THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

239-Wizzard-See My Baby Jive.

1973-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 1.47. The song which inspired no lesser band than ABBA to write their breakthrough hit.

Wizzard was the brainchild of Roy Wood who was born on November 8th, 1946, in Kitts Green, Birmingham, England. After initially playing in local bands he became one of the co-founders of ‘The Move’ in 1965, and writing their 1968 UK Number 1 single ‘Blackberry Way’ (see also best songs 575.) While still with The Move, Wood, along with his band colleagues Jeff Lynne and Bev Bevan formed the ‘Electric Light Orchestra’ (see also best songs 970 and 25) in 1970. The original intention was for The Move at the end of 1970, but contractual obligations with their record company meant that both they and the ‘ELO’ existed together for a year, until the former finally broke up in June 1972.

Due to musical differences between Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne, Wood left the ‘ELO’ after just one Album release in July 1972, to form ‘Wizzard,’ taking ‘ELO’ band members Hugh McDowell, (1953-2018) and Bill Hunt with him. Although Wood is renowned for his ability to play multiple musical instruments, he still assembled another eight musicians for Wizzard, with the intention of emulating the Phil Spector (1939-2021) ‘Wall of Sound’ (see also best songs 782-737-192 and 127.) Wizzard remained active until 1975, releasing two studio Albums in 1974 and 1974, a third Album called ‘Main Street,’ also recorded in 1974 remained unreleased until 2000. Wizzard issued 10 singles between 1972-1976, with this song, and Angel Fingers’ from 1973 both reaching the UK Number 1 spot, but of course they will always be best remembered for their festive classic ‘I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday,’ which was first a hit in 1973 (see also best songs 821.) Roy Wood also released music as a solo artist during his time with Wizzard, and also after. He has released four solo studio between 1973-1987, and 19 singles between 1972-1987, with the highest charting being ‘Forever,’ which made Number 8 in 1973.

‘See My Baby Jive’ was written and produced by Roy Wood, who also sang the lead vocals, and also played 13 other instruments on the track including saxophone, tuba, and trombone. Roy Wood wanted to make a song that would mirror image the production Phil Spector had developed in the 1960’s, which would become known as the ‘Wall of Sound,’ where several instruments are used on a track, for example Spector would duplicate something played by an acoustic piano, with an electric piano, and a harpsichord. When mixed the three instruments would then be indistinguishable to the listener. ‘See My Baby Jive’ left a lasting impression on the Swedish Pop group ABBA. Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus have said that the song was a major influence on them writing their breakthrough hit ‘Waterloo,’ which attempts to use the same ‘Wall of Sound’ production techniques.

‘Look out, look out, your momma will shout, you might as well go home, She said my bed get’s into your hair, so give me back my comb. But you, you make things that get along turn out so wrong.’