The success of Rhino’s 1998 Nuggets boxset justified a follow-up. The sequel covers the rest of the world since the first volume only chronicled the USA.
Nuggets II: Original Artyfacts from the British Empire and Beyond, 1964–1969 emerged in 2001. It features music from countries such as Iceland, Uruguay, and Japan. I’m profiling and rating each of the 109 tracks, working backwards.
Track 100 – Dance Around the Maypole by Acid Gallery
From: Colchester, England
8
Credits
4/20. DANCE AROUND THE MAYPOLE – The Acid Gallery (U.K.)
(Roy Wood)
PERSONNEL/(prob) THE EPICS: JEFF CHRISTIE: vocals, bass * VIC ELMES: lead guitar * MIKE BLAKELY: drums * IAN JANSEN * STUART TANN * [plus ROY WOOD: guitar]
Produced by ROY WOOD for STRAND ARTISTS LTD.
Recorded in London, England
CBS single #4608 (1969)
Acid Gallery
Acid Gallery are one of the most obscure bands on Nuggets II, only recording one single. The started as The Epics, featuring guitarist Vic Elmes and drummer Mike Blakeley. Blakeley’s brother was guitarist for The Tremeloes. The Epics renamed themselves as Acid Gallery, to fit in with psychedelia.
Dance Around the maypole
‘Dance Around the Maypole’ was written by Roy Wood. It sounds like his songs for The Move, like ‘Blackberry Way’. His vocals are present in the chorus – the AllMusicGuide states that Jeff Lynne also contributes backing vocals in the chorus.
With its singsong melody, slightly campy lyrics, plodding tempo, and trundling bass line, “Dance Around The Maypole” could easily be mistaken for a long-lost Move track.
Mike Stax, Nuggets II liner notes
The Nuggets liner notes also credit Jeff Christie for singing on ‘Dance Around the Maypole’, but he’s adamant that he didn’t.
In terms of the tour, there were great bands like The Pink Floyd, Hendrix, The Move, Amen Corner, The Nice, Eire Apparent. Did you hang out with those guys or get to play with them?
All the bands would hang out back stage to watch Jimi. I wasn’t really into Floyd. They were more interested in their light show. The Move were great. Roy Wood was an inspiration and Carl Wayne was a great frontman. He stood next to me backstage watching Mr. H at Newcastle City Hall when Jimi threw his Gibson Flying V at his Marshall stack and it exploded, as did the audience in disbelief, I think that was the true beginning of Shock and Awe! Lemmy was one of the roadies on that tour! Rock’n’Roll History.
In terms of the single “Dance Round the Maypole”…
That’s not me. It’s misinformation. Nothing to do with me at all. The Acid Gallery/Epics were Vic Elmes and Mike Blakely.
Jeff Christie, The Strange Brew
‘Dance Around the Maypole’ is a great choice for Nuggets to chronicle. It’s a little cheesier than The Move’s best work, but it’s still tuneful and memorable.
The Aftermath
Elmes and Blakeley went on to join Jeff Christie in Christie, known for the 1970 worldwide hit ‘Yellow River’.
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I love this period in music. Whoever is singing it did fine…I do like the Move so I do like this. I’ve heard it somewhere before.
Yellow River I know well…it was well played over here.
I think Vic Elmes is singing, but with Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne on the chorus. I’ve been really impressed with Nuggets II so far – this was a great one to include, since it’s a one-hit wonder.
The songs seem more…I don’t know the word…maybe professional on this series.
Yeah, less garages, more proper studios.
“Dance Around the Maypole” sounds very Beatles- like. The other song was pretty good too.
Yeah, has that tuneful psychedelic feel like the mid-1960s Beatles.
“Dance Around the Maypole” sound decent. I started listening to the song before I began reading your post. My first thought, literally, was, ‘that song has a “Blackberry Way” vibe, a song I’ve always loved. Looks like I was spot on! 🙂
That’s good spotting! It’s pretty similar – maybe why Wood donated it to a different artist.