Editor’s Note: This post, from back in 2019, is one of our “greatest hits,” so it seemed a good time to re-visit it. We hope you enjoy it.
The Move was one of the most successful bands of the mid to late 60s, garnering nine Top 20 singles in England in just five years. While the band wasn’t a major success here in the States, they nonetheless had a lasting impact. Fans of the band include Cheap Trick and Jellyfish, both of whom have covered their songs. Several members of the group went on to form Electric Light Orchestra. The Move was formed in 1965, when bass player Chris “Ace” Kefford and guitarist Trevor Burton, veterans of some well-regarded local bands in Birmingham, decided to start their own group. They recruited guitarist Roy Wood, vocalist Carl Wayne, and drummer Bev Bevan, and thus The Move was born.
Related: “A Change of Weather: The Story of ELO’s ‘Out of the Blue'”
Their first single “Night of Fear” reached number two in the UK. The follow-up, the psychedelic-flavored “I Can Hear The Grass Grow” was also a hit, reaching number five in 1967. The group gained notoriety through manager Tony Secunda’s wild stunts, which included encouraging the band to dress in outlandish costumes, and having lead singer Wayne destroy TV sets with an axe during their live shows. The Move also had a versatile sound that regularly bounced around the pop and rock arena, thanks to Wood. He was the band’s creative spark and chief songwriter throughout much of their existence. His eclectic talent spawned tunes that ranged from the Kinks-flavored “Fire Brigade” to the Beatles-inspired “Blackberry Way.”
The band’s third single, 1968’s “Flowers in the Rain” was poised to be another huge success. But Secunda (who also counted The Moody Blues and T. Rex among his clients) issued a promotional postcard for the song featuring a drawing of Prime Minister Harold Wilson in bed with his girlfriend. Wilson sued the band for libel, and all royalties were awarded (in perpetuity) to charities selected by him. Over the next couple of years, both Kefford and Burton left the group. The Move continued on with guitarist Rick Price and briefly toured the US in 1969, where they opened for Iggy and the Stooges. After an odd period where the group played dates on the cabaret circuit (!) in their native England, lead singer Wayne left the band. Wood then took over the lion’s share of vocal duties.
Wayne’s departure led to an important development, as Jeff Lynne (formerly of the pop/rock group The Idle Race) joined the group. The band’s third album, Looking On, combined Lynne’s pop sensibilities with Woods’ ironic humor and darker themes and was one of their best. The Move’s sound began to transition into a more progressive rock direction. Wood was also eager to explore a new idea that combined orchestral arrangements with rock and roll instruments. During this period, the band released several more successful UK singles, including “Brontosaurus” and “California Man,” which was later covered by Cheap Trick.
The band’s final album, 1971’s Message From The Country, was recorded while Wood, Lynne, and Bevan were also working on their orchestral rock side project, which came to be known as the Electric Light Orchestra. These sessions yielded “Do Ya”(originally released as one of The Move’s final singles) and “10538 Overture” both of which became signature tunes for ELO. Wood, Lynne, and Bevan released The Electric Light Orchestra in 1971, effectively signaling the end of The Move and the beginning of ELO. Wood left the group after that first album, to form the band Wizzard, while Lynne continued on, turning ELO into a rock/pop juggernaut in the 1970s. However, it all started with The Move, who was one of the most unique, influential and original bands to come out of the British Invasion.
-John Visconti
Photo Credit: The Move performing on the BBC TV show ‘Top Of The Pops’, London, 16th January 1969. Left to right: Carl Wayne, Trevor Burton, Bev Bevan and Roy Wood. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images)
I think after the Beatles The Move were the BEST UK band– apparently the first five piece were the hottest onstage. After Ace Kefford and then Trevor Burton left — they seemed to slip — ending up as an AOR band led by Lynne. They should have been the BIGGEST!
While it’s definitely great to see this article about The Move, it fails to mention their greatest (IMO) album, “Shazam.” It’s been in my top 10 greatest albums since it was released in 1970.
Mark, I agree that Shazam is an amazing album, and it definitely merits its own article. Thanks for reading!
Great article!
Cheap Trick has tipped their proverbial cap to The Move often – thanks to CT no doubt many people discovered The Move through the years. In addition to “California Man,” Cheap Trick also covered “Rock and Roll Tonight” on their 1990 album Busted, “Brontosaurus” was a bonus single that came out with their 1997 self-titled album, and “Downed” from their second album “In Color” borrows from “10538 Overture” in the opening riff. CT also covered The Move’s “I Wish It Was Christmas Everyday” on their 2017 Christmas album.
Glad you enjoyed the article! Cheap Trick are certainly big fans of The Move, and power poppers Jellyfish did a great cover of “I Can Hear The Grass Grow,” which I got to see them perform live. Thanks for reading!
Great article – you should listen to Trevor Burton’s amazing 2018 acoustic album Long Play. It is truly great!
Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne..second only to Lennon /McCartney imho
It’s always interesting to read about the 60’s and 70’s music scene in retrospect. For those that were alive and aware back then, the mood of the times may have seemed somewhat different than the charts of the period would indicate. The pop music of the top 40 singles radio was vastly different than the albums pirate radio stations were playing and what was soon to become the staple of emerging FM radio in the United States.
These days we re-visit the period mainly through the singles charts, but these were not the songs getting played when friends would visit each others houses armed with the latest King Crimson, Yes, Pink Floyd, Moody Blues and later..ELP albums.
The soundtrack of the era had layers well beyond the top40.
Couldn’t agree more. None of us were throwing Debbie Boone on the turntable.
Thanks for writing this. They’re one of my favorites.
First album bought with own money was ‘A New World Record’. I was one of those kids who got into The Beatles via ELO and their top competitor Wings!
Thought I knew a lot about em but this article just packed with ‘I stand corrected’ and a lorra lorra new data. Thank you, Mister Man!