MUSIC PROGRAMMING
Traveling, jamming
and jukeboxes ...
We all need a rest periodically,
and during my recent respite I
managed to get in many of my
favorite recreational activities- I did
little traveling , tuned into the
radio, AND checked out some
jukeboxes in the area I was staying
in. It was particularly gratifying to see
many of the songs which have
graced the pages of PLAY METER in
recent months .
It makes me feel good to know
you're listening-or is it reading?
branch out into new directions when
the "gravy train" finally loses all four
wheels. One such group is Chic .
Edwards and Rodgers are geniuses,
as we have dutifully noted in
previous issues , and once again ,
Chic's inimitable style is haunting.
The guitar licks are so original that
they should be copyrighted , and the
angelic harmonies that emanate from
the silver throats of the Chic ladies,
well .. . it all speaks for itself . I have a
feeling that we've got another solid
smash on our hands with Chic. 9 out
of 10.
DREAM POLICE-Cheap Trick -
Epic 9-50774
Now that this fabulous quartet
finally has gotten the exposure it
justly deserves by its successful live
album, "Live at Budokan ," there
seems to be nothing but bright lights
ahead . The foursome has a hard-
driving winner with the initial release
from the new lp. The title tune, done
in a pulsing, pounding fashion ,
personifies the group's style . The
ever-present organ, forceful percus-
sion and wailing guitars are the
backbone of this tribute to paranoia .
Listen to the words-you'll see what I
mean. Let's give it an 8 out of 10 .
DAMNED IF I DO - The Alan
Parsons Project-Arista AS 0454
Remember " I Robot ," the Alan
Parsons Project's first album? I'd turn
out the lights and lower the volume
on my stereo as I'd listen to that hard
to forget album of unearthly music .
Well , that was the old days, back
when the Alan Parsons Project was
the last of the concept album artists .
Its latest release from the new lp
"Eve ," from which this tune is culled ,
marks the group's graduation into the
commercially successful category of
"hauntingly beautiful." It's a real toe
tapper and gives a lift . I'm probably
darned if I do, but I'll give it a 7 out of
10.
a
MY FORBIDDEN LOVER-Chic-
Atlantic 3620
I don 't know if the problem is with
me , but I think disco music is losing
its strangehold on the American
listening public . With the tremendous
surge of new wave (which is growing
on me , by the way), disco seems
lukewarm in comparison . However ,
there are a handful of artists who are
keeping the pilot burning , and some
of these folks have the potential to
STILL - Commodores- Motown
M1474F
What'd I tell ya? "Sail On" is a
smash. People can't believe that this
was the group who gave them "Brick
House" .. . Thanks to public demand ,
this beautiful love song has been
released from the new album (and
yes, it's still new) . Lovers will be
whispering the lyrics of this one to
each other for many years to come.
It's unequivocally terrific. Ten out of
10 or I shoot the moon .
DREAMING - Blondie - Chrysalis
CHS 2379
The more I hear this group, the
more I have visions of the sixties in
my head - and especially visions of
the British groups . The Searchers ,
The Seekers, and Cilia Black all
come to mind ... but I could go on and
on . This is from their new album with
the clever title of " Eat to the Beat ."
It's so downright likeable it makes me
wonder why I didn't think of it first .
Blondie conquered the world with
"Parallel Lines" and the two singles it
spawned , " Heart of Glass" and "One
Way or Another." They apparently
aren 't satisfied with the world , they're
after the universe now , and that baby
should be locked up with the release
of this latest effort. Nine out of
10 - or better .
BABE - Styx - A&M 2188-S
Have you noticed how most of the
song titles in this review are usually
one or two words? Could it be a
trend? At any rate they're all good
ones and this certainly is no
exception . Tommy Shaw's double
octave tones outshine even the
instrumentation in this lyrical love
song. Sure , the guitars and the
keyboards are still there but Styx has
given them a sugar-coating this time
around . Styx already has proven that
it can rock with the best of them but
this song shows that they're also
versatile enough to successfully slow
things down to a dreamy , romantic
pace . This brilliantly produced record
may gain the group a larger audience
than they've previously enjoyed . A
nine out of 10 easily.