Introducing Eddy and the Falcons

Introducing Eddy and the Falcons
Studio album by Wizzard
Released	1974
Recorded	1973-1974
Genre	Glam rock, rock and roll
Length	42:21
Label	Warner Bros., United Artists
Producer	Roy Wood
Wizzard chronology
Wizzard Brew (1973) Introducing Eddy and the Falcons (1974) Main Street (2000)

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Introducing Eddy and the Falcons is the second album by the English glam rock band Wizzard.^[1] It peaked at No. 19 in the UK Albums Chart – ten places higher than its predecessor, Wizzard Brew.^[2] As with the previous Wizzard album, all songs were composed by Roy Wood.^[1]

History

The album had a concept similar to The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, in that the intro 'featured' the appearance on stage of fictional band Eddy & The Falcons. All tracks were written and recorded as tributes to 1950s and early 1960s rock and roll musicians, "Eddy’s Rock" being a guitar and saxophone instrumental played in the style of Duane Eddy, while "Everyday I Wonder" was similar in sound and approach to Del Shannon's "Runaway", and "Come Back Karen" did the same for Neil Sedaka's "Oh! Carol".^[1] A particularly clear tribute was to Elvis Presley in "I Dun Lotsa Cryin' Over You".^[3]

One single was released from the album, "This Is the Story of My Love (Baby)". Its chart performance in the UK Singles Chart (No. 34) was a disappointment, as all Wizzard's previous singles had reached the Top 10.^[2]

The album was initially meant to be half of a double album by the group, with the other half in a more progressive or experimental jazz-rock style. However, the record label heard the work in progress, and asked for the rock and roll part to be recorded and released as a single album.

The sleeve featured a credit 'Custard pies - D.L.T.' This referred to one of their appearances on Top of the Pops, when presenter Dave Lee Travis had been the apparently unwitting recipient of a custard pie wielded by one of the group.

The jazz-rock material was recorded later but not released until 2000, on the album Main Street – some 25 years after Wizzard had disbanded.

The original release of Introducing Eddy and the Falcons on the Warner Bros. label, in a gate-fold sleeve, included a fold-out poster of Roy Wood on stage. It was reissued by Edsel on CD in 1999, featuring bonus tracks (1974 singles, A-side and B-sides, which had not been recorded as part of the original concept), but was soon deleted.^[1]

Track listing

All songs written by Roy Wood except where noted.

1. "Intro" – 0:45
2. "Eddy's Rock" – 3:56
3. "Brand New 88" – 3:22
4. "You Got Me Runnin' " – 3:15
5. "I Dun Lotsa Cryin’ Over You" – 3:22
6. "This Is the Story of My Love (Baby)" – 4:45
7. "Everyday I Wonder" – 4:56
8. "Crazy Jeans" – 2:47
9. "Come Back Karen" – 3:05
10. "We're Gonna Rock 'n' Roll Tonight" – 5:06^[1]

Bonus tracks (1999 reissue)

1. "Rock & Roll Winter" – 3:09
2. "Dream of Unwin" – 3:31
3. "Nixture" – 2:31
4. "Are You Ready to Rock" – 5:23
5. "Marathon Man" (Keith Smart, Mike Tyler) – 2:15^[1]

Personnel

• Roy Wood – vocals, guitars, drums, oboe, cello, bass, keyboards, bassoon, string bass, tenor and baritone saxes, percussion
• Rick Price – bass guitar, guitar, vocals, percussion
• Nick Pentelow – tenor saxophone
• Mike Burney – tenor and baritone saxes
• Keith Smart – drums
• Charlie Grima – percussion
• Bill Hunt – piano
• Bob Brady – piano and vocals (on final track) and 'incidental boogies'.^[4]

References

1. Thomas, Stephen. "Introducing Eddy & the Falcons - Wizzard : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-06-26.
2. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 608. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
3. Pierre-Rene Noth (25 September 1974). "Sounds of the Times". The Milwaukee Journal. p. 'Green Sheet' 1.
4. "Introducing Eddy & the Falcons - Wizzard : Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-06-26.