Move It

For the song of the same name by Chuck Berry, see Rock It (Chuck Berry album). For the Australian TV show, see Move It (game show).
"Move It"
Single by Cliff Richard and the Drifters
B-side "Schoolboy Crush"
Released 29 August 1958
Format 7" single, 78 rpm disc
Recorded 24 July 1958, EMI Studios, London
Genre Rock and roll
Length 2:23 (A-side)
2:32 (B-side)
Label Columbia 45-DB4178/78-DB4178
Writer(s) Ian Samwell (A-side)
Aaron Schroeder,
Sharon Gilbert (B-side)
Producer(s) Norrie Paramor
Cliff Richard and the Drifters singles chronology
"Move It"
(1958)		 "High Class Baby"
(1958)

"Move It" is a song written by Ian Samwell and recorded by Cliff Richard and the Drifters (the UK band that would evolve into The Shadows). Originally intended as the B-side to "Schoolboy Crush", it was released as Richard's debut single on 29 August 1958 and became his first hit record, reaching no.2 on the UK singles chart. It is credited with being one of the first authentic rock and roll songs produced outside the United States.[1][2]

"Schoolboy Crush", written by Aaron Schroeder and Sharon Gilbert, had already been recorded in the US by Bobby Helms. Cliff Richard and the Drifters recorded their own version, which was intended to be the A-side of their debut single. However "Move It" was heard by producer Jack Good, who insisted that if Richard was to appear on his TV show Oh Boy!, he would have to sing "Move It". The planned single was flipped, and climbed to number 2 in the charts, starting Cliff Richard on a career which included British hits through six decades. His first no.1 record was "Living Doll" in 1959.[1]

Described by Allmusic as "Presley-esque" and by Richard himself as "my one outstanding rock 'n' roll classic", "Move It" was written atop a London double-decker bus on the way to a rehearsal at Richard's house by the Drifters guitarist Ian "Sammy" Samwell. A second verse was written by Samwell for the Hank Marvin album Hank plays Cliff in 1995, with Cliff Richard once more providing the vocals. The new version was debuted live at a Royal Variety Performance in front of Queen Elizabeth II that year. Since then, Richard has continued to perform the song with the additional verse.[2]

Personnel

Cliff Richard and the Drifters:

Session musicians:

Covers

The song was covered and released as a single in 1975 by Alvin Stardust, also appearing on his album Rock with Alvin the same year.

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sold on Song Top 100 at bbc.co.uk. Retrieved on 18 November 2007.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "The Ian "Sammy" Samwell Story" at iansamwell.com. Retrieved on 18 November 2007.

External links