James Taylor Move was a short-lived Australian/British psychedelic pop, progressive rock group from Adelaide. It was formed by Kevin Peek on guitar (ex-Hurricanes, The Twilights, John E. Broome and the Handels), Trevor Spencer on drums, Alan Tarney on organ (John E. Broome and the Handels), and Robert John Taylor on lead vocals and bass guitar.
James Taylor Move | |
|---|---|
| Genres | Psychedelic pop, progressive rock |
| Years active | 1967–1968 |
| Labels | Festival |
| Spinoff of | Hurricanes, John E. Broome and the Handels, Roadrunners, Delta Set, Eighteenth Century Quartet, Cam-Pact, Rockwell T. James and the Rhythm Aces, Tarney/Spencer Band, Sky, Chain |
| Past members | Kevin Peek Trevor Spencer Alan Tarney Robert John Taylor John Pugh Lance Dixon Wendy Saddington |
Early in 1967, the group won the South Australian finals of the Hoadley's Battle of the Sounds and traveled to Melbourne to compete in the national final. During that year the group released two singles, "And I Hear the Fire Sing" / "Magic Eyes" and "Baby Jane". "Magic Eyes" peaked in the Go-Set National Top 40 Singles Chart. In June 1968 Wendy Saddington, a blues vocalist, replaced Taylor but the group disbanded by the end of the year.
History
editJames Taylor Move formed in early 1967 when an Adelaide discotheque-owner wanted a house band.[1] The original line-up was Kevin Peek on guitar (ex-Hurricanes, John E. Broome and the Handels), Trevor Spencer on drums, Alan Tarney on organ and bass guitar (John E. Broome and the Handels), and Robert John Taylor on lead vocals.[1] John E Broome and the Handels was an R&B group from Adelaide that relocated to the United Kingdom, Peek and Tarney had returned to Australia.[1] Not long after forming they won the South Australian finals of the Hoadley's Battle of the Sounds and in July they traveled to Melbourne to compete in the national final.[2][3]
James Taylor Move supported fellow-Adelaide group, The Twilights, and followed them to relocate to Melbourne.[3] In August 1967 James Taylor Move issued their debut single, "And I Heard the Fire Sing" / "Magic Eyes",[4] which peaked at No. 33 on the Go-Set National Top 40 Singles Chart.[1][5] According to Ian McFarlane, Australian rock music historian, the "Hendrix-derived 'And I Heard the Fire Sing' was too much for local radio of the day, but programmers flipped the single over to reveal the more radio-friendly psychedelic pop of 'Magic Eyes'".[1] The group followed with a second single, "Baby Jane", in October that year.[1][6]
In May 1968, Peek was replaced by John Pugh on guitar (ex-Roadrunners, Delta Set, Eighteenth Century Quartet, Cam-Pact)[7][8] and Lance Dixon joined on organ and saxophone (Rockwell T. James and the Rhythm Aces).[1][9] The next month Taylor left and Wendy Saddington (Revolution) joined on lead vocals.[1][10] By the end of the year the group had disbanded.[1][3]
After disbandment
editAfter James Taylor Move broke up, Peek, Spencer and Tarney formed the Kevin Peek Trio (1968–69) and travelled to the UK. They joined with ex-The Twilights guitarist, Terry Britten, to form Quartet (1969–70). Subsequently, Spencer and Tarney teamed up in Tarney/Spencer Band (1975–79).[1] Peek was later a member of Sky (1978–91).[1] Saddington joined Chain (1968–69), Copperwine (1970–71) and then had a solo career.[1][10]
James Taylor Move's track "And I Heard the Fire Sing" was covered by Australian alternative metal group, Grinspoon, for their 2005 compilation album, Best in Show, on a limited edition bonus disc. Lancashire progressive group, Earthling Society, recorded it as the B-side of their 2011 single, "The Green Manalishi", which is a cover of an early Fleetwood Mac song.[11]
Discography
editSingles
edit- "And I Heard the Fire Sing" / "Magic Eyes" (August 1967, Festival Records FK 1892)
- "Baby Jane" (October 1967, Festival Records FK 2025)
Members
edit- Kevin Peek – guitar (1967–1968)
- Trevor Spencer – drums (1967–1968)
- Alan Tarney – organ (1967–1968)
- Robert John Taylor – lead vocals, bass guitar (1967–1968)
- John Pugh – guitar (1968)
- Lance Dixon – organ, saxophone (1968)
- Wendy Saddington – lead vocals (1968)
References
edit- General
- McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Whammo Homepage". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 978-1-86508-072-7. Archived from the original on 5 April 2004. Retrieved 8 January 2013. Note: Archived [on-line] copy has limited functionality.
- Specific
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l McFarlane, 'James Taylor Move' entry. Archived from the original Archived 28 August 2004 at the Wayback Machine on 18 April 2004. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
- ^ Stacey, Terence J. (2002). Duncan Kimball (ed.). "Hoadley's National Battle of the Sounds". MilesAgo: Australasian Music and Popular Culture 1964–1975. ICE Productions. Archived from the original on 31 August 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
- ^ a b c Kimball, Duncan (2002). "James Taylor Move". Milesago: Australasian Music and Popular Culture 1964–1975. Ice Productions. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
- ^ Taylor, Robert; Peek, Kevin; Tarney, Alan (1967). "'And I heard the fire sing' / 'Magic eyes'". Festival. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
- ^ Nimmervoll, Ed (20 September 1967). "National Top 40". Go-Set. Waverley Press. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
- ^ Taylor, Robert; Peek, Kevin; Tarney, Alan (1967). "'Baby Jane' / 'I still can go on'". Festival. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
- ^ McFarlane, 'Eighteenth Century Quartet' entry. Archived from the original on 20 April 2004. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
- ^ McFarlane, 'Cam-Pact' entry. Archived from the original on 6 July 2002. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
- ^ McFarlane, 'Rockwell T. James' entry. Archived from the original on 6 July 2002. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
- ^ a b McFarlane, 'Chain' entry. Archived from the original on 23 August 2004. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
- ^ Coretti, Lorenzo (22 May 2011). "Earthling Society – 'The Green Manalishi (With the Two-prong Crown)'". AAAmusic (Alessia Matteoli). Retrieved 8 January 2013.