Cherry Red [Release Date : 1.12.23]
Roy Wood’s Wizzard, a singular seventies’ UK pop phenomenon, burned brightly for 5 hugely entertaining years. A band immortalised (whether they liked it or not) by perennial seasonal hit, ‘I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day’.
This double album, Wizzard, The Singles, comprises 22 tracks. All the A sides and the B sides from the band’s moment in the sun. A timely reminder that Roy Wood created an incomparable track record as a successful songwriter and imaginative musician (with Wizzard, The Move and ELO). A fact often overshadowed by that Christmas best seller.
Wood’s songs have been covered by everybody from Status Quo and Cheap Trick to Nancy Sinatra and Graham Bonnett.
He wore his influences on the sleeve of his voluminous stage outfits, from the Phil Spector styled wall of sound of ‘See My Baby Jive’ and ‘Angel Fingers’ to the fifties’ big band rock’n’roll pastiche ‘Are You Ready To Rock’, to the strutting boogie of ‘Ball Park Incident’. They are all here, them and more.
It was immediately evident that behind the greasepaint, this lover of fifties and sixties pop was in his creative element.
And then, by 1977’s ‘The Stroll’, ‘Indiana Rainbow’ and ‘Jubilee’, we can hear the artist in Wood stretching out into Jazz Rock territory.
Effectively, ‘This Is The Story Of My Love (Baby)’ was the trailer for Wizzard’s subsequent album, Main Street. We reviewed the Cherry Red reissue of this 1976 release in 2020, noting that the music ranged “from lightfooted lounge jazz to catchy powerpop”.
It’s no wonder that another pop music giant, Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, was such a huge fan. He invited Wood to sit in with band during their gig in Birmingham, in 2016. It was reported that their joint performance of ‘Fire Brigade’ was a moment to remember. *****
Review by Brian McGowan
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
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Power Plays w/c 29 April 2024
BRIGITTE PURDY Sugar Fried Candy (Dirtshack Records)
ATTIC THEORY The Legacy (indie)
THE HOWLERS I Need Your Love (indie)
VELVETEEN QUEEN Bad Reputation (indie)
WILLS AND THE WILLING Scuffed Knees (Smash & Grab Music Ltd)
READY THE PRINCE Still Believe (indie)
Featured Albums w/c 29 April 2024
09:00-12:00 PRAYING MANTIS Defiance (Frontiers)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023
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