Do Ya

The Move and Electric Light Orchestra — Do Ya

An in-depth song analysis

Comments and Observations

Do Ya is unique in that Jeff Lynne first recorded it as a member of The Move for the B-side of their California Man single, then a little less than five years later he recorded it again for the Electric Light Orchestra on their A New World Record album.

The Move's Do Ya was recorded at Philips Studios in London England on December 19, 1971. The working title of Look Out Baby There's A Plane A Comin' was marked on the tape box, and is the line that Roy Wood shouts at the song's end. It was recorded, along with California Man, in an effort to fulfill The Move's record contracts and partly to finance the Electric Light Orchestra project. Despite the band's intention to keep The Move going, soon after the release of the first ELO album and their brief tour, Roy Wood left the band and The Move no longer existed. As a result, California Man and Do Ya were the final release for The Move.

The song was released as a single in England by Harvest records as the B-side of California Man on May 13, 1972 with stock number "HAR 5050". Curiously, both Do Ya and Ella James from the Message From The Country album were both on the B-side, thus it is a three song single. In the USA, it was released on United Artists records as the B-side (and not paired with Ella James) to California Man on June 23, 1972 with stock number "50928". Although it was a B-side track that was not noticed by UK radio, it was flipped by USA radio, making Do Ya the A-side instead. Because of its USA success and the release of the 1974 California Man LP on the Harvest label, Harvest re-released the song (in edited form) in England on September of 1974 as the A-side with stock number "HAR 5086" and The Move's No Time (taken from the Message From The Country album) on the B-side.

The Move's Do Ya had no chart placement in the UK because it was not the A-side upon first release and was not promoted on radio (although the A-side, California Man, reached #7). Its rerelease as an A-side in 1974 failed to chart. In the USA, because the DJs were more interested in the single's B-side rather than the A-side, it entered the Billboard Top 100 on October 28, 1972 and spent a very modest five weeks on the chart reaching a high of only #93. That statistic may seem insignificant, but it marks The Move's only entry into the USA Billboard charts and Jeff Lynne's first ever entry. The song entered the Cash Box chart for one short week on November 4, 1972 at #97.

Although this was the last song by The Move, Jeff Lynne kept the song alive by placing it into the live set of Electric Light Orchestra on several of the following tours, sometimes pairing it with the 10538 Overture performances. He must have believed in the song, because it was less than five years later that he rerecorded the song as an Electric Light Orchestra song.

The basic track of Electric Light Orchestra's Do Ya was recorded at Musicland Studios in Munich, Germany and the orchestra and choir were recorded later at De Lane Lea Studios in Wembley, England. It was the same basic arrangement as the version by The Move, but for the addition of the orchestra backing and a different ending.

The song was originally released in the UK and USA on October 1976 on the A New World Record album. It was not released as a single in the UK. However, it was the second single release from the album and ELO's tenth single release in the USA, being released in February 1977 on the United Artists label with stock number "UA-XW 939-Y" and Nightrider from the Face The Music album on the B-side.

As the Electric Light Orchestra version of Do Ya was not a single in the UK, it had no chart success. In the USA, it entered the Billboard Top 100 on February 5, 1977, spent 12 weeks on the chart and peaked at #24 on April 2, 1977. It was ELO's seventh Billboard chart single. Also in the USA, it entered the Cash Box Top 100 on February 5, 1977, spent 14 weeks on the chart and peaked at #16 on April 2, 1977.

There are several notable changes between the Move version and the Electric Light Orchestra version. Most obvious is the addition of an orchestra with several prominent cello riffs in the ELO version. The ELO version adds an extra line to the end of the second verse ("And I heard the police playin' with their guns"), has an altogether different ending (cutting the "Look out baby there's a plane a comin'" line for a slower tempo part), and all of Roy Wood's lines are sung by Jeff Lynne. Also of note is that the lyrics to the choruses were changed up a bit, where as The Move version was "do ya, do ya want my life, love, face and mind", the ELO version changed it to "love, face, mind, love". The change to "love, face, mind, love" first appeared during the Face The Music tour performances, before the song was recorded for the A New World Record album.

Bassist Kelly Groucutt's vocals can be heard very clearly over the "but I never seen nothin' like you" line. Kelly begins the "but I" part and Jeff joins him on harmony vocals near the end of the sustained "I" note. Also of interest is that while the guitars on the ELO version are played with a much harder edge to them, The Move version has a much more raw and spontaneous sound and is generally the preferred version by fans and critics because of it.

Tom Petty has stated that his 1982 song Change Of Heart from his Long After Dark album was inspired by and an attempt to make a song like The Move's Do Ya. The crunchy guitar riff from that song, which can be heard HERE is the primary indicator. Although curiously, Tom has also stated that he didn't think his song was very good.

ELO's version of Do Ya was used in an interesting way in the sixth episode of the USA based television show LAX, starring Heather Locklear and Blair Underwood. The episode is entitled Unscheduled Arrivals and first broadcast on October 18, 2004. In the storyline, there was an infectious disease scare at the airport on a recently arrived flight. Everyone who was in contact with its passengers had to go through full body decontamination. This meant that everyone had to strip down to their bare skin and submit to scrub downs and disinfection. The scene starts with everyone getting in line for the decontamination and the guitar riffs of ELO's Do Ya kicks in. With the line "in this life I've seen everything thing I can see woman" Heather Locklear's character, takes her top off (with her hands hiding her bare breasts, of course). The song then quiets down to allow for the character's dialog. Next, when the two main characters, who have a bit of sexual tension between them, make eye to naked body contact, Do Ya kicks back in with the main chorus ("Do ya, do you want my love"). So whoever put this together obviously had some intimate knowledge of the song's lyrics because the scene was put together to match the lyrics. It was just about the full song, too, with it being faded just a few seconds early. What a treat! As a side note, LAX also featured the first 60 seconds of ELO's Mr. Blue Sky as the show's theme song.

Also, an edit of ELO's version of Do Ya was used as the soundtrack to the job search website, monster.com, during the summer of 2005 (in the USA) and summer of 2006 (in both the UK and USA). Television commercials featured the song, while actors danced around in joy to just having gotten their dream jobs. It was also used in the radio ads.

At one point, the song was intended to be part of the 2007 Broadway stage play of Xanadu (under the misnomer Do Ya (Want My Love)), but it was cut from the final production. The song was performed by the Broadway cast on television at a Tony Awards Preview Concert in the summer of 2008.

Structure and Lyrics

Below is the structure of the fullest, most complete version of the originally released songs as available on the standard California Man single and A New World Record album.

The Move
Electric Light Orchestra
-Guitar intro
   Guitar Riff #1
   Guitar Riff #2
   Guitar Riff #3 with drums
   Guitar Riff #4 with drums
   Guitar build-up
   Ahhhhh...
-Verse 1
   In this life I've seen everything I can see woman
   I've seen lovers flying through the air hand in hand
   I've seen babies dancing in the midnight sun
   And I've seen dreams that came from the heavenly skies above
   I've seen old men crying at their own grave sides
   And I've seen pigs all sittin' watching, picture slides
   But I never seen nothing like you
-Chorus 1
   Do ya, do ya want my life, woman
   Do ya, do ya want my love, I'm sayin'
   Do ya, do ya want my face, I need it
   Do ya, do ya want my mind
-Verse 2
   Well I, heard the crowd singin' out of tune
   As they, sat and sang Auld Lang Syne by the light of the moon
   I heard the preachers bangin' on the drums
   But I never heard nothin' like you
-Bridge
   In the country where the sky touches down on the field
   She lay her down to rest in the morning sun
   They come a'runnin' just to get a look
   Just to feel, to touch her long black hair
   They don't give a damn
   Guitar Riff #1
   Guitar Riff #2 with drums
   Guitar Riff #3 with drums
   Guitar Riff #4 with drums
   Guitar build-up
   Ah!
-Chorus 2
   Do ya, do ya want my life, woman
   Do ya, do ya want my love, I'm sayin'
   Do ya, do ya want my face, I need it
   Do ya, do ya want my mind
-Verse 3 (with Roy Wood on lead vocals)
   Well I think you understand what I'm trying to say woman
   That is I'd like to save you for a rainy day
   I've seen enough of the world to know, baby
   That I've got to get it all to get it all to grow
-Chorus 3
   Do ya, do ya want my life, woman
   Do ya, do ya want my love, I'm sayin'
   Do ya, do ya want my face, I need it
   Do ya, do ya want my mind
-Chorus Break
   Guitar riff with vocals singing Ah, you better believe it! [this lyric is uncertain]
   Rolling drums
-Chorus 4
   Do ya, do ya want my life
   Do ya, do ya want my love
   Do ya, do ya want my face
   Do ya, do ya want my mind
-Ending
   Look out baby there's a plane a comin' 		-Guitar intro
   Guitar Riff #1
   Guitar Riff #2
   Guitar Riff #3
   Guitar Riff #4 with drums
   Guitar and Cello build-up
   Yeah!
-Verse 1
   In this life I've seen everything I can see woman
   I've seen lovers flying through the air hand in hand
   I've seen babies dancing in the midnight sun
   And I've seen dreams that came from the heavenly skies above
   I've seen old men crying at their own grave sides
   And I've seen pigs all sittin' watching, picture slides
   But I never seen nothing like you
-Chorus 1
   Do ya, do ya want my love, woman
   Do ya, do ya want my face, I'm sayin'
   Do ya, do ya want my mind, I need it
   Do ya, do ya want my love
-Verse 2
   Well I, heard the crowd singin' out of tune
   As they, sat and sang Auld Lang Syne by the light of the moon
   I heard the preachers bangin' on the drums
   And I heard the police playin' with their guns
   But I never heard nothin' like you
-Bridge
   In the country where the sky touches down on the field
   She lay her down to rest in the morning sun
   They come a'runnin' just to get a look
   Just to feel, to touch her long black hair
   They don't give a damn
   Guitar Riff #1
   Guitar Riff #4 with cello and drums
   Guitar Riff #5 with cello and drums
   Cello build-up
   But I never seen nothin' like you
-Chorus 2
   Do ya, do ya want my love, woman
   Do ya, do ya want my face, I'm sayin'
   Do ya, do ya want my mind, I need it
   Do ya, do ya want my love
-Verse 3
   Rolling drums
   Well I think you understand what I'm trying to say woman
   That is I'd like to save you for a rainy day
   I've seen enough of the world to know, baby
   That I've got to get it all to get it all to grow
-Chorus 3
   Do ya, do ya want my love, come on now
   Do ya, do ya want my face, I need it
   Do ya, do ya want my mind, come on now
   Do ya, do ya want my love
-Ending
   Ah, look out!
   Do ya, do ya want my love
   Do ya, do ya want my love
   Ah, woah

Variations

There are four known non-live variations of the original Do Ya by The Move. They are:

-Do Ya (Standard Release)
-Do Ya (7" Single Edit Version)
-Do Ya (Alternate Version)
-Do Ya (Edited Alternate Version)

The 7" Single Edit Version simply cuts the song's bridge. The alternate version is a different mix, possibly an early mix or a mix prepared for BBC Radio 1's Dave Lee Travis Show, wherein the guitars are much more prominent in the mix, especially over the choruses. It has an extra guitar riff added to the beginning of the fourth and final chorus. And the "Look out baby there's a plane a'comin'" is pushed down into the mix and some goon show style adlibbing is mixed in over the song's ending. The song does not fade, but instead continues to the end of the take, which includes a bit of studio banter after the band finishes playing. There is a bit of studio banter and guitar at the song's beginning. The Edited Alternate Version is simply the alternate version, where the studio banter at the songs beginning is cut, the extra guitar riff is cut, and it has the same fading end as the standard single version.

Song Section Lyric/Part Do Ya (Standard Release)
 Do Ya (7" Single Edit Version)
 Do Ya (Alternate Version)
 Do Ya (Edited Alternate Version)
Studio banter Studio banter
-
-
YES
-
Guitar lead-in Guitar lead-in
-
-
YES
-
Guitar intro Guitar Riff #1
YES
YES
YES
YES
Guitar Riff #2
YES
YES
YES
YES
Guitar Riff #3 with drums
YES
YES
YES
YES
Guitar Riff #4 with drums
YES
YES
YES
YES
Guitar build-up
YES
YES
YES
YES
Ahhhhh...
YES
YES
YES
YES
Verse 1 In this life I've seen everything I can see woman
YES
YES
YES
YES
I've seen lovers flying through the air hand in hand
YES
YES
YES
YES
I've seen babies dancing in the midnight sun
YES
YES
YES
YES
And I've seen dreams that came from the heavenly skies above
YES
YES
YES
YES
I've seen old men crying at their own grave sides
YES
YES
YES
YES
And I've seen pigs all sittin' watching, picture slides
YES
YES
YES
YES
But I never seen nothing like you
YES
YES
YES
YES
Chorus 1 Do ya, do ya want my life, woman
YES
YES
YES
YES
Do ya, do ya want my love, I'm sayin'
YES
YES
YES
YES
Do ya, do ya want my face, I need it
YES
YES
YES
YES
Do ya, do ya want my mind
YES
YES
YES
YES
Verse 2 Well I, heard the crowd singin' out of tune
YES
YES
YES
YES
As they, sat and sang Auld Lang Syne by the light of the moon
YES
YES
YES
YES
I heard the preachers bangin' on the drums
YES
YES
YES
YES
But I never heard nothin' like you
YES
YES
YES
YES
Bridge In the country where the sky touches down on the field
YES
-
YES
YES
She lay her down to rest in the morning sun
YES
-
YES
YES
They come a'runnin' just to get a look
YES
-
YES
YES
Just to feel, to touch her long black hair
YES
-
YES
YES
They don't give a damn
YES
-
YES
YES
Guitar Riff #1
YES
-
YES
YES
Guitar Riff #2 with drums
YES
-
YES
YES
Guitar Riff #3 with drums
YES
-
YES
YES
Guitar Riff #4 with drums
YES
-
YES
YES
Guitar build-up
YES
-
YES
YES
Ah!
YES
YES
YES
YES
Chorus 2 Do ya, do ya want my life, woman
YES
YES
YES
YES
Do ya, do ya want my love, I'm sayin'
YES
YES
YES
YES
Do ya, do ya want my face, I need it
YES
YES
YES
YES
Do ya, do ya want my mind
YES
YES
YES
YES
Verse 3 (with Roy Wood on lead vocals) Well I think you understand what I'm trying to say woman
YES
YES
YES
YES
That is I'd like to save you for a rainy day
YES
YES
YES
YES
I've seen enough of the world to know, baby
YES
YES
YES
YES
That I've got to get it all to get it all to grow
YES
YES
YES
YES
Chorus 3 Do ya, do ya want my life, woman
YES
YES
YES
YES
Do ya, do ya want my love, I'm sayin'
YES
YES
YES
YES
Do ya, do ya want my face, I need it
YES
YES
YES
YES
Do ya, do ya want my mind
YES
YES
YES
YES
Chorus Break Guitar riff with vocals singing...
YES
YES
YES
YES
Yeah, yeah, yeah!
-
-
YES
YES
Guitar riff with vocals singing You got it baby... [unintelligible]
-
-
YES
YES
Guitar riff with vocals singing...
-
-
YES
YES
Ah, you better believe it! [?]
YES
YES
YES
YES
Rolling drums
YES
YES
YES
YES
Guitar riffs
-
-
YES
-
Chorus 4 Do ya, do ya want my life
YES
YES
YES
YES
Do ya, do ya want my love
YES
YES
YES
YES
Do ya, do ya want my face
YES
YES
YES
YES
Do ya, do ya want my mind
YES
YES
YES
YES
Ending Look out baby there's a plane a comin'
YES
YES
YES, but vocal line is pushed down in the mix
YES, but vocal line is pushed down in the mix
Goon show style vocals and percussion
-
-
YES
YES, but goon show style vocals are pushed down in the mix

There are four known non-live variations of the song Do Ya by Electric Light Orchestra. They are:

-Do Ya (Standard Electric Light Orchestra Version)
-Do Ya (USA Mono Single Version)
-Do Ya (Edited A Perfect World Of Music LP Version)
-Do Ya (Unedited Alternate Mix)

The mono single version was available on the B-side of the USA issued promotional single and is a stereo to mono mix down of the standard A New World Record album version. The edited version that appeared on the German issued A Perfect World Of Music LP (but not the CD) on Jet Records (JET 24043) simply cuts the second chorus and the third verse. The unedited alternate version released on the Flashback boxed set has different mix, including additional strings on the bridge, additional percussion, additional background vocals, lead vocals more up front in the mix, and extra guitar riffs on the intro and bridge.

Song Section Lyric/Part Do Ya (Standard Electric Light Orchestra Version)
Do Ya (USA Mono Single Version) 		Do Ya (Edited A Perfect World Of Music LP Version) Do Ya (Unedited Alternate Mix)
Guitar intro Guitar Riff #1
YES
YES
YES
Guitar Riff #2
YES
YES
YES
Guitar Riff #3
YES
YES
YES
Guitar Riff #4 with drums
YES
YES
YES
Guitar Riff #5 with drums
-
-
YES
Guitar Riff #6 with drums
-
-
YES
Guitar and Cello build-up
YES
YES
YES
Verse 1 Yeah!
YES
YES
YES
In this life I've seen everything I can see woman
YES
YES
YES
I've seen lovers flying through the air hand in hand
YES
YES
YES
I've seen babies dancing in the midnight sun
YES
YES
YES
And I've seen dreams that came from the heavenly skies above
YES
YES
YES
I've seen old men crying at their own grave sides
YES
YES
YES
And I've seen pigs all sittin' watching, picture slides
YES
YES
YES
But I never seen nothing like you
YES
YES
YES, but preceded by a four second longer guitar and cello lead-in
Chorus 1 Do ya, do ya want my love, woman
YES
YES
YES
Do ya, do ya want my face, I'm sayin'
YES
YES
YES
Do ya, do ya want my mind, I need it
YES
YES
YES
Do ya, do ya want my love
YES
YES
YES
Verse 2 Well I, heard the crowd singin' out of tune
YES
YES
YES
As they, sat and sang Auld Lang Syne by the light of the moon
YES
YES
YES
I heard the preachers bangin' on the drums
YES
YES
YES
And I heard the police playin' with their guns
YES
YES
YES
But I never heard nothin' like you
YES
YES
YES, but preceded by a four second longer guitar and cello lead-in
Bridge In the country where the sky touches down on the field
YES
YES
YES
She lay her down to rest in the morning sun
YES
YES
YES
They come a'runnin' just to get a look
YES
YES
YES
Just to feel, to touch her long black hair
YES
YES
YES
They don't give a damn
YES
YES
YES
Guitar Riff #1
YES
YES
YES
Guitar Riff #2
-
-
YES
Guitar Riff #3 with cello and drums
-
-
YES
Guitar Riff #4 with cello and drums
YES
YES
YES
Guitar Riff #5 with cello and drums
YES
YES
YES
Cello build-up
YES
YES
YES
But I never seen nothin' like you
YES
YES
YES, but preceded by a four second longer guitar and cello lead-in
Chorus 2 Do ya, do ya want my love, woman
YES
-
YES
Do ya, do ya want my face, I'm sayin'
YES
-
YES
Do ya, do ya want my mind, I need it
YES
-
YES
Do ya, do ya want my love
YES
-
YES
Verse 3 Rolling drums
YES
-
YES, but a couple of seconds longer
Well I think you understand what I'm trying to say woman
YES
-
YES, but with backing vocals singing Do ya, do ya want my love
That is I'd like to save you for a rainy day
YES
-
YES, but with backing vocals singing Do ya, do ya want my face
I've seen enough of the world to know, baby
YES
-
YES, but with backing vocals singing Do ya, do ya want my mind
That I've got to get it all to get it all to grow
YES
-
YES, but with backing vocals singing Do ya, do ya want my love
Chorus 3 Do ya, do ya want my love, come on now
YES
YES
YES
Do ya, do ya want my face, I need it
YES
YES
YES
Do ya, do ya want my mind, come on now
YES
YES
YES
Do ya, do ya want my love
YES
YES
YES
Ending Ah, look out!
YES
YES
YES, but missing the vocal line
Do ya, do ya want my love
YES
YES
YES
Do ya, do ya want my love
YES
YES
YES
Ah, woah
YES
YES
YES

Music Chart

These are the known statistics for The Move's Do Ya in various countries' music charts. If you can fill in the missing information or know of charting information in other countries, please let me know at the email address listed at the bottom of this page.

Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6
UK Not released as an A-side single in the UK
USA Billboard Top 100 Chart Entry Date: October 28, 1972
98
97
96
94
93
(November 25, 1972)
USA Cash Box Top 100 Chart Entry Date: November 4, 1972
97
(November 4, 1972)
USA Record World Top 100 Chart Entry Date: November 4, 1972
?
?
?
?
?
Peak of 88
during a run of 6 weeks on the chart

These are the known statistics for Electric Light Orchestra's Do Ya in various country's music charts. If you can fill in the missing information or know of charting information in other countries, please let me know at the email address listed at the bottom of this page.

Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Week 10 Week 11 Week 12 Week 13 Week 14
UK Not released as a single in the UK
USA Billboard Top 100 Chart Entry Date: February 5, 1977
84
72
57
46
38
33
28
25
24
(April 2, 1977)
29
57
100
USA Cash Box Top 100 Chart Entry Date: February 5, 1977
80
59
41
32
23
20
18
17
16
(April 2, 1977)
24
26
31
39
96
USA Record World Top 100 Chart Entry Date: February 5, 1977
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
Peak at #25 after a run of 13 weeks on the chart
Germany Chart Entry Date: April 23, 1977
42
(April 23, 1977)
Out of chart
Out of chart
44
45
44

Releases

Here are all the known USA and UK releases of the song:

The Move - Do Ya (Standard Release)

The Move - Do Ya (7" Single Edit Version)

The Move - Do Ya (Alternate Version)

The Move - Do Ya (Edited Alternate Version)

Electric Light Orchestra - Do Ya (ELO 2 Tour)

Electric Light Orchesra - 10538 Overture (Long Beach May 12, 1974)
(Uses a small portion of the Do Ya guitar riff)

Electric Light Orchesra - 10538 Overture (Remix Version) (Long Beach May 12, 1974)
(Uses a small portion of the Do Ya guitar riff)

Electric Light Orchestra - 10538 Overture/Do Ya (Winterland February 14, 1976)

Electric Light Orchestra - 10538 Overture/Do Ya (London June 20, 1976)

Electric Light Orchestra - 10538 Overture/Do Ya (Portsmouth June 22, 1976)

Electric Light Orchestra - Do Ya (Electric Light Orchestra Version)

Electric Light Orchestra - Do Ya (USA Mono Single Version)

Electric Light Orchestra - Do Ya (Edited A Perfect World Of Music LP Version)

Electric Light Orchestra - Do Ya (Unedited Alternate Mix)

Electric Light Orchestra - Do Ya (A New World Record Tour)

Electric Light Orchestra - Do Ya (Wembley 1978)

Electric Light Orchestra - Do Ya (Time Tour)

Electric Light Orchestra - Do Ya (Heartbeat '86, March 15 1986)

Electric Light Orchestra - Do Ya (Balance Of Power Tour)

Electric Light Orchestra - Do Ya (New York City, April 20, 2001)

Electric Light Orchestra - Do Ya (May 2001)

Tours

The Move never performed Do Ya live. As it was the last item ever recorded by The Move, there were no live performances following its release other than a BBC stage performance of California Man.

The song was used in early Electric Light Orchestra live performances before the recording on the A New World Record album. It was not played in the brief Electric Light Orchestra tour, but it appeared in full for the ELO 2 tour. For the On The Third Day tour, the Do Ya guitar riffs, mixed with cello riffs, were added to the middle of the performance of 10538 Overture. It was not used in the Eldorado tour at all, however, it was used on the Face The Music tour as part of a medley with 10538 Overture, where the first half of the song is 10538 Overture and the last half of the song is Do Ya using first verse and first chorus (where the new "love, face, mind, love" lyrics were used) and Kelly Groucutt's "but i" vocal lead-in to the chorus.

Do Ya was played on all Electric Light Orchestra tours following its release on A New World Record. On all live performances afterwards, the guitar riffs on the intro and the bridge were extended and played with very hard rock guitar compared the album version. Also, the third verse was cut in all live performances.

The live performances that have seen official release are two versions from the On The Third Day tour (both variations of the Long Beach concert performance of 10538 Overture), two versions from the Face The Music tour (Winterland and London), one version from the Out Of The Blue tour (Wembley) and one version from the PBS performance for the aborted Zoom tour. Performances of Do Ya from the ELO 2, A New World Record, Time and Balance Of Power tours have not been officially released, although they have been bootlegged from various sources. The performances on the ELO 2 and A New World Record tour was the full song. The Time tour performance was as part of a hits medley following the song Confusion in the medley, then playing only the guitar intro, the first verse and the first chorus before merging into Rockaria!. The Balance Of Power tour performance was as part of another hits medley, this time following the song Ma-Ma-Ma Belle in the medley, then playing only the guitar intro, the first verse through the second chorus before merging into Rockaria!.

Pictures

The Move's UK vinyl single * Harvest * HAR 5050 The Move's USA vinyl single * United Artists * 50928 The Move's UK vinyl single * Harvest * HAR 5086 The Move's Brazil vinyl single * Harvest * 7HV-11001
Image used with kind permission of Patrik Guttenbacher 		The Move's vinyl single * United Artists * 50928
The Move's Germany vinyl single * Harvest * 1C006-05 045 ELO's USA vinyl single * United Artists * UA-XW 939-Y ELO's USA vinyl single * Silver Spotlight United Artists * US X 1178-Y ELO's UK A New World Record vinyl LP * Jet * UAG 30017 ELO's Canada vinyl single * United Artists * UA-XW 939-Y
Image used with kind permission of Jon Lock
ELO's Canada vinyl single * United Artists * XW 1132 ELO's Germany vinyl single * Jet United Artists * 36 235 AT
Image used with kind permission of Jon Lock 		ELO's Japan vinyl single * United Artists * CM-115
Image used with kind permission of Jon Lock 		ELO's Philippines vinyl single * United Artists * UA-50191
Image used with kind permission of Jon Lock 		ELO's Thailand vinyl single * Royalsound * TKR-459
Image used with kind permission of Jon Lock

Cover Versions

Use in Movies and TV Programs

The Move - Do Ya

Electric Light Orchestra - Do Ya

Sheet Music

Sheet music for this song is unavailable at this time.

Promotional Videos and TV Performances

There is a promotional video made of Electric Light Orchestra's Do Ya that features the band playing on a small room. Jeff is wearing a white button-down shirt that is unbuttoned. This video was a lip synched performance of the standard A New World Record album version of the song. The video has never been commercially released.

Televised performances of the song will be documented at length at a future date. Performances are known to include three performances on the USA's The Midnight Special program with the first broadcast on February 18, 1977 with ELO as host, the second broadcast on April 1, 1977 with George Carlin hosting, and the third broadcast on April 29, 1977 with Wolfman Jack hosting. The Midnight Special often repeated previous performances in different shows, so it is unknown if these are all three different performances or the same performance repeated for each show. The live performance from the Heartbeat '86 concert was also broadcast on UK television.

Quotations

The Move - Do Ya (Standard Release)
Near the end of the song, Roy Wood shouts out the line "Look out baby there's a plane a comin'." There has been some doubt among fans over the years if that's what Roy was actually shouting, but it has been verified by Rob Caiger.

"Do Ya--rated single of the year in the rock press, apparently the only place it was distributed--signals a phase in the Move's career that comprises four songs, three uncharacteristically rock-and-rolly and all prime. "
Robert Christgau (circa 1973 - Split Ends review on www.robertchristgau.com)

"The Move was still very much Wood's band, although Lynne did contribute to the writing - his most notable compositions being Do Ya, (re-recorded by ELO on A New World Record), which was the flip side of the Move's later singles, California Man. In the States, though, Do Ya was nominated as the A side and climbed to around number 70 in the American charts, the highest the band ever achieved in the States. "
Harry Doherty (April 2, 1977 - Melody Maker)
Editor's Note: The claim of Do Ya making #70 on the US charts may be using a chart other than Billboard as according to Billboard, the song only reached #93.

"... [Jeff Lynne] reckons the Move original is better [than the later re-recording by the Electric Light Orchestra.] 'It's got a certain charm, however rough it might be.'"
Ira Robbins (1990 liner notes for Afterglow)

"Do Ya, was every critic's pick to click in 1972 but didn't impact commercially until it was smoothed over for ELO by author Lynne, whose input is essential [on the Great Move!: The Best of the Move album]."
Robert Christgau (1995 - Details magazine)

"California Man//Do Ya/Ella James went up to No. 9 in the U.K. In the United States the single was released with only California Man and Do Ya on it. By [1972] singles in the United States had no A-side and B-side marks on the label, so it didn't matter that Roy's California Man got low airplay. The US DJ's made Jeff's Do Ya the 'A-side' and it gained the Move their only chart success peaking at No. 88 in November 1972. [...] ...and Roy was singing main-lead vocals on Do Ya, which originally Jeff wrote and kept in mind for an E.L.O. track. This record was the final new product by The Move, although the group didn't disband officially until now. The contractual obligations of The Move were taken over by The Electric Light Orchestra."
Patrik Guttenbacher, Marc Haines, & Alexander von Petersdorff (1996 Unexpected Messages)

"One multitrack tape exists from the first ELO 2 recording session at Philips Studios in May 1972, containing From The Sun To The World and In Old England Town. Extra tape spliced on after these tracks had missing sessions for two of The Move's most famous EMI songs, California Man and Do Ya."
Rob Caiger (2002 - liner notes for ELO 2 remaster CD)

"Even though Lynne, Bevan and Wood were busy promoting ELO's debut which had just been released in the UK on 3 December 1971, they went back into the studio as The Move on 19 December to record what would ultimately be the group's swansong. California Man was another new Roy Wood song and was recorded in seven takes, together with Jeff Lynne's Look Out Baby, There's A Plane Coming, later retitled Do Ya. Both were important songs for The Move, with California Man their last UK hit single at no. 7, while b-side Do Ya was promoted to the a-side in the States and became The Move's sole US hit."
Rob Caiger (2005 - 1971: The Original Message article on themoveonline.com)

"Six months [after the release of Chinatown] the band were on their way to No. 7 with their latest single. A three-track maxi, the B-side featured Ella James and Do Ya, one of Jeff's most arresting rockers which would go on to give The Move their only US Top 100 hit later that year, albeit peaking at a modest No. 93. Two years on, Do Ya was released as a UK Harvest single in its own right. A revamped version appeared on ELO's sixth album A New World Record in 1976 and remained a permanent and popular fixture in their live set."
John Van der Kiste (September 5, 2005 - Message From The Country Remaster)

"Leading the pack [on the Harvest Showdown collection] is the 7" edit of a cut that first appeared on the B-side of a three-track UK single, yet ironically went on to become the group's only stateside hit, albeit with a peak position of no. 93. Do Ya, written by Jeff Lynne, became one of the group's most-lauded items, with a subsequent life of its own. It was later covered by Todd Rundgren and ex-Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley, and became a regular part of ELO's set on stage in the mid-70s, with the result that they re-recorded it on A New World Record in 1976 and issued it as a single in the US in 1977, when it peaked at no. 24. Its original working title, taken from a vocal line during the song fadeout, was Look Out Baby, There's A Plane Comin'."
John Van der Kiste (September 5, 2005 - Harvest Showdown review on ftmusic.com)

"If you wanna hear Do Ya done proper, buy [the Message From The Country remaster]."
Bun E. Carlos (October 2005 - Creem online Message From The Country remaster review)

"The [Message From The Country] reissue bolsters 10 original tracks with nine additional ones, including... the raw, original version of Do Ya, finally a U.S. hit five years later when Lynne emerged as a radiowave mastermind."
Erik Himmelsbach (December 2005 - Blender Magazine)

"Wood, Lynne and drummer Bev Bevan were already working on ELO material when they recorded the Move's swan song, but the real bridge between the two bands never made it onto Message From The Country: ELO hit Do Ya. The bombastic ELO version is well-known, but here in its nascent b-side form, it's a blissed-out pop tune with pleading, desperate lyrics. "
J. Gabriel Boylan (January 2006 - MAGNET Magazine issue #70)

The Move - Do Ya (7" Single Edit Version)
This edit version of Do Ya, originally available only on the UK Harvest re-issue single (HAR 5086), simply cuts the song's bridge ("In the country where the sky touches down...").

"While Harvest Showdown is an excellent compilation of hits, rarities and alternate takes, we deliberately included rare, different versions of Do Ya (7" single version) and Tonight (US edited single) to those that appear on the Message [sic] remaster."
Rob Caiger (2005 - 1999-2005: Making Of A Remaster article on themoveonline.com)

"Two years [after it's release on the B-side of California Man], Do Ya was released as a UK Harvest single in its own right. "
John Van der Kiste (September 5, 2005 - Message From The Country Remaster)

"Leading the pack [on the Harvest Showdown collection] is the 7-inch edit of a cut that first appeared on the B-side of a three-track UK single..."
John Van der Kiste (September 5, 2005 - Harvest Showdown review on ftmusic.com)
Editor's Note: This makes it sound as if the edit version first appeared on the 3-track California Man single, which is not the case. That single had the full version of the song.

The Move - Do Ya (Alternate Version)
This version of Do Ya differs from the standard single version in that it is a different mix, with slightly more prominent guitar throughout the song, especially the choruses. It has an extra guitar riff added to the beginning of the fourth and final chorus. And the "Look out baby there's a plane a'comin'" is pushed down into the mix and some goon show style addlibbing is mixed in over the song's ending. The song does not fade, but instead continues to the end of the take, which includes a bit of studio banter after the band finishs playing. There is a bit of studio banter and guitar at the song's beginning.

"[The alternate version of Do Ya is] No hidden track [on the Message From The Country remaster], but it is included in far, far superior form."
Rob Caiger (August 8, 2005 - Unexpected Messages mailing list)

"Though The Move recorded many sessions for the BBC, their tape archive was notoriously bare when it came to the Wood-Lynne-Bevan line-up. Surprisingly, a mono version of Do Ya, recorded for BBC Radio 1's Dave Lee Travis Show, was found to have survived on a vinyl BBC transcription disc in rather poor condition and quality. The truth, though, began to reveal itself much later when a tape of the original recording session for Do Ya was recovered. Getting access to tapes from Don Arden's personal Jet Records archive had taken over 10 years but one multitrack tape in particular appeared to justify the long wait. This was a session master for ELO 2, which on closer inspection, revealed further tape spliced on at the end containing sessions for California Man (the full-length version complete with extra verse) and a track entitled Look Out Baby, There's A Plane Coming. This was obviously Do Ya but on playback, it also sounded similar to the BBC version. It transpired the band were far too busy recording to attend the BBC Studios, so instead of losing vital radio promotion, they did what other bands at the time did and prepared a 'remix' from their own session tape - and sent it to the BBC. Using the 'BBC' version as a guide but now with Abbey Road's studio wizardry, a new more explosive mix utilising the full-length recording of Do Ya was completed - and it sounds incredible (and in stereo too!)."
Rob Caiger (2005 - 1999-2005: Making Of A Remaster article on themoveonline.com)

The Move - Do Ya (Edited Alternate Version)
The difference between this version and the original single version is there is more guitar throughout the song, especially the chorus. There is also an altogether different (non-fading) ending. It's the same as the alternate version heard on the 2005 Message From The Country remaster, but without the studio banter at the song's beginning and end with the end fading just as the take ends. The most significant difference from the alternate take on the remaster is that it is missing the added guitar just before the fourth and final chorus, cutting straight to the vocals the same as the standard single version. According to comments from Rob Caiger on the Face The Music fanclub website, he mentions about the full-length version that it was edited for BBC in 1972 and they have released the full-length version on the Message From The Country remaster. This version is assumed to be the edit actually sent to the BBC. It was known to have been bootlegged in the past after it was played on the BBC in the 1970s.

Electric Light Orchestra - Do Ya (ELO 2 Tour)

Electric Light Orchesra - 10538 Overture (Long Beach May 12, 1974)
(Uses a small portion of the Do Ya guitar riff)
The opening guitar riff from Do Ya is played from [2:50 to 3:31] with a beautiful orchestral accompaniment.

Electric Light Orchesra - 10538 Overture (Remix Version) (Long Beach May 12, 1974)
(Uses a small portion of the Do Ya guitar riff)
This remix version of 10538 Overture is different from the original 1974 The Night The Light Went On In Long Beach album in that fifteen extra seconds of 10538 Overture guitar riffs are added in at the [4:36] mark. The sound is mixed to better sound quality.

Electric Light Orchestra - 10538 Overture/Do Ya (Winterland February 14, 1976)
This medley has 10538 Overture from [0:00 to 2:56] and the remainder ([2:56 to 5:27]) as Do Ya.

Electric Light Orchestra - 10538 Overture/Do Ya (London June 20, 1976)

Electric Light Orchestra - 10538 Overture/Do Ya (Portsmouth June 22, 1976)
"The [1999 Live At The BBC] CD manages to leave off three tracks from those originally broadcast by the BBC - Ma Ma Ma Belle (from Golders Green Hippodrome) and 10538 Overture / Do Ya (from Portsmouth)."
Rob Caiger (July 19, 1999 - Showdown mailing list)
Editor's Note: Roll Over Beethoven, Hugh McDowell's cello solo and Mik Kaminski's violin solo were also left off this CD.

Electric Light Orchestra - Do Ya (Electric Light Orchestra Version)
"As you probably know, the Move's hit Do Ya later became a hit for the Electric Light Orchestra. Now it had always been a popular song in their live shows. And then other people began playing and recording the tune. But an interviewer brought home the point when he asked Bev if he'd ever heard the original version by Todd Rundgren. It was at that point that they decided to record the tune again and let people know it was their very own."
Chuck Marshall (April 24, 1977 - Rock Around The World #142)

"There's not much that's classical about Do Ya, is there?"
Jeff Lynne (April 2, 1977 - Melody Maker)

"Do Ya was a song, yeah, that I'd written in the Move, um, in about 1970-- '71. And, it wasn't-- so it wasn't that old, really. It was only like five years old-- four years old, eh. Which is pretty old, I suppose. Um, it was a big song, like big loud, like a loud song, um, mainly just guitars. And it was never heard really. Um, it got into the charts in America, really, about 173 or something, which was doing quite well. And I always liked the song and I always thought I wish I could, y'know, just redo it. And just have... just so somebody could hear it. 'Cause no one ever heard it, really. [Imitating someone:] 'No, I never heard of that one.' And I was always really pleased with the tune. And so, I rerecorded it. Y'know, in hindsight, it's probably not as good as the first one-- version I did. Um, technically it's better, but there's something missing, I think, like the spontaneity of the original version. It hasn't got that because it's obviously, uh, more contrived than that because we got strings on it and everybody's doing this, that and the other. Everybody knows what to play, so it's not really, uh, um... It's not as rock and roll as the original, even though it's louder. The guitars are really distorted on it. But it's good. I mean I'm... I'm still pleased with it."
Jeff Lynne (August 21, 1990 - Classic Albums radio interview by Roger Scott)

"Surprisingly, a remake of [The Move's] Do Ya was among [the songs on A New World Record]. Lynne explaines why ELO re-recorded this old Move classic, a chunk of which had long been stuck into ELO's live version of 10538 Overture. 'It did sort of well by the Move, and everyone always said how much they loved it. We had this big new audience, and I thought maybe they'd like it.' But he reckons the Move original is better. 'It's got a certain charm, however rough it might be.'"
Ira Robbins (1990 liner notes for Afterglow)

"For [the A New World Record] album Jeff re-recorded his old Move hit Do Ya in a new version, because he always had wanted it to be an E.L.O. song."
Patrik Guttenbacher, Marc Haines, & Alexander von Petersdorff (1996 Unexpected Messages)

"My favorite guitar song: I suppose it would have to be Do Ya, really, 'cause that's the loudest guitar song that I do."
Jeff Lynne (June 12, 2001 - interview with DJs Mark & Brian on 95.5 KLOS)

"Rockaria! was another huge single hit in the UK while Do Ya was a new interpretation of Lynne's original Move composition and that group's sole USA single hit. The ELO version was released in the USA and Europe and became a hit for the second time. "
Author Unknown (March 31, 2003 - website only expanded liner notes for ELO 2 remaster CD)

"...Do Ya was a new version of Lynne's original composition for The Move and a hit for the second time."
Rob Caiger (2003 liner notes for The Collection)

"A New World Record was a creative high point with... an anthemic remake of a Move song, Do Ya."
Jaan Uhelszki (April 1 2003 liner notes for The Essential Electric Light Orchestra)

"Monster's new advertising campaign sets a positive, personal, and exciting tone for job seekers. The first commercial, titled 'New Monster. New You,' debuts today and will air throughout the month of June in primetime, late night, and early morning on network and cable stations including CBS, NBC, ESPN, TBS, TNT, USA, VH-1, E!, Soapnet, and Comedy Central. To the tune of Electric Light Orchestra's 1970s hit Do Ya, the spot features Monster's newly redesigned website and celebrates the pure joy and excitement of finding the right job and making good things happen for your career. Additional televisions spots, along with print advertising in national weekly, monthly, and trade publications, will launch over the summer. The TV and print ads were created by Boston-based Brand Content. Monster will also be heard and seen across Infinity's Broadcasting's 180 radio stations and their corresponding websites in 41 U.S. markets. As part of our strategic marketing agreement with Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc., Monster's new campaign will have extensive online presence through Internet Broadcasting's 58 affiliate's news and information sites, as well as thousands of other websites."
Unknown (June 1, 2005 - Business Wire)

"Most shocking about All Over the World [sic] is that while the earlier collection had space to include not only Roll Over Beethoven but also included the catchy Do Ya, the newer collection includes neither. Owners of this collection will be kicking themselves and cursing the gods at this omission."
Raul Burriel (August 14, 2005 - The Trades All Over the World: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra review)

"Although the recently issued compilation All Over the World: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra contains many of ELO's biggest hits, it differs from its predecessor The Essential Electric Light Orchestra in that it forsakes several vital singles (Can't Get It Out of My Head and Do Ya) in favor of lesser known material."
John Metzger (August 2005 - The Music Box Volume 12, #8)

"A revamped version [of The Move's Do Ya] appeared on ELO's sixth album A New World Record in 1976."
John Van der Kiste (September 5, 2005 - Message From The Country Remaster)

"[The Electric Light Orchestra] re-recorded [The Move's Do Ya] on A New World Record in 1976 and issued it as a single in the US in 1977, when it peaked at no. 24."
John Van der Kiste (September 5, 2005 - Harvest Showdown review on ftmusic.com)

"A New World Record went mutli-platinum and even found them time to prove how far they'd come since those Move days by including a rejig of Do Ya."
Dom Passantino (October 24, 2005 - Stylus online magazine)

"[With the song Change Of Heart] I was trying to write an ELO kind of song. I think the inspiration was Do Ya. [Sings chordal pattern.] I was a fan of ELO. And I knew Jeff Lynne when he was in The Move. We used to listen to The Move. We'd get the records imported from England. Benmont would get them. So I actually wanted Jeff Lynne to produce our second record, You're Gonna Get It. I don't know why it never happened. I think it was that he was too busy, and he didn't do outside productions at the time. But I wanted to bring him in then and do a record with him. I always had this hope that we could get to work with him. [...] I loved the way [Jeff Lynne] used chords. So I was trying to write my own kind of riff like that [on Change Of Heart]. [Sings riff.] And I think the words came later. I don't think I had the title till later. [...] But, yeah, I think I wanted it to sound like Do Ya? [sic] [Sings crunchy guitar chords.] I wanted to do something that had that kind of guitar, and that was the kick-off point. Not one of my great songs. But it's a good rock song."
Tom Petty (November 1, 2005 Conversations With Tom Petty)

"By the mid-1970s, Wood had moved off to do his solo thing, leaving Lynne and drummer Bevan as the core members of ELO. Their New World Record [sic] album featured this brash remake of a tune that first appeared in 1972 as the B-side to the Move's California Man. The song itself is the ultimate three-chord trick: a power-pop classic."
David Cheal (December 8, 2005 - The Daily Telegraph)

"Do Ya is a song I first wrote and recorded with The Move about 5 years before this version. I really liked the original and I felt it would be nice to record this song again or our ELO audience to hear."
Jeff Lynne (September 11 2006 - A New World Record remaster liner notes)

"Do Ya was originally composed by Jeff Lynne for The Move. Their only hit in the U.S.A., it had long achieved cult status in that country and ELO had been performing it during their American tours. It was so popular that Lynne included an ELO version on the new album with it becoming a hit for the second time when released as a single. Jeff Lynne: 'Well, I always loved Do Ya from the first time in The Move, when I first wrote it and realised that nobody ever heard it really, very much... I thought it would be nice to do it again, so now we've got this big audience and this song that I really liked that never got much of a chance before.'"
Rob Caiger (September 11 2006 - A New World Record remaster liner notes)

"Originally composed by Lynne for The Move, it became the group's sole American hit. Do Ya built up such a cult following on ELO's early USA tours that Lynne '...felt it would be nice to record this song again for our ELO audience to hear.' Re-recorded in 1976 for ELO's first worldwide Top 10 album A New World Record, the track was released in America and Europe and became a hit again for an even bigger audience."
Rob Caiger (October 2007 - liner notes for Ticket To The Moon - The Very Best Of The Electric Light Orchestra Volume 2)

Electric Light Orchestra - Do Ya (USA Mono Single Version)
This is a mono version of the standard version on the A New World Record album.

Electric Light Orchestra - Do Ya (Edited A Perfect World Of Music LP Version)
This version differs from the A New World Record version in that it cuts everything from after the second chorus to the beginning of the third and last chorus.

"Jet's last major output was a compilation album in February 1985 A Perfect World Of Music(!). It's LP version included edited versions of All Over The World and Do Ya."
Patrik Guttenbacher, Marc Haines, & Alexander von Petersdorff (1996 Unexpected Messages)

Electric Light Orchestra - Do Ya (Unedited Alternate Mix)
The difference between this version and the A New World Record version is that it has + different mix, including additional strings on the bridge, additional percussion, additional background vocals, lead vocals more up front in the mix, and extra guitar riffs on the intro and bridge.

"I'm glad I recently came across this version, 'cos I think it's better than the edited one that's always been around."
Jeff Lynne (2000 - Flashback)

"This is a version I found in my box of tapes, y'know, which is about as big as this room. Um... and, uh, when I found it, I realized it was a totally different mix from the one that had been on all those other records. And, um, y'know, I was quite pleased with it, because... the reason I think it's so different is I'd just finished the backing vocals, so they're very prominent in this version."
Jeff Lynne (June 6, 2001 - Rockline)

"It's a slightly different mix with the backing vocals up a lot louder and about two or three edits taken out of it. From the same session as the originals, but a different day, a different part of the process. I think we'd just done the backing vocals and that's why they were loud on this particular mix. I just like it better because it flows better with this extra length. "
Jeff Lynne (2001 - elomusic.com website)

Electric Light Orchestra - Do Ya (A New World Record Tour)

Electric Light Orchestra - Do Ya (Wembley 1978)

Electric Light Orchestra - Do Ya (Time Tour)
"In the USA they played... Do Ya as another encore in its full version. On Do Ya, by the way Jeff played the heaviest guitar riff he ever played on it."
Patrik Guttenbacher, Marc Haines, & Alexander von Petersdorff (1996 Unexpected Messages)

Electric Light Orchestra - Do Ya (Heartbeat '86, March 15 1986)

Electric Light Orchestra - Do Ya (Balance Of Power Tour)

Electric Light Orchestra - Do Ya (New York City, April 20, 2001)

Electric Light Orchestra - Do Ya (May 2001)

This page is intended to be a complete record of information on The Move and the Electric Light Orchestra songs Do Ya. If you notice any errors or omissions, please contact me at elofan@juno.com and let me know. I strive for accuracy.

Robert Porter
July 2008