Introducing Eddy and the Falcons

Introducing Eddy and the Falcons
Studio album by Wizzard
Released	1974
Recorded	1973-4
Genre	Glam rock, rock and roll
Length	42:21
Label	Warner Bros., United Artists
Producer	Roy Wood
Professional reviews
The reviews parameter has been deprecated. Please move reviews into the “Reception” section of the article. See Moving reviews into article space. Allmusic: link
Wizzard chronology
Wizzard Brew (1973) Introducing Eddy and the Falcons (1974) Main Street (2000)

Introducing Eddy and the Falcons is the second album by Wizzard. It peaked at No. 19 in the UK album chart – a much better placing than its predecessor, Wizzard Brew.

As with the previous Wizzard album, all songs were composed by Roy Wood. 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’n’roll greats, "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". A particularly clear tribute was to Elvis in "I Dun Lotsa Cryin’ Over You".

One single was released from the album, "This Is The Story Of My Love (Baby)". Its chart performance (No. 34) was a disappointment, as all Wizzard's previous singles had reached the Top 10. Music journalists thought that the more catchy, up-tempo "You Got Me Runnin’" would have made a better single.

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 company heard the work in progress, and asked for the rock’n’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 "Eddy" on the Warner Brother label, in a gatefold 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- and B-sides, which had not been recorded as part of the original concept), but soon deleted.

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

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

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'.