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Go Now (song)
Encyclopedia
"Go Now" is a 1964 song composed by Larry Banks
and Milton Bennett. It was first recorded by Bessie Banks
, and most successfully by The Moody Blues
.
, who re-recorded it and released it in early 1964 on their Blue Cat
label, the R&B/soul imprint of Red Bird
. Her version reached number forty on the Cash Box R&B singles chart
"Go Now" is a 1964 song composed by Larry Banks
and Milton Bennett. It was first recorded by Bessie Banks
, and most successfully by The Moody Blues
.
, who re-recorded it and released it in early 1964 on their Blue Cat
label, the R&B/soul imprint of Red Bird
. Her version reached number forty on the Cash Box R&B singles chart
"Go Now" is a 1964 song composed by Larry Banks
and Milton Bennett. It was first recorded by Bessie Banks
, and most successfully by The Moody Blues
.
, who re-recorded it and released it in early 1964 on their Blue Cat
label, the R&B/soul imprint of Red Bird
. Her version reached number forty on the Cash Box R&B singles chart. The original Bessie Banks version was included on the soundtrack to the film Stonewall
.
beat group from Birmingham named The Moody Blues recorded it, with Denny Laine
on guitar and lead vocals. When Denny Laine first heard Bessie Banks's version, he immediately told the rest of the band that they needed to record the song. The song reached number one in the UK and number ten in the US. A short clip used to promote the video uses a striking visual style that pre-dated Queen
's similar Bohemian Rhapsody
video by a full decade. Laine continued to perform the song in concert during his years in Wings
, and it is included in the group's Wings over America
live album. He also sang the song at the Birmingham Heart Beat Charity Concert 1986 raising money for the local children's hospital.
The Moody Blues had little success with later singles after "Go Now", which led to Denny Laine
's departure from the band, later being replaced by Justin Hayward
. Bassist Clint Warwick
had also departed the band at this time, and he was immediately replaced by John Lodge. With the new lineup, the Moody Blues continued to perform "Go Now" for a short time, up until they began writing their own material. Hayward sang the song during his first year with the band, and Ray Thomas
attempted to sing it a couple of times himself.Moody Blues: Classic Artists (2006) (Directed by Jon Brewer) The next successes for the Moody Blues would be 1967's "Nights in White Satin
" and "Tuesday Afternoon
." In contrast to other songs from their debut album "The Magnifficent Moodies", "Go Now" contained many early elements of what later would become progressive rock
, such as the lush instrumentation, the innovative variations of the Fifties Progression, as well as strong baroque elements that would later become hallmarks of prog rock.
At the time the single was released it was being promoted on TV with one of the first purpose-made promotional films in the pop era (produced and directed by their co-manager Alex Wharton
), very much before The Beatles
did with the promotional films of their singles "Rain
" and "Paperback Writer
", both released on 1966.
On June 21, 22, and 23, 1976, at The Forum
in Inglewood,CA.
, Denny Laine performed "Go Now" with the band Wings
accompanying himself on piano, along with Paul McCartney
on bass and vocals, Linda McCartney
on vocals, Jimmy McCullough on lead guitar and Joe English on drums. This version of "Go Now" appears on the Wings Over America
live album.
In January 1997, "Go Now" was released on The Very Best of the Moody Blues; its release on this album was the first time it had been released on a Moody Blues compilation album. "Go Now" was also released on the subsequent Moody Blues' two-disc compilation album Anthology
.
The version by The Moody Blues
was famously used on the satirical British television show Spitting Image
in a scene concerning then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
.http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2011/feb/10/meryl-streep-margaret-thatcher
"Go Now" was performed by Denny Laine
with The Fab Faux
on December 11, 2010 at Terminal 5 in New York City and February 26, 2011 at the State Theatre in Easton, PA.
in 2005 for his Under Cover
compilation album and by Simply Red
in 2008 for their Simply Red 25: The Greatest Hits compilation.
The song is also in the musical Return to the Forbidden Planet
.
Larry Banks
Lawrence H. "Larry" Banks was an American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, and record producer.-Life and career:Banks was born in New York City and grew up in the Flatbush area of Brooklyn...
and Milton Bennett. It was first recorded by Bessie Banks
Bessie Banks
Bessie Banks is an American soul singer, best known for her original recording of the Moody Blues’ hit song "Go Now".-Life and career:...
, and most successfully by The Moody Blues
The Moody Blues
The Moody Blues are an English rock band. Among their innovations was a fusion with classical music, most notably in their 1967 album Days of Future Passed....
.
Bessie Banks
The song was first recorded by Larry Banks' former wife, Bessie Banks. A 1962 demo recording by Bessie of the song was heard by songwriters and record producers Jerry Leiber and Mike StollerJerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
Jerome "Jerry" Leiber and Mike Stoller were American songwriting and record producing partners. Stoller was the composer and Leiber the lyricist. Their most famous songs include "Hound Dog", "Jailhouse Rock", "Kansas City", "Stand By Me" Jerome "Jerry" Leiber (April 25, 1933 – August 22, 2011)...
, who re-recorded it and released it in early 1964 on their Blue Cat
Blue Cat Records
Blue Cat Records was the name of two unconnected record labels.Blue Cat Records ' was a subsidiary label of Red Bird Records. It had a hit in 1965 with "The Boy from New York City" by the Ad Libs....
label, the R&B/soul imprint of Red Bird
Red Bird Records
Red Bird Records was a record label started by American pop music songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller in 1964. Though often thought of as a "girl-group" label, female-led acts made up only 40% of the artist roster on Red Bird and its associated labels...
. Her version reached number forty on the Cash Box R&B singles chart
"Go Now" is a 1964 song composed by Larry Banks
Larry Banks
Lawrence H. "Larry" Banks was an American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, and record producer.-Life and career:Banks was born in New York City and grew up in the Flatbush area of Brooklyn...
and Milton Bennett. It was first recorded by Bessie Banks
Bessie Banks
Bessie Banks is an American soul singer, best known for her original recording of the Moody Blues’ hit song "Go Now".-Life and career:...
, and most successfully by The Moody Blues
The Moody Blues
The Moody Blues are an English rock band. Among their innovations was a fusion with classical music, most notably in their 1967 album Days of Future Passed....
.
Bessie Banks
The song was first recorded by Larry Banks' former wife, Bessie Banks. A 1962 demo recording by Bessie of the song was heard by songwriters and record producers Jerry Leiber and Mike StollerJerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
Jerome "Jerry" Leiber and Mike Stoller were American songwriting and record producing partners. Stoller was the composer and Leiber the lyricist. Their most famous songs include "Hound Dog", "Jailhouse Rock", "Kansas City", "Stand By Me" Jerome "Jerry" Leiber (April 25, 1933 – August 22, 2011)...
, who re-recorded it and released it in early 1964 on their Blue Cat
Blue Cat Records
Blue Cat Records was the name of two unconnected record labels.Blue Cat Records ' was a subsidiary label of Red Bird Records. It had a hit in 1965 with "The Boy from New York City" by the Ad Libs....
label, the R&B/soul imprint of Red Bird
Red Bird Records
Red Bird Records was a record label started by American pop music songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller in 1964. Though often thought of as a "girl-group" label, female-led acts made up only 40% of the artist roster on Red Bird and its associated labels...
. Her version reached number forty on the Cash Box R&B singles chart
"Go Now" is a 1964 song composed by Larry Banks
Larry Banks
Lawrence H. "Larry" Banks was an American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, and record producer.-Life and career:Banks was born in New York City and grew up in the Flatbush area of Brooklyn...
and Milton Bennett. It was first recorded by Bessie Banks
Bessie Banks
Bessie Banks is an American soul singer, best known for her original recording of the Moody Blues’ hit song "Go Now".-Life and career:...
, and most successfully by The Moody Blues
The Moody Blues
The Moody Blues are an English rock band. Among their innovations was a fusion with classical music, most notably in their 1967 album Days of Future Passed....
.
Bessie Banks
The song was first recorded by Larry Banks' former wife, Bessie Banks. A 1962 demo recording by Bessie of the song was heard by songwriters and record producers Jerry Leiber and Mike StollerJerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
Jerome "Jerry" Leiber and Mike Stoller were American songwriting and record producing partners. Stoller was the composer and Leiber the lyricist. Their most famous songs include "Hound Dog", "Jailhouse Rock", "Kansas City", "Stand By Me" Jerome "Jerry" Leiber (April 25, 1933 – August 22, 2011)...
, who re-recorded it and released it in early 1964 on their Blue Cat
Blue Cat Records
Blue Cat Records was the name of two unconnected record labels.Blue Cat Records ' was a subsidiary label of Red Bird Records. It had a hit in 1965 with "The Boy from New York City" by the Ad Libs....
label, the R&B/soul imprint of Red Bird
Red Bird Records
Red Bird Records was a record label started by American pop music songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller in 1964. Though often thought of as a "girl-group" label, female-led acts made up only 40% of the artist roster on Red Bird and its associated labels...
. Her version reached number forty on the Cash Box R&B singles chart. The original Bessie Banks version was included on the soundtrack to the film Stonewall
Stonewall (film)
Stonewall is a 1995 historical comedy-drama film. Inspired by the memoir of the same title by openly gay historian Martin Duberman, Stonewall is a fictionalized account of the weeks leading up to the Stonewall riots, a seminal event in the modern American gay rights movement...
.
The Moody Blues
"Go Now" was made popular internationally later in 1964 when an EnglishEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
beat group from Birmingham named The Moody Blues recorded it, with Denny Laine
Denny Laine
Denny Laine is an English songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, guitarist, and lead singer of The Moody Blues' 1965 debut album "The Magnificent Moodies"; and, later, best known for his role as co-founder of Wings...
on guitar and lead vocals. When Denny Laine first heard Bessie Banks's version, he immediately told the rest of the band that they needed to record the song. The song reached number one in the UK and number ten in the US. A short clip used to promote the video uses a striking visual style that pre-dated Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
's similar Bohemian Rhapsody
Bohemian Rhapsody
"Bohemian Rhapsody" is a song by the British rock band Queen. It was written by Freddie Mercury for the band's 1975 album A Night at the Opera...
video by a full decade. Laine continued to perform the song in concert during his years in Wings
Wings (band)
Wings were a British-American rock group formed in 1971 by Paul McCartney, Denny Laine and Linda McCartney that remained active until 1981....
, and it is included in the group's Wings over America
Wings over America
Wings over America is the sixth album by Wings and their only live album. In its initial release, it was a triple album and included a poster of the band.-Recording history:...
live album. He also sang the song at the Birmingham Heart Beat Charity Concert 1986 raising money for the local children's hospital.
The Moody Blues had little success with later singles after "Go Now", which led to Denny Laine
Denny Laine
Denny Laine is an English songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, guitarist, and lead singer of The Moody Blues' 1965 debut album "The Magnificent Moodies"; and, later, best known for his role as co-founder of Wings...
's departure from the band, later being replaced by Justin Hayward
Justin Hayward
Justin Hayward is an English musician, best known as singer, songwriter and guitarist in the rock band The Moody Blues.Hayward was born in Dean Street, Swindon, Wiltshire, England...
. Bassist Clint Warwick
Clint Warwick
Clint Warwick was the original bassist for the rock band, The Moody Blues....
had also departed the band at this time, and he was immediately replaced by John Lodge. With the new lineup, the Moody Blues continued to perform "Go Now" for a short time, up until they began writing their own material. Hayward sang the song during his first year with the band, and Ray Thomas
Ray Thomas
Ray Thomas is an English musician, best known as the flautist and as a singer and composer in the rock band, The Moody Blues.-Career:...
attempted to sing it a couple of times himself.Moody Blues: Classic Artists (2006) (Directed by Jon Brewer) The next successes for the Moody Blues would be 1967's "Nights in White Satin
Nights in White Satin
"Nights in White Satin" is a 1967 single by The Moody Blues, written by Justin Hayward and first featured on the album Days of Future Passed.It is in the key of E minor Aeolian.-Single releases:...
" and "Tuesday Afternoon
Tuesday Afternoon
"Tuesday Afternoon" is a 1968 single by English symphonic rock band The Moody Blues, and presented in its original album form on their 1967 album Days of Future Passed in two parts.-Part one:The first part, the one most familiar to listeners, called "Tuesday Afternoon", was...
." In contrast to other songs from their debut album "The Magnifficent Moodies", "Go Now" contained many early elements of what later would become progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
, such as the lush instrumentation, the innovative variations of the Fifties Progression, as well as strong baroque elements that would later become hallmarks of prog rock.
At the time the single was released it was being promoted on TV with one of the first purpose-made promotional films in the pop era (produced and directed by their co-manager Alex Wharton
Alex Wharton
Alex Wharton , later also known as Alex Murray, was part of the singing duo the Most Brothers with Mickie Most, and later, co-manager and producer of the band, Moody Blues.-Singing and acting career:...
), very much before The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
did with the promotional films of their singles "Rain
Rain (The Beatles song)
"Rain" is a song by the English rock band The Beatles, credited to Lennon–McCartney. It was first released in June 1966 as the B-side of the "Paperback Writer" single...
" and "Paperback Writer
Paperback Writer
"Paperback Writer" is a 1966 song recorded and released by The Beatles. Written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney, the song was released as the A-side of their eleventh single...
", both released on 1966.
On June 21, 22, and 23, 1976, at The Forum
The Forum (Inglewood, California)
The Forum is an indoor arena, in Inglewood, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. From 2000 to 2010, it was owned by the Faithful Central Bible Church, which occasionally used it for church services, while also leasing the building for sporting events, concerts and other events.Along with Madison...
in Inglewood,CA.
Inglewood, California
Inglewood is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, southwest of downtown Los Angeles. It was incorporated on February 14, 1908. Its population stood at 109,673 as of the 2010 Census...
, Denny Laine performed "Go Now" with the band Wings
Wings (band)
Wings were a British-American rock group formed in 1971 by Paul McCartney, Denny Laine and Linda McCartney that remained active until 1981....
accompanying himself on piano, along with Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
on bass and vocals, Linda McCartney
Linda McCartney
Linda Louise McCartney, Lady McCartney was an American photographer, musician and animal rights activist. Her father and mother were Lee Eastman and Louise Sara Lindner Eastman....
on vocals, Jimmy McCullough on lead guitar and Joe English on drums. This version of "Go Now" appears on the Wings Over America
Wings over America
Wings over America is the sixth album by Wings and their only live album. In its initial release, it was a triple album and included a poster of the band.-Recording history:...
live album.
In January 1997, "Go Now" was released on The Very Best of the Moody Blues; its release on this album was the first time it had been released on a Moody Blues compilation album. "Go Now" was also released on the subsequent Moody Blues' two-disc compilation album Anthology
Anthology (The Moody Blues album)
Anthology is a compilation album by the progressive rock band The Moody Blues. It was released on 20 October 1998 and nearly spans the band's entire career from 1965 to 1991.-Disc One:# "Go Now" - 3:10...
.
The version by The Moody Blues
The Moody Blues
The Moody Blues are an English rock band. Among their innovations was a fusion with classical music, most notably in their 1967 album Days of Future Passed....
was famously used on the satirical British television show Spitting Image
Spitting Image
Spitting Image is a British satirical puppet show that aired on the ITV network from 1984 to 1996. It was produced by Spitting Image Productions for Central Television. The series was nominated for 10 BAFTA Awards, winning one for editing in 1989....
in a scene concerning then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
.http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2011/feb/10/meryl-streep-margaret-thatcher
"Go Now" was performed by Denny Laine
Denny Laine
Denny Laine is an English songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, guitarist, and lead singer of The Moody Blues' 1965 debut album "The Magnificent Moodies"; and, later, best known for his role as co-founder of Wings...
with The Fab Faux
The Fab Faux
The Fab Faux is a musical tribute band performing the works of The Beatles. The group was founded by Will Lee, bassist for Late Show with David Letterman, and features Jimmy Vivino, bandleader for Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Other members include Rich Pagano, Frank Agnello, and Jack Petruzzelli...
on December 11, 2010 at Terminal 5 in New York City and February 26, 2011 at the State Theatre in Easton, PA.
Credits
- Denny LaineDenny LaineDenny Laine is an English songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, guitarist, and lead singer of The Moody Blues' 1965 debut album "The Magnificent Moodies"; and, later, best known for his role as co-founder of Wings...
: guitar, Lead vocal - Clint WarwickClint WarwickClint Warwick was the original bassist for the rock band, The Moody Blues....
: bass guitar, backing vocal - Mike PinderMike PinderMichael Thomas "Mike" Pinder is an English rock musician, and is a founding member or the British rock group, the Moody Blues. He left the group following the recording of the band's album, Octave, in 1978...
: piano, backing vocal - Ray ThomasRay ThomasRay Thomas is an English musician, best known as the flautist and as a singer and composer in the rock band, The Moody Blues.-Career:...
: tambourine, backing vocal, - Graeme EdgeGraeme EdgeGraeme Charles Edge is best known as the drummer and a songwriter for the Moody Blues, but has also led his own outfit, the Graeme Edge Band.-Biography:...
: drums, percussion, backing vocal
Other versions
"Go Now" was later recorded by Ozzy OsbourneOzzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
in 2005 for his Under Cover
Under Cover
-Personnel:*Ozzy Osbourne – vocals*Jerry Cantrell – guitars*Chris Wyse – bass*Mike Bordin – drumsGuest musicians*Ian Hunter – vocals on "All the Young Dudes"*Leslie West – guitar solo on "Mississippi Queen"...
compilation album and by Simply Red
Simply Red
Simply Red were a British soul band that sold more than 50 million albums over a 25-year career. Their style drew influences from blue-eyed soul, new romantic, rock, reggae and jazz...
in 2008 for their Simply Red 25: The Greatest Hits compilation.
The song is also in the musical Return to the Forbidden Planet
Return to the Forbidden Planet
Return to the Forbidden Planet is a Jukebox musical by playwright Bob Carlton based on Shakespeare's The Tempest and the 1950s science fiction film Forbidden Planet ....
.
See also
- List of number-one singles from the 1960s (UK)