Dance Around the Maypole
Encyclopedia
"Dance Around the Maypole" is a song composed by Roy Wood
, performed by Acid Gallery and released in the UK as a single in 1969. It was reissued on the Nuggets II: Original Artyfacts from the British Empire and Beyond, 1964-1969
box set in 2001.
When the record was released, several disc jockeys remarked that Acid Gallery sounded remarkably like The Move
.
Certainly the voices singing the chorus and the middle eight sound uncannily like Roy Wood's along with Jeff Lynne but Vic Elmes
probably sings the verses. The song may have originally been a discarded Move track so Wood probably plays guitar; the bass is also performed in Wood's style; and he may be the drummer as well, although another candidate is Mike Blakley. The likeliest scenario was a collaboration between Acid Gallery and Wood in the studio resulting in a single issued under the band's name. 'The Producer's Cut' a programme on BBC radio first aired in 2009, mentioned that Roy Wood was cajoled by the group members to sing lead vocal on the chorus of "Dance Around the Maypole" whilst Elmes was the featured vocalist in the verses.
Acid Gallery was a real band, who had started as The Epics and eventually evolved into Christie (band)
who had a No. 1 hit in the UK with the single "Yellow River" in 1970. Blakley's brother Alan was a member of The Tremeloes, who then shared management with The Move. This could explain Wood's involvement with Acid Gallery.
The song's lyrics have a 17th-century ambience, with its references to cavaliers, "dancing on the green" and making love in the hay. The song is more of a madrigal
than a rock song; an a cappella
choir might suit it better than a rock group. Although the record was not a success, some Roy Wood fans list Dance Around the Maypole as one of their favourite Wood songs. Copies of the single are quite rare and are collectors' pieces.
The B-side was "Right Toe Blues."
Roy Wood
Roy Adrian Wood is an English singer-songwriter and musician. He was particularly successful in the 1960s and 1970s as member and co-founder of the bands The Move, Electric Light Orchestra, and Wizzard. As a songwriter, he contributed a number of hits to the repertoire of these bands.-Career:Wood...
, performed by Acid Gallery and released in the UK as a single in 1969. It was reissued on the Nuggets II: Original Artyfacts from the British Empire and Beyond, 1964-1969
Nuggets II: Original Artyfacts from the British Empire and Beyond, 1964-1969
Nuggets II: Original Artyfacts from the British Empire and Beyond, 1964–1969 is a 2001 four-disc box set from Rhino Records.While the original Nuggets compilation concentrated on the American pop and rock scene, the second Nuggets shifted its focus to the rest of the world, collecting cuts from the...
box set in 2001.
When the record was released, several disc jockeys remarked that Acid Gallery sounded remarkably like The Move
The Move
The Move, from Birmingham, England, were one of the leading British rock bands of the 1960s. They scored nine Top 20 UK singles in five years, but were among the most popular British bands not to find any success in the United States....
.
Certainly the voices singing the chorus and the middle eight sound uncannily like Roy Wood's along with Jeff Lynne but Vic Elmes
Vic Elmes
Vic Elmes , played with several groups such as Acid Gallery and The Epics, before helping to form the band Christie in 1970...
probably sings the verses. The song may have originally been a discarded Move track so Wood probably plays guitar; the bass is also performed in Wood's style; and he may be the drummer as well, although another candidate is Mike Blakley. The likeliest scenario was a collaboration between Acid Gallery and Wood in the studio resulting in a single issued under the band's name. 'The Producer's Cut' a programme on BBC radio first aired in 2009, mentioned that Roy Wood was cajoled by the group members to sing lead vocal on the chorus of "Dance Around the Maypole" whilst Elmes was the featured vocalist in the verses.
Acid Gallery was a real band, who had started as The Epics and eventually evolved into Christie (band)
Christie (band)
Christie were an English rock band formed at the end of the 1960s. They are best remembered for their UK chart-topping hit single, "Yellow River" released in 1970.-Career:...
who had a No. 1 hit in the UK with the single "Yellow River" in 1970. Blakley's brother Alan was a member of The Tremeloes, who then shared management with The Move. This could explain Wood's involvement with Acid Gallery.
The song's lyrics have a 17th-century ambience, with its references to cavaliers, "dancing on the green" and making love in the hay. The song is more of a madrigal
Madrigal (music)
A madrigal is a secular vocal music composition, usually a partsong, of the Renaissance and early Baroque eras. Traditionally, polyphonic madrigals are unaccompanied; the number of voices varies from two to eight, and most frequently from three to six....
than a rock song; an a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
choir might suit it better than a rock group. Although the record was not a success, some Roy Wood fans list Dance Around the Maypole as one of their favourite Wood songs. Copies of the single are quite rare and are collectors' pieces.
The B-side was "Right Toe Blues."