MUSIC PROGRAMMING
by Michael B. Klein
Rock Scene Looking Up
I think that now we can all finally
stop crying in our beer about the
state of rock . Granted there was a
very dry period some months ago,
but all is changing .. . and for the
best. Everything is going to be all
right .
Some months ago, I pointed out
that for the last year or so rock
music hasn't exactly turned the
world on its ear. Now that I think
back on this period, it was probably
meant to be. It was a transition
time , if you will , a period of false
starts, false hopes, and, mainly,
(for the listener) just lying back,
enjoying what was around the best
we could.
Throughout all of this, most of us
didn 't really give up; we simply
turned on all of the old rock records
we had enjoyed so much prior to the
"dry spell. " Even today, I still go
back and listen to the Jefferson
Airplane, Grateful Dead, and the
first few Stones Ips. And they're
terrific. Even though they are almost
a decade old . But how many
listeners are still into Question Mark
and the Mysterians, the Sweet, or
even T-Rex? Not too many, I assure
you.
For all intents and purposes,
categorizing always distorts the
truth , but sometimes it is more
useful than not. This is especially
true in considering the whole field of
rock, which is simply too diverse.
After all, there's soft rock, hard
rock, heavy metal etc., etc .
THEME FROM PICNIC - Gap Man-
gione / A&M Records 1939
A recent facet of the " nostalgia
revival" shows up in the release of
this single . I wou ld imagine that you
saw the f ilm Picnic and without
doubt you remember the poignant
theme song . Well , th is is it , in an
updated version .
I wouldn 't classify this record as
MOR, Jazz or Rock . It is simply very
listenable . As such it should appeal
to just about anyone who likes
music . I realize that that isn't much
of an indication of what this record
can do for you, but it is the best way
to describe it .
Older listeners will enjoy " re-
calling," and younger ones will be
pleasantly surprised. I consider this
the " perfect " record .
WILD IN THE STREETS - Garland
Jeffreys/ A&M Records 1934
Garland has a Bob Seeger type of
voice , but much rougher . It is a very
"believable" voice , too . One would
think that he was, and maybe still is,
" Wild in the Streets ."
Garland performs this tune with
dash and great coloration in his
voice . It' s the music I don't care for .
I think that given the proper
material , we could be listening to a
star, and maybe we will be in a year
or so, after Garland refines his
music . Pass this one up, but do
watch the man.
I'LL LIVE MY LOVE FOR YOU -
Millie Jackson / Spring Records 173
What a production number this
one is! Strings, horns, back-up
voices and sound quality that won 't
quit . It rem inds me a bit of the old
Phil Spector " wall-of-sound " rec-
ords produced in the sixties. As a
matter of fact, the energies on this
disc would tire an Olympic long
distance runner!
Millie is one fine soul singer, and
she treats this tune with both
seductiveness and gusto. The ma-
terial itself is strong, and yet gentle .
There is truth here .
Millie' s romantic approach will
not suit every taste, but the joy of
her delivery should prove an irre-
sistable attraction .
Although none of these singles
are " typical " everyday rock tunes,
they do rock . All have the character
that would make them high con-
tend ers for top 40 radio . Rock on ..