Play Meter

MUSIC PROGRAMMING
Old Names
and New Hits
Update time . Time to update you
on the latest musical happenings .
Some old and some new grace the
pages of PLAY METER this time
around , so let's get on with the show,
so to speak.
GETTING CLOSER- Wings-Co-
lumbia 311020
In this critic's view , the title reflects
the true direction of McCartney's
musical endeavors. Finally, and I
repeat FINALLY, a rock 'n roller of
the purest degree , the ex-Beatle ,
after a very successful (financially) ,
very droll (artistically) stab at disco , is
Getting Closer. Surely "Goodnight
Tonight" was disco , but it was not a
song . A record , maybe , but a song?
No way . This time we've got very
familiar vocals , silly but effective
lyrics, and seering electricity . This
one is full of the kind of hooks which
should easily make it a 10 out of 10
for Wings .
GOOD TIMES - Chic- Atlantic 3584
Now let's turn our attention to a
group that specializes in Disco . They
set out to do a disco tune , and that's
exactly what they do . And , I might
add , they've got another chart topper
for Chic . There's an interesting story
behind this one. Nile Rodgers and
Bernard Edwards , two of the Chic-
est dudes in the industry today ,
originally penned this tune for Aretha
Franklin . It seems there were some
problems with the sheet music and
the "queen of soul" blew it off. So
Chic recorded it , and after one listen ,
you'll never be able to imagine
anyone else doing it. An incessant,
steady , danceable beat and snappy ,
vibrant vocals abound . This one
certainly makes for "good times"
listening or dancing . I give this tune a
10 out of 10, too!
KEEP ON RUNNING AWAY- Lazy
Racer- A&M 2152-S
This group recently purchased a
very appealing ad in " Billboard
Magazine" promoting this song . A
strong ad and a nice record . It opens
with melodramatic piano and pro-
ceeds to keep all the instruments in a
perfectly simple line throughout . The
lead vocals aren't all that hot , but the
song is Beatle-ish in style , and the
background vocals, but the har-
monies and punctuaters , are slick .
Glyn Johns , who had a hand in
some mid -sixties British invasion
tunes , lends his expertise a producer
and engineer . However , it will take
more than a push from the record
company to get this Lazy Racer to
burn some rubber. A 7 out of 10.
CRANK IT UP - Peter Brown -
Drive 6278
After a couple of misses following
his monster success with "Dance
With Me" a couple of years back,
Peter Brown hits again in a big way .
"Crank It Up" is a hard driving
rhythm and blues/ disco/ rock 'n roll
dance number . All the necessary
ingredients are here : gutsy vocals,
shrieking horns , whining guitars, and
steady drumming. Watch this one
become a sort of anthem for people
who like to party . Already a big hit in
the clubs, I give it a 9 out of 10 .
HAPPY RADIO - Edwin Starr -
Twentieth Century Fox TC 2408
It opens with a "singing jingle" and
moves on out in "Contact" style into
the very recognizable vocals of that
War man , Edwin Starr . You know ,
when "Contact" became a hit it made
me feel good for this excellent singer
who has certainly "paid his dues ."
There's really not much to say about
th is obvious spin-off of the previous
success . It 's danceable . Is that
enough? 7 out of 10.
THE MAIN EVENT - Barbra Strei-
sand - Columbia 3-11008
On screen , the lovely Ms . Strei-
sand is reunited with Ryan O'Neal in
another "cash in on Rocky" movie .
The records are rated as follows: 10 out of 10 = Top 10 peak; 9 out of 10 = Top 20 peak; 8 out of 10 = Top
30 peak; 7 out of 10 = Top 40 peak; 5 or 6 out of 10 = Somewhere in Top 100; 4 or less = Forget it, loser,
break in half.