LINK: The Move review..

The Move are forever damned to be remembered as ‘the first band played on radio 1’ with their pop-hippy hit Flowers in the Rain. Either that, or as the group that would later fragment into ELO and spawn pop eccentric Roy Wood. But there was always more to the band than that, as this collection of German TV recordings show.

The Move started out as a pop-art Mod band and ended up as a proto-metal blues act, like so many other acts in the latter half of the 1960s, and both sides are on display here. There’s the black and white, lip-synced footage of Blackberry Way (their only UK no. 1), Curly and Fire Brigade, where it was all still jangly guitars, Beatles-inspired whimsy and carefully sculptured hair (except for Wood, who was already getting bushy – though his trademark beard is yet to make an appearance) –a collection of catchy though inconsequential pop songs by a pop band, eager to look bright-eyed and family friendly on these promo appearances.

Then, there are the later Beat Club live recordings where everyone is a lot hairier, Jeff Lynn has joined the band and they are going for funky blues workouts. Still short and sharp – the longest track here is under five and a half minutes – but certainly a lot more rocking and unconcerned with the tween audience. On the basis of these tracks, the band could’ve had a level of 1970s success – though it’s doubtful they would’ve matched the global reach of ELO.

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