By
Pat
Matthews
The hitmakers return
As a quick follow up to the recent
picture story in this column, March
15 issue- the Cold is still hot! Vance
and the band have begun to branch
out a bit more and plan to tackle the
states of the Southeast, now that
success has been attained in Texas
and Louisiana. By the end of 1981,
just about everybody will have had
"Cold Fever" at one time or another.
People Are Strange- The Doors
- Eiektra/E-4 7097 -A
No, there isn't any reason to
adjust your eyes. You're seeing quite
correctly. Obviously in an attempt to
cash in on a renaissance of this
group's popularity, Elektra Records
has re-released this treasure from
the back of your mind. A mild chart
success the first time out, this very
indentifiable Jim Morrison composi-
tion about the limits of paranoia
could garner the new audiences
being predicted and make the over-
25 crowd feel "Strange" again. A
crowd pleaser- 7 out of 10or better.
Guitar Man-Eivis Presley -
RCNJH-12158
While we're into post-mortem
music, The King is back! Well, sort
of. Felton Jarvis, a producer of some
reknown, has put this little up-tempo
Jerry (Reed) Hubbard composition
together to satisfy the remaining
millions of faithful fans . It's
identifiable Reed and Elvis- bringing
to mind "When You're Hot You're
Hot" and "Burning Love." Out of all
the issues after El's death, this one
makes one think that he's still
around, or wish he would be.
Incredibly, this will probably enjoy
only Country success, while/believe
the time is right for some crossover
activity. At any rate, 8 out of 10
country.
4
Outside- Ambrosia- Full Moon/
FMS49654
No, they haven't changed labels,
at least at last report. They've done
some tunes for a movie entitled
"Inside Moves" and this is from the
soundtrack . It's written by group
member and lead singer David Pack
and is a composite drawing of
everything you've heard from this
group in the past two years. It
sounds, too , like Ambrosia's first
attempt at making movie music will
be a successful one. Good song.
Characteristic Ambrosia with plenty
of character. Nice sax and guitar
work fills this next link in a chain of
record successes from a group
which certainly paid its dues before
going public, so to speak. Expect 9
out of 10 or more.
Hello Again - Neil Diamond -
Capitoi/P-4%0
Here's another artist who went
"astray" from his usual record label
to do some movie music. Of course,
this story is a bit more familiar since
this is the second single from The
Jazz Singer soundtrack, and the lp is
getting more than its share of airplay.
The album is a definite sales success
and all those women who don't care
if Neil Diamond can act, yet have
seen the movie more than once, will
scoop this beautiful ballad (again!)
right up. Especially if they can get
their hands on the nice packaging
with the bearded Neil with baby and
wife (from the movie) in mid
embrace. Hitting 10 out of 10
probably by the time you read this.
All American Girls- Sister Sledge-
Cotillion/ 46007
It certainly has been a while since
these siblings have had a hit. Well,
they're back with one sound that
made them famous and it's not
written or produced by the "men
from Chic." The honor this time goes
to another master of the danceable
funk , Narada Michael Walden. An
obvious sequel to "We Are Family,"
this one is timely in a sense and could
be just as much a rallying point as the
fir s t Sledge c hart success .
Crossover pours from it; 10 out of 10
on highest chart.
Our Paths May Never Cross-
Merle Haggard- MCA/ 51048
"Hag" has got himself another
barroom classic . From the opening
blues piano ripplings, you know what
you 're in for : 3 minutes plus of music
to nurse a beer by. Leonard is the
fl ip side of this country hit record,
and it's Haggard's real life tribute to
singer/ songwriter Tommy Collins
(whose real name is Leonard Sipes) .
The song is catchy and the lyrics tell
the tale of a man who obvio usly
inspired Merle Haggard more than
once in his illustrious career; 10 out
of 10 Country.
Rapture - Biondie- Chrysalis/
CHS2485
And now for the killer! Deborah
Harry and company have outdone
themselves .. . AGAIN ! You know
you 've reached a certain point in a
musical career when you can do
songs uncharacteristic of your
established sound and still turn the
masses on. The only group that
comes to my mind in this regard is
the Beatles. And now, Blondie. What
seems like a parody of "Rap" records
is really more. It's a combination of
ja z z , d isco , funk , rock , and
absurdity. All of these elements
when swallowed as one pill takes you
on a high which is hard to come
down from. Chances are, you may
not want to come down , but you may
want to get down. Deborah, do it to
us forever ; 10 out of 10 or higher. It
may be the record of the year!
PLAY METER NEWS UPDATE