James Taylor Move - 1967 - Magic Eyes (Single) FLAC

 Magic Eyes/And I Hear The Fire Sing



James Taylor Move formed in early 1967 when an Adelaide discotheque-owner wanted a house band. The original line-up was Kevin Peek on guitar (ex-Hurricanes, John E. Broome and the Handels), Trevor Spencer on drums, Alan Tarney on organ and bass guitar (John E. Broome and the Handels), and Robert John Taylor on lead vocals. John E Broome and the Handels was an R&B group from Adelaide that relocated to the United Kingdom, Peek and Tarney had returned to Australia. Not long after forming they won the South Australian finals of the Hoadley's Battle of the Sounds and in July they traveled to Melbourne to compete in the national final.

James Taylor Move supported fellow-Adelaide group, The Twilights, and followed them to relocate to Melbourne. In August 1967 James Taylor Move issued their debut single, "And I Heard the Fire Sing" / "Magic Eyes", which peaked at No. 33 on the Go-Set National Top 40 Singles Chart. According to Ian McFarlane, Australian rock music historian, the "Hendrix-derived 'And I Heard the Fire Sing' was too much for local radio of the day, but programmers flipped the single over to reveal the more radio-friendly psychedelic pop of 'Magic Eyes'". The group followed with a second single, "Baby Jane", in October that year.

 In May 1968, Peek was replaced by John Pugh on guitar (ex-Roadrunners, Delta Set, Eighteenth Century Quartet, Cam-Pact) and Lance Dixon joined on organ and saxophone (Rockwell T. James and the Rhythm Aces). The next month Taylor left to go solo as R.J.Taylor and Wendy Saddington (Revolution) joined on lead vocals. By the end of the year the group had disbanded.


After James Taylor Move broke up, Peek, Spencer and Tarney formed the Kevin Peek Trio (1968–69) and travelled to the UK. They joined with ex-The Twilights guitarist, Terry Britten, to form Quartet (1969–70). Subsequently Spencer and Tarney teamed up in Tarney/Spencer Band (1975–79). Peek was later a member of Sky (1978–91). Saddington joined Chain (1968–69), Copperwine (1970–71) and then had a solo career.

James Taylor Move's track "And I Heard the Fire Sing" was covered by Australian alternative metal group, Grinspoon, for their 2005 compilation album, Best in Show, on a limited edition bonus disc. Lancashire progressive group, Earthling Society, recorded it as the B-side of their 2011 single, "The Green Manalishi", which is a cover of an early Fleetwood Mac song.