Best Of The Move, The - Move (The)

Advantages: The best by one of the best
Disadvantages: None

...Mention the 60s in musical terms, and though the Beatles and Rolling Stones are out front, The Move were very close behind. They were a fractious lot behind the scenes, but throughout the personnel changes, the creative talents of songwriter and multi-instrumentalist (and reluctant front man after the departure of initial lead vocalist Carl Wayne) Roy Wood ensured that as a singles band they were, and remained, a force to be reckoned with. This compilation contains all the singles from 1967 to 1970 (yes, the title got it slightly wrong), and the B-sides were never throwaways. The band had initially wanted the eerie mock-psychedelic "Disturbance" to be their first A-side, though the record company opted instead for "Night Of Fear" (a song which got by with a little help from Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" in the guitar riff department... Read review

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Advantages: Imaginatively-selected compilation
Disadvantages: None

...It's sometimes difficult trying to choose the best of all the recent Move 'best ofs'. As far as the music goes, it's difficult to improve on perfection, but this 20-track batch is superb value for money (Music Club budget price) as it matches the 1967-70 singles with the best of the B-sides (which were in most cases almost as good as the A-side) and an imaginative selection of album tracks. All with a very well-researched insert note and selection of photos. No self-respecting music fan of the period needs much of an introduction to gems like "I Can Hear the Grass Grow", "Blackberry Way", "Flowers in the Rain", or my personal favourite, "Fire Brigade". But do you remember the underrated, unsuccessful "Wild Tiger Woman" and "When Alice Comes Back to the Farm"? Or, come to that, the superb B-sides "Disturbance", "Omnibus... Read review

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Advantages: Thunder's sound with a more soulful influence
Disadvantages: Thunder fans may not enjoy the difference

...the laid back tracks for "Change". This is the one that sounds most like the songs on Luke Morley's solo album. It's a blues and soul based ballad, with a guitar solo that Santana wouldn't be unhappy with. Another track that's perfect to have on if you're trying to relax. I can't claim to be a fan of the synthesiser line that runs through "The River of Life", but everything around it is pretty good, so I can let it pass, especially as it doesn't last for too long. It's another funky number, both in music and Danny's voice, but a little slower paced, so it doesn't really get your feet going as much as "Freakshow", as it's the kind of song that gets your shoulders moving more than your legs. I don't think this track would have felt too out of place on Luke Morley's solo album, but it's definitely not a typical Thunder track. There... Read review

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