I know that you like the import stuff also Paul. I picked this beauty up yesterday on EMI Harvest
Of course I have it. This is the one to have, it has several songs that were later deleted when the US album Split Ends was released. They include My Marge (a "Honey Pie" style ditty), Don't Mess Me Up (with rare background frog chirping vocals from Bev Bevan) and Ben Crawley Steel Company (vocals by Bev Bevan).
As was common back in the day, the US and British albums differed. And groups often released singles that were not on ANY album. So, on the American release, they added Do Ya and Chinatown and Tonight and California Man (later covered by Cheap Trick).
The liner notes on the innersleeve of Split Ends is great, seemed like Bev is the historian in the group. I think it's that Jeff Lynne and Roy Wood don't like to talk to the press, keep a low profile.
What's fascinating to me is that this album was recorded contemporaneously (!???) with the first ELO album No Answer. Jeff Lynne joined Roy Wood with the idea that The Move would be phased out and morphed into the ELO vehicle.
And what's amazing to me is that this album is clearly made by guys having the time of their life! Tongue in cheek heaviness was never as much fun as this.
Tell me you DON'T have a WLP of Split Ends!!!! Oh yeah, Split Ends refers to the cut ends of the master tape that would have to be spliced together to make this "compilation." Allmusic lists Split Ends as a compilation. It's more of an end-of-career American attempt at selling records. Do Ya was top 10 in Boston only, the biggest penetration they made in the USA.
OK, lesson over. Except to say dig that textured cover, eh? And Roy did the artwork.
Paul
