The Movies -

The Movies were an American pop-rock trio that released a self-titled album in 1976 on Arista, followed by two non-album singles in 1977.

Members: Michael Morgan (piano, electric piano, Mellotron, synthesizers, harp, kazoo, vocals), Peter Barnes (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin, violin, chimes, shakers, vocals), Ted Medbury (drums, percussion, toys, harmonica, vocals)

This entry concerns the American one-album trio from 1976. For the English six-piece band that released five albums between 1975 and 1981, click here.

Background

The Movies formed in Los Angeles when former Milwaukee Messengers keyboardist Michael Morgan and guitarist Peter Barnes teamed with drummer Ted Medbury. Morgan and Barnes belonged to the later Messengers lineup during its Motown and Rare Earth period. Medbury came from Barrington, Rhode Island, where he played in The Ascots, White Wash, and Deviled Ham before his move to Los Angeles.

The Movies signed with Arista and played performed two songs, “Dancin’ on Ice” and “Better Wages Better Days,” on the final January 17, 1976, broadcast of ABC variety program Saturday Night Live With Howard Cosell.

The Movies

The Movies released their self-titled debut album in 1976 on Arista.

The album presents pop rock performed by guest bassist Davy Faragher, drummer Ted Medbury, guitarist Peter Barnes (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin, violin, chimes, shaker), and keyboardist Michael Morgan (piano, electric piano, Mellotron, synthesizer, kazoo). Keyboardist James Newton Howard played synthesizer on “Satellite Touchdown.”

The Movies embraces tight harmonies, piano-centered arrangements, and theatrical mid-song accents. “Dancin’ on Ice” sets a a chipper Tin Pan Alley structure to melancholy lyrics about unrequited love. “Rainy Weather” sets close harmony lines against a steady piano thump and lands each refrain with a clean cadence.

“American Beauty Rose” uses period-show tune inflection, with a vocal-brass break in the middle eight. “Better Wages, Better Days” shifts the A-side into a slower minor shade, with Mellotron strings and cello tones under the vocal line. “Sugarloo” sharpens with lighter phrasing. “Would You Believe” closes with a softer lead vocal from guitarist Peter Barnes and a more static arrangement.

All tracks are group originals apart from “If I Can Just Get Through Tonight,” written by ex-Trade Winds singer Peter Anders.

A1. “Dancing On Ice” (3:25) – Morgan
A2. “Rainy Weather” (4:10) – Millis–Morgan
A3. “American Beauty Rose” (3:51) – Morgan
A4. “Satellite Touchdown” (3:26) – Morgan
A5. “Better Wages, Better Days” (4:03) – Barnes–Morgan

B1. “Empty Room” (2:54) – Barnes
B2. “If I Can Just Get Through Tonight” (3:44) – Anders
B3. “You Think You’re Too Good To Be True” (3:37) – Barnes–Morgan
B4. “Sugarloo” (2:10) – Morgan
B5. “Would You Believe” (3:57) – Barnes

Vini Poncia produced The Movies with engineer Bob Schaper. Barnes and Morgan arranged the album.

Arista lifted “Dancin’ On Ice” as a July 1976 single (b/w “American Beauty Rose”). “Satellite Touchdown” reappeared as the b-side of “Ahead of the Game,” a February 1977 standalone single recorded for Fun with Dick and Jane, a 1977 crime comedy starring George Segal and Jane Fonda.

B. “Ahead of the Game” (2:50) – Barnes

“If I Can Just Get Through Tonight” inspired a 1977 cover by Alfalpha, a London folk-pop trio with future Dream Academy singer Nick Laird-Clowes.

Postlude

In August 1977, The Movies bowed out with “Hello, Hello Young Lovers,” a non-album single produced by Richard Podolor.

A. “Hello, Hello Young Lovers” (3:38) – Morgan, Barnes
B. “Mystery Creek” (2:10) – Barnes

Michael Morgan remained active as a songwriter with subsequent co-credits on songs recorded by Peter Criss (“You Matter to Me”) and Jim Photoglo (“When Love Is Gone”).

Discography: