⭐ Indiana Rainbow – Single: March 1976
- Wizzard
- Mar 5, 1976
- 2 min read
b/w “The Thing Is This (This Is the Thing)”
7" Single — Jet Records
Released: March 5, 1976 (UK)
A bright, melodic Wizzard single whose lack of BBC airplay led to the cancellation of an entire album.
Released on March 5, 1976, Indiana Rainbow was intended to be the lead single for Roy Wood’s next Wizzard album. The track showcases Wood’s signature blend of colourful pop, layered arrangements, and whimsical melodic turns—an extension of the inventive style that had defined Wizzard’s early‑’70s run.
The B‑side, “The Thing Is This (This Is the Thing),” was a non‑album track, further signalling that the single was meant to introduce a new phase of Wood’s work. However, the single failed to secure a place on the BBC Radio 1 playlist, a crucial factor for chart success in the mid‑’70s. Without national airplay, Jet Records withdrew support and cancelled the planned album entirely.
As a result, Indiana Rainbow stands as a vivid but isolated release—one of the most intriguing “lost” moments in Roy Wood’s catalogue.
The tapes only came to light in 1999 and, with Wood's blessing, released by Edsel, a re-issue label which specialised largely in licensing long-deleted albums from major companies and had recently made Introducing Eddy & the Falcons, available on CD for the first time.
🔘 Track List
UK 7" Single — Jet Records
Indiana Rainbow
The Thing Is This (This Is the Thing)
Written by Roy Wood.
Produced by Roy Wood.
🔘 Variants
UK 7" Single — Jet Records (standard issue)
No confirmed alternate UK formats
All variants physically verified
🔘 Chart Performance
This release did not enter the UK Singles Chart.
🔘 Context & Notes
Artist: Roy Wood’s Wizzard
Label: Jet Records (UK)
Release Date: March 5, 1976
Format: 7" vinyl single
The single’s failure to gain BBC Radio 1 support had significant consequences. In the 1970s, Radio 1 playlisting was essential for visibility, and without it, Jet Records deemed the forthcoming album commercially unviable. The cancellation left Indiana Rainbow as a standalone single, remembered today for its bright production and the unrealised album it was meant to herald.
🔘 Visual Archive
Roy Wood’s Wizzard — Indiana Rainbow — UK 7" Single Sleeve (1976).
🔘 Related Material
“See My Baby Jive” (1973)
“Angel Fingers” (1973)
Introducing Eddy and the Falcons (1974)
Roy Wood solo singles
See tabs at the foot of the post for navigation
🔘 Discography
Indiana Rainbow (1976 single)
“The Thing Is This (This Is the Thing)” (1976 B‑side)
Wizzard singles 1973–1976
🔘 Mini‑Timeline
Early 1976: Indiana Rainbow prepared as lead single for new Wizzard album
March 5, 1976: Single released
March 1976: BBC Radio 1 declines playlisting
Spring 1976: Jet Records cancels planned album
🔘 Glam Flashback
Roy Wood’s work in the mid‑’70s remained as colourful and inventive as ever, but Indiana Rainbow reveals the fragile balance between creativity and industry support. Without Radio 1 airplay, even a vibrant, hook‑laden single could vanish into obscurity.
🔘 Closing Notes
A charming, imaginative single overshadowed by industry politics, Indiana Rainbow remains a fascinating footnote in Roy Wood’s post‑Wizzard trajectory.
🔘 Sources & Copyright
Jet Records (1976).
Contemporary press and industry reports.
Physical release verification.
🔘 Tags
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