Don't Make My Baby Blue, not by The Shads

[donna plasky]

Hi, everyone. I happened to go onto YouTube this evening, and when the page loaded, it did the usual "Recommendations For You" thing -- and this odd video was the first one on the list. It's a cover of "Don't Make My Baby Blue" by some group called The Move, from their album "Shazam." I don't think I really like it, but it is a very weird coincidence -- it is a tune that the Shadows sang (obviously), then the album title is "Shazam" of all things...and the name "The Move" reminds me of "The James Taylor Move" which I believe was Alan/Frank Tarney's group in Australia. And, the Superman uniform reminds me of a comedy bit that Glenn Shorrock (The Twilights) used to do in the late 1960s. Strange.

Best wishes,
Donna

[rogera]

Thankfully I've never heard this version of the song before.

Interesting connections but as for the song it's a thumbs down from me.

[Dave Dixon]

Isn’t this Roy Wood’s group “The Move” from Birmingham with Carle Wayne on vocal? If so, it was probably deliberately done in an “over the top” style.

That could give it another connection, I seem to remember a rumour that Hank was approached for lead guitar when Wizzard was formed in 1971/2?

As for the song. Never heard this version before; it’s not great but its not that bad. Don’t forget, it’s not a cover of a “Shads song” – I think Frankie Laine’s 1963 version was the original.

[George Geddes]

I thinl Roy Wood did later admit that inviting Hank to join the Move was a publicity stunt as they were sure he wouldn't accept. It was around 1969/70, though, if my memory serves me right...

George

[JimN]

The Move came to fame in around 1966 on the crest of the first wave of the psychedelia craze, and were clearly initially well-managed and guided. They were marked by exceptional musical facility, a knack for songwriting and a great ability for multi-part harmony. Though they were originally very conventional in image (wearing suits, with non-extravagant hairstyles by the standards of the day, etc), they almost immediately got themselves into some sort of trouble with Prime Minister Harold Wilson (can't remember exactly what it was, but whatever it cost them was worth its weight in gold) and gradually started to move to a more dissolute image.

Not that their looser image of 1967 meant loss of business acumen - they were keen endorsers of Park amplification and of Rotosound strings, for instance. And though the first record ever played on Radio One (autumn 1967) was actually Theme One by the George Martin Orchestra, it has gone down in legend that The Move's I Can Hear The Grass Grow had that honour (it didn't). The Move's hit records were always well-constructed, beautifully-arranged and well-recorded.

The group started to fall apart around 1968, with the loss of second guitarist Trevor Burton after a newspaper revelation which these days, would probably cause a prime minister to leap to his defence. The group continued as a four-piece (singer Carl Wayne also played guitar, meaning that the loss of a rhythm player probably wasn't disastrous) and continued to have hits until the late 60s, when the band split and part of it - with replacement members including Jeff Lynne - evolved into the Electric Light Orchestra (with a later split becoming Roy Wood's Wizzard). Not long before that, it had become clear that drummer Bev Bevan had always been a Shads fan when the group publicly invited Hank to join The Move during one of its transitional personnel phases (early 1969).

Even later, it became clear that lead vocalist Carl (always the most conventional of the band) had a penchant for what early UK r'n'r singers used to call "class material". He became a cabaret singer of standard songs in a sub-Sinatra/Jack Jones sort of way - and had regular appearances on BBC TV's programming from Birmingham (in the days when UK TV took notice of anywhere except London and Manchester). I seem to remember that Carl was married to an actress in ATV Midlands' long-running soap-opera "Crossroads" (Miss Diane?).

The Move were an exceptional group, not to be confused with the dross of the rest of the mid-late-sixties scene.

JN

[George Geddes]

Carl Wayne also spent some time in the Hollies (another class act), did he not?

George

[dave robinson]

Carl Wayne did front The Hollies until his untimely death.

The Move hit that is well documented as the first ever pop song played on BBC Radio One was 'Flowers In The Rain'.

[anniv 63]

Never heard Frankies version before. Sounds like he is doing a Bobby Vee impersenation!!!

[stratmantd]

I think that Dave's got it right when he said the Flowers In The Rain was credited as being the first "pop" song played on Radio 1. Up until 0700 that morning there wasn't a Radio 1 to speak of; it would have been either the light programme or the home service.

You could argue therefore that the first "record" played on Radio 1 was Tony Blackburn's theme tune, Beefeaters by John Dankworth.

FITR was definitely the first record from the playlist that was played on the station.

As far as The Move are concerned Donna, they produced some great singles which probably didn't make it over the Atlantic. I think I am safe in saying that they would be instantly recognised as a British band in their style and vocals.

Look on YouTube for Fire Brigade, California Man, Ball Park Incident, 10538 Overture, the 8 minute version of Roll Over Beethoven, early ELO (1st two albums). Some very different songs. They are worth giving a listen.

[cockroach]

Don't forget 'Night of Fear'- great rocky tune with clever 1812 Overture guitar and bass riff!