Dance Around the Maypole

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Dance Around the Maypole was 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 Roy Wood's voice sings the chorus and the Middle 8 along with Jeff Lynne. Wood himself has said that he was not the singer, but a singer that sounded like him. 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.

The song may have originally been a discarded Move track, so Wood probably plays guitar on the track; the bass is played in Wood's style; and he may be the drummer as well, although another candidate for drummer is Mike Blakley. Members of Acid Gallery probably helped Wood to complete the track. Vic Elmes probably sings the verses. 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."

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