This 21-song set is representative of Roy Wood's always inventive work with the Move, Wizzard, and as a solo artist. It contains no fewer than three U.K. number one hits, in addition to the seasonal "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day," and which usually makes a chart appearance during the holidays. And the sound quality is uniformly fine, which certainly hasn't been the case with some reissues like The Best of & the Rest of Roy Wood & Wizzard, which is something of a companion piece to this disc.
Mustard is the second solo album by Roy Wood, who wrote and produced every track and painted the cartoon-style cover. It was completed and released about the same time as he disbanded his group Wizzard. He played all the instruments, and contributed all vocals apart from guest appearances by Annie Haslam, Phil Everly, ex-Move and Wizzard bassist Rick Price, and co-engineer Dick Plant.
"Look Thru’ The Eyes of a Fool" (1975) and "Any Old Time Will Do" (1976) were released as singles, though like the album, neither made the charts.
The album was re-issued in 1977 in Australia, along with the tracks "O What A Shame" and "Rock 'n' Roll Winter" by United Artists/Jet Records, entitled Roy Wood The Wizzard.
This is the CD that defines Australia's contribution to the world of blues. To his eternal credit, Matt Taylor has never crossed back over the tracks. His personal blues odyssey has been committed, as enveloping and as productive as that of any black American artist his age. His colour has long since ceased to be an issue. He makes blues music because he feels it, because it grows inside him and demands release.
Who could have known that the much-loved Orbison would record his best album at this late stage in his career; furthermore, that he would be dead a few months later. The success of his role in the Traveling Wilburys gave him a much-deserved boost. Orbison had the great voice of pop and after many years of indifferent material he finally hit gold with great songs such as 'You Got It' (written with Lynne and Petty), 'Careless Heart' (written with Diane Warren) and 'A Love So Beautiful' (written with Lynne). Orbison's tragic dedication to us when he finished this album was 'don't give up before the miracle happens'. - 2014 Muze Inc.
MYSTERY GIRL: 25TH ANNIVERSARY 2LP DELUXE EDITION features the remastered original album on two 180-gram LPs. It also includes nine stunning unreleased bonus tracks, including studio demos and the previously unheard song “The Way Is Love,” based on a long-lost demo featuring new instrumentation from Orbison’s children, Wesley, Roy Jr. and Alex, and John Carter Cash, son of Orbison’s longtime friend Johnny Cash.
This 21-song set is representative of Roy Wood's always inventive work with the Move, Wizzard, and as a solo artist. It contains no fewer than three U.K. number one hits, in addition to the seasonal "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day," and which usually makes a chart appearance during the holidays. And the sound quality is uniformly fine, which certainly hasn't been the case with some reissues like The Best of & the Rest of Roy Wood & Wizzard, which is something of a companion piece to this disc. The songs range from the strongly Beatles-influenced early Move singles ("Blackberry Way") to their heavier, later material ("California Man" and "Brontosaurus," both of which have been covered by Cheap Trick) to the Phil Spector homages of Wood's rock & roll big band Wizzard ("See My Baby Jive," "Ball Park Incident," and "Angel Fingers") to sumptuous solo pop confections ("This Is the Story of My Love"). A gifted writer, arranger, and producer, Wood is an underappreciated original whose music should appeal to any fan of classic rock and pop.