Blackberry Way
single
CoverBlackberry Way.jpg
Artistthe Move
B-sideSomething
Released28 November 1968 (UK)
Recorded1968
StudioOlympic Studios, London
GenreBaroque pop[1]
Length3:38
LabelRegal Zonophone (UK)
A&M (US)
WriterRoy Wood
ProducerJimmy Miller
Prev year1968
Next year1969

"Blackberry Way" is a 1968 single by British band The Move. Written by the band's guitarist/vocalist Roy Wood and produced by Jimmy Miller, "Blackberry Way" was a bleak counterpoint to the sunny psychedelia of earlier recordings. It nevertheless became the band's most successful single, reaching number 1 on the UK singles chart in February 1969.[2]

The Move vocalist Carl Wayne refused to sing on the song, so Wood handled the lead vocal.[3] Richard Tandy, who later played keyboards with Wood's next band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), played harpsichord on "Blackberry Way". Despite the success of the single, the style of psychedelia-tinged pop sat uneasily with guitarist Trevor Burton. He left the group shortly after. The B-side, "Something", was specially written for the band by David Scott-Morgan and was produced by Denny Cordell and Tony Visconti. The song had previously been released as the B-side to the United States and Australia exclusive single "Yellow Rainbow", released for their debut studio album, Move.

Wood said in a 1994 interview that "Blackberry Way" is his favourite Move song of all time, commenting that it could have been performed in any era and still worked.[3] As for album releases of "Blackberry Way", although it did not appear on the band's second studio album, Shazam, it did appear on the album's 2007 reissue, after also appearing on the 1998 reissue of the band's third studio album, Looking On.

Personnel

The Move
Additional musicians

Charts

Chart (1968–1969)Peak
position
Australia (Go-Set)[5]14
Denmark (Salgshitlisterne Top 20)[6]17
Denmark (Tipparaden)[7]5
Finland (Soumen Virallinen)[8]23
Ireland (IRMA)[9]2
Italy (Musica e dischi)[10]15
New Zealand (Listener)[11]10
Rhodesia (Lyons Maid)[12]4
Sweden (Kvällstoppen)[13]7
Sweden (Tio i Topp)[14]5

Cover versions

References

  1. ^ Horning, Rob (15 February 2007). "Electric Light Orchestra: Too Much at Once Can Blow the Fuse". PopMatters. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  2. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums. 19th ed. London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 228. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  3. ^ Sharp, Ken (30 September 1994). "Roy Wood: The Wizzard of Rock". The Move Online. Archived from the original on 15 January 2008.
  4. ^ "Planet Mellotron Album Reviews: M14". Planetmellotron.com. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  5. ^ "Go-Set Australian charts - 23 April 1969". Poparchives.com.au. Archived from the original on 2007-09-05.
  6. ^ "Salgshitlisterne Top 20 - Uge 8". Danske Hitlister. 1969-02-10. Archived from the original on 2016-08-02. Retrieved 2022-08-19.
  7. ^ "Salgshitlisterne Top 20 - Uge 8". Danske Hitlister. 1969-02-24. Archived from the original on 2016-08-02. Retrieved 2022-08-19.
  8. ^ Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish). 1st ed. Helsinki: Tammi. p. 178. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
  9. ^ "Irish Singles charts 1967-1969". 26 August 2012.
  10. ^ "Classifiche" (in Italian). Musica e dischi Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Move".
  11. ^ "Listener - The Move". Flavour of New Zealand. New Zealand Listener. Archived from the original on 22 March 2022. Retrieved 2020-08-27.
  12. ^ Kimberley, C (2000). Zimbabwe: Singles Chart Book. p. 32.
  13. ^ Hallberg, Eric (1993). Eric Hallberg presenterar Kvällstoppen i P 3: Sveriges radios topplista över veckans 20 mest sålda skivor 10. 7. 1962 – 19. 8. 1975. Drift Musik. ISBN 9163021404.
  14. ^ Hallberg, Eric & Henningsson, Ulf (1998). Eric Hallberg, Ulf Henningsson presenterar Tio i topp med de utslagna på försök: 1961 - 74. Premium Publishing. ISBN 919727125X.
  15. ^ "Discografia Nazionale della canzone italiana". Discografia.dds.it. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  16. ^ "Hit Parade Italia - Indice per Interprete: E". Hitparadeitalia.it. Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  17. ^ "A Bunch Of Fives: A Retrospective With The Wonder Stuff’s Miles Hunt – PART THREE, From The Midlands With Love". Godisinthetv.co.uk. 30 November 2016. Retrieved 18 December 2025.