Message from the Country

Message from the Country is the fourth and final studio album by the Move, as well as the group's only album for EMI's Harvest label, where the album was released in the United Kingdom. The album was also released on Capitol Records in the United States. It was recorded simultaneously with the first Electric Light Orchestra album, The Electric Light Orchestra (or No Answer as it was called in the United States). Recorded due to a contractual obligation with EMI for one more Move album, its release signaled the end of The Move (with the exception of three final singles), allowing the band to transition into the Electric Light Orchestra.

The album was produced by Move members Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne, and recorded at various times between June 1970 and May 1971 in Olympic Studios and Phillips Studios, both based in London. It would later be released in June 1971. Although no singles were released from the project, "My Marge" was re-released as the B-side to the non-album single "Tonight" in the United States, and "Ella James" was released as the B-side to another non-album single, "California Man". In 2005, the album was reissued with 9 bonus tracks, including "Tonight" and "California Man", alongside two other non-album singles, "Chinatown" and "Do Ya".