Quick Facts
Biography
Tim Moore is an American pop singer and songwriter who recorded during the 1970s.
Career
Early bands
A self-taught musician, Moore grew up in Philadelphia, where he went to art school and began to play his songs at local coffee houses. His rock career began as guitarist and singer with DC & the Senators, a band that was the opening act for arena rock concerts in Philadelphia. He also played drums with Woody's Truck Stop, the first band to feature Todd Rundgren. He and his friend Jeff Scott started the Muffins, which was the first group to record and perform Moore's songs. The Muffins had minor success with the single "Subway Traveler", which was produced by Bernie Lowe, the founder of Cameo Records. For one week, the Muffins were the opening act for the Velvet Underground at the Trauma, a psychedelic club in Philadelphia.
After the Muffins disbanded, Frank Zappa heard Moore's songs and considered them harmonically advanced. He brought Moore to New York with the intention of signing him to Bizarre Records. Moore declined the offer when Zappa was unable to produce the album due to touring. Moore returned to Philadelphia and worked as a staff writer and studio musician on sessions with Thom Bell, Gamble and Huff, and other producers of Philadelphia soul. He lived next door to singer Daryl Hall in downtown Philadelphia, where they worked as staff writers. Moore and Hall co-wrote material for a band they founded, Gulliver, which released one album for Elektra Records.
Solo career
After the breakup of Gulliver, Moore sought a more personal approach to his music. He moved to Woodstock, New York, the residence of Bob Dylan, The Band, and Van Morrison. He signed with Dunhill Records, which issued his first single, "A Fool Like You," on which Donald Fagen of Steely Dan sang backup. Moore sang backup on the Steely Dan song, "Dallas".
Moore's debut solo album came in 1974 as the first release by a label called A Small Record Company and was distributed by Famous Music Corp. It was produced by Nick Jameson, who gave the singer freedom in the studio. Moore assembled his own tracks as a multi-instrumentalist, layering guitar, keyboard, and bass parts over drum tracks by Bernard Purdie and Russ Kunkel. The single "Second Avenue" received airplay in the US and UK. But as it was headed up the US charts, Paramount, the parent company of Famous Music ceased its record operations.
Art Garfunkel recorded a new version of Second Avenue which appeared on the charts at the same time. Garfunkel's version peaked at No. 34 on the Billboard magazine charts, while Moore's original peaked at No. 58 after he moved to Asylum Records.
During the following year, Moore released the album Behind the Eyes, featuring what remains his best-known song in the U.S., "Rock and Roll Love Letter", a hit for the Bay City Rollers a year later. Moore's guitar playing on "Rock and Roll Love Letter" caught the attention of Keith Richards, guitarist for the Rolling Stones, and they became friends. Moore spent two weeks in rehearsals with the Rolling Stones and Peter Tosh at Bearsville Studios in Woodstock.
Moore's third album, White Shadows, was recorded in Los Angeles with more polished production and a group of seasoned musicians, such as Michael McDonald of the Doobie Brothers, Jeff Porcaro of Toto, Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles, and Bill Payne of Little Feat. The album was followed by High Contrast, produced by Ken Scott, who had worked with David Bowie, Stanley Clarke, and Supertramp.
Moore's albums were praised by critics. Other acts continued to mine his new releases for songs, but neither of these achievements brought Moore wider public attention in his homeland. Instead, he found success outside the US while promoting his fifth album, Flash Forward. In 1986 Moore spent 75 days touring Brazil while his ballad "Yes" became a No.1 hit for ten weeks.
Other versions of Tim Moore songs
"Second Avenue" was recorded by Art Garfunkel and Colin Blunstone; "A Fool Like You" by Eric Andersen and Iain Matthews; "Love Enough" by Cher and Cliff Richard; "Rock and Roll Love Letter" by the Bay City Rollers and the Records; "Charmer" by Etta James; "I Think I Want to Possess You" by Maxine Nightingale; "Aviation Man" by Jimmy Witherspoon; "I Got Lost Tonight" by Clifford T. Ward; and "That's the Way I See You/Yes/It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" by Richie Havens.
Album discography
- Tim Moore (A Small Record Company, 1974)
- Tim Moore (Asylum, 1974)
- Behind the Eyes (Asylum, 1975)
- White Shadows (Asylum, 1977)
- High Contrast (Asylum, 1979)
- Flash Forward (Elektra, 1985)