On the 5th August 1972 The London Rock and Roll Show happened at Wembley Stadium. The concert featured appearances by genuine US rock ’n’ roll stars Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, and Bill Haley & His Comets alongside British acts like The Houseshakers, Joe Brown, Emile Ford & the Checkmates, Screaming Lord Sutch, Heinz and Billy Fury. The gig has been credited with kicking off something of a rock ’n’ roll revival in the UK music industry and by 1974 bands like Mud, Showaddywaddy and The Rubettes were riding high in the charts with a kind of Glam/Rock ’n’ Roll hybrid.

Also in 1972 Roy Wood had left the Electric Light Orchestra taking keyboard and French Horn player (Uncle) Bill Hunt and cellist Hugh McDowell with him to form Wizzard. Wizzard made their live debut at the London Rock and Roll Show. It obviously had an influence on Roy Wood as here we are 2 years later and Wizzard’s 2nd album “…Introducing Eddie & The Falcons” is a rock ’n’ roll revival album based on the story of the imaginary titular band, Eddie & The Falcons. A number of the tracks are musical pastiches or tributes to old rockers, "Eddy’s Rock”, an instrumental on guitar/saxophone is styled after Duane Eddy, "Everyday I Wonder" bears more than a passing resemblance to Del Shannon's "Runaway", "Come Back Karen" does the same for Neil Sedaka's "Oh! Carol" and "I Dun Lotsa Cryin' Over You" is a thinly disguised nod to Elvis Presley.

The lone single released from the album, "This Is the Story of My Love (Baby)”, only reached a disappointing #34 in the charts (their lowest previous chart placing for a single was #6). Uncle Bill left the band before recording was finished and the pianist on final track, "We're Gonna Rock 'n' Roll Tonight”, is Bob Brady and not Bill.

A year later Wizzard had split up. They left behind a string of classic singles including Xmas perennial “I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday” which I’m sure Roy Wood regards as lovingly as Noddy Holder and Jim Lea do “Merry Xmas Everybody”…Kerrrching! indeed…

This Is The Story of My Love (Baby) - https://youtu.be/WY5UDZkkCBM?si=0trQQUeRbAPdomaW