MUSIC PROGRAMMING
'Daddy Disco' finds
romance in 'Stargazer'
This time out the hits just keep on
coming. So let's roll!
STARGAZER - Peter Brown - Drive
DRIX-6281
Talk about records that don 't
sound like the person it's supposed to
be - yes , this is Peter " Dance With
Me" Brown but he 's totally out of his
"father" of Disco role . This is a
genuine woman -grabber , a beautiful
love ballad with just a taste of rock
overtones . No disco , anywhere on
this record . In the mold of Barry
Manilow, Peter Brown has got a
crossover smash on his hands. For
an average on all the appropriate
charts. this one gets an 8 out of 10
from this corner.
VOLCANO - Jimmy Buffett - MCA
MCA 41161
We told you several months ago
about "Fins" and it's gratifying to see
we were right. Well , this time out it
may be another story . The title tune
from the successful LP is a reggae
number exemplefying the fun Big
Buffett radiates even on vinyl. It may
sell concert tickets , but I don't know if
it will sell records of the singles
variety . It's even controversial. There
are references to nuclear power
(Three Mile Island) and even a slight
mention
of Ayatollah , written
months before any Iranian situation.
Since I'm kind I'll give it a 7 out of 10.
I CAN'T HELP MYSELF - Bonnie
Pointer- Motown M 1478F
Following the instantaneous suc-
cess of the Holland Dozier Holland
penned " Heaven Must Have Sent
You ," Bonnie's back with another
gem from the Motown library of gold .
This one , like its predecessor , is a
bouncy danceable tune with vocals ,
bells and banjo-sounding guitars in
the forefront . Should crossover from
disco into R&B and pop. This is
another big request number that's
laced with just enough nostalgia . 9
out of 10 .
COLD
WIND
ACROSS
MY
HEART - Night-Planet P-45907
Chris Thompson and company is
back with a pretty little love song with
the already unmistakeable Night
sound. It's full of the strong lead
vocals of Chris Thompson plus the
perfect background harmonies of the
group . The tune is produced to a
high level of excellence by Richard
Perry, who is no stranger to a
recording studio. Mass appeal will
prove the key here - 8 out of 10.
WHEN I WANTED YOU - Barry
Manilow - Arista AS 0481
Here we have an excellent
can't-miss tune quickly following on
the success of "Ships." It 's another
Gino Cunico composition done by
Manilow, the ladies' turntable idol.
Remember, he 's the guy who wrote
"Can't Smile Without You ." This one
is done in the usual symphonic
Manilow style, with lush strings ,
penetrating horns and the unmis-
takeable ivory tinklings of the singer
himself. MOR and Pop success is
guaranteed. 10 out of 10.
CAN WE STILL BE FRIENDS -
Robert Palmer- Island IS 49137
Well , I like it. It's the remake of the
Todd Rundgren classic with just a
slight bit of an upsurge in tempo.
With the success of "A Bad Case of
Lovin ' You ," Robert Palmer has
shed his mask of cult heroism and
seems ready to be a commercial
success. At least , I think his bank
account will agree with me . This
one's familiar, refreshing and the
arrangement enjoys a well-needed
sprucing up for 1980. I hope
everyone enjoys it as much as me. 7
out of 10 or better .
STAR - Earth , Wind & Fire-ARC
(Columbia) 1-11165
I do believe this will be the right
choice this time . Unfortunately , "In
The Stone" wasn 't. "Star" is the song
all the dance schools have included
for their upcoming spring reviews. So
far , this has been a proven testing
ground for danceable classics like
"Dance With Me," "The Horse,"
"Watermelon Man ," and on and on,
ad infinitum . So there. 9 out of 10
R&B . 7 out of 10 or better Pop .
WONDERLAND - Commodores-
Motown M 1479 F
They're back to melt the ladies'
hearts again . The strings, lyrics and
emotion-filled vocals , of course , are
the key . The funky bass off-the -beat
rhythm is the perfect accent to
another excellently produced chart
topper from the prides of Alabama .
There's even a synthesizer effect near
the end as the "spaceship" departs
for Wonderland with only two
passengers . Whew! I can feel it, too,
baby - 10 out of 10 or my grits ain't
groceries .
TOO LATE - Journey - Columbia
Here's another group that has
gained a more widespread accep-
tance with only one hit single to their
credit. Journey has had several
successful albums and in doing so
has acquired a following and a
"sound." Both should stay in check
with station exposure of this blend of
driving rock and acoustic several
times a day . 7 out of 10 at least.