MUSIC PROGRAMMING MUSIC By Pat Pat Matthews Matthews By Manna Just when when itit seemed seemed II would would have have Just to scrounge scrounge around to find find aa single single to around to the postman postman record to to talk talk about, about, the record arrived to take me me out my arrived to take out of of my self-inflicted depressive depressive exile. self-inflicted exile. Boy! It It was was like like manna manna from from the the Boy! heavens! Hardly Hardly aa bad bad one one in in the the heavens! bunch. Out Out of ofthose those are are the the following following bunch. carefully selected selected ones, ones, which which like like carefully good cream just rose rose to to the the top. top. good cream just EVERYBODY LOVES LOVES A A RAIN RAIN EVERYBODY SONG-B.J. SONG-B.J. Thomas Thomas (MCA (MCA 40854) 40854) Definitely another another crossover crossover tune tune Definitely for B.J., B.J. , who who has has overcome overcome aa lot lot of of for hardship in in his his personal personal life life to to hardship present once once again again his his unique unique present the record-buying pubvocalizing to vocalizing to the record-buying public. This This record record will will definitely definitely be be a a lic. and positively do jukebox favorite jukebox favorite and positively do even better better than than you you would would expect expect in in even the primarily country music establishthe primarily country music establishand areas. areas. (B) (B) ments and ments HOLLYWOOD-Boz Scaggs Scaggs (Co(CoHOLLYWOOD-Boz lumbia 3-10679) 3-10679) lumbia MAXIMUM MAXIMUM STIMULATION-JimSTIMULATION-Jimmy Castor Castor Bunch Bunch (Atlantic (Atlantic 3455) 3455) my Unlike some of their their earlier earlier efforts, efforts, Unlike some of JCB has has taken taken the the best best of both JCB of both worlds (this being the the rhythm of worlds (this time time being rhythm of Earth , Wind Wind & & Fire Fire and and aa taste taste of of Earth, The Ohio Ohio funk from, from, let's let's say, say, The funk Players). It's It's aa fine fine blend blend of of which which the the Players). arrangement is is strong strong and and things things arrangement certainly work work to to the the group's group's adadcertainly vantage . Superdanceablesoul Superdanceablesoulfunkvantage. funkdisco. (A) (A) disco. HOME-Nielson & & Pierson Band (Epic 8-50502) (Epic 8-50502) Just another song about the Just loneliness of of being being on on the the road, road, you you loneliness might suspect. suspect. But But listen listen closely. closely. might There's aa little little something something extra, extra, There's there's aa refreshing refreshing twist. twist. However However there's this twist twist is is not not lyrically, lyrically, it's musically. this it's musically. This tune tune features features some some of of the the This cleanest guitar guitar licks licks and and harmonies harmonies cleanest heard. This This unknown unknown group group has has I've heard. I've something going going for for it. it. Rhythm Rhythm something changes throughout, throughout, yet yet is is very very changes danceable. (C) (C) danceable. LOVE MY MY MUSIC-Wild MUSIC-Wild Cherry Cherry II LOVE 8-50500) (Epic 8-50500) (Epic Sure to to score score with with this this bouncy bouncy Sure disco number number after after aa series series of of hits hits and and disco misses (and (and II use use the the term term HITS HITS misses "Play loosely). Not Not aa monster monster like like "Play loosely). That Funky Funky Music," Music, " by by any any means, means, That but will will do do well well in in its its own own right. right. And And but per usual usual for for Wild Wild Cherry Cherry will will be be a a per the discos. discos. (B) (B) hot request request item item in in the hot THEME FROM FROM CLOSE CLOSE ENCOUNENCOUNTHEME TERS-Meco (Millenium (Millenium MN MN 608 608 TERS-Meco DJ) DJ) Another overnight overnight sensation. sensation. Not Not Another quite the mass appeal which was quite the mass appeal which was generated by by the the previous previous flick flick title title generated but song extravanganza by Meco, song extravanganza by Meco, but just as as catchy. catchy. In In spots, spots, the the spookispookijust ness of of the the mix mix overshadows overshadows the the ness classy disco disco beat. beat. More More plusses plusses than than classy minuses can can be be applied. applied. Check Check out out minuses the strings-some strings-some of the of the the finest finest on on record today. today. (A) (A) record I'VE BEEN BEEN MISSING MISSING YOU-Archie YOU-Archie I'VE Bell & & The The Drells Drells (Phila. (Phila. Int'l lnt'l ZS8 ZS8 Bell 3637) 3637) Dreamy soulful soulful ballad ballad done done in in the the Dreamy unmistakeable style style of of this this band band unmistakeable "from Houston, Houston , Texas." Texas." Remember Remember "from "Tighten Up"? Well, this record "Tighten Up"? Well, this record proves once once again again that that you you can can have have proves spoken word lyrics in the corny, corny, spoken word lyrics in the and still still sell sell records. records. Very Very bridge and bridge definitely will will get get the the couples couples close close definitely together on on the the dance dance floor. floor . (A) (A) together RAINSTORM-Frankie Valli Valli RAINSTORM-Frankie vate Stock Stock PS PS 45, 45, 180) 180) vate (Pri(Pri- This light light disco disco tune tune has has all all the the This ingredients to to make make itit aa winner. winner. Not Not ingredients since the the "Our "Our Day Day Will Will ComeComesince Swearin' To To God" God" era era of of Valli's Valli's Swearin' career have have all all the the pieces pieces fallen fallen into into career The arrangement, arrangement, vocals, vocals, and and place. The place. instrumentation & & lyrics lyrics are are all all instrumentation well-tailored in what could could be well-tailored in to to what be the the suit Frankie Frankie needs needs to to get get goin' goin' again. again. suit (C) (C) (WHAT A) A) WONDERFUL WONDERFUL WORLDWORLD(WHAT Art Garfunkel Garfunkel (Columbia (Columbia 3-10676) 3-10676) Art The label label also also gives gives credit credit to to Paul Paul The Simon and and James James Taylor. Taylor. What, What, no no Simon Carly Simon? Simon? This This is is aa very very Carly schmaltzy version version of of the the old old Sam Sam schmaltzy Cooke composition composition and and hit hit which which II Cooke feel was was best best done done by by Herman's Herman's feel Hermits in in 1967. 1967. Don't Don't get get me me Hermits wrong-I think think this this one's one's beautiful. beautiful. wrong-I It's just just that that when when there's there's aa remake, remake, It's it's always always tempting tempting to to compare. compare. That That it's fact alone alone would would be be the the only only factor factor in in fact slowing up up this this one. one . BONUSBONUSslowing Another verse, verse, not not found found on on the the old old Another is sung sung and and you'll you'll also also be be able able version is version amusement in in trying trying to to figure figure to find find amusement to out who's who's singing singing what what where. where. (A) (A) out YOU REALLY REALLY GOT GOT ME-Van ME-Van YOU Halen (Warner (Warner Bros. Bros. WBS WBS 8515) 8515) Halen That's right, right, you you guessed guessed itit!-the That's !- the had their their first first hit hit with with this this one one Kinks had Kinks back in in '65. '65. But But the the strange strange thing thing back about itit is, is, since since the the initial initial recording recording about 13 years years ago, ago, this this heavy heavy metal metal 13 version only "aged" 3 years! What II What years! 3 "aged" version only mean is, is, Mr. Mr. Halen, Halen, along along with with mean producer extraordinair extraordinair Ted Ted TempleTempleproducer man (Doobie (Doobie Bros. Bros. and and former former lead lead man singer with Harper's Bizarre, imagine singer with Harper's Bizarre, imagine that) , have have made made this this simple simple British British that), rock tune tune with with aa nice nice bass bass line line into into aa rock "experience." The The Jimi Hendrix Hendrix "experience." Jimi guitar work is good, but is totally guitar work is good, but is totally three ococoverdone with with feedback, feedback, three overdone tave slides, slides, et. et. al. al. IfIf curiosity curiosity is is tave enough to to sell sell records records this this one one enough should do do very very well well for for itself itself with with aa should little help help from from the the radio radio (Pay (Pay close close little attention to the heavy breathing attention to the heavy breathing females near near the the end, end, and and rock rock and and females roll). (C) (C) roll). The records records are are rated rated as as follows: follows: A-Superb, A-Superb, destined destined to to be be aa top top ten ten record record on on somebody's somebody's chart; chart; B-Good, B-Good, The but only only enough enough to to crack crack the the top top 25; 25; C-Maybe C-Maybe not not aa financial financial success, success, but but with with aa little little exposure exposure will will keep keep but those coins those coins clinking clinking in in the the jukeboxes. jukeboxes. . Two Then Then Left," Left," Boz's Boz's "Down Two "Down latest record record album album is is aa disappointdisappointlatest ment. But But only only can can itit be be considered considered ment. compared to to the the multimultisuch when when compared such platinum coated coated "Silk "Silk Degrees." Degrees." On platinum On his latest latest effort effort Scaggs Scaggs is is much much too too his contented with with sticking sticking with with proven proven contented rhythms and rhythms and arrangements; arrangements; there's there's no imagination imagination in in his his music music lately. lately. no "Hollywood ," unfortunately, unfortunately, is "Hollywood," is aa perfect example example of of aa formula formula single single perfect from aa ultra ultra formula formula lp. Ip. However, However, his his from name alone alone should should provide provide the the name necessary interest. interest. Who Who can can argue argue necessary (A) with success? success? (A) with WQUE New New Orleans Orleans WQUE