Split Ends (album)

Split Ends is a compilation album by English rock band The Move, released in December of 1972.^[2] It was the group's first release under the United Artists label. It was only released in the United States and Canada.

Split Ends
Compilation album by the Move
Released	December 1972 (1972-12)[1]
Genre	Power pop psychedelic rock
Length	50:42
Label	United Artists
Producer	Roy Wood Jeff Lynne
The Move chronology
Message from the Country (1971) Split Ends (1972)

Split Ends mostly consists of songs from the band's previous album, Message from the Country, but also features several singles made by the band around that time, such as "Chinatown", "California Man", and the hit "Do Ya".

Track listing

Side one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Lead vocals	Length
1.	"Do Ya"	Jeff Lynne	Roy Wood, Jeff Lynne	4:03
2.	"Message from the Country"	Lynne	Jeff Lynne	4:50
3.	"Chinatown"	Roy Wood	Roy Wood, Jeff Lynne	3:06
4.	"The Minister"	Lynne	Jeff Lynne	4:33
5.	"The Words of Aaron"	Lynne	Jeff Lynne	5:31
6.	"Down on the Bay"	Lynne	Jeff Lynne	4:14

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Lead vocals	Length
7.	"California Man"	Wood	Roy Wood, Jeff Lynne	3:35
8.	"No Time"	Lynne	Jeff Lynne	3:44
9.	"Ella James"	Wood	Roy Wood	3:16
10.	"It Wasn't My Idea To Dance"	Wood	Roy Wood	5:29
11.	"Until Your Mama's Gone"	Wood	Roy Wood	5:04
12.	"Tonight"	Wood	Roy Wood, Jeff Lynne	3:17

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[2]
Christgau's Record Guide	A-[3]

According to Richie Unterberger, Split Ends is a more improved version of the band's previous album, Message from the Country, with many of the weak songs being replaced by some of the band's singles.^[2][4] The single "Do Ya", released on this album, was rated as "single of the year" by the rock press.^[3]

Personnel

• Roy Wood – oboes, guitars, recorders, steel guitar, bass, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone, vocals^[5]
• Jeff Lynne – guitars, vocals, piano, electric piano, percussion^[5]
• Bev Bevan – drums, percussion, vocals^[5]