The Move - Do Ya (1971)

Formed in December 1965, this band from Birmingham, England had nine Top 20 singles in the UK in a five year period. In their earliest years, they were managed by Tony Secunda, a man who frequently used publicity stunts to generate conversation about the group, often getting the band in hot water. After multiple hits in the ‘60s and some personnel shifts, 1970 saw band member and primary songwriter Roy Wood dabbling with the idea of mixing classical instruments into the band’s primarily “rock” sound. As he put it, he wanted to take rock music in the direction “that The Beatles had left off” at. In January 1970, the band picked up Jeff Lynne, who promised to join only if they worked on the direction Wood had proposed as a side project in their free time. In order to complete the side project that Wood and Lynne were quickly enthralled with (as well as fellow Move member Bev Bevan by now), they had to continue recording and selling as The Move in order to generate funds. Lynne and Wood shared most of the writing and composing responsibilities for The Move in this time frame, as well as taking the band on a tour of the UK being backed by Black Sabbath. Finally, by December 1971, Lynne and Wood’s first LP from their side project was released and the Electric Light Orchestra was born. The Move was no more.

Although generally regarded as an ELO (Electric Light Orchestra) song because of their 1976 release, it was actually first recorded and released by this band in October 1971 on their last album, Message from the Country. As previously mentioned in our first feature of the group, this band never had much of a presence in the US; nearly all of their success was in the UK. This particular song, written by Jeff Lynne, was the only taste of success by the band in the US when it was released as the B-Side of a single. It reached a mild ninety-three on the Hot 100 chart, making it the only song to chart by the band in the US throughout their existence. The version heard below is the single version, missing two short verses near the end of the song. As you might expect, The Move's recording of this song is rock, whereas ELO's cover was rock incorporated with classical instruments.



The Move - Do Ya (1971)

Loading the ABLYAM player...(Might not work on mobile devices)

Lyrics:

In this life, I've seen
Everything I can see, woman
I've seen lovers flying
Through the air, hand in hand
I've seen babies
Dancing in the midnight sun
And I've seen dreams that came
From the heavenly skies above
I've seen old men crying
At their own gravesides
I've seen pigs all sitting
Watching picture slides
But I never seen nothing like you

(Do ya, do ya want my love?)
Woman
(Do ya, do ya want my love?)
I don’t see it
(Do ya, do ya want my face?)
I need it
(Do ya, do ya want my mind?)

Well, I heard the crowd
Singing out of tune
As they sat and sang “Auld Lang Syne”
By the light of the moon
I heard the preachers banging on the drums
But I never heard nothing like you

(Do ya, do ya want my love?)
Woman
(Do ya, do ya want my love?)
I don’t see ya
(Do ya, do ya want my face?)
I need it
(Do ya, do ya want my mind?)

Well, I think you understand
What I'm trying to say, woman
That is, I'd like to
Save you for a rainy day
I've seen enough of the world to know, baby
That I've got to get it all
To get it all to grow

(Do ya, do ya want my love?)
Woman
(Do ya, do ya want my love?)
I don’t see it
(Do ya, do ya want my face?)
I need it
(Do ya, do ya want my mind?)

Ah, you better me

(Do ya, do ya want my love?)
(Do ya, do ya want my love?)
(Do ya, do ya want my face?)
(Do ya, do ya want my mind?)

Look out, baby! There’s a plane a’comin’!

The Move - Fire Brigade (1968)

This is one of the most successful musical groups from Britain that didn’t find any success in the United States. They had nine Top 20 UK singles in only five years. The band’s name came from the constant changes they were making in group members. One of the group’s last lineups featured Jeff Lynne, who later transitioned the group into what would be called Electric Light Orchestra (or, ELO). A famous ELO song, “Do Ya,” was originally recorded by this band.

The first ten seconds of this song has a fire engine noise which I find slightly annoying; but after it's over the rest of the song is great. The guitar in this song was a major influence on the song “God Save the Queen” by The Sex Pistols, as admitted by Glen Matlock, as well as “Firehouse” by KISS.



The Move - Fire Brigade (1968)

Loading the ABLYAM player...(Might not work on mobile devices)

Lyrics:

Cast your mind back ten years to the girl who's next to me in school
If I put my hand upon her leg, she'd hit me with a rule
Though tomorrow won't be long, you're gonna have to play it cool
You'd been fascinated by her; she could set the place on fire

Run and get the fire brigade; get the fire brigade
See the buildings start to really burn
Get the fire brigade; get the fire brigade
If you jump, you've got to wait your turn

Friends all seem to laugh; I feel I have to make a compromise
Try to reassure myself my head must need some exercise
Half past ten in the morning, she just took me by surprise
True, she set the place on fire; you'd been fascinated by her

Run and get the fire brigade; get the fire brigade
See the buildings start to really burn
Get the fire brigade; get the fire brigade
If you jump, you've got to wait your turn

The lights across the street throw a rainbow in her hair
I'd love you all to meet her; I'll be there, I'll be there
Notice that my eyes have been a misty place since Saturday
Brings a feeling we might need the fire engines anyway
Though tomorrow won't be long, we're gonna have to play it cool
You'd been fascinated by her; she could set the place on fire

Run and get the fire brigade; get the fire brigade
See the buildings start to really burn
Get the fire brigade; get the fire brigade
If you jump, you've got to wait your turn