Introduction
I stumbled upon this clip of Cliff Richard & The Shadows tearing into “Move It” on The Cliff Richard Show from March 19, 1960, and wow—does it still hit with that pure, electric thrill. You can almost feel the TV studio lights warming the stage as Cliff’s voice edges from shy confidence to full-on rock ’n’ roll swagger, backed by the tight riffs that gave birth to a new British sound.
Originally, “Move It” was just a quick B-side fix penned by guitarist Ian Samwell during a bus ride home—his first-ever song, born as a cheeky rebuttal to a claim that rock was dead. When producer Norrie Paramor heard it, he flipped his plans: Cliff would put his hometown grit behind “Move It” instead of “Schoolboy Crush,” and on August 29, 1958, it exploded at No. 2 on the UK charts, marking Richard’s very first hit.
Watching that 1960 broadcast, you sense the stakes: TV was still young, and here was England’s own answer to Elvis, delivering raw energy in every chord. The Shadows lock in behind him, guitars chiming and drums propelling, as Cliff leans into lyrics that command you off the couch and onto the dance floor—no wonder fans still call it the first true British rock ’n’ roll record .
“Move It” wasn’t just a song—it was a declaration. In a world where skiffle and pop reigned polite, Cliff and his crew ripped open the door for generations of UK artists to follow. It’s the kind of moment that reminds you why music can feel like a living, breathing companion—full of possibility and that glorious buzz of youth pushing boundaries