See My Baby Jive by Wizzard

Album: Wizzard Brew (1973)

Charted: 1

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Songfacts®:

In his autobiography, which he co-wrote with Mick Wall, music promoter Don Arden (1926-2007) wrote incisively about Roy Wood. After he walked out of the Electric Light Orchestra, apparently over artistic differences with Jeff Lynne, Arden asked him what he planned to do next. Roy sat on the fence for a week then met Arden at his office where he told him about his new group, Wizzard.

"He didn't have any music to play me yet, he said, he just had the idea. I wasn't really listening. Of course it would be great. I've never met anybody yet whose new group wasn't going to be the greatest. It didn't matter: Roy was a proven hit maker, so I was always ready to take a punt on a guy like him."

He didn't disappoint, "His first singles as Wizzard were a phenomenal success in Britain and several other territories. The one everybody always remembers now, of course, because they still play the damn thing every year, is..." Surprisingly, Arden got the title wrong, calling it "I Wish It Would Be Christmas Every Day" rather than "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day."

The manager was though far more impressed with "See My Baby Jive" which he said was Roy's homage to Phil Spector (before he murdered Lana Clarkson!); the song was "miles better and remained at Number 1 for what seemed like forever."

Sadly, it didn't last, and Arden gives the impression that Roy Wood had some sort of nervous breakdown, possibly due to overwork.
"See My Baby Jive" topped the UK singles chart for four weeks; it also topped the Irish chart. Running to 5 minutes, it was backed by "Bend Over Beethoven" - not the Chuck Berry song but an instrumental written by cellist Hugh McDowell. >>>
Suggestion credit:
Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 2
Roy Wood explained: "At the beginning of Wizzard, the lineup was two cellists, two drummers, two saxophone players, plus guitar, bass and keyboards. What else can you do with that lineup but create a Phil Spector sound?" (Quote from 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh)

Comments: 1

Jeff WoodThe correct lyric is "Too bad your nag is driving me mad" not too bad so longs its driving me mad.

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