, "You know that video where Roy's just sitting there playing the..." (he didn't even have to finish his sentence, I knew exactly what he was referring to.) Roy's slide is absolutely stunning on this song. If anyone on this list is an accomplished slide guitar player, I'd love to hear your comments about Roy's playing on this song. Have you been able to imitate his unique style? ********** Subject: Re: Roy's slide guitar Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 09:59:35 -0700 From: "Jeff McFadden" > If anyone on this list is an accomplished slide guitar player, I'd > love to hear your comments about Roy's playing on this song. Have > you been able to imitate his unique style? As I play a bit of slide, maybe I can pipe in. I'd class Roy's slide playing with George Harrison and Lowell George. These were players who took slide guitar playing beyond open tunings and blues scales and figures to a more melodic approach using standard tuning. They all were very clean and precise in their slide work, using muting extensively with both hands. (Muting is where you drag the fingers on your fretting hand behind the slide to mute the strings and keep them from ringing open. George, Lowell, and Roy used this technique, and also placed the edge of their picking hand on the strings just in front of the guitar bridge for additional muting.) It's awkward to mute with both hands as you play, and because of this Lowell George used two MXR Dynacomp compression units to achieve this effect. I've never seen the live clip you guys are talking about, but I'm using "Chinatown" to analyze Roy's technique. Here he plays a variety of fills behind his vocal line, all very melodic, that are an essential part of the song. In places Roy makes his guitar sound like a Japanese koto by muting the strings very heavily. I was also very impressed when I noticed Roy seems to be double tracking most of his slide parts here. This means that he had to play every part twice, exactly the same both times. In some cases he seems to be using an acoustic guitar or a dobro to double the electric guitar line. Playing slide in standard guitar tuning is more difficult that open tuning. With standard tuning, the notes in a scale from string to string are spaced farther apart, which means that you have to move the slide a further distance from note to note when playing. It's very difficult to play precisely this way, but Roy, George, and Lowell always did it. Jeff Lynne occasionally played slide as well, and I think that's him on the Move's version of "Do Ya." Jeff used slide more for effects than for really melodic parts, as on that upwards "zoom" he uses during "Do Ya." I wish Roy would play slide more often. ********** Subject: Re: Tell us the news about yourself... Date: Sat, 20 Apr 2002 00:00:00 -0700 From: "Tyler C.Sherman" Been posting for a couple of years so I guess it's time to reveal a bit about myself. Here goes: Tyler C. Sherman, 50, live in tiny seashore town called Bay Head, NJ. I wear many hats including plumber, musician/songwriter, firefighter, Methodist lay minister How long a fan? Since 1967. First Move related experience? As a teenager I listened to Scott Muni's "Things From England" show on WNEW-FM in NY every Friday afternoon. That's where I first heard the Move. The first thing that hooked me was "I Can Hear The Grass Grow". Since the records were impossible to find I taped them directly off the air on a battery powered reel to reel tape recorder. I couldn't actually buy a Move record til "Shazam" came out in early '70. It blew me away. I thought, "This guy Roy Wood is gonna rip the rock music world apart with his bare hands". I was dumbfounded when nothing happened. I'd play "Shazam" for freinds and they would yawn and say,"Got any Allman Bros.?" Top 5 Move-related tracks? Hmmm... that means non-Move, eh? 1. Buffalo Station / Get Down To Memphis (Wizzard Brew) 2. Song Of Praise (R.W. Boulders) 3. Sneakin' (Wizzo Band S.A.W.) 4. The Song (R.W. Mustard) 5. Me & You (Roy & Jeff unreleased demo circa '92) Fave Move-related album? "Boulders". Still brilliant after all these years. I still use this and "Shazam" to try to turn others on to Roy's music. Discussion topics? It's rolling along just fine. 20 years ago I was writing to UK fans by snail mail in an effort to get info about Roy. This list is a God-send. It leaves no stone unturned. Live? I missed The Move when they toured here in '69. I've seen them live on video, though. I had the privilege of seeing Wizzard in '74 in a small club in Parsippany NJ called "the Joint In The Woods" that was filled with fans. It was fantastic. They had been opening shows for bands like (ugh!) Black Oak Arkansas and were not recieved well. So it was great to see them in a setting where they were appreciated for what they were doing. Then in Nov. '95 I saw Roy, backed by Cheap Trick, at a benefit show at Irving Plaza in NY. Blew everyone else off the stage, in my opinion. The pinacle, of course, was the Army at the VU a few weeks ago. As good as that show was, it was a real joy to meet so many folks from this list. Amusing story? When "Message From The Country" came out I was still living at home. In the midst of painting my room, I played it pretty much non-stop as I worked. At one point my father wandered in as "It Wasn't My Idea To Dance" was on. He listened for a moment and said to the record, "Sorry, fella, I can't sing either" Other bands/artists I listen to? Moby Grape, Mickey Jupp (great British blues-rocker, check him out!), Van Morrison, Marshall Crenshaw, Beach Boys, Beatles, PFR (Beatle-esque Christian band), Nazz, NRBQ, Greg Kihn (pre-hit stuff), early Pink Floyd, Larry Norman (Christian rock pioneer), Dave Edmunds/Rockpile, Steve Earle, early ELO, Phil Keaggy (amazing Christian guitarist), Big Tent Revival (CCR-esque Christian band). As far as anything current, I'm presently playing Dar William's "The Green World" CD to death. Great Stuff. Song to cover? I'd like any major rock band to have a hit with any one of Roy's songs. Then people would finally know what a major talent he is. Cheap Trick came close with "California Man". A tribute album like "Lynne Me Your Ears" is a splendid idea. How can we make it fly? Burning question? Why, oh why, is Roy so reluctant to release that live album he's decided to shelve? Doesn't he want to document what he's been doing the last few years before moving on to salsa? Trouble finding Roy's stuff on CD? Well, I lost my copy of "Shazam" with the live bonus tracks. It's now out of print. Does anyone on the list have a spare they would be willing to part with? Still "Moving" on... Wizzards, Tyler ********** Subject: Re: Tell us the news about yourself... Date: Thu, 18 Apr 2002 20:59:34 -0700 From: "sk" Name: Steve Klemz Age: 48 Location: Virginia Got into Roy Wood/Move etc: Jan./Feb. 1969 (whenever shazam was released??) Fave "Woody" Era: The Move of course!!! especially 1966-69 Fave "Woody" Album: First Move album, Message from the country Collection: Most available re-mastered CDs I even found a copy of boulders on cd., Vinyl of all 4 initial lps of move. vinyl of wizzard, wizzo, elo stuff Other Bands/Artists I'm into: Bob Dylan, Beatles, Kinks, Replacements, Only Ones, Vic Chesnutt, Jack Logan, Family, Frank Sinatra, Paul Kelly, Jayhawks, Bonzo Dog Band, Hank Williams, The everly brothers, Who (except for tommy), George Jones and a million others. First Roy Wood record I ever heard was HELLO SUSIE in a store and I bought Shazam on the spot and found everything else quickly...then on to Looking on and Idle race, etc. Saw the first Elo tour of us. Bummed that roy wasnt in the band. Met Jeff Lynne before the show and myself and a friend took him record shopping and then drove him to the show that night (a high school outside chicago). Did stuff from first and second albums. Loved it. First time seeing Roy was in NYC at the Village Underground in March. 2 nights. Loved. Met Roy after the show and went home happy. He signed my ELO first album right next to Jeff and Bev's autographs. Not many people I would ask for an autograph at my age. Roy is one of them. Fave Roy songs 1. Fire Brigade 2. It Wasn't My idea to dance. No ONE HAS ever done a song like this. 3. Hello Susie 4. Angel Fingers to me the ultimate wizzard single.... 5. Flowers in the rain (or just about anything else on that 1st album) Doesnt matter if Carl sings...still Roys songs... ********** Subject: Re: Tell us the news about yourself... Date: Sun, 21 Apr 2002 10:55:09 -0700 From: "Mark Jarman" About Me: I'm Mark Jarman. I'm 43 and live in Ipswich UK, which is a nice, semi-rural town of about 120,000 people about 70 miles from London. Famous for its football team, Cardinal Wolsey, and Tolly Cobbold beer. I'm a poet and dramatist. I used to be the manager of a local arts centre, but I've been able to retire early. I've got MS, which is a whole other story! How long a fan? Since about 1968 First Move related experience? Hearing Blackberry Way on the radio and making it one of the first records I ever bought. Top 5 Move-related tracks? Blackberry Way I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day Tonight See My Baby Jive Curly Fave Move-related album? "Boulders", but for me Roy is all about singles. Individual tracks that represent moments in my life. Discussion topics? What were we doing when favourite tracks came out? What do they remind us of? Live? I've never seen Roy live. Hoo Hoo! Amusing story? This is so embarrassing. At a folk festival in 1975 I was convinced by a devious scheming (but charming) cockney bloke that he was a friend of Roy's. Roy would give me and my friend (not the cockney bloke) a lift back when the fair was over - so we waited at the side of the road for him to turn up in his big white car. Of course he never did, and we spent the night lying under the stars getting cold and increasingly pissed off. I don't talk about it much, and if I remind my friend of it, he gets all catatonic! Other bands/artists I listen to? I still have a soft spot for UK glam rock ie David Bowie, The Sweet, Gary Glitter (oh dear), and of course T Rex and Marc Bolan. But I became a punk in the late seventies, so The Clash, The Pistols, and then I adore Joy Division and New Order. Also Shane McGowan and The Pogues, The Smiths, Madonna, Moby, Pulp, Tracy Chapman, Faithless, even Dido on a good day. I like anything with a good tune and an attitude. Oh Leonard Cohen! Burning question? Has Roy still got that big white car? Did he ever have it? Trouble finding Roy's stuff on CD? Not really. I recently bought the Singles compilation from Amazon easily enough. ********** Subject: Re: Tell us the news about yourself... Date: Sat, 20 Apr 2002 23:46:39 -0700 From: John Rock >Your name, age, location, occupation. John "Rock" Perga, 51, S.F. California. USA Project Manager >How long have you been a Move and/or Roy Wood fan? From 1967 after hearing "Night Of Fear" for the first time. >What was your first Move related experience? I was sent a package of 45's from England with "Night of Fear". >Tell us about your top 5 favorite Move related tracks. "ICHTGG", Flowers In The Rain, Blackberry Way, Beautiful Daughter, Songs Of Praise & many more. >What's your favorite Move related album, and why? Shazam, because it's timelessly produced power-pop! >What topics would you like to see discussed on this list? Do you like Reggae! >If you've seen the Move or any member of the Move in concert, tell us >about that show. http://home.pacbell.net/johnrock/Move.html >Tell us about an amusing or interesting situation that has happened >as a >result of you being a Move/Roy Wood fan. I became managed and mentored by Tony Secunda, a very amusing gentleman. >Who are some of your other favorite artists/bands? Presley, Beatles, Stones, Who, Hendrix, and the list of obscure artists from decades past would be endless. >Which Move related song do you wish one of your favorite bands would cover? The Goo Goo Dolls doing Beautiful Daughter. Ugh? >What is the one burning question that you have never had answered >in >relation to Move/Roy Wood history or music? Where are the real unreleased tapes of The Move? LOL >Are you having trouble finding any Move related music on CD? Yes!! I have them all and would buy them again. ********** Subject: Re: Tell us the news about yourself... Date: Sun, 21 Apr 2002 14:38:15 -0700 From: JANES434 Hi apart from Lynn am I the only woman on this mailing list!!!!!! My name is Linda Janes, 46, I Iive in Maidstone Kent quite near to London. I am a supervisor at a department store. I have been a Move fan (especially Carl Wayne) since the age of 12 !! When I first heard ICHTGG and Flowers in the Rain. Fell in love with Carl and thought the band was just so different to any others. My favourite top 5 Move related tracks are Flowers in the Rain, Blackberry Way, Beautiful Daughter, This time Tomorrow and Something it was very hard to pick just five as most tracks have something about them I like!! My favourite album is "Move" as it was the first Move album I bought then "Shazam" I would like to see more discussion on Carl with The Hollies don't get me wrong I have enjoyed reading all the comments about Roy Wood. I never got to see The Move in the 60s but have now had the chance to see Carl with The Hollies saw them last year also seeing them twice this year it was such a fantastic show Carl blended in so well with the other members. The whole show had us rocking from beginning to the end. Carl also got the chance to sing Flowers in the Rain and Blackberry Way which for me was like being transported back in time to the 60s !!!! I really hope if you get the chance in the states to see them you'll be blown away like I was !!! I did get the chance to see Roy Wood with ELO bought the tickets was looking forward to it and counting the days away and the day before went down with very painful tonsilitis !!!!! Could'nt have come at a worse time I will never forget the day I missed out on seeing them. Other favourite bands are Beatles T.Rex Jethro Tull Hollies Uriah Heep Moody Blues Yardbirds loads of 60/70 pop bands -Love Affair Amen Corner Dave Dee etc The Searchers Marmalade Tremeloes etc etc No I don't seem to have any trouble in finding Move music on CD here if you look hard enough you will find. The 30th Anniversary Anthology CD Movements is well worth buying. I have just come across a really good site www.brumbeat.net (go to links) it has loads on The Move / Roy Wood / ELO. Linda End of Useless Information #346 ******************************* [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.]