Dance Around the Maypole

"Dance Around the Maypole" is a song composed by Roy Wood, performed by Acid Gallery and released in the UK as a single in 1969. It was reissued on the Nuggets II: Original Artyfacts from the British Empire and Beyond, 1964-1969 box set in 2001.

When the record was released, several disc jockeys remarked that Acid Gallery sounded remarkably like The Move.

Certainly the voices singing the chorus and the middle eight sound uncannily like Roy Wood's along with Jeff Lynne but Vic Elmes probably sings the verses. The song may have originally been a discarded Move track so Wood probably plays guitar; the bass is also performed in Wood's style; and he may be the drummer as well, although another candidate is Mike Blakley. The likeliest scenario was a collaboration between Acid Gallery and Wood in the studio resulting in a single issued under the band's name. 'The Producer's Cut' a programme on BBC radio first aired in 2009, mentioned that Roy Wood was cajoled by the group members to sing lead vocal on the chorus of "Dance Around the Maypole" whilst Elmes was the featured vocalist in the verses.

Acid Gallery was a real band, who had started as The Epics and eventually evolved into Christie (band) who had a No. 1 hit in the UK with the single "Yellow River" in 1970. Blakley's brother Alan was a member of The Tremeloes, who then shared management with The Move. This could explain Wood's involvement with Acid Gallery.

The song's lyrics have a 17th-century ambience, with its references to cavaliers, "dancing on the green" and making love in the hay. The song is more of a madrigal than a rock song; an a cappella choir might suit it better than a rock group. Although the record was not a success, some Roy Wood fans list Dance Around the Maypole as one of their favourite Wood songs. Copies of the single are quite rare and are collectors' pieces.

The B-side was "Right Toe Blues."