MUSIC WEEK, OCTOBER 13, 1979

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Bugatti & Musker poised for the big breakthrough By CHRIS WHITE AFTER THREE years of steadily building up the reputation of one of Britain's brightest pop composing teams, Dominic Bugatti and Frank Musker are finally poised to break into the international music market. The last six months have seen the The last few years have seen Three Degrees said to us: 'How songwriting duo score heavily Bugatti and Musker producing a could two men possibly write a lyric throughout the world, with the string of pop hits for people like like that?' She could understand a exception of the US, with the Three Paul Nicholas (who had a big US hit woman echoing those sentiments, Degrees' version of their song. with Heaven Is On The Seventh but not a man. What she failed to Woman In Love, while Bette Midler Floor), Twiggy, Cilia Black and the realise was that the words of Woman has had an American hit with Three Degrees. Woman In Love was In Love were the words that most Married Men, Bugatti and Musker's originally recorded by Twiggy and men would like to hear their woman theme for the film. The World Is released here as a single by say." ?* • Full Of Married Men — and which Phonogram — but flopped The songwriting duo have recently was a hit this side of the Atlantic for completely. returned from a working visit to the Bonnie Tyler. Sandie Shaw was also offered the US where they met many of their If Dominic Bugatti and Frank song, and turned it down. When American counterparts and Musker had not become Stuart Newton, former Chappell generally put their name around. In songwriters, then the chances are promotion executive and now of addition, they have been writing the /jt that by now they would both have Pendulum Music, heard the number music for a new Jackie Collins film, V* been in the law profession. The two he realised that it could be right for Yesterday's Heroes, and have been men met while at Cambridge, the Three Degrees who had recently putting backing vocals on other ;0. studying law. signed a deal with Ariola. people's records. And the latest A BRIGHT British pop composing team — Bugatti and Musker. Said Bugatti: "We found that we Musker said: "It was a great news is that American producer Arif were about the only people who had achievement for Stuart getting a Marden — who has worked with the any interest in pop or rock music, so cover on the song — particularly as Bee Gees on their most recent that common denominator brought the Three Degrees were being albums — is going to produce The Canaiin club us together. It is six years now since produced by Giorgio Moroder, The Chaka Khan singing a Bugatti and we first started writing together, and song was our answer to the Mary Musker song. THE INCREASING influence of Canadian pop and rock music on so far as we are concerned, it has McGregor hit, Torn Between Two the international music scene has been one of the important trends of been a great success." Lovers. Sheila Ferguson of the the last two or three years. One of the new Canadian names, so far as Carlin contracts the British public is concerned, is songwriter Greg Adams, whose BARRY BLUE, songwriter- biggest hit to date has been Roger Whittaker's River Lady. producer, American-based Melvin Originally Adams comes from Simmons Productions and Paul Montreal, where, as a teenager, he Edited by Anka have all signed major started to play, sing and write his NIGEL HUNTER publishing deals with Carlin Music own music. It wasn't until seven Corporation. years ago, however, that his Barry Blue, with several mil lion- professional songwriting career Shirley Eikhard, the Les Humphries selling hits to his credit, has began to take-off, and, in particular, Singers and America's Jimmy appointed Carlin to administer his many of his songs since then have Rodgers. newly-formed Shanna Music on a been big sellers in the German His new album. Runaway worldwide basis. He has three market. Among them was Dreams, was recorded for Attic albums he has produced scheduled Whittaker's River Lady. Records in Canada and has been for January releases. "I wrote that song in 1972, but it picked up by Epic here. All the songs The agreement with Melvin was a number of years before Roger are by Adams, with the publishing Simmons Productions, Whittaker actually heard it," going through ATV Music. The incorporating Mel-Bren Music and Adams recalls. "He eventually sessions were held at the famous Ditchroad Music, gives Carlin a recorded it for an LP, and the song Muscle Shoals studios in Alabama, minimum guarantee of eight major was used as a single. It wasn't a hit with Barry Beckett — currently film soundtracks per year. Among in Britain, but was a huge seller in working with Dire Straits — them are Tilt and Love A t First Bite, Germany, which is one of producing. the Dracula spoof. Whittaker's biggest markets." Aside from his general Carlin has set a deal to administer Adams has also had songs songwriting activities, Adams also Paul Anka's Paul-Anne Music recorded by such other European composes jingles for both television publishing company and its record artists as Tina Rainford, and radio. subsidiary. Five Daughters Music. Copyrights involved include tracks from Anka's new album, Headlines. The picture, above left, shows Sltuiifc Saiei deals Carlin Music Corporation London vice president Paul Rich signing on MUSIC SALES has reached an exclusive agreement with Interworld the dotted line — with a little Music to produce and distribute sheet music and folios compiled from MiPEM 198® encouragement from Barry Blue. copyrights held by Interworld, which include the Schroeder Music catalogue, the Compass Music catalogue with its Henry Mancini standards and the major portion of songs written by Burt Bacharach CIHMTEii A mem Eurowon and Hal David in the Blue Seas Jac catalogue. In another new deal, Music Sales managing director has set a greatly to our drive for current show remindier distribution agreement with material," commented Wise. "The ALTHOUGH NO specific dale Columbia Pictures to market the publications represent the best show has yet been announced by the lalter's print publications. Among material available today, and the BBC, Ihc Music Publishers them are the copyrights in the Times market is very receptive to the Association reminds its members Square Music catalogue, and the package and arrangements with that the closing date for Song folios and sheet music involve which Columbia is providing us." fTtsfSTV? For Europe/Eurovision entries Broadway shows formerly under the Last month, Music Sales was last year was November 15, and Metromedia Music banner, now exhibiting at the Moscow it advises interested parties to owned by Freddy Bienstock of International Book Fair. To back up conform to the same deadline for Carlin Music and including Fiddler its presence, the company produced the next contest, pending further On The Roof, Cabaret, Godspell, a special 60,000 copy run of its information. She Loves Me and Mr. Wonderful. newspaper Music Book News in The MPA understands that the "The material in the Times Russian and featuring articles on Song For Europe eliminating Square catalogue is of especial Elton John and Elvis Presley as well HAVE YOUR OWN DE LUXE contest will take place in the importance to us as it contributes Royal Albert Hall on April 11 as a special crossword. FLOATING HOTEL - next year, and the two most RIGHT WHEREIT ALL probable dates for the 1980 Onsippdi Mmk sippeimtmeiits Eurovision Song Contest arc HAPPENS - either April 26 or May 17. RKCLN! APPOINTMENTS at Chappell Music involve lun Rcid and Lyi TO RELAX OR THROW MPA members arc also Bent, who bolh now reporl lo Jonathan Simon. reminded that the closing date j0 Cd lhC r l> motion A PARTY for entries to be considered for resnnLhH-. l" P 1 1 department' as professional manager, v the Queen's Awards to British Vale,vXsiv Siouxsic andma the"ml Banshees. by writers Thin such Lizzyas Bugatti and andGerard Musker, Kenny. Lceson He i' FOR IN FORM A TION CONTACT: - Industry is October 31, and prcvmuGly promotion manager at Famous Chappell, and prior to that worl entries should be submitted to in the sales department of DJM Records. u prior 10 ma MONCADA FRANCE S.A.R.L., "LE BEATRICE" the Secretary, Queen's Awards dU Cn h US beCn opp ointed 79 La Croisette, 12-06406 Cannes Cedex Office, Williams National \VhUe She L s i 1 11 PromotionP< y r assistant, working with C Tel: France (93) 99.34.18/99.34.19 (Telex 478982 F) House, 11/13 Holborn Viaduct, secrelarv/PA In RX" iT'T " « '"" companies since 1972 London ECIA IEL. reccnllv toTonvHoh"^. d"."10 al PhonoBrum, then Chappell, and, m wriltr/pubhsherswriter/Dublishfn: Milchm»i km Murray andc 'Icr Peter Folygram Callander. service she worked for so PAGE 12