Roy Wood & Wizzard UK singles ranked 1972 - 1987

Here I ranked the UK Wizzard and the Roy Wood solo singles from 1972 - 1987.

[@carlholden5905]

Excellent Piece.Dear Elaine is a wonderful song.A Beauty.

[@CookieMusic43]

Thanks Carl

[@merlinman7300]

From 72 to 75 his output was absolutely phenomenal in my opinion. Loved all of his singles and bought them too.

[@CookieMusic43]

I think he suffered from burn out after 1975 but who could blame him with the amount of releases between 72 and 75

[@andshits]

Your spot on he deserves more credit and respect. Plus the move hits as well. Nice one.

[@CookieMusic43]

Thanks, The Move singles were excellent as well.

[@flanflinger37]

OTT was written as the theme song for Chris Tarrant’s late night adult version of Tiswas. Also Are you ready to Rock was a pastiche of Billy Haley and the Comets, apart from the bagpipe finish of course.

[@CookieMusic43]

Thanks for the info Phil. I don't remember the adult version of Tiswas at all.

[@djbigleg3228]

as a vinyl lover i feel betrayed by these labels sony emi & universal they are the labels mostly responsible for the lame digital only vinyl reissues with criminal multiple overdubs for our so called listening pleasure.as a guitarist & vinyl lover sadly ive learned that up to 97% of new vinyl reissues are pointlessly a carbon copy of the sonically inferior sacd/mp3.so me im buying old analogue vinyl instead last week i see bill withers on sacd for £40 but i got the original vinyl 2lp for £40 so im kinda baffled how they can charge that cause you can get blank sacd,s for really cheap.but for me musical history is being abused for greed & if a vinyl is not analogue mastered its inferior.a sad fact that many of us that have class a stereo equipment realise,great post i like seeing a real music collection that is cared for respect & peace...

[@christophertwomey1664]

Smiley+ co featured Neil read who also recorded another Roy wood called Hazel eyes, Carl Wayne also recorded it, Neil found fame from opportunity knocks

[@CookieMusic43]

Thanks Christopher. I knew Neil Reid as he had a big hit with Mother of Mine. Note: I did NOT buy that! (my brother did lol)

[@soundsfromthewestcoast9939]

Hi Richard. The lead singer of Smiley and Co. is actually Neil Reid (Mother Of Mine). He had recorded another Roy Wood song the previous year "Hazel Eyes". The single was produced by John Punter who produced Roxy Music and Japan among others.

[@CookieMusic43]

Thanks for the info Pete. I was hoping Roy had something to do with it. Ah well, never mind!

[@purple-browedbeep54]

This one was another learning experience episode for me, because as much as I love Wizzard and enjoyed Boulders and Mustard, my knowledge of his music ends with the Super Active Wizzo album. I was surprised to see On The Road Again in the racks a few years later when I was in college-and bought it-but have no recollection of giving it a complete listen. The first Wizzard album is my absolute favorite. Before parting out my entire vinyl/CD collection to new homes in 2017, I had quite a few old 78 rpm singles and albums. The “needles-buried-in-the-red” overloaded/distorted production of Brew-and even Ball Park Incident-sounded a lot like those old 78s. I used to wonder if he recorded and produced it that way for that very reason, especially given the 1940s-early ‘50s influenced Buffalo Station/Get On Down To Memphis. You’d certainly have to call any album with a song that had a very long, heavily synthesized backwards sax solo (Meet Me At The Jailhouse) and a brass/marching band number (Jolly Cup Of Tea) seated next to each other “eclectic”; but it remains my favorite 40+ years later. While I’m familiar with-and love-the Wizzard-era singles, you’ve certainly provided me with much to explore in what came after that. And once again, I’m astonished at your broad knowledge-as well as your singles collection-of Wood. So glad he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame over here, even if it was via ELO, a band with whom he was associated so briefly. He wasn’t known enough in the States to be inducted on the strength of Wizzard and his solo work-not to mention the great singles he produced with The Move. Cheers from Minnesota!

[@CookieMusic43]

Wizzard Brew really is an odd album. The singles gave no indication on how it would sound. I'm sure that people who bought Ball Park Incident, See My Baby Jive and Angel Fingers were shocked when they heard. He doesn't sing on Get On Down To Memphis, he screams and it works!

[@tinmachine693]

Scottish reggae? Two words I never thought I'd hear together. Live and learn.

[@CookieMusic43]

LOL

[@tinmachine693]

After listening to this I think I'll do a KZbin on Roy. Thanks Richard.

[@CookieMusic43]

Go for it Matthew!

[@tinmachine693]

See my baby jive!!! Now you mention it I remember that one as well!! 😊 And the Xmassy one gets it!! Lol.

[@CookieMusic43]

I knew you would know See My baby Jive. Try Angel Fingers next

[@dixielandfarm]

I actually love the flip side, Wake Up. Roy Wood never made it to the US - none of these singles were probably released - even the Christmas song actually isn't a song here. I do have the Wizzard albums and his first two solo albums - but he is so unknown those records are usually less than $5 and rare. Now I have "See My Baby Jive" stuck in my head...

[@CookieMusic43]

I love Wake Up as well, splish splosh. The whole of the Boulders album is brilliant. I believe it was recorded in the late Move days and was kept from being released as there was always a Move record to be promoted.

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Great stuff Roy. I'm in your slipstream with a bit of Roy content.. Sorry, you've stumped me on Smiley & Co.

[@CookieMusic43]

I think in general he deserves more credit and respect James

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

@@CookieMusic43 Sorry for calling you Roy, Richard. It was very early in the morning when I watched this video...

[@CookieMusic43]

@@jamesgriffithsmusic I thought you were maybe complimenting Roy on his wonderful discography! lol

[@ianhughes9928]

Hi Richard,Interesting you mention the Beach Boys influence as Roy Wood played saxophone on the 1976 track "It's Ok" which was a B.Boys single and appeared on their album "15 Big Ones".He must been delighted to work with his heroes especially Brian Wilson.Always though "Oh What A Shame" was a bit of a rip-off of "Heroes And Villians" Great video again Cheers Ian

[@CookieMusic43]

I never realised Brian Wilson thought Oh What A Shame was a rip off of H&V

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Jeff Lynne got in on the 'Heroes and Villains' horse a couple of times with 'Across the Border' and 'The Way Life's Meant To Be'.

[@ianhughes9928]

Sorry Richard I was'nt very clear.What I meant was that i thought that Oh What A Shame was a rip of of Heroes And Villians not Brian Wilson! Sorry about that! Cheers Ian

[@ianhughes9928]

Hi James Yeah think all those multi harmonies were so influential with so many artists and songs.As you say Jeff Lynne a very good example Cheers Ian

[@CookieMusic43]

@@ianhughes9928 ha! I should learn to read properly Ian lol

[@tinmachine693]

Cor blimey guvnor, I remember them on TOTP. The wild man from the woods with a Phil Spector approach to production. The only one I remember is the Xmas one. Shame on me.

[@CookieMusic43]

you'll know more!

[@stefansigurdsson4277]

So whats left to rank of the British Glam acts? Mott the Hoople, David Essex? ....never the guy whose name we can not mention, initials GG

[@CookieMusic43]

I could do Mott The Hoople but it would be a very short video!

[@tinmachine693]

A very sad individual gone wrong . A product of his upbringing and the era he lived in.