Artists & Music Robyn Hitchcock Takes A Solo Turn Moss Elixir' Marks WB Debut Without Egyptians BY CRAIG ROSEN Egyptians. been in inverse proportion to the Says Hitchcock, "It's really sad for amount of money that is spent on it." LOS ANGELES -After having his bunches of men over 40 to go around The strategy of inviting a variety back catalog with the Soft Boys and together. Either you do it because of players -including violinist Deni the Egyptians reissued by Ryko and you're making millions of dollars or Bonet and saxophonist Ntshuks Rhino, respectively, veteran British because you are some punk band who Bonga -to play on individual songs eccentric Robyn Hitchcock has has been offered some gigs in Spain. (published by August 23 Music) emerged with his Otherwise, after a certain age, you worked well. first studio album just don't want to go around with "I'm an immediate artist," he says. in four years un- your legs tied together anymore." "I don't produce entranced music. der a new deal So in 1994, Hitchcock began re- I'm not like Bryan Ferry, who I hap- with Warner Bros. cording "Moss Elixir" as a solo pro- pen to really like. Some people work Records. ject. "I felt that I wanted to make a by building songs up out of layers Hitchcock's record that didn't need a band," he and layers. We tried a bit of layering Warner debut, says. "I wanted to put only what was with the Egyptians, but my stuff is Don't Step On His Shoes. Carl Perkins celebrates his induction into Hollywood, "Moss Elixir," needed on the record. When you have intimate. It works best when it's just Calif.'s RockWalk in June. Tom Petty introduced Perkins at the ceremony, which will be released a band, you have to find work for a voice and a couple of guitars." was attended by Brian Setzer, producer Pete Anderson, and members of Dash HITCHCOCK on CD and cas- them. If you have a drummer, you Other supporting players appear- Rip Rock. At the induction, Perkins was presented with the first prototype of a sette Aug. 13. can't say, `I only want drums on ing on the album are onetime Cap- new Gibson Blueshawk guitar, and a donation was made to the Carl Perkins But even before the official release, three songs out of 12.' " tain Beefheart guitarist Morris Tep- Child Abuse Center. Shown, from left, are Petty, Perkins, chairman of the Rock - Warner Bros. will whet the appetites Free from the constraints of a per, whose playing Hitchcock Walk industry advisory committee Ray Scherr, and Setzer. of Hitchcock's loyal following with band and a recording contract, (Continued on next page) the July 23 release of the limited-edi- Hitchcock, who was between con- tion, vinyl -only "Mossy Liquor: Out- tracts when he began working on the takes And Prototypes." That album, album, enjoyed a new -found sense of which will be released in a limited freedom. "I had no deal and no band, run of 2,500 copies, will feature and I could do what I wanted as long Discover Gets Credit For Helping NARAS; alternate versions of six of the tracks as I didn't spend too much money." on "Moss Elixir," as well as six songs The low- budget approach suited not available elsewhere. Hitchcock well. "I never believed Madacy Prices Heat Up For Summer Set "Moss Elixir" also marks Hitch - that throwing money at recordings cock's first new album since dis- has paid off for me," he says. "My DISCOVER THE POSSIBILITIES: NARAS and Dis- Nat Burgess, head of APA's New York operation. "We banding his longtime band, the success with records has always cover Card will kick off the second Discover Grammy Fes- book Boston, but we were looking to get more into the tival July 12. Participating artists include Sting, Liza rock business." Minnelli, B.B. King, Santana, the Spin Doctors, Among the other music acts APA books are John Tesh, Michael Bolton, John Tesh, Indigo Girls, and Crosby, Adam Sandler, Wynton Marsalis, Peter Cetera, Art Low & Sweet Orchestra Mixes Stills & Nash. The three -month series encompasses con- Garfunkel, America, and the Spinners. certs and community outreach pro- The move will result in the clos- grams that include artists conduct- ing of ITG's Manhattan, N.Y., Myriad Ingredients On Interscope ing master classes. Discover Card office. Burgess would not discuss BY CHRIS MORRIS will make a donation to the NARAS any financial aspects of the deal, Foundation, which funds music edu- which was negotiated largely by LOS ANGELES -Interscope Rec- cation programs. Events will take APA partner Harvey Litwin. ords believes that the Low & Sweet place in New York, Los Angeles, Orchestra -whose debut album, Minneapolis, Dallas, Philadelphia, THIS AND THAT: "Bordello Of "Goodbye To All That," is due Aug. Seattle, Chicago, Miami, San Fran- Blood," the soundtrack to the third 13-has concocted a recipe for triple - cisco, and Washington, D.C. film under the "Tales From The A success that can translate into NARAS started the program in by Melinda Newman Crypt" banner, will be released other formats. 1993 in eight cities with American Aug. 6. The Mercury release a Interscope head of marketing and THE LOW & SWEET ORCHESTRA Express as the sponsor; Discover includes new title track by sales Steve Berman says, "The goal is Card signed on last year. Anthrax, as well as classic tunes from Sweet, Free, Thin to lead with triple -A and then see Lizzy, and the Scorpions ... In a completely unrelated where it develops from there." Monster, says the lineup came togeth- SUMMERTIME: Madacy Entertainment Group, best note, American Recordings has signed Nusrat Fateh Ali The disparate musical ingredients er two years ago. At that point, for- known for flooding the market with its popular budget- Khan. The Pakistani singer's label debut will be released in the L.A. -based band include two mer Thelonious Monster and Circle line classical titles, has released its first full- priced title. in September. There are also tentative plans for Khan to seasoned punk -rock veterans, a for- Jerks member Zander Schloss assem- "Sun Splashin'," a 16 -track compilation of summer -ori- record an album of duets. Khan has received mainstream mer member of Celt -punk unit the bled an electric band called Sweet & ented tunes, came out June 10. The album carries a sug- attention in this country for his duets with Eddie Vedder Pogues, and a pair of rising young Low. gested list price of $17.98 for CD and $10.98 for cassette. on the "Dead Man Walking" soundtrack. film stars who happen to be gifted Martt recalls, "[Schloss] had Rob According to a Madacy representative, the label decid- HighTone Records will release "Interstate City," a live string players. These oddly matched Rosa from Menudo singing for him, ed to make the title full price because of the many cuts album from Dave Alvin, July 30. Alvin performs songs players produce a sound that is and he did one show, and it was horri- on the collection and because it claims that several of the from his solo career, as well as some from his days with acoustic -based yet abrasive and lyri- ble, so he fired the guy, and he still tracks are seldom licensed. "Sun Splashin' " is full priced the Blasters ... Just in time for its tour with Foreign- cally hard -nosed. had a Sweet & Low show coming up undoubtedly also to help recoup the tremendous $3 mil- er and Peter Frampton, REO Speedwagon will release Singer/guitarist Mike Martt, a vet at the Alligator Lounge. So we put lion advertising campaign for the title. Madacy is run- its first album of new material in six years July 9. The of such brazen L.A. punk combos as this together real quick as the Sweet ning a full slate of ads on Ted Turner -owned stations album, produced by Greg Ladanyi, will be out on Castle Tex & the Horseheads and Thelonious & Low Orchestra, and it just took off (including CNN Headline News, WTBS, and TNT) Records. (Continued on next page) through Aug. 30. The Turner channels were picked because their demographics match the ones Madacy feels ON THE ROAD: A number of acts have been tapped will want the compilation and because of their high house- as opening acts for Neil Young, including Jewel, Oasis, hold penetration. and the Gin Blossoms ... Young himself will be the spe- If the album, which debuts at No. 128 on The Billboard cial guest at the Aug. 23 H.O.R.D.E. concert at Her - 200 this week, is successful, Madacy will release a simi- sheypark in Hershey, Pa. That is the only festival date lar compilation annually. Young is scheduled to play ... Tripping Daisy has land- ed the opening slot on the Def Leppard tour, which LET'S ROCK: International Talent Group head Mike started June 26. ERFORME Farrell will join forces with Agency for the Performing Pantera and White Zombie will share a double bill Arts as a senior VP Monday (1), bringing to the booking throughout the summer. The arena /shed tour opened DESERVES agency a number of acts, including Pink Floyd, Phil June 28 in Winston -Salem, N.C.... Trance Syndicate act Collins, Genesis, Steve Miller, Mike & the Mechan- Bedhead, which just released its fourth album for the ANOTHER. ics, and Julian Lennon. label, "Beheaded," will be on a club tour through July 19 The addition of rock acts expands APA's music roster, ... The Cranberries have canceled their remaining Aus- which has traditionally leaned jazz and middle of the tralian and Southeast Asian tour because of a knee injury SHURE road. "We've been trying to round out our roster, and this sustained by lead singer Dolores O'Riordan. They are Travis Tritt THE SOUND OF PROFESSIONAIS...WORIDWIDE.TM move takes us to a different level in the business," says still scheduled to kick off their U.S. tour Aug. 1.

14 BILLBOARD JULY 6, 1996 www.americanradiohistory.com