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Foreword by John Peel
A book devoted to all those air guitarists out there and those
trapped in mundane jobs dreaming of the excitement and glamour
offered by the music industry, these are the entertaining,
insightful and revealing memoirs of a man who, during a career
spanning four decades, was at the heart of the pop-music business.
Director of such companies as Elektra, UK Records, CBS and
Pye and creator with John Peel of the Dandelion independent
label and, later, Strange Fruit Records — one of the
most successful ‘indie’ record labels ever —
Clive Selwood worked with such legendary rock names as Tim
Buckley, Jim Morrison, Love, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen,
Clifford T. Ward, Rod Stewart, Abba and Marc Bolan.
He was also associated with Gerry Anderson of Thunderbirds
fame and with the Wombles. From the Doors to Brotherhood of
Man, Andy Williams to Springsteen, Dusty and Liza to Simon
and Garfunkel, the reader will be there at crucial moments.
All the Moves covers every facet of the music business
and, in doing so, provides a blueprint for the ambitious.
‘As far as the music industry goes, Clive Selwood’s
been there, done that and not only bought the t-shirt but
probably booked it into a studio and signed it to a long-term
record contract too . . . a plethora of absorbing tales.’ - Maxim,
Book of the Month
‘This hilarious memoir reveals the weird side of the
music industry.’ - Daily Mail
‘It’s not been a bad life. Having started out
as a Butlins Redcoat, Selwood spent more than four decades
on the bosses’ side
of the music business. He’s probably best known for
starting up Dandelion label with John Peel. Part memoir,
part insider’s guide to the industry and knee-deep
in anecdotes.’ - Q
‘Offers an insight into an era of the business which
seems long forgotten . . . a fascinating and entertaining
chronicle.’ - Music
Week
‘A colourful memoir . . . He [Selwood] is a restless
soul who has moved from company to company and artist to
artist,
making All the Moves a very entertaining book. Nearly all
of the anecdotes are new to this reviewer, there is a short
story on every page, sometimes several. A fun book to read.’ - Goldmine
(USA)
‘A fascinating journey along the rollercoaster ride
of Clive Selwood’s life. Everything that happened to
him is here in clear, concise, cutting words. An intoxicating
adventure.’ - Record Collector
CLIVE SELWOOD – CV
Clive Selwood struggled to be a band singer before discovering
that his true talent lay in creating opportunities for others.
ALL THE MOVES describes his journey from working class lad
to music industry maestro during its most creative time,
complete with all the insider gossip and true tales:
•
Brought up during WW2
• Very bright child with excellent singing voice
• Broadcast at an early age
• Gained scholarship to a good school
• Expelled from school. Headmaster predicted he would end up
working in an amusement arcade. Kept secret from parents
while completing exams
• Sold toffee apples and cleaned lampshades while trying to
forge career as a band singer
•
Butlin Red Coat entertainer in Scotland, replacing Des O’Connor
• Couple of disastrous TV appearances and aborted recording
session
•
Joined Vogue as salesman, becoming area sales manager for
jazz labels featuring Dave Brubeck, Ornette Coleman, Shelley
Manne, Andre Previn etc. Distributor for Decca with London
American, Coral, RCA etc (Elvis, Buddy Holly, Everlys). Suggests
Brubeck’s Take Five for 45 release
•’
Plugger’ for Southern Music. Only artist of merit was
John Barry but failed to get even one radio play. Watched
Adam Faith go from office pest to superstar. Also met Eddie
Cochrane and Gene Vincent
• Joined Phillips Records as salesman, progressing to singles
promotion specialist.
•
Invented chart ‘hyping’?
•
Presented Hospital Radio programmes. Artists: Dusty, Tony
Bennett, Marty Wilde, Frankie Vaughan, Jimmy Dean, The Alisons,
Tony Orlando, Anne Shelton, Ronnie Carroll etc. Toured with
Johnny Mathis and spent time with Sinatra and the ‘Rat
Pack’
•
Started early ‘indie’ record company Salvo Records
as joint managing director with no acts of note. Presented
programmes on Radio Luxembourg
•
Salvo quickly folded – discovered it was tax write-off
for Lord Goodman
•
Fell foul of top London gangster and went ‘on the run’ for
a year
•
Joined Thorpe & Porter as sales manager and created the
first ever UK record rack jobbing operation through 12,000
newsagent accounts with Pickwick Records. Started sales of
ex-jukebox records but left over conflict of interest
•
Launched Century 21 Records (Thunderbirds) with Gerry Anderson.
Best selling children’s label ever. Handled merchandising
for Thunderbirds, Stingray and Man from U.N.C.L.E. Left following
distribution dispute with Pye Records
• Returned to buying and selling jukebox records but needed
mortgage credentials so joined Elektra Records as sales manager.
Progressed to International VP handling all artists outside
the US. Artists included: The Doors, Love, Judy Collins,
Tim Buckley, Bread, Carly Simon, Tom Paxton, Delaney and
Bonnie, Tom Rush, The Stooges and others
•
Commenced 30 year association with John Peel who had by then ‘discovered’ T
Rex, David Bowie, Fleetwood Mac etc. Launched first ‘Hippie
label’ Dandelion Records through CBS in UK and Elektra
in US. Chart acts were Medicine Head, Beau, and later, on
other labels, Clifford T. Ward and Python Lee Jackson (with
Rod Stewart). Other acts: Bridget St John, Siren, Kevin Coyne,
Lol Coxhill, David Bedford, Bill Oddie, Principal Edwards
Magic Theatre, Gene Vincent, Mike Hart, Keith Relf. Also
managed at this time: John Peel, Pete Drummond, Johnnie Walker,
Bridget St John and Medicine Head as well as Elektra
• Elektra purchased by Warners. Author and Dandelion sold with
package but not happy with new owners. WEA acts: Rolling
Stones, Alice Cooper, The Faces, Family, Fleetwood Mac, America,
Tony Joe White, Frank Zappa and many others
• Joined CBS as a marketing manager progresssing to marketing
director and offered position of managing director. Artists:
Abba, David Essex, Donovan, Mott the Hoople, Charlie Rich,
Harold Melvin, The Three Degrees, Paul Simon, Dylan, Springsteen,
Streisand, Cash, Bernstein and hundreds more
• Company was struggling when author joined but top company
when he left (exhausted)
• Joined Jonathan King as managing director of UK Records.
Achieved four simultaneous Top Ten hits with a staff of four.
Artists: Jonathan King in various guises, 10cc, First Class,
Lobo, Kursaal Flyers (managed by current chairman of Virgin
Records, Paul Conroy))
• Offered managing directorship of Arista and Private Stock
Records. Declined both
• Rejoined CBS. Fired without explanation within months
• At same time offered managing directorship of same company
in Canada and Australia or own operation in Los Angeles.
Huge pay-off but mystery remains
• Joined Pye Records as marketing director and immediately
replaced CBS as top singles company with a new chart entry
every week for 15 months. Revenge can be sweet! Artists:
Barry White, Gladys Knight, The Real Thing, Brotherhood of
Man, The Muppets and many more. Several No1s
• At same time managed and produced Clifford T. Ward. Hit singles
and album with Home Thoughts
•
Started Goodday Productions, a small production company set
up to record TV personality Mick Robertson. One appearance
on Top of the Pops but record sabotaged by CBS
• Offered managing directorship of RCA and Polydor but opted
for finance for own production company Sarabee, funded by
Polydor. An artistic success and a commercial failure. Artists:
Band of Joy,
The Wailing Cocks
• Started Birds Nest Music, another independent production
company. Consultancies for Sony and Phillips Video companies
•
Launched Televideo concept via Thames TV with Tellydisc – first
ever UK direct response TV advertising. Big success (eg.
250,000 Barry Manilow albums sold this way). Persuaded Thames
to supply video recorders and films direct through same medium
via Granada Rental chain. Advertising potential sees company
valued at millions but eventually sunk by keener retail pricing
of same products and video rental explosion of early 80s
• Hospitalised for a full year
•
Recovered to create Strange Fruit Records. Licensed, manufactured
and sold unique BBC radio ‘session’ recordings
by New Order, Queen, Hendrix, Cure, Smiths, Siouxsie, Specials,
Jethro Tull, Police, Dire Straits, Undertones, Fall etc.
One of the most successful ‘indie’ labels ever
• In partnership with long-suffering but very clever wife worked
18-hour days for five years
• Launched Jackanory spoken word cassettes for children featuring
readings by Dawn French, Paul Merton and other well-known
names and authors. A commercial failure that still mystifies
• Sold Strange Fruit and bought horse properties in Arizona
and Sussex |
