Guide to British Music of the 1960s

March 1998

CD Review

The Move- Movements

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The Move has been sadly neglected on CD. This is remedied with Movements, a triple, CD set showcasing the band's entire career starting from the first single, Night of Fear. The band has a place in popular music history through having the first record ever played on the BBC's Radio One when it was launched in 1967. However, despite the success of Flowers in the Rain, the band has never made any money from it. An ill-judged publicity stunt, of which the band was not aware, depicted the prime minister in a saucy postcard pose. This led to the group agreeing to give all royalties from the song to charity, a situation that still exists today.

The first CD begins with the early singles such as the previously mentioned and classically inspired Night of Fear and the superb I Can Hear the Grass Grow. These tracks sandwich the song Disturbance, one of my favourite tracks on the whole CD and the original b-side of Night of Fear. Fire Brigade was one of the last tracks with original bass player Ace Kefford. He left shortly afterwards following a nervous breakdown. Roy Wood continued to produce classic singles. After the less successful Wild Tiger Woman, he produced the classic Blackberry Way.

After Carl Wayne had left to pursue a cabaret career and Trevor Burton had also left, Jeff Lynne was recruited from another Birmingham band, the Idle Race and the group's sound became somewhat "heavier." Songs such as Brontosaurus and When Alice Comes Back to the Farm typified this direction.

The final singles, Tonight, Chinatown and California Man did not match the earlier work, in my opinion, and have been excluded from this compilation.

This CD set contains most of the Move's work including some tracks that are now rare. These include the b-side of Cherry Blossom Clinic, Vote for Me. The Something Else EP was recorded at the Marquee in 1968 and the tracks, all cover versions, make a rare appearance on the first of the CDs. They include the Byrds' So You Want To Be A Rock 'n' Roll Star.

All in all, this is a recommended 3 CD set showcasing the talents of one of Britain's best songwriters, Roy Wood. It brings back many songs that have not been available for years and puts much of the Move's output onto CD.

mp, March 1998

I was impressed by the song selection and completeness of the set but disappointed by the sound quality, which was often tinny and harsh. Compare it with the recent Them compilation (that has excellent sound) and you'll hear the difference.

The Jab (Dean)

Released: 1997

Essential Tracks:

• I Can Hear The Grass Grow
• Fire Brigade
• Cherry Blossom Clinic

Track Listing:

1. Night of Fear
2. Disturbance
3. I Can Hear the Grass Grow
4. Wave the Flag and Stop the Train
5. Yellow Rainbow
6. Kilroy Was Here
7. The Lemon Tree
8. Weekend
9. Walk Upon the Water
10. Flowers in the Rain
11. Useless Information
12. Zing Went the Strings of My Heart
13. The Girl Outside
14. Fire Brigade
15. Mist on a Monday Morning
16. Cherry Blossom Clinic
17. Hey Grandma
18. Disurbance
19. Wild Tiger Woman
20. Omnibus
21. Blackberry Way
22. Something
23. Curly
24. This Time Tomorrow
25. Hello Suzie
26. Beautiful Daughter
27. Cherry Blossom Clinic Revisted
28. Fields of People
29. Don't Make my Baby Blue
30. The Last Thing on my Mind
31. The Lemon Tree
32. Cherry Blossom Clinic
33. Fire Brigade
34. Second Class
35. Wild Tiger Woman Blues
36. Curly Where's Your Girly?
37. Something
38. Vote for Me
39. Looking On
40. Turkish Tram Conductor Blues
41. What
42. When Alice Comes Back to the Farm
43. Open Up Said the World at the Door
44. Brontosaurus
45. Feel Too Good
46. Lightening Never Strikes Twice
47. So You Want to be A Rock n Roll Star
48. Stephanie Knows Who
49. Something Else
50. It'll Be Me
51. Piece of My Heart
52. Too Much in Love
53. Higher and Higher
54. Sunshine Help Me