Music Programming
.....__ By Pat MaHhews
On the Ranch
Back at the ranch , here I am again
with the creme de Ia creme . Rising to
the top and to th~ occasion (in that
order) is, I find , a trifle easier during
the summers. I've turned 26 and
don 't really feel a year older. But let's
get on with the business at hand
before these following tunes get any
older .
Runaway-Jefferson
Starship-
Grunt JB-11274
Some more "Earth" music from
the West Coast legends . Open
another bottle of Dom Perignon and
sip slowly while escaping into this
smooth and easy ballad which is
almost as exquisite as the liquid
refreshment. It has all the character-
istics of a Starship enterprise : Marty
Balin 's easily recognizable lead vocals
and the fluid guitar styling of Paul
Kantner . From "Miracles" to "Count
On Me" and now to "Runaway ," the'
progression is evident. But where to
now? "It's a runaway hit," he said
with tongue-in -cheek. (A-Pop) (A-
MOR)
We Really Must Believe in Magic-
Jack Clement- Elektra E-45474-B
You really have to check the label
to make sure this isn 't Gordon
Lightfoot. Sounding a lot like the
Canadian balladeer , Jack Clement
(who?) comes on strong with this
impressive debut disk . It's an easy
surrealistic tune with great vocals out
front and effective , if not unusual
female backing . Could do well.
(A-MOR) (B-Pop)
Got a Feeling- Patrick Juvet - Casa-
blanca NB 924 D
It 's light disco with a Mamas &
Papas "feel" to it. A fine horn and
string arrangement highlight the
song- it's certainly not the lyrical
content ("got a feelin ' that I won 't be
needin' you"). Juvet is a newcomer
to the Casablanca fold , who seems to
sign everybody and unfortunately ,
anybody . It's produced by Jacques
Morali who also does the Village
People ("Macho Man") and therefore
should do well in discos. (A-Disco)
Prove It AU Night- Bruce Springs-
teen - Columbia 3-10763
"How can I tell radio stations that
this is what Springsteen's been doing
for the last three years?" That quote
was made by a record promoter who
shall remain nameless . However
after another listen , I conclude it's a
typical macho exercise in music and
besides Bruce Springsteen's follow-
ing will like anything he does , this
being no exception . And of course , it
has been three-plus years since Mr .
Springsteen has blessed his following
with anything and even "Born To
Run" gets old . Get ready , Bruce is
out to "prove it" again! (A-Pop)
You Don't Love Me Anymore-
Eddie Rabbitt-Elektra E-45488-A
A love ballad and not the kickin'
country stylings one would expect
from Mr . Rabbitt (I find that hard to
type with a straight, let us say , key) .
It's one heck of a pretty tune and it's
all about a love lost as the title
implies. Eddie Rabbitt seems to be
following other country singers (Dolly
Parton , Ronnie Milsap , etc) in the
cross over brigade and should fare
well with this single . (A -C&W)
(C-Pop) (A-MOR)
This Year's Girl- Elvis Costello-
Columbia 3 -10762
It probably took me longer than
anyone else to realize this Briton with
the fifties haircut is for real. The days
of a cult following could soon be over
for Elvis (Jeez) with this catchy
bouncy rocker. There are definite
Beatles flavorings and in some parts
Costello sounds like the Dave Clark
(how refreshing) . With the right push
by Columbia it could go far . (B-Pop)
Stay- Jackson Browne - Asylum E-
45485-A
Culled from the super selling
"Runnin ' On Empty" live lp , Jackson
Browne seems to have another
"Crowd pleaser ," so to speak , with
this one . Complete with falsetto
voice , this medium tempo re-make
should zoom up the charts. Bear in
mind , that the single "Runnin ' On
Empty" was (and still is) Jackson's
biggest selling single since "Doctor
My Eyes" and that was many moons
ago. "Stay" is a nice sentimental
follow-up . (A-Pop)
Freeway Song- Vicki Sue Robin-
son - RCA JH 11280
"I guess you just have to be able to
relate to freeways to get into this
one ." That's what I was thinking to
myself before listening . Then as the
song progressed I found that it's not
about bumper-to-bumper traffic at
all . No , it's a beautiful love ballad that
simply relates being in love to being
"free ." It's sort of breezy with flowing
vocals by Ms . Robinson who certain-
ly "Turned the Beat Around" on this
one . (B-Pop) (A -R&B) (A-MOR)
WORTH A LISTEN
Cheatin'- Rubicon- 20th Century
Fox
Three Times A Lady - Commo-
dores - Motown
Who Turned You On-Wilson Pic-
kett - Big Three
Under The Boardwalk-Bear-RCA
This Magic Moment- Richie Furay -
Asylum
Flying Over America- Fresh Aire -
Atlantic
Anytime-Journey-Columbia