[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 #349 May 5, 2001 In this issue: * The Move Oct. 1969 U.S. tour * Album Of The Week: "Super Active Wizzo" * Super Active Wizzo - fan interest? * Woody's guitar chops! (cont.) * The Move's 1st album artwork by The Fool * 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: The Move Oct. 1969 U.S. tour Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 09:48:21 -0700 From: "Robert Elliott" Hi, I'm new to the digest so I don't know if this topic has been discussed before. I am interested in hearing from anyone who knows where and on what dates the Move played during their 3 week Oct. 1969 US tour. The only confirmed dates that I know of are the Whiskey A Go Go in Los Angeles and the Fillmore West shows in San Francisco from Oct. 16-19. ********** Subject: Re: The Move Oct. 1969 U.S. tour Date: Sat, 27 Apr 2002 10:22:18 -0700 From: "stephen mulcahy" i do know that they also played the grande ballroom in detroit with the stooges... ********** Subject: Re: The Move Oct. 1969 U.S. tour Date: Sat, 4 May 2002 21:12:27 -0700 From: Lynn Hoskins Bob wrote: >I am interested in hearing from anyone who knows where and on what >dates the Move played during their 3 week Oct. 1969 US tour. Their 3-week "tour" consisted of them flying to N.Y., only to find there was no one from the record label to pick them up. They drove to Detroit on their own and played two shows in Detroit. Then they drove to Los Angeles, and then to San Francisco. Calling the "tour" a disaster would be putting it mildly. After they returned to the UK, there was a lot of tension in the band resulting in Carl's departure. Correct me if I'm wrong...didn't "Shazam" come out a month after Carl left? ********** Subject: Re: The Move Oct. 1969 U.S. tour Date: Sun, 5 May 2002 00:57:32 -0700 From: kakman1 Shazam was released in UK on Regal Zonophone March 1970 and in USA on A&M in May 1970, according to liner notes of "Great Move! The Best of the Move" 1994 EMI Records. Kevin Kunreuther Dallas TX ********** Subject: Wizzo is so musical, long, very long, but musical Date: Tue, 30 Apr 2002 11:19:59 -0700 From: "Doyle, Joe" To start off with, I have to confess that I have not listened to the album for a long time. When I get a Wizzo rush, I usually listen to the concert for the extra tracks and the scintillating wit displayed by Roy and Rick (don't give up your day-time jobs boys). Or maybe it was just the socks - Roy did look rather cute in them, didn't he? Unlike Lynn, I don't really dislike it as such (there's only one song in Roy's catalogue that I reserve that special feeling for....), but I do find that it goes on a bit. I'll have to give it another listen to comment much further, but basically I, like the author of the review, find the songs a bit over long, also a tiny bit flat - I think that it's something in the production, but I'm not technical enough to know what. I do know that the BBC Sight and Sound concert has much more life and 'oomph' to it, and I don't think that it's just because it was a live show. Regarding the length issue (have you met my wife?), try listening to Waiting At This Door on the single version. After I got over the initial "Oh my God, a hatchet man has been at work" shock and listened to it a few times, I could appreciate the shorter version of the song. I would not necessarily have edited it that way, but the song does have a verve to it that the longer album version doesn't. Many years ago, I was lucky enough to meet David Donovan and he opined that the album originally was a loud, lively album that became muted through 'over-production'. I'd be interested to hear what any of our resident techies have to say in that area. Could a re-master with uncle Al at the controls reveal a long hidden masterpiece? For me, if the songs had been 2-3 minutes shorter, on average, and if French Perfume and I Should Have Known had been held back off Wizzard's "Wizzo" album (Main Street) and used here, with either one of them getting released as the first single, I would venture that Wizzo, the band, would have made a much larger initial impact and we may have even got to see the much discussed second album surface ("It'll be out before Christmas" - yes Roy, and the live album.....? :) I'd be most interested to know what Roy thinks of this album. Considering that all of the arrangements are already done, it's somewhat strange that his latest big brass band has not attacked any of the original big brass band's work in their concerts. Are the songs too technically difficult for his existing musicians or does Roy, to use one of his well worn Village Underground phrases, when turning down requests for Move songs, just think that "It's shit that one"? The BBC Sight and Sound concert, I must say, was absolutely first rate. It's always been an enigma to me why the album isn't - surely it has to be a technical issue? The length issue aside, for me there's absolutely nothing wrong with the songs. ********** Subject: Re: Album Of The Week: "Super Active Wizzo" Date: Wed, 1 May 2002 00:18:22 -0700 From: kakman1 The Sight and Sound show I saw as a kid was far more enjoyable than listening to Super Active Wizzo. Taking into context that this album followed the far superior but rejected "Wizzo" album which became the only just released "Main Street" album, one can excuse the excess and dull stretches on the album as Woody trying to figure out what he should be doing at this point (and failing, sad to say). The shelving of Wizzo/Main Street must have been a major turning point in his career; for a good while it may have made him second guess or lose focus of where he wanted to take his creative ouvre and hence we wind up with bland messes like Super Active Wizzo and uninspired numbers like the U.S. only issued "On The Road Again" (an ironic title at that, having not toured in U.S. since 1974 at the time of its release). I like SAW in bits but not as whole. And the single-only release, "The Stroll" could have charted if it was more a three minute fifty song than a sprawling five minute convolution that was trying desperately to recall the glory of what was "See My Baby Jive" but in a different context. Kevin Kunreuther Dallas TX ********** Subject: Re: Album Of The Week: "Super Active Wizzo" Date: Wed, 1 May 2002 01:15:29 -0700 From: Edward Morris For me, this is the most interesting album that Roy's recorded outside of The Move. More that just any old jazz-rock album, there's all sorts of things going, frequent outburts of steel guitar, even a little reggae section!! Life is Wonderful : Fantastic stuff; one of Roy's best compositions, and 50 listens in I still can't remember it all the way through it goes in such complicated and unexpected directions. I love his line "In this land where I sleep" which conveniently avoids Dave's beat, and it's a shame we only get to hear this bit once. Waiting At This Door : Even more eclectic than LiW, this one's a lot of fun, I love that little reggae break! Another Wrong Night : Roy's melody here is really sweet. He doesn't do many ballads which is a shame cos he always hits the spot. Great screaming guitar solo in the middle!! It sounds a bit odd in places, like it's been clobbled together from at least 3 different takes, or maybe they just didn't know how to stop :-) Sneakin' : Probably the most accessible song on here, how can you not love the harmony of the chorus. Giant Footsteps/Jubillee : Well, I hope Her Majesty likes it more than I do. No sure if there's supposed to be any connection here between this and John Coltrane's "Giant Steps"? Anyway, I've listen to this again this morning and although it's a bit more than the elevator music I remember it as, it still never quite manages to fight itself out of it's paper bag. I suppose it's the daughter of "The This Is This/This Is The Thing" but isn't a patch on it's mummy. Earthrise : What, two ballads on one album?? The horn arrangement is so beautiful, it almost reminds me of Miles Davis on "It Never Entered My Mind". Nice otherwordly effect on Mr Wood's voice. It's a shame about this album's length, cos my tape cuts out 3-4 minutes before the end. ********** Subject: Re: Album Of The Week: "Super Active Wizzo" Date: Fri, 3 May 2002 10:06:16 -0700 From: Richard Messum I finally gave it a listen, for the first time in perhaps five or six years. (I have one big obstacle to overcome whenever i want to play some vinyl: one of the cats likes to sleep atop the turntable cover, and she shall not be moved.) It's as good as i remembered. A bit shambolic, but that's part of the charm. Roy's inescapable gift for melody all over the place, prog-rock tendencies abounding (i have no problem with that), and the jazz-influenced improvisational (?) passages, in which the melody is done everything to except played. And Dave Donovan's drumming is very impressive: swinging and pounding simultaneously, and very busy. I like the LP a lot. Now, i have a question, as i'm a fairly new member of this group: have we ever discussed Roy's contributions to Annie Haslam's LP "Annie in Wonderland?" Cheers, Richard (and cats) ********** Subject: Super Active Wizzo - fan interest? Date: Sat, 4 May 2002 01:15:58 -0700 From: Rob Caiger In amongst all the various projects being planned / scheduled, there is a possibility of getting the album out. The record company is willing to release it if I can guarantee there is definite fan interest (they've heard the album....) equating into sales up front. Any thoughts? It's my intention to have all of Roy's work on remastered CD by Spring of 2003 and it would be a shame if Superactive Wizzo was left out. Best - Rob ********** Subject: Re: Super Active Wizzo - fan interest? Date: Sat, 4 May 2002 02:37:03 -0700 From: "chris roberts" Rob wrote: >The record company is willing to release it if I can guarantee there >is definite fan interest (they've heard the album....) equating into >sales up front I will defiantly put my name down and 'front up' a payment for this album (and any other projects you have up your sleeve). I'm sure that other folk will feel the same way too. Could I suggest some sort of 'registering of interest' and (in time) 'pre-payment' for-forma be made available so that like minded fans can assist your negotiations with the record company by 'putting our money where our collective mouths are'! Regards Chris ********** Subject: Re: Super Active Wizzo - fan interest? Date: Sat, 4 May 2002 11:06:58 -0700 From: Bernardo Quiroga I absolutely agree with you, Chris!! That would be a great way to let the company know that we're really interested. Best regards, B.Q. Santiago, Chile ********** Subject: Re: Super Active Wizzo - fan interest? Date: Sat, 4 May 2002 02:36:11 -0700 From: kakman1 Hmmmmmmm. Well, a SAW remaster would have to include the far superior live BBC broadcast (perhaps a future DVD release?). The completist in me says, "YES! YES! YES!" but then again, SAW only saw my turntables no more than a dozen spins. Perhaps Roy should be more involved with this remaster, like with Main Street. Some enlightening commentary by him on both SAW and OTRA would be welcome, too. Kevin Kunreuther Dallas TX ********** Subject: Super Active Wizzo remastered!!! Date: Sat, 4 May 2002 11:06:53 -0700 From: Bernardo Quiroga > Any thoughts? It's my intention to have all of Roy's work on remastered > CD by Spring of 2003 and it would be a shame if Superactive Wizzo was > left out. If I'm to be sincere, I haven't bought more Roy related CDs only because it's awfully hard for me to get Roy related stuff over here. I have only compilations ("Exotic Mixture" and "The Best Of Roy Wood & Wizzard" from Roy/Wizzard, "Movements" and "Great Move" from the Move, plus a bunch of album tracks on MP3 and a couple of CDRs of b-sides and rarities). But I have to recognise that once I had the chance to get "Message From The Country" over here, and I declined to get it because I was aware of the forthcoming "First Light Series" on EMI. Same happened with "Wizzard Brew". But none of the other CDs I've ever seen over here in Chile. This announcement from Rob's brings a wonderful chance to have Roy's work remastered on CD, for the first time, even for us, the (perhaps) farthest Roy Wood fans of the planet (I have the impression that Japan and Oz are nearer to the UK than Chile). BRING 'EM ON, ROB!!! Wouldn't it be great to be able to get all of Roy's discography directly from FTM, too? The remasters fever has invaded us, music collectors everywhere. Everything from "Night Of Fear" and the 1st Move album up to "Starting Up" and the Army singles. Remastered. Sounding crisper than ever. For the first time. Forever. Us, Roy Wood fans, can't dare to dismiss such masterpieces. Even for "Superactive Wizzo" (btw, I've loved the couple of tracks I've listened to from it). Anyway, I have to admit that probably SAW would be the hardest album to sell, but that could change dramatically if the "Sight & Sound" concert at the Beeb would be included as CD2....Such gifts would be very welcome for all albums: Wouldn't it be great to have all those hard to find 80's singles not on "Exotic Mixture" included as bonus tracks on the remastered "Starting Up" or even the new "The Wizzard Roy Wood" compilation?.....Or the first 4 EMI singles for Wizzard as bonuses on "Wizzard Brew"? Better stop daydreaming, Bernie Quiroga Santiago - Chile ********** Subject: Re: Woody's guitar chops! Date: Fri, 3 May 2002 17:26:07 -0700 From: "dennis larochelle" Regarding Roy Wood's guitar solos. I like all of them, but was particularly impressed by the solo in "Last thing on my mind", from "Shazam". I think that he is a greatly under-rated guitarist, and is the equal to, if not better than most of the "hot" guitar players from the sixties and even up until now. I've been a professional player in Canada for thirty plus years myself, and consider Roy Wood to be one of my biggest inspirations. I've turned many people on to Roy Wood over the years, and they all say the same thing: "How come almost nobody seems to know who he is, compared to guys like Clapton and Jeff Beck, and even Hendrix.?" It's criminal that Roy has been overlooked in comparison to a lot of players who have far more notoriety, and less reason to have it. (The previously mentioned three not included). I'm happy to see that Roy is still doing it. Rock on Mr. Wood. Dennis R. LaRochelle ********** Subject: The Move's 1st album artwork by The Fool Date: Thu, 2 May 2002 19:27:51 -0700 From: MontyDaman (Harold) I am a massive fan of the 60's artists Seemon & Marijke which were a couple of artists then known as "The Fool"! Their use of the rainbow colours excited me back then and still do. The were hired by the Beatles to do loads of art treatments for both their private homes and the infamous Apple boutique on Baker Street in London, Official fan club posters, etc. They recorded tow Lps as well. The first as "the Fool" and the second as just "Seemon & Marijke". It was like folk/Gypsy style music. The later Lp was even produced by Graham Nash of the Hollies. I was wondering if anyone knew the story on how they came to be chosen to do the art work for the Move's first fantastic Lp art work??? I would LOVE to know. Harold ********** Subject: Re: The Move's 1st album artwork by The Fool Date: Sat, 4 May 2002 14:02:54 -0700 From: Rob Caiger >I was wondering if anyone knew the story on how they came to be chosen >to do the art work for the Move's first fantastic Lp art work??? Tony Secunda, hip to anything and everything that was hip, new and (especially) famous, commissioned The Fool to do the artwork for the long delayed first album. Obtained the group some additional press and sales as a result. The idea for the artwork was to place a pin in the middle of the sleeve and spin it around. Probably made sense on acid...... Rob ********** Subject: Re: Tell us the news about yourself... Date: Tue, 30 Apr 2002 01:38:01 -0700 From: Peter MANION >Your name, age, location, occupation. Peter Manion, 48, originally from Manchester but moved with the job and live in Welland, a small village in Worcestershire close to the recording studio where Wizzard recorded IWICBCED. I work as a Product Manager for FINA selling polystyrene, >How long have you been a Move and/or Roy Wood fan? Since 1968 when I first heard 'Blackberry Way' and saw 'The Move' on 'Top of the Pops', >What was your first Move related experience? One day I heard 'Curly' on the radio on the Kenny Everett show and thought wow, what a great song, he didn't say who it was by so I didn't realise it was 'The Move' until I heard it again later and became hooked on 'The Move' for good. Then I backtracked to collect the first album, earlier single releases and the 'Something Else' EP >Tell us about your top 5 favourite Move related tracks. 'Curly' is a very special song for me and I love the way Roy and Carl share the vocals and make the song work out of some strange lyrics - I can understand why it isn't one of Roy's favourites with lines like bi-dum-bi-dum-bi-dum and girlie but the recorders and harmonies more than compensate. I think I also like it because I played recorder before I learnt guitar and could play along with it, which was much more fun than your usual recorder book one (a day) tunes, 'Fire Brigade' - Pure Pop genius and the original five at their very, very best! 'Blackberry Way' - Named my house after this song, 'Brontosaurus' - Awesome ! This was the first time Roy painted his face and set Top of the Pops on fire! 'Dance Round the Maypole' - Has anyone else noticed on this song that there are no drum 'fill-ins' just a pedestrian plodding beat all the way through until the final bar of the song? Like a prototype drum machine... >What's your favorite Move related album, and why? SHAZAM, closely followed by 'Looking On' The Move could never be accused of flooding the market 'album wise' yet they were an outstanding group in the recording studio and their singles always so well crafted and produced. SHAZAM has that complete album feel with every song a classic - each with a very different feel. The non Roy songs have some of the best instrumental / backing I've ever heard and the guitar breaks are just amazing! And when you play the album for the very first time you are treated to one of the finest pop songs that never made number one in 'Beautiful Daughter' as though the song was written as a gift for Carl Wayne's vocal chords, showing off Roy as the master of melody and how to play acoustic guitar, (It's my music!) The band seemed to work as a unit even though they were coming to the end of an era and Carl's departure imminent. I liked Rick Price's bass playing and 'calming' influence on Roy, same as he did in Wizzard, >What topics would you like to see discussed on this list? The list is great already - I am a keen follower of all The Move members and their careers and the list keeps me up to date. >If you've seen the Move or any member of the Move in concert, tell us >about that show. I have been very lucky to see 'The Move' live on one of their very last concerts in September 1970 with Roy, Rick, Bev and Jeff, They did most of the songs on 'Looking On' plus a cover of 'The Beatles' 'She's a Woman' and ICHTGG. I did a review a while back for a web site and will dig it out and post it to the list. Also saw ELO with Roy at 'The Free Trade Hall' in Manchester and remember them doing 'Dear Elaine' which was a real treat!, and then saw Wizzard a couple of times as part of the Harvest tour. More recently I have been following the Big band and saw Carl and the Hollies three times last year! Next stop will be Rick Price with Jim Davidson's band and a visit to catch Trevor Burton in Birmingham. >Tell us about an amusing or interesting situation that has happened >as a result of you being a Move/Roy Wood fan. Last year there was a Roy Wood convention in Bilston and loads of Woody fans were there and three of us got talked into doing a jam session in the bar downstairs to play Roy's songs, (Hey Joel, Larry!) It was rumoured that Roy might come to the event because The Army were performing later in the evening and I was thinking 'My God! What if the man walks through that door and cops us three ploughing through some of rock music's finest works of art. I have nightmares about it now! >Who are some of your other favorite artists/bands? Still like to collect and listen to bands of that era like The Hollies, The Kinks, The Who, and commercial pop groups like Marmalade, The Casuals, Love Affair, etc. Always admire Zappa, Hendrix, Helen Reddy, T Rex, The Pretenders, Bachman Turner Overdrive, Thin Lizzie, Bowie, Kate Bush, Crowded House, Jools Holland, so my tastes are varied, >Which Move related song do you wish one of your favorite bands >would cover? The Pretenders doing 'Songs of Praise' >What is the one burning question that you have never had answered >in relation to Move/Roy Wood history or music? Why was 'Falling Forever' never officially recorded and released on an album? Also, used to wonder about Roys involvement in 'Dance Round the Maypole' but the list seems to have covered that several times and I think I know the answer now?? Wish 'The Move' had recorded that song though, like I wish 'Beautiful Daughter had been released as a single, and Omnibus the A-side instead of Wild Tiger Woman, and Ella James released as an A-side at some stage around the time of 'California Man' >Are you having trouble finding any Move related music on CD? No, I have a good collection, just would like more on CD which looks like happening soon. Main thing is for all the archive and unreleased recordings with Rob to see the light of day soon. I recorded allot of Move off the radio around 1970 so I know Rob has some magic to release from that period and if he managed to find them all then a cracking version of 'Looking On' awaits (with an awesome extended dual guitar break) and the original version of 'When Alice Comes Back to the Farm' without the cellos and sax, similar to the German video performance, soaked in wah-wah slide guitar plus Jeff on piano - a real rocker! End of Useless Information #349 ******************************* [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.]