The Move - Message From The Country The Move certainly need no introduction, they've put their mark on garage, bubblegum and pop for years to come but their transitional album A Message From The Country is an essential piece of any 70's rock collection, and one that's too often
missing from most. Recorded in 1971, the album is largely driven by Jeff Lynne and Roy Wood, with bassist Rick Price leaving during the sessions and drummer Bev Bevan feeling on the outs with the group. Perhaps this is because the album was being recorded at the same time Wood and Lynne were beginning Electric Light Orchestra, there are some obvious crossovers between The Move's swan song and ELO's debut. But Message From the Country winds up on the rootsier end of the spectrum from the two, glossy but not so bright you can't see or feel the chooglin' vein pulsing through the album. In its expanded forms its embraced a clutch of singles from the era as well that landed better at radio, including the glam stomper "Do Ya" which became more synonymous with ELO in its live incarnation, and Todd Rundgren in his cover, but the alternate take on the reissue really brings light to what this song began as and how strong an entry it is to The Move's canon. Those singles aside though, the album has that early 70's inclusive experimentation that pulls in harmonic excellence, acoustic shades and an emotional core that would follow Lynne through his career. 60's garage fans may have the early Move tacked into playlists, vinyl collections and their sense of psychedelia but this one deserves at least a little spot next The White Album, No Dice and Ogden's Nut Gone Flake on the shelf and certainly needs to accompany Wood's solo effort and Wizzard. Listen: Support the artist. Buy it HERE