Gimme Something to Feel

Page 8 Los Angeles Free Press December 7, 1973 science (". Sell my heart to the junkman, and give-my love to Rose.") with the tart "Christ mas in Prison" currently running axlose second ("The search light in the big yard swings round with the gun and spotlights the snowflakes like dust in the sun LOUDON WAINWRIGHT III ATTEMPTED MUSTACHE harmonica style, late Velvet It's always pleasant when you can begin a column with a positive Sweet Revenge. (John Prine) Underground in the general comment like this: She lived up to all my expectations and more. Produced by Arif Mardin. sound and clean, almost polite, I'm referring, of course, to Dory Previn who played to four sold-out Atlantic SD 7274. lead guitar, Bowie in the voice houses at the Troubadour last weekend. Dory performed songs from * * * * and show-biz savvy. Then the her standard repertoir (with a few notable exceptions excised for words start coming through and lack of time) plus four new songs "Coldwater Canyon" and Attempted Mustache. (Loudon you realize that Murphy could "Brando" being exceptional standouts and a song called "The Em Wainwright, III) Produced by just as easily be you or me as press of China" being the only weak piece (in the sense that the idea Bob Johnston. Columbia KG some big-headed kid from subur seems incomplete, the song unfinished) of the entire set. Peter 32710. ban Long Island. The surprising Jameson and Bob Wachtel on guitars provided the musical accom * * * * thing is that his being, in his own other paniment (Dory's guitar was unamplified and unmiked). Todd Funny Coincidences of the Wainwright, on the words, "so low down middle Everett's more detailed review of what is probably the most Week: John Prine and Loudon hand, has written a Liza class," works so well foe him. memorable show I have seen all year at the Troubadour appears Wainwright, III have each Minnelli song that's even more In contrast to Alice Cooper, elsewhere in this issue. released a new album within two bitter than Peter Alien's Liza whose appeal stems largely from weeks of one another. Minnelli song, and a lullabye to his outrageous teenage fantasies end all lullabies ("Shut up and Gris-Gris Goes Ga-Ga Each deals in social and moral and freak-outs, Murphy's per count some sheep and do me a in a Troubadour, I stopped by last Friday night to issues. sona is direct and based Speaking of the favor don't bitch in your sleep common to many of us. catch Dr. John's set one more time, and I (and the rest of the Each writer often uses the reality "story" as a device. .") He's grown up, moved away from audience) received an unexpected treat. For both the second and Both gentlemen are articulate, John's friends stopped by to Each writer/singer has been home and is into new scenes; but third shows that evening, a few of Dr. amusing and entertaining. and roll were far from together, but the energy and excite hailed as "the next Dylan." he's still hung up on rock jam. The results Prine's got the reputation, if not and his roots to his hometown ment made for one of the most fun rock and roll parties I have ever Each has a high, reedy, nasal voice (see above item). the record sales; Wainwright's and family are closer than he'd stumbled upon. The "friends" who played during the second set got "Dead Skunk" (not on this like them to be. were John Lennon, Elton John and Bobby Woinack. Those drop Each has recorded his current album, for the most part, in album, though) but not the And he knows it, so his percep ping in for the third set were Cher, Joni Mitchell and Bonnie publicity. I enjoy them both, but and five of the six Nashville, and several of the tions turn out to be acute Bramlett. And for those of you who are into gossip, like 'em both more "live," life. "Last of the Rock "friends" gre more or less sinirlp thsii? dswS (YOU fi(rlir6 it OUt) same musicians play on both true to albums. without ali the extra in Stars," for instance, depicts the Little Caesar Lives struments, and wish they'd life of a high school rock and One of the most delightfully unpretentious autobiographies ever Each album includes one "live" cut, recorded in concert, record that way. roller while hinting that the to come out of Hollywood (especially during the current rash of Del Porter of a "comedy" song. music is existing on little more gossipy expose books) is Edward G. Robinson's All My Yesterdays. than momentum these days. Together with writer Leonard Spigelgass (who completed the book Each includes one song the ar tist didn't write. Aquashow (Elliott Murphy). "Like a Great Gatsby" and after the author's death), Robinson has created a most remarkable K. Siegel. "White Middle Class Blues" are of a human being who coincidentally happened to be a There are some differences, Produced by Peter portrait Polydor PD-5061. also tied to the suburbs, the legend. Perhaps the secret to this book (both in the writing and the though. Wainwright is taller than Prine. Wainwright is from When the opening cut on a latter in such an overplayed enjoyment of it) was that its author found the legend just as manner that it becomes an fascinating as the rest of the world did and the book is a convincing New York; Prine from Kentucky. debut album neatly summarizes Wainwright was born rich; Prine Ziggy Stardust and "American amusing self-parody. ly honest explanation of what that legend was all about. Nor does The album's class, though, Robinson neglect the man one Emanuel Goldenberg (Robinson's wasn't. Pie" and transcends them both, Wainwright's album was you know you're listening to takes place in the city: "Hangin' real name) who was behind the legend. From his constant con Out," complete with speeded up flict of art vs. the dollar to his maniacal penchant for art collecting produced by a man whose ex someone substantially more perience is largely in country than ordinary. The rest of "Sweet Jane" chord progression, (perhaps the art on his walls was the artistry he denied in himself) Murphy's most convincing vocal to his painfully protracted marriage, the author engages in the kind music. Prine's is a jazz and pop Aquashow confirms the man. Both producers, though, suspicion: Elliott Murphy is and lyrics that tell it all. When of self-examination that made him special both as a man and as a he sings, You can laugh or you legend. have worked with the last Dylan. someone to be reckoned with. Prine and can stab but we're all in the Although I may have made All My Yesterdays seem like pretty While both The first couple of times "serious" same damn show, it hits right heavy reading, it is not; it is a thoroughly entertaining book. If it Wainwright write through, you hear mainly the in has any flaws, it is only because Robinson was a bit too defensive songs as well as "funny" ones, fluences Dylan in the rifts and (please turn to page 10) (no, "apologetic") about some of his alleged political activities. neither's are that easy to Aside from a few heavy-handed pages towards the end, the reader categorize. Both have a way of can get almost as much enjoyment out of Edward G. Robinson's life drawing comedy from tragedy (witness Prine's "Things Could ROCK mu/ic as he apparently had living it. One note of caution: if you're looking for any Hollywood "dirt" Be Worse," about an auto acci you won't find it here. In fact. Robinson with the greatest dent, and Wainwright's and gentlemanly discretion has avoided any such cheap sen "Clockwork Chartreuse," about sationalism. All My Yesterdays is a book for all fans of the legend a couple of droogs). HOT BOOK/! who would like to know the man, and it is also a book for anyone My favorite song on Prine's """"""""" Any who could enjoy reading about a fascinating human being. album is "Please Don't Bury Me," about a fellow who wants Old Way You to donate parts of his body to Choose It Guru Goes Ga-Ga Rock and Ottier Pop Music. 1967-1973 As promised, I will keep my readers up to date on the activities of ROBERT CHRISTGAU ANY OLD WAY the 15-year-old sham and wunderkind. Guru Maharaj Ji. The following release from Zodiac News Service came across my desk YOU CHOOSE IT! this past week. Enjoy; I did. The Guru Maharaj Ji, the 15-year-old self-proclaimed 1W by Robert Christgau perfect master," lost a legal battle in India this week. :,, All about all kinds of rock mu The Indian government has announced that it has per manently confiscated $46,000 in cash and jewelry which ll sic and rock-music performers. customs officials claim the Guru was attempting to smuggle Here are Bob Dylan, the Roll into India last year. ing Stones, Bette Midler, the The alleged smuggling incident occurred last year when the New York Dolls, and many Guru and a number of his followers returned to India and others—from the days of flower attempted to pass through customs. One of his followers, Bihari Singh, was apprehended while trying to carry in an undeclared power to the new androgyny.

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