Shazam 1970 Album

The Move

By this point the original lineup of The Move had splintered, and despite a run of high-charting singles in their native U.K. they were at a crossroads. Shazam ended up being a compromise effort, consisting of mostly amplified covers to appease lead singer Carl Wayne, who ended up leaving the group shortly after the album was released, anyway. The first side is by far the more relevant one, featuring mostly Wood compositions, including a booming, more dramatic remake of "Cherry Blossom Clinic" (titled "Revisited"), followed by a stunning medley of classical works in the public domain reinterpreted in a rock setting. Also of note is "Hello Susie", which veers in a cheerful pop-metal direction. Out of the covers on the second side, "Fields of People" (originally cut by Ars Nova) is the definite standout, but still lags compared to the inspired content that came before it.