[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 #372 July 18, 2002 In this issue: * Roy Wood Think Tank Contest * Jeff Lynne new album? * Creem's "Zoom" Review * Song Of The Week (week of 7/15): "(Here We Go Round) The Lemon Tree" * "Keep Your Hands On The Wheel" lyric analysis * Roy Wood car-cruising songs * Song Of The Week (week of 7/8): "Curly" * A morbid subject (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: Roy Wood Think Tank Contest Date: Mon, 15 Jul 2002 15:47:35 -0700 From: Lynn Hoskins In less than 200 words, please let the list know why it is vital that Roy release an album of new material before the end of 2003. No guidelines (you can be serious, witty, or you can beg - just no filth! It can be a poem, an essay, or a maximum of 10 "reason's why"), just let your creative juices flow. The best/funniest/most pathetic may win a prize, but don't hold your breath. How could you convince Roy that he absolutely, without question, must put out a new album? If he wouldn't fall over laughing, I may even pass on the winners' thoughts... :) ----- Entries should be sent directly to me at lhoskins@earthlink.net. I will post them all to the Move List, including the winners, the week of 29 July. There will be one "grand prize" winner and two "runners up." Contest start date: Monday, 15 July, 2002 Contest end date: Friday, 26 July, 2002 Good luck! ********** Subject: Jeff Lynne new album? Date: Mon, 15 Jul 2002 14:45:48 -0700 From: Terry Edwards Hi all, I was listening to the radio on Saturday (may have been Paul Gambercini US chart show?) and it was mentioned that a new Jeff Lynne album was imminent. Anyone confirm that or even better, have any details? Thanks, Terry Edwards ********** Subject: Creem's "Zoom" Review Date: Tue, 16 Jul 2002 21:28:00 -0700 From: Lynn Hoskins Well, this warms my heart. Creem Magazine is BACK. Just got an e-mail from the publisher, Robert Matheu - he thought Roy Wood fans might enjoy his "Zoom" review. (There's a reason why he thinks this...) Normally I'd just post the review to the list, but it's a very enjoyable music site that I know you'll want to check out, so just go here: http://creemmagazine.com/Pages/BeatGoesOn.html and then you'll see a link to ELO at the bottom of the page next to "Creem Recommends!" ********** Subject: Re: Creem's "Zoom" Review Date: Wed, 17 Jul 2002 19:44:18 -0700 From: Richard Messum I well remember Creem's glory days, when they had such luminaries as Robert Christgau, R. Meltzer, Alan Neister and of course the overwhelming Lester Bangs working for them, in fact i still have a few copies of the magazine from those days lying about the place somewhere. I haven't seen "Creem Redux" on the newsstands yet, but i went to the website and it looks fabulous. Welcome back! ********** Subject: Song Of The Week: "(Here We Go Round) The Lemon Tree" Date: Tue, 16 Jul 2002 13:58:53 -0700 From: Lynn Hoskins Song Of The Week: July 15, 2002 "(Here We Go Round) The Lemon Tree" from the album "Move" Possible discussion topics: Vocals Lyrics Instrumentation Songwriting Arrangement Production Live performance Personal interpretation Strong/weak points The Idle Race also recorded this song. Which version do you prefer, and why? *********************** "(Here We Go Round) The Lemon Tree" (R. Wood) There's a girl next door to me who's round the bend But she wonders why she can't make any friends >From her garden she could see me In her silver-clad bikini Singing, dancing round her fruit tree CHORUS: Here we go round the lemon tree Mister, can't you hear me Here we go round the lemon tree Mister, don't come near me Could I calm her down by throwing stones at her If only I could make the right approach to her Think I'd rather tame a tiger Turn those lemons into cider Still I'd like to get beside her CHORUS (repeat) Three o'clock in the morning I could her her toneless singing I could smell her lemon perfume in the air I walked up to the window In the hope that I might see her Could the deadly shade of night still bring her there CHORUS (repeat) Morning came and into action went my plans Went to meet her dressed in bright green underpants I crept in and sang discreetly Seemed to change your mind discreetly Danced together singing sweetly CHORUS (repeat) CHORUS (repeat) ********** Subject: Re: Song Of The Week: "(Here We Go Round) The Lemon Tree" Date: Tue, 16 Jul 2002 21:29:23 -0700 From: "David Fatta" OK, I have a confession to make. I never liked this song until recently. In fact, upon hearing the first album in the seventies (after hearing "Shazam" and "Message From the Country") I dismissed all of this early Move material as lightweight, retro-Hollies pop. Well done enough, sometimes catchy, but not the quirky, thundering Move I had grown to love. This sort of misconception is what comes from hearing a song in the wrong context, or with the wrong expectations. In 1972, I tried to give the first album several listens, but it never quite caught on with me. "(Here We Go Round) The Lemon Tree" was the most memorable song at the time. I even felt it was somewhat annoying. Whether you liked it or hated it, it was going to reverbrate in your head for some time to come. Of course, my now enlightened mind regards this song as a classic of its genre: a teenage psychedelic pop sexual fantasy similar to The Who's "Pictures of Lily". So it took my dense mind years to figure out where in the universe this song fit in, and to appreciate it properly, but to folks who heard it when it was released, it must have been wonderful. ********** Subject: Re: Song Of The Week: "(Here We Go Round) The Lemon Tree" Date: Wed, 17 Jul 2002 14:36:18 -0700 From: "Doyle, Joe" A great feel good song, with many fond memories for me. When I was about 13, I used to fancy a girl at the end of the road, that I didn't even have the nerve to approach to speak to. This was one of my favourite "play it to death" songs at the time and I had many a pleasant daydream, picturing the two of us dancing around her back garden, holding hands in our undies... I was never too sure what we would do after that (I was only 13), but the recollection still brings a smile to my face today. Not a vast amount of difference between The Move and Idle race versions, but the Move's is superior for me. This is another of Roy's songs that only he can do full justice to, if you ask me. ********** Subject: Re: Song Of The Week: "(Here We Go Round) The Lemon Tree" Date: Wed, 17 Jul 2002 14:36:41 -0700 From: "stephen mulcahy" i like the idle race version more because the production is better, and it has a more eerie atmosphere. ********** Subject: Re: Song Of The Week: "(Here We Go Round) The Lemon Tree" Date: Wed, 17 Jul 2002 14:40:21 -0700 From: "Dale G. Leopold" "Lemon Tree" very pretty and the melody is sweet, but the, uh....oh well, never mind. I like this song a lot, not least because it sounds straight out of "The Who Sell Out." Come on, you can hear it, can't you--right after the "Heinz Baked Beans" ad, say. Bev does lovely Moon-like bits at the end of each verse, and Carl sounds like Daltrey in his "pop" voice. Except for the bridge, of course, which is more like Left Banke (especially the very end). (Wonderful group, the LB, one I re-discovered thanks to Richie Unterberger's great book "Urban Spacemen and Wayfaring Strangers: Overlooked Innovators and Eccentric Visionaries of 60s Rock." Richie writes in the foreword that his biggest disappointment was being unable to secure the cooperation of Roy, Jeff and the others to do a chapter on the Move...obviously didn't chat with Our Rob!) I was surprised not long ago to download (from audiogalaxy--RIP) a version of this song by the Idle Race, from some TV (or possibly radio) show. I thought the track was simply mislabeled (as so so many are), but no, there's a DJ voice-over announcing that is indeed the IR. Very faithful to the Move's--is that Jeff singing or is it the post-Lynne IR? Dale in Richmond ********** Subject: Re: Song Of The Week: "(Here We Go Round) The Lemon Tree" Date: Wed, 17 Jul 2002 19:44:00 -0700 From: Richard Messum Another great Move look at insanity (c.f. Cherry Blossom Clinic) but musically rather a cop from The Who's "Happy Jack" (the bass parts in the verses are almost identical, r.i.p. J.E.) And another eminently catchy chorus: for the second week running, Lynn has posted a SOTW i've wound up humming to myself all day long. I can't say i've ever heard the Idle Race version, though. Cheers Richard np: "Lemon tree" of course! ********** Subject: Lemon Tree, here we go.... Date: Wed, 17 Jul 2002 19:44:26 -0700 From: Harvey Rubin Idle Race's version, in my opinion is far superior, not as sugar coated as the Move's version and has a better production. Believe it or not the song got alot of airplay on New York Fm radio in the sixties along with all their other songs. The band was a favorite of Murray the K on WOR FM. Hello Susie was another favorite of his. Take care. Harvey of San Diego ********** Subject: "Keep Your Hands On The Wheel" lyric analysis Date: Tue, 16 Jul 2002 03:43:48 -0700 From: BigLarry26 Hey peoples! Here's my take on the lyrics. It's a fun story-song, but I must admit I'm still mystified by some of the lines. I'm reading it fairly literally. Maybe I should use more imagination? ;-) Here we go... "...As we drive to the sea I wander down to the front of the bus With my eyes on Marie I'm thinkin' over I go back for my car Then it happens" Sounds like Roy rode the bus to seaside with the rest of the gang. He's "got his eye on Marie"; he's attracted to her. He's thinking about a way to get alone with her. His car is in the vicinity (how did it get there, if he rode the bus?) He gets her into the car, "then it happens".... he makes a move on her? "Keep Your Hands On The Wheel Said Marie To The Driver If I'm feelin' what you're thinkin' How d'you think I feel?" She tells him to get his hands off her, and back on the wheel (they're driving somewhere?) If she's feeling what he's thinking... maybe she has a mutual attraction, but knows better than to let something happen? "Two forty one we'll be high in the sun ....Havin' fun with the radio on Through the haze of the day" means "we'll be high (drug/drink?), as we're sitting in the sun"?? What kind of haze are we talking about? Altho Roy is non-drug... "What does it matter, If she knew all the time what I'm after ...But as I peer through the froth in my beer See Marie on her own I ask her over We end up in my car Then it happens" I have a good idea what he's after... He asks her over, to sit with him. They end up in his car, and he makes his move again. I think "the driver" is Roy himself, as it's HIS car (the magically appearing vehicle, which is conveniently near the bus) that is addressed immediately before the chorus. The bus driver gets no mention in the song, so I doubt it was about him. And if any nostrils were spelunked that day, no mention was made of it. Keep your fingers on the home-keys, Larry Harris Dallas, Texas ********** Subject: Re: "Keep Your Hands On The Wheel" lyric analysis Date: Thu, 18 Jul 2002 02:59:52 -0700 From: "Michael J. Cross" Big Larry wrote: >Two forty one we'll be high in the sun >....Havin' fun with the radio on >Through the haze of the day" > >means "we'll be high (drug/drink?), as we're sitting in the sun"?? >What kind of haze are we talking about? Altho Roy is non-drug... For no good reason at all, whenever I hear that verse I get the image of Roy and friends either surfing, cruising sand dunes in incredibly fast dunebuggies (becoming airborn at points), or playing frisbee. As for how Roy's car gets involved on a bus trip, perhaps it's a "park-and-ride" deal where folks park in one place to board the bus for a short excursion, and are later brought back to their cars. Or am I siphoning all of the fun out of the song by analyzing lyrical mysteries? The hero of the song probably could've gotten to "second base" if they'd simply taken a ferry instead of the bus.... Mike, Rochester, NY ********** Subject: Roy Wood car-cruising songs Date: Mon, 15 Jul 2002 14:45:53 -0700 From: "chris roberts" Larry wondered: > Anyone else care to share your list of favourite Roy Wood car-cruising > songs? The Driving Song is just made for the job and the 'flip' side Down to Zero ain't far behind. ********** Subject: Re: Roy Wood car-cruising songs Date: Mon, 15 Jul 2002 15:48:06 -0700 From: John DeSilva Good choices Chris. Here's some of mine: The Carlsberg Special Marathon Man First Movement (Jumpin' Biz) Rock Medley Meet Me At The Jailhouse (cruisin' down I-5 in Central CA past Harris Ranch) Are You Ready To Rock Going Down The Road (of course!) Forever (with the top down) JD San Jose, CA ********** Subject: Re: Roy Wood car-cruising songs Date: Tue, 16 Jul 2002 12:39:53 -0700 From: "Michael J. Cross" Rattlesnake Roll! ********** Subject: "Curly" Date: Tue, 16 Jul 2002 03:42:20 -0700 From: "Drew Jacobs" One of my all time favorite Movers, and one of my all time fav pop songs. Someday I hope to write a song like this. It sounds like it just flowed out of Roy's head. Drew Jacobs Latham NY ********** Subject: Re: A morbid subject Date: Sun, 14 Jul 2002 15:55:41 -0700 From: "chris roberts" Morbid Steve asked: > has anybody thought of a Move/ELO/Roy Wood/Jeff Lynne song to be > played at their funeral Sadly yes I have. :O) I say sadly because hopefully its a bit early for me to be making such plans but one thing is for sure, I wouldn't want any ceremony to be a sad affair (well no more than necessary anyway). I'll have to give some thought to selection music for the beginning and middle of any ceremony but I have got the 'finale' worked out (and in rather too much detail I think - Oh dear...). So here goes: I've only really got round to the 'committal' bit of the ceremony which I plan as a cremation. I rather like the idea of disappearing through the curtain to the furnace to the tune of "Dream of Unwin" and having the 'travel' timed to coincide with the fanfare just after the '...into a dream that will never end' line. All very theatrical and over the top I know but as soon as the curtain falls, up would strike the rather obvious "Fire brigade" just in case those assembled were feeling a bit glum. I had mentioned to the list in the past on this subject that I quite liked the alternative idea of playing "On Top Of The World" at this point instead - especially the 'Well I'm on fire' line and the following' I'm on my way' but seeing as how I've never been '...to the USA', the actual line 'I can't wait to get back to....' doesn't really fit - so "Fire brigade" gets it. Hopefully by this time everyone will be laughing and not feeling so sad and to keep up the mood I'd have everyone trooping out to "Bengal Gig" and having a little dance along the way. :O) ...and you don't think I'm being serious? When I 'snuff it' you are all invited and just see if it doesn't happen!!!! ********** Subject: Re: A Morbid Subject Date: Sun, 14 Jul 2002 23:38:28 -0700 From: Joe Ramsey I think that the only song that makes any sense at all is Iron Butterfly's "Inna Godda Da Vida." And it's equally as good at happy occasions, too: weddings, bar (bat) mitzvahs, anniversaries... you name it. Processional or recessional. Doug Ingle was a genius. Or, I guess, Goin Down The Road. Dom dah dom dom... THANK YOU! Joe PS. Friday night I sang a kareoke version of Alice Cooper's "Ballad Of Dwight Fry" as a duet with the woman who originally recorded the little girl's voice at the beginning of the song on the "Love It To Death" album. It was at a Chinese restaurant called The Skybox (but only on Fridays!). Earlier, before the kareoke started, there was a CD release party by Erica Valentine: Queen Of The Surf Guitar. Erica is a very tall transvestite who actually does play a pretty mean surf guitar. Great version of Link Wray's "Rumble." Things are getting back to normal for me. ********** Subject: Re: A morbid subject/ Keep Your Hands On The Wheel Date: Mon, 15 Jul 2002 04:27:19 -0700 From: "Bob Coulter" Well, it would have to be "Music To Commit Suicide By", I would think. Oh, wait, the question was what music would I want played at my funeral, not what music I would be playing while I killed myself. My mistake. What else but ELO's "I'm Alive"? Of course I'd have to have something visual to go along with it. So I will hire someone to attach strings to my stiffened corpse to pull me up from the rafters and make me dance the Batusi while I sing along (I hope I remember to record myself before I die, otherwise my voice might be a little flat). And just to show those doubters in the audience that I would be a legitimate dancing deceased and not a ventriloquist's dummy, for my encore I would perform "Mr. Crow And Sir Norman", playing the part of Mr. Crow, of course. On the topic of KYHOTW(SMTTD), I have to say I really enjoy OTRA more than any other Roy solo album. It's got a good kick to it. Has anyone wondered what kind of car Roy has in this song? It's just that Roy and Marie are passengers on a bus, so how can Roy go back for his car? Has he got a Hot Wheels miniature car? Or is the bus so massive that Roy's car is inside it, like one of those big ferries? Is it safe to drive a bus that big? Is that why the driver has to keep his hands on the wheel? After Roy goes back for his car, "then it happens". This is a bit ambiguous whether the driver who Marie is reprimanding is the bus driver or Roy. Is Roy driving his car down the aisle of the bus? Will he run over someone's foot if he doesn't keep his hands on the wheel? Or is it the bus driver who has the wandering hands? Is he groping Marie? As she is "on her own", the bus driver would have had to have left the driver's seat to satisfy his lust. Is Marie justified in worrying more about being felt up or sexually objectified than about a driverless bus being about to crash and kill everyone (or if it isn't moving, the bus would be getting seriously behind schedule. Can you imagine if John Cleese's character in "Clockwise" is on the bus? Why doesn't Marie care about him?)? Or has the bus driver merely taken his hands off the wheel to pick his nose? Is Marie being overly sensitive about this? Can't he drive with one hand up his nose and one on the wheel? Or has he got both hands up his nose, one finger of each hand in each nostril? How does Marie know what he is thinking? Do people picking their noses think common thoughts while digging? Why does Marie empathize with him? Is she a secret nosepicker herself? Will she come out of the closet and teach the driver how to dig in both nostrils with two fingers from the same hand? Regrettably, the song leaves these questions unanswered. Bob Coulter, putting the fun back in funeral in Bobcaygeon, Ont. PS: Unfortunately, there appears to be no transvestites (guitar players or otherwise) in Bobcaygeon. I'll have to do something about that. Has anyone got any lipstick I could borrow? NP: Me And You ********** Subject: Re: A morbid subject/ Keep Your Hands On The Wheel Date: Mon, 15 Jul 2002 11:39:03 -0700 From: John DeSilva Bob Coulter wrote: > On the topic of KYHOTW(SMTTD), I have to say I really enjoy OTRA more > than any other Roy solo album. It's got a good kick to it. > > Has anyone wondered what kind of car Roy has in this song? ... > ... Regrettably, the song leaves these questions unanswered. Dr. Bob: Thanks for shining the light of inquiry on the inner lyrical workings of KYHOTW(SMTTD), and in the process conjuring up images best left to my worst nightmares ... ;-) Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts (and noses) of men (and women)? Our Roy, probably. My take on it is that it's probably best left unsolved ... > PS: Unfortunately, there appears to be no transvestites (guitar > players or otherwise) in Bobcaygeon. I'll have to do something about > that. Has anyone got any lipstick I could borrow? Maybe you can combine the funeral plans with the transvestite thing and do your death dance to "Killer Queen"? "Indian Queen"? "Little Queenie"? "Queen Of The Hours"? Shall I shut up now? JD San Jose, CA ********** Subject: Re: A morbid subject/ Keep Your Hands On The Wheel Date: Mon, 15 Jul 2002 14:45:44 -0700 From: "chris roberts" Bob Coulter wrote: (well quite a lot actually) Bob you are obviously mad. Very funny though all the same. So good to be not so serious sometimes. :O) ....What's that? You WERE being serious! ..oh er well done anyway. :OI Regards Chris End of Useless Information #372 ******************************* [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.]