Acid Gallery - Dance Around The May Pole

[@steveelmes4178]

I think you will find that the co-lead singer with Roy Wood is my brother Vic Elmes who was lead guitarist for The Epics and Christie in the 60's an 70's.

[@tarnsand]

steve elmes Hi Steve. Firstly my sincere sympathy for loss of your brother this past spring. I live in Canada and have recently learned of your brother's multi musical talents. Some of my fav songs are written sung by Vic when he was a significent original member of Christie. And love all The Epics songs here as well. Vic had a strong souful voice and his guitar genius are well documented from other Brit musicans who comment here as well as his fans back in the glory days and 40 plus years on. They always add what a great guy he was. Am I correct in thinking in the days of 1965-1973 he was more a listener than a talker. It appears to me that he seemed simply content to do what he does best..create play music. Cheers.

[@steveelmes4178]

Yes he was very humble. I am 16 years younger than him and a great music fan. He would never "big talk" and I was always asking him about his experiences when we would meet. After a while he would let on a bit more but he was a quiet person and didn't think of himself as anything but an ordinary person.

[@tarnsand]

steve elmes Thanks for reply. Must have been exciting proud time for a 8- 10 yr old having your brother's records in music shop being on tv. My uncle & brother in law are musicians as well have done well. Both incredibly humble. So I too know how alit of it works. They have met famous petformers & were surprised those thought wld be nice were arrogant rude others very humble gracious. I hope you have checked out our Chilliwack The Stampeders Bachman Turner Overdrive Guess Who Neil Young Poppy Family from that era. BTO GW NY are all from where I grew up. Don't know of you've seen a comment here on YT of a guy who went to school with Vic...? Academy I think. Mentioned how talented he was even then & that tbey knew he cld have great music career.

[@lorenzogabanizzaofficial]

VIC was a great Human being, and a great artist. I had the chance to share the stage with him. I will never forget it.

[@christopherthomas7253]

Very cool. Sorry for your loss.

[@shelleyganz9095]

Out of all the late 60's Brit psyc. tunes I just heard, This is the first tune that actually sounds like a SONG!! And, a GREAT song at THAT!! Brother.....

[@shelleyganz9095]

@B'hoy TV100 Yeah, Really GREAT!!

[@petergribben7294]

Sounds very "Moveish". Great.

[@MrDavros-qb2lj]

Fantastic guitars and backing vocals, never get tired of listening to this!

[@trevoltien]

Really pleased to have found this song again after many years. It was heavily played by RNI in the early 70's

[@sebastian122]

I needed this. XOXO

[@bengerman04]

Fantastic track. I first heard this a few years back on Brian Matthews 'Sounds Of The Sixties' radio show - what an education he has been!

[@MrDavros-qb2lj]

Very saddened to learn when Brian passed away, the SOTS show was something completely different - a musical lesson for two hours, and to think that the moron Tony Blackburn took over the reins and(not suprisingly) ruined it - what an insult to its loyal listeners that Brian built up the over the years.

[@garethbramley1]

Couldn't agree more! I used to listen to Brian without fail. After two episodes with Blackburn I'd had enough of his constant gabbling and yapping over the intros!

[@MrDavros1234]

An amzing song Ian! Like "Bengerman" I've also heard this on SOTS on Radio2 (twice within three years). Don't recall it in '69 though. Would I be right in thinking that you werein the Outer Limits line-up that recorded the terrific "Just One More Chance" in'67 - that particular song has stuck with me all these years, and again thanks to Brian Matthew I've got it on tape, although I know what record label to look out for in my search! Thanks Ian for sharing song and memories with us all.

[@shelleyganz9095]

HOW GREAT IS THIS....THIS GREAT!!!

[@chrishyder9949]

Wonder if it was big with pirate radio stations? Fantastic song!!

[@shelleyganz9095]

Great Tune, Very Infectious...

[@taurusfroggy]

love this song!

[@spaceclown7650]

One of the best Nuggets ever.

[@MayaraCarneiro2]

pure love

[@christopherthomas7253]

Happy May Day , everyone!

[@swarlock]

Very cool. Sounds like something The Move or Idle Race would do.

[@davekm43]

@FinnMove Great track, thanks for the share

[@FinnMove]

Yeah. Without The Beatles there will never been artist like Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne. Like the Move and the Idle Race. Without plagiarism. How did they really do that ? This was about Blackberry Way I like very much

[@davidwiseman7891]

acid gallery morphed into Christie("Yellow River")

[@tarnsand440]

The Acid Gallery was a four piece band consisting of Vic Elmes (vocals guitar) Mike Blakely (drums) Ross Allen(bass) Ian Jansen (guitar vocals)/ They started out in the mid-60's as The Epics and changed their name in 1967. Same year they recorded Dance Round the Maypole & Right Toe Blues. Vic and Mike joined Jeff Christie to start the band Christie in 1970.

[@tutenvanman2715]

wHAT ABOUT rOY wOOD HE IS ONLY SINGING IT.

[@tarnsand440]

Tuten Vanman Roy wrote the song and is singing on the chorus with Vic Elmes.

[@jonsilence]

The Move!

[@jbtownsend9535]

Sounds more like Roy Wood than Roy Wood!

[@reginahyde1488]

Is the deep voice in the bridge Bev Bevan?

[@StudioZ7]

Hmm, sounding strikingly like The Move.

[@cybertronian2005]

Why does it sound so... dark for a song about maypole dancing

[@thunder9857]

Sounds like idle race

[@thunder9857]

+Poboa 67 wow this was from long ago

[@thunder9857]

Lol bet

[@thunder9857]

Wow no dislikes surpriding

[@GanymedeRockLobster]

+Dor Bry Nah. Not really. Acid Gallery is awesome.

[@thunder9857]

@@GanymedeRockLobster Ikr, 6 years later and I still really like this song lmao

[@garymaher]

Very cool. It was obviously Roy singing on the choruses? So who sings lead on the verses? Did you gys record anything else, and what's your name anyway? Thanks for the info!!

[@tarnsand]

Gary Maher Vic Elmes..lead of Acid Gallery.

[@settamit]

I have a naughty idea for a parody of this song sung by none other than Wierd Al Yankovic!

[@AppoCC119]

Sure sounds like Roy Wood in the chorus though.

[@tarnsand]

AppoCC119 It is Roy on chorus with Vic Elmes.

[@MrDavros-qb2lj]

@@tarnsand Brian Matthew mentioned that Jeff Lynne assisted on the backing vocals too.

[@cybertronian2005]

The guy singing the verses sounds a hell of a lot like Carl Wayne, you'd think this was just the Move recording under a different name.

[@Juppalieu]

It is Roy Wood, the other leadsinger from The Move.

[@cybertronian2005]

@@Juppalieu I know it's him singing the chorus, lol. he wrote this tune

[@tarnsand440]

@@cybertronian2005 Vic Elmes singing with Roy joining in on chorus. Yes he did write this lil gem

[@pictureisup1]

They sound a little like the Sweet

[@grahamhearn577]

woy rood on lead vocal i would say

[@tarnsand440]

Vic Elmes on lead vocals..Roy on chorus with him.

[@amosungar5248]

@@tarnsand440 I know it's an old comment but I have to say it sounds like Woody also on the last two lines of each verse. That trill in his voice is unmistakeable (listen to the words "green" and "seventeen").

[@tarnsand440]

@@amosungar5248 It is actually Roy Wood( writer) accompanying Vic on chorus. It was confirmed Vic was on lead by his younger brother Steven Elmes.

[@amosungar5248]

@@tarnsand440 first two lines of the verses - definitely not Roy, but the third and forth - I wonder. Maybe he's just emulating Roy really well, or maybe they sing it together.

[@tarnsand440]

@@amosungar5248 Likely singing together.

[@garymaher]

OK, I saw your name now. Oops!

[@paulbesterberg]

midsommar

[@paulsmith3194]

No

[@hecklongtree]

Not familiar with this group. They sound like the Move.