Play Meter

Issue: 1980 August 01 - Vol 6 Num 14

Update
Edition
Vol. 6, No. 14
Aug. 1, 1980
staff
Publisher:
Ralph C. Lally II
Editorial Director:
David Pierson
Managing Editor:
Ray E. T illey
International Editor:
David Snook
Editor , Coin Slot
Technical Editors:
Za c Oliver
Randy Fromm
J im Calore
Correspondents:
Pat Matthews
Roger C. Sharpe
J . W. Sedlak
Dick Welu
Charles C. Ross
Art Director:
Katey Schwark
Administrative Assistant:
Valerie Cognevich
Circulation Manager:
Ren ee' Pierson
Classified Advertising:
Val erie Cognevic h
Staff Illustrator:
Mars Walker
Advertising Manager:
David Pierson
European Representative:
Allied Leisure taps execs,
leases Vectorbeam rights
By RAY E. T ILLEY
Allied Leisu re Industries. Inc. is
pursuing a "new image" with the ap -
pointment of two new key personnel.
signing of a multi-year agreement
with Cinematronics Inc . for use of the
Vectorbeam monitor system. and a
conte m plated new name for the
H ialeah. Florida manufacturer. ac-
cording to an Allied spokesman .
In their new positions at H ialeah
are Ed M iller , president and chief
operations oficer. and Bill Olliges .
executive vice president and vice
president of engineering for Allied
Leisure . Both officers recently re ·
signed from Taito A merica to move
to the Hialeah posts .
The Allied Leisu re pact with
Cinematronics. of El Cajon. Califor·
nia. gives A llied rights for several
years to the Vectorbeam system. to
be used to develop Allied games as
well as those developed by Cinema·
Ironies.
Joel H ochberg. A llied vice presi -
dent. said his firm will produce Rip
Off in a cocktail version of the
Cinematronics video game . "Some
o ther possibilities exist in video
games. and we are testing on
location a game we have developed
on our own. that we think will be a
great success ." the marketing chief
told PLAY M ETER . " We're very
satisfied with the tests on one of our
own in -house products ."
Tom Stroud. chief marketing
officer for Cinematronics. termed the
agreement with Allied Leisure "a
major step forward for both compan -
ies . We at Cinemat ronics feel that
both the present and the future
belong to the Vectorbeam monitor .
and we are excited about sharing it
with a company like Allied Leisure .
Their new management and engin -
eering teams should make them a
major force very quickly ... said
troud .
The Rip Off cocktail model was
being produced at Allied Leisure 's
Florida plant for June delivery .
Hochberg said a new name for h1s
firm may be announced soon by its
chief officer .
These moves will give "an entirely
new image to Allied Leisure . We
have people who have expertise
from the grassroots level. on up ... h e
said. "Allied Leisure will be a very
strong manufacturer in the very near
future . Recognized weaknesses have
been rectified ." Hochberg commen -
ted .
The company has also made cer-
tain financial arrangements. assuring
that " capital i no problem at all."
said th e Alli ed officer
Esmay Leslie
Aug . 1, 1980.
PLAY METER ,
Vol. 6, No . 14. Copyright 1980 by
Skybird Publ ish ing Company . PLAY
METER ( ISSN 0162-1343) is pub-
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PLAY METER
Promot ions , " Harescombe" Watford
Road , Northwood M iddx . England ,
Northw ood 29244 .
Williams holds strategy confab
and spotlights employees
Key personnel of Williams Elec -
tronics. Inc . were gathering for the
Second A nnual A ccent on Achieve -
ment Conference at the Marriott
Lincolnshire Resort in Lincolnshire.
Illinois on June 27 and 28 .
Ron Crouse . Williams marketing
director. said: "This conference is an
opportunity for Williams employees
to meet in an informal atmosphere to
interchange ideas that will form our
company strategy . Our theme for this
year is 'Meeting the Competitive
Challenge
Design · Technology-
Quality'. ''
On the evening of Saturday. June
2 . the conference was to culminate
with a cocktail party and dinner
dance . The highlight of the dinner
was presentation of awards to some
employees " who have made major
contributions to Williams' success. "
Crouse told PLAY METER near the
press time for this Update Edition .
AMOA board deadline noted
Candidates for the AM OA Board of
Directors must be submitted to the
Nominating Committee for Directors
not later than July 31.
Each candidate recommended
must be endorsed by five members of
AMOA in good standing . The term
of a director is three years .
Write AMOA at 35 E . Wacker
Drive. Chicago 60601.
MUfiC
p r o ~ rtJ rntnit1
By Pat Matthews
Program Director
WQUE New Orleans
Cowboys and a lady, country and soul:
More movies move music
The hot summer months are up on
us . What that means. musically. is
that the product is usually increased
(for reasons I have never under-
stood) . It also doesn't hurt that the
music industry is beginning to
become stable again . And that 's
good news for all of us .
LOVE THE WORLD AWAY -
KENNY ROGERS - United Artists
UA -X1359-Y
Take a pinch of a ballad, add a
measure of Kenny Rogers. and mix
smoothly with a hit motion picture -
and you've got an obvious hit record.
This one's from the smash movie
"Urban Cowboy" and has all the
standard ingredients of Rogers'
never-ending string of chart success-
es. The only thing lacking on the
label is the word "H IT' rubber-
stamped on it. At any rate here's my
stamp of approval : 10 out of 10.
Major crossover indications.
DRIVIN ' MY LIFE AWAY -
EDDIE
RABBITT
Elektra
E-46656-A
Let's try something else from a
movie - this time of a totally different
vein . The movie in question is
"Roadie". The soundtrack runs the
gamut from Alice Cooper and
Blondie to Asleep At The Wheel.
And somewhere in between lies
Eddie Rabbitt and a su re -fire hit. I like
this record . It's acoustic and has a
rock -a -billy feel to it. The lyrics tell
the story of everyone who's driven
long distances - and will be the ne w
anthem for that great Am erican sect ,
the truckers . Excellent harmonies
highlight this positive co untry smash
with better than average crossover
potential: 10 o ut of 10 on highest
chart.
LET MY LOVE OPEN THE DOOR
PETER TOWNSHEND - At -
lantic 7217
All indications are that this
should be th e biggest chart success
for any Who group member ever. It 's
from Townshend 's second solo-effort
album. "E mpt y Glass", and believe it
or not, is not th e cut to get the
immediate heavy airplay as an lp cut.
However. it's the most commercial
tune on the lp . It's very "Who -ish"
like the entire lp and is excellently
produced by Chris Thoms . Pete
Townshend is and always will be the
genius behind The Who . This
number has him doin all vocals and
features Who drummer Kenney
Jones on percussion: 8 o ut of 10 or
better .
TAKE YOUR TIME
(DO IT
RIGHT ) -TH E S .O .S . BAND
- Tabu ZS9 5522
The reports I'm getting fro m a
very reliable national sales source is
that this is of the "sleeper" variety like
Lipps,
Inc.'s
" Funky
Town ".
Meaning it has already begun strong
regional sales in the East and is about
to reach the point where it will
explode. Some stores up East can't
keep enough in stock. It's tasteful
disco- meaning it's well produced,
fla shy R&B with a good vocal
arrange ment . This one's definitely
too ho t to handle . Strong crossover
possibilities exist , and I give it a 9 out
of 10 overall.
LET ' S GO ' RO UN D AGAIN
- AVERAGE WHITE BAND -
Arista AS 0515
The label's a different one (the
AWB haven 't any sales success to
speak of for the past few years), but
th e group has remained intact. As
unbelievable as it may seem, it's still
th e same lineup but this time out
they've added a new twist! They're
better than "Average" . They've
added some strings to their sound ,
giving them a " Philadelphia Soul "
feel - and the result could be very
contagious to the record buyer . The
lp is excellent and this is the first of
possibly a few singles releases from it.
Very up -tempo and very good . A
change in direction. maybe , but a
positive one. The percussion and
horns are vintage AWB . Hooks
throughout (even hand -clapping) .
Eight out of 10 or better.
O NE FIN E DAY - CAROLE KING
- Capitol P-4864
This lady is definitely overdue for
a hit. Now, just because she has
relied on one of her proven hit
com positions . doesn't mean it's not a
legit effort. "One Fine Day" has
never sounded better, and the
acceptance of this record has been
phenomenal. It's Carole King at her
rockingest best. Yes. she can rock'n'-
roll if she wants to : 7 out of 10 or
better.
NOTHING TO SAY- RUSS IA -
Warner Brothers WBS 49249
The title says it all. Will never sell
for obvious reasons . Zilch of zip.
Ed . note - More movie hits on 45s
were reviewed by Pat Matthews in
PLAY METER. July 15 issue.

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