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• • music e1091amm1n9 musi c prog ramming by Michael Michael B. B. Klein Klein by The group group Chicago Chicago had had aa tune tune out out The not too long ago that had the title, not too long ago that had the title, "Where Do Do We We Go Go From From Here?" Here?" A A "Where good question for the music of good question for the music of 1977. And And aa good good question question for for those those 1977. of us us who who make make aa living living at at least least of partly dependent dependent on on the the music music partly industry. After After all, all, no nomusic music for for your your industry. jukeboxes, no business. No music jukeboxes, no business. No music for me, me, and and II can't can't make make the the for payments on my typewriter. But this payments on my typewriter. But this last year year has has been been aa pretty pretty good good last one. Thank you Boz, Stevie Wonone. Thank you Boz, Stevie Wonder, Willie Willie Nelson, Nelson, Don Don Williams, Williams, der, Barry White, John Denver, Bill Barry White, John Denver, Bill Evans, Emmylou Harris, Barry ManiEvans, Emmylou Harris, Barry Manilow, ELO, ELO, Abba, Abba, and and you, you, the the low, readers of of Play Play Meter. Meter. readers Where do do we we go go from from here? here? ItIt will will Where probably be a few weeks before probably be a few weeks before there will will be be much much indication, indication, but but there from what what I I can can see, see, MOR MOR seems seems to to from be the going thing, a trend to watch be the going thing, a trend to watch for this this year. year. ItIt has has aa great great appeal appeal for like it never had in the past. In prior like it never had in the past. In prior years, when one thought of middleyears, when one thought of middleof-the-road music, music, the the names names that that of-the-road came to mind were Montovani, came to mind were Montovani, Mancini, Perry Perry Como, Como, Sinatra, Sinatra, et etal. al. Mancini, But now now on on the the MOR MOR stations, stations, But we're hearing hearing the the Bee Bee Gees, Gees, Barry Barry we're Manilow, Barry White and even Manilow, Barry White and even country music. Every artist seems country music. Every artist seems to be be working working aa crossover crossover these these to days-that's how they make money. days- that's how they make money. Rock singles singles can can only only be be hits hits on on Rock rock stations, but a good MOR tune rock stations, but a good MOR tune can be be aa hit hit on on both both top top 40 40 stations stations can and MOR stations. The same and MOR stations. The same applies to an "easy" country tune. applies to an "easy" country tune. Popular Pi ck Hits Hits Pick BEMY MYGIRL GIRL Dramatics/ABC 12235 12235 BE Dramatics/ABC DRIVIN'WHEEL WHEEL Foghat/ Bearsville 0313 DRIVIN' Foghat/Bearsville 0313 THETHINGS THINGS WE WE DO DO FOR FOR LOVE LOVE 10 cc/Mercury cc/Mercury THE 10 73875 73875 PLAY METER HAIL! HAIL! HAIL! ROCK ROCK && ROLL ROLL HAIL! Cl: ~ ~ ~ !II ;i. 6 Starland Vocal Vocal Starland Band/Windsong 10855 Band/Windsong 10855 BOOGIE CHILD CHILD Bee Gees/RSO Gees/RSD867 867 BOOGIE Bee DIS-GORILLA Rick Dees Dees &&His His Cast Cast ofof Idiots/ Idiots/ DIS-GORILLA Rick RSo 866 866 RSo SHOULD I ISTAY/ STAY/ I IWON'T WON'T LET LETYOU YOU GO GO Vicki SHOULD Vicki Sue Robinson/RCA Robinson/ RCA 10863 10863 Sue LOVE TO TO THE THE WORLD WORLD LTD/A&M 1897 1897 LTD/A&M LOVE l'VE GOT GOT LOVE LOVE ON ON MY MY MIND MIND Natalie Cole/ Cole/ I'VE Natalie Capitol 4360 Capitol 4360 Boogie Child-Bee Child-Bee Gees/RSO Gees/RSO 867 867 Boogie driving dance dance rhythm rhythm is is still still IfIf aa driving central to a hit record in 1977, this central to a hit record in 1977, this will be be aa certain certain hit. hit. The The lyrics lyrics are are will trite and throwaway, but the music trite and throwaway, but the music intriguing, textured textured and and tension tension isis intriguing, building. Plus, with this driving building. Plus, with this driving still be be played played sound, the the tune tune can can still sound, on MOR stations as it won't be on MOR stations as it won't be offensive to MOR listeners. I don't offensive to MOR listeners. I don't feel that that this this is is the the best best effort effort the the feel Bee Gees Gees have have given given us, us, but but with with Bee their hit-making hit-making powers, powers, it's it's certain certain their to be a much played single in your to be a much played single in your jukeboxes. jukeboxes. You-Atlanta Rhythm Rhythm So in in to to You-Atlanta So Section/Polydor 14373 14373 Section/Polydor Here's aa group group whose whose records records are are Here's terribly boring, but I will venture to terribly boring, but I will venture to say that I think that they are say that I think that they are probably dynamite dynamite live. live. On On record record probably though, they lack any imagination. though, they lack any imagination. They play play "typical" "typical" riffs. riffs. There's There's They nothing about this group that nothing about this group that distinguishes it from any other band distinguishes it from any other band with the the same same style. style. We We have have aa bit bit with of jazz here, a bit of R&B and a taste of jazz here, a bit of R&B and a taste of the the MOR MOR sound. sound. It's It's aa good good of blend, but but unfortunately unfortunately itit doesn't doesn't blend, come off off here. here. come This single sounds totally totally conconThis single sounds trived. Judging by the musicianship, trived. Judging by the musicianship, which isis excellent, excellent, this this group group is is which certain to to have have followers, followers, probably probably certain among those those who who have have seen seen the the among Atlanta Rhythm Section live. They Atlanta Rhythm Section live. They will be be the the ones ones who who will will want want to to will hear this disc. If this group comes to hear this disc. If this group comes to perform in your area, place it in your perform in your area, place it in your jukebox. Otherwise, Otherwise, forget forget it. it. jukebox. BLESS THE THE BEASTS BEASTS AND AND CHILDREN CHILDREN BLESS DeVorzon/Perry Botkin, Jr./ A&M 1890 DeVorzon/Perry Botkin, Jr./A&M 1890 THEME FROM FROM "KING "KING KONG" KONG" THEME Orchestra/20thCent. Cent.2325 2325 Orchestra/20th Barry Barry Love Unlimited Unlimited Love Manhattan Transfer/AtTransfer/AtManhattan CHANSON D'AMOUR D'AMOUR CHANSON lantic3374 3374 lantic SAM Olivia Newton-John/MCA Newton-John/ MCA40670 40070 SAM Olivia LOVE MY MY WIFE WIFE I I LOVE Country Frank Sinatra/Reprise Sinatra/ Reprise 1382 1382 Frank YOUR PLACE PLACE OR OR MINE MINE YOUR 10833 10833 Gary Stewart/RCA Stewart/ RCA Gary MIDNIGHTANGEL ANGEL Barbara Mandrell/Dot Mandrell/Dot 17668 17668 MIDNIGHT Barbara THECLOSEST CLOSESTTHING TOYOU YOU JerryLee LeeLewis/ Lewis/ THE THING TO Jerry Mercury73872 73872 Mercury WHISPERS Bobby Borchers/Playboy Borchers/ Playboy6092 6092 WHISPERS Bobby THERE SHE GOES AGAIN Joe Stampley/ Epic THERE SHE GOES AGAIN Joe Stampley/Epic 50316 50316 The Wreck Wreck of of the the Edmund Edmund FitzFitzThe gerald- Gordon Lightfoot/Reprise Lightfoot/ Reprise gerald-Gordon 1369 1369 I'm including including this this single single for for two two I'm reasons. One is that I'm not sure reasons. One is that I'm not sure ifif itit has been been aa hit hit in in your your area. area. ItIt was was aa has monster hit here in Los Angeles monster hit here in Los Angeles aa few weeks weeks ago. ago. And And secondly, secondly, I'm I'm few including it because it is a haunting including it because it is a haunting and flavorful flavorful story-song. story-song. and If one didn't read the the credit credit on on If one didn't read this disc, one might think that this this disc, one might think that this was an an old old sea sea chanty. chanty. ItIt has has that that was of quality about it, the quality kind kind of quality about it, the quality that gives gives aa song song longevity. longevity. Aside Aside that from being a hit single, this tune will from being a hit single, this tune will live on, and who knows, maybe live on, and who knows, maybe itit willrank rank with with the the famous famous sea sea chanty chanty will of yesteryear. However, I'm tunes tunes of yesteryear. However, I'm surprised that that this this single single became became surprised popularinin L.A. L.A. ItIt somehow somehow doesn't doesn't popular fit the "lifestyle" here, the layback fit the "lifestyle" here, the layback type of of nonchalant nonchalant attitude attitude that that type most people people have have in in L.A. L.A. Try Try itit in in most your area. If your customers don't your area. If your customers don't care for forit, it, you've you've got got yourself yourself aa fine fine care single for your personal collection. single for your personal collection. Where do do we we go go from from here? here? A A Where good question. Those of us who are good question. Those of us who are at this this end end of of the the music music business business at can only watch trends and make can only watch trends and make educated guesses. The only real educated guesses. The only real answer is one that will come from answer is one that will come from the streets streets and and maybe maybe the the ghettos ghettos the of Chicago, or the unpaved back of Chicago, or the unpaved back streets of Nashville, or maybe the streets of Nashville, or maybe the rundown bungalows in Hollywood, rundown bungalows in Hollywood, where determined determined musicians musicians are are where pickin', poundin' and blowin' . pickin', poundin' and blowin' . . looking for for that that perfect perfect tune. tune. looking VEGAS VEGAS Bobby&&Jeannie Jeannie Bare/RCA Bare/ RCA 10852 10852 Bobby MYMOUNTAIN MOUNTAIN DES DES Charlie Rich/RCA Rich/ RCA 10859 10859 MY Charlie THEMOVIES MOVIES THE Soul BE MY MY GIRL GIRL BE Statler Bros./Mercury Bros./Mercury73877 73877 Statler Dramatics/ ABC 12235 12235 Dramatics/ABC GOIN' UP UP IN IN SMOKE SMOKE GOIN' 54277 54277 Eddie Kendricks/Tamla Kendricks/Tamla Eddie ISN'TITIT AASHAME SHAME LaBelle/Epic 50135 50135 ISN'T LaBelle/Epic GLORIA Enchantment/ United Art. Art.912 912 GLORIA Enchantment/United WORN OUT OUT BROKEN BROKEN HEART HEART Loleatta HolHolWORN Loleatta loway/Gold Mine Mine 4000 4000 loway/Gold EVERLOVIN' LOVIN'GIRL GIRL Tyrone Davis/Dakar Davis/Dakar4561 4561 EVER Tyrone courtesy ofof STERLING STERLING TITLE TITLE STRIP STRIP CO., CO., INC. INC. courtesy 1175 Broad Street, Newark, N.J. 07114 1175 Broad Street, Newark, N.J. 07114