The Move-Shazam

The second album from Birmingham, England’s The Move released in 1970. A great CD with a more Psychedelic sound than the Pop on their first. This is a German re-issue on Repertoire Records and has bonus tracks. Six songs, three composed by singer and guitarist Roy Wood and three covers. “Hello Susie”, with some heavy riffing, was first recorded by Welsh band Amen Corner but written by Wood. “Beautiful Daughter” is another good song. “Cherry Blossom Clinic Revisited” is a reworking of a song from the first record. This one has a middle section with some Classical bits that I recognize but could not tell you what they were. The three covers on side two are also very good. “Feilds Of People” originally recorded by American band Ars Nova, a short two and a half minute song, was turned into an 11 minute epic by The Move. The first half of the song was one I recorded off the radio (WMMR) in the early 70’s and it was many years before I knew who recorded it. I was thinking an unreleased Beatles song… The second part which I never heard until this CD is a long Psychedelic Raga played by Wood. “Don’t Make My Baby Blue” is a song written by Mann/Weil and a hit in the early 60’s. “The Last Thing On My Mind” written by American Folk singer Tom Paxton has another long Psychedelic solo by Wood. This CD has 9 bonus tracks, all live covers. 5 are from an EP released between their first and second records. The last four are outtakes from that EP. The best of these are “So You Want To Be A Rock N Roll Star” by The Byrds, “Sunshine Help Me” by Spooky Tooth and “Piece Of My Heart” best know by Big Brother And The Holding Company’s version. There have been many re-issues on vinyl and I will be on the lookout for one. They put out two more records after this with newcomer Jeff Lynn, the last a trio with Wood Lynn and drummer Bev Bevan. They formed Electric Light Orchestra in ’72 which became a big act in the 70’s, although Wood left after the second album.

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