9th December 2016
The Move — Night Of Fear 50th Anniversary
Birmingham’s super group THE MOVE released their debut 45 disc ‘NIGHT OF FEAR’ b/w ‘DISTURBANCE’ on the 9th December 1966, just a year after they formed. ‘Night of Fear’ peaked at #2 in the UK singles chart a few weeks later. It was also released in at least nine other territories, the USA, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Holland, Sweden, Australia & New Zealand. Interesting fact: Roy had first played his new song ‘Night of Fear’ at a Move gig in Croydon the day before it was recorded at Advision Studios in London a couple of months earlier.
Written by Roy Wood, it could not be hailed as a Christmas release, and was a world away from the Christmas anthem Roy would become famous for writing. The line “The silent night has turned to a night of fear” introduced The Move to the world, whilst their manager Tony Secunda publicly declared the song as telling a tale of someone who had taken LSD and had a bad trip. Mmmm… not sure Roy Wood would have agreed, but Roy’s riff for ‘Night Of Fear’ referenced Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, pointing a clear direction his writing would be taking. The flipside was even less jolly, kicking off with “When I was a little boy, My Mama dropped me on my head”… a lyric that would probably be banned and cause a twitter-frenzy 50 years later.
The single stayed in the singles charts for ten weeks, but The Move had already recorded their next disc, ‘I Can Hear The Grass Grow’.
A special 3-track 50th anniversary digital EP is released today exclusively on iTunes featuring alternate versions of the original single plus the previously unreleased “Night Of Fear (‘vocal session)” focussing on the band’s electrifying vocal harmonies.
RELEASES featuring ‘NIGHT OF FEAR’ b/w ‘DISTURBANCE’
Night Of Fear (mono) original hit version released on DERAM Records 1966 (UK cat DM.109)
Night Of Fear (alternate version – stereo) Mixed in 2008 from take 2 recorded at Advision Studios 22 October 1966 released on FLY/SALVO Records 2008 (UK cat SALVOBX406)
Disturbance (mono) original version released on DERAM Records 1966 (UK cat DM.109)
Disturbance (undubbed alternate version – mono) a rough mix of the basic track before overdubs were added, released on FLY/SALVO Records 2008 (UK cat SALVOBX406)
Night Of Fear (mono) original hit version + stereo version + alternate version (stereo) + Disturbance (mono) original version + Disturbance (undubbed alternate version – mono) + Night Of Fear (BBC Session version) released on 3xCD special edition ESOTERIC RECORDS 2015 (UK cat ECLEC 32536)
http://www.cherryred.co.uk/product/move-3cd-remastered-expanded-deluxe-edition/
50th Anniversary Digital Single : Night Of Fear (alternate version – stereo) / Disturbance (undubbed alternate version – mono) Night Of Fear (vocal session) / rel 9 Dec 2016
Published by Onward Music Limited
Produced by Denny Cordell
Engineered by Gerald Chevin