Brontosaurus (song)

"Brontosaurus"
Single by The Move
from the album Looking On
B-side "Lightning Never Strikes Twice"
Released March 1970
Format 7" single
Recorded 1970
Genre Hard rock
Length 4:25
Label Regal Zonophone (UK)
A&M (US)
Writer(s) Roy Wood
Producer(s) Roy Wood, Jeff Lynne
The Move singles chronology
"Curly"
(1969)
"Brontosaurus"
(1970)
"When Alice Comes Back to the Farm"
(1970)

"Brontosaurus" is a song by rock group The Move.

Release

Released as a single early in 1970, it was also included on the band's Looking On album later that year. With its aggressive guitar riff and growling vocal, the song marked a major shift in sound compared to their previous, more pop-orientated single "Curly", presumably Roy Wood's attempt to put some distance between the band and former vocalist Carl Wayne, whose "Middle of the road" leanings caused disagreements with the other members. This song was the first Move recording made after former Idle Race front man Jeff Lynne had joined, and he contributed guitar and piano. Lynne had been recruited into the group with the main aim of developing the embryonic Electric Light Orchestra, though they were contractually required to keep The Move (with their proven track record as a hit singles outfit) functioning in order to help finance the new project.

When The Move promoted it on Top of the Pops on BBC TV, Wood - who had never appeared on television as the group's frontman before - appeared in the makeup that he would later develop two years later as the leader of Wizzard.

References