Search - Move :: Move

PSYCHEDELIC POWER-POP at its FINEST!

Henry R. Kujawa | "The Forbidden Zone" (Camden, NJ) | 01/24/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's hard to be objective here; MOVE as been one of my all-time favorite albums now for over 20 years! The original "super-group" (in the true sense of the word), The Move was made up of 5 of the best musicians from the 4 best (but unsuccessful) bands in Birmingham. Led by writer-producer-multi-instrumentalist ROY WOOD and (early on) lead singer CARL WAYNE, they were extremely popular & successful in England in the late 60's. But they never MADE it in America! Which is a shame, because every song on the disc is a standout. The powerful opener "Yellow Rainbow" (which warns of nuclear fallout & contains some of BEV BEVAN's most exciting drumming); "Kilroy Was Here" (a tribute to graffiti artists); "(Here We Go Round) The Lemon Tree" (the silly lengths some will go to to impress a girl!); "Weekend" (an Elvis-style rock & roller); "Walk Upon The Water" (please don't drink & drive); "Flowers In The Rain" (a #1 hit in the UK and deservedly so). Even "Zing Went the Strings Of My Heart" (a 1929 song played with a late-50's arrangement-- a double-anachronism-- with a Ted Cassidy-inspired vocal tacked on for really perverse measure!). And on it goes. The Move eventually "evolved" into The Electric Light Orchestra-- and THIS is where it all REALLY started! Amazingly enough, the ELO album this reminds me of the most is OUT OF THE BLUE-- except for the strings being studio musicians.Since the still-recent 3-CD box set MOVEMENTS, several packages have been released, most with bonus tracks, and this is no exception. But I'd personally recommend the box set, as it has everything from their first 3 albums and more, and the 2 45s "Night Of Fear" (which includes the "1812 Overture" as its base line) & "I Can Hear The Grass Grow" (with more of Bevan's best-ever drumming) are at the beginning where, chronologically, they really belong. And, if this is your thing, I'd also recommend TOMORROW, THE BEST OF MANFRED MANN, THE COMPLETE EPISODE SIX and The Beatles' MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR. (Now, when will The Banana Splits be put on CD?)"

The great debut from the brilliant english group

Stephen F Mulcahy | United States | 08/17/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"this is an excellent debut record that also includes their early singles, outtakes, etc. the move were an incredible band, among the best of their era. these early recordings are a lot poppier than their later excursions into psychedelia, heavy metal, classical rock etc. i think the stuff that they did on shazam, message from the country, etc. is their best, but it is all great. i would probably give both shazam and message from the country an a+, and this debut and looking on an a or a- for a grade, quite simply, this band's entire output is essential. this first album features a few fine covers: moby grape's brilliant 'hey grandma' from their outstanding debut, and 'weekend' by eddie cochran, who was a big influence on this band. there is also a bizarre rendition of the old standard 'zing went the strings of my heart'! , lead vocals are sung by the band's drummer, bev bevan- with his strange deep voicehe sounds like a troll on this cut. the originals are excellent late sixties pop , such as the big hit 'fire brigade', 'here we go round the lemon tree' (which was covered by jeff lynne's fine band the idle race-jeff would, of course, join a later move lineup), 'useless information'( a quite satirical look at junk culture with witty lyrics from roy wood), and cherry blossom clinic, the most psychedelic song on this album- it would be redone on the shazam album with incredible results. the band plays extremely well together, and the move featured several great vocalists , their harmonizing was superb as well. the lyrics are quite good , too and this debut certainly belongs in the collection of fans of this band and the offshoot bands, 60's enthusiasts, and anyone who likes british music of the era."