cashbox! arlbian revieue Pop Picks

MANCINI CONCERT Henry Mancini RCA LSP-4542 - - BOOKER T. & PRISCILLA-A&M SP 3504 Booker T. Jones' a of everything celebrated "Share" pro- There's little bit for the duction listener in this Mancini concert disk. Starting deal with A&M finally bears beautiful fruit in this two -record set. All with a "portrait of Simon & Garfunkel" which but four cuts includes lush versions of "Scarborough Fair/ were written or co -written by Booker and his wife, Canticle" and "El Condor Pasa," the maestro Priscilla. For the most part their inter- moves into equally fine medleys of marches esting and afford us a view of Mr. Jones we'd and big band themes. From there it's an easy not seen before. The extended "The Wedding Song" (over 9 minutes) is nigh step to the "Overture From 'Tommy' " and a unto the best quartet of songs from "Jesus Christ, Super- track on the albums. Also good "The Sea star." Mancini fans of all ages should enjoy Gull," Priscilla's heartfelt "The Delta Song," Earth Children," and "Water this LP. Brother."

HARMONY ROW-Jack Bruce-Atco SD 33- 365 HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RUTHY BABY-McGuin- Newest album from ex -Cream member ness Flint-Capitol ST-794 Bruce is more in the tradition of "Songs For Second release by the "When I'm Dead And A Tailor" than the experimental jazz offering Gone" boys introduces twelve new songs, "Things We Like." Once again lyricist Pete several of them in the hard rock category. Brown has provided the kind of stark and Title tune is an infectious and fast moving vivid images which work well with Bruce's item and among the other standout selections highly charged singing style. Sometimes, as in are "Conversation," "Changes" and "When "Escape To The Royal Wood (On Ice)" and I'm Alone With You," all of which have a almost the Morning Story," things reach slight country flavor. Helping out on a half is in frantic stage but Bruce always control dozen cuts is Nicky Hopkins on piano. Album and and on the more subdued "Folk Song" was produced by Glyn Johns. "Victoria Sage," he is properly haunting. A record of diverse pleasures.

Nabors FREEDOM MEANS . . .-The Dells-Cadet HELP ME MAKE IT THROUGH THE NIGHT- Help Me Make it CA -50004 Jim Nabors-Columbia 30810 Through Freedom means changing with the times Latest in a long line of Jim Nabors LP's The Night while still retaining your musical identity. finds the popular tv personality in a country That's the definition The Dells provide us with setting. Under the competent producer's guid- on this outing consisting largely of tunes by ance of Billy Sherrill, and accompanied by the very gifted Terry Callier: "The Love We some of Nashville's finest, Nabors serves up Had," "Free and Easy." They combine a black eleven songs, including "Make The World Go version of MOR with a baritone lead that's Away," "My Elusive Dreams," "My Woman, just on the pleasant side of stridency and make My Woman, My Wife" and "Rose Garden." music that is most definitely nobody's but Fans who enjoy his previous sets will no their own. Freedom should also mean sales doubt want to add this one to their collec- and some steady chart action, the kind they've tions. enjoyed through the years. Newcomer Picks

MEANS LOVE MEANS YOU NEVER HAVE TO SAY Its 8TH DAY-Invictus ST -7306 YOU NEVER HAVE TO Say ' XJ'RE SORRY YOU'RE SORRY-The Sounds Of Sunshine- The group had a phenomenal smash in "She's Ranwood 8089 Not Just Another Woman" and on that basis By this time we all know what love means. SOUndsdf suNshwE alone, this package would do well. But the But what this album means is that one of latest Holland -Dozier -Holland find is not con- the finer MOR assemblages to come along in tent to rest on their singles laurels. On the recent times is here. Gentle harmonies and second side, they get into some finely chiseled "Just As Long." lush arrangements mark a dozen contempor- extended work, especially on ary songs, among which are "Make It With They will maintain their hit status with cuts Come You," "Rainy Days And Mondays," "For The like "Enny-Meeny-Miny-Mo" and "I've Good Times," "El Condor Pasa" and "It's To Save You" and make new fans in the proc- Title tune, the group's single ess. Lead vocals are especially powerful and Impossible." match it with click, is also featured. A winning easy listen- the album's chart thrust should ing package. ease. Pop Best Bets

VICTORIA-San Francisco SD 206 Victoria's "Secret Of The Bloom" album NATURAL BLACK INVENTIONS: ROOT STRATA was one arrivals of last season -Rahsaan Roland Kirk-Atlantic SD 1578 of the nicer to and the sequel is even better. Through her On which the artist is heard perfection this singer shares on tenor sax, stritch, manzello, B Flat & E Flat songs young San Francisco mys- her life experiences with us. She tells us about clarinets, flute, black puzzle flute, black people she knows, whom she has loved, whom tery pipes, harmonium, piccolo, bass drum, box, she will never see again. "Now You're Gone" thundersheet, sock cymbal, bells, music and applying the use is a lovely lament for the past, while "We've palms, tympani, gong, Got Ways To Keep High" is an affirmation of of bird sounds. There are 13 tracks-twelve the present. In this record you really meet originals plus Ellington's "Day Dream." someone.

PG&E-Columbia C 30362 THE BUOYS-Scepter 24001 Since their last outing Pacific Gas & Electric The Buoys must have set some kind of have become PG&E and added five new mem- endurance record waiting for their single of bers (they're now a nonet). Their music has "Timothy" to become a full fledged hit. Hap- metamorphosed, too, into a much mellower pily they should not have to wait so long sound. Almost all the frantic R&B numbers for their first LP to make it. Collection kicks have given way to more relaxed melodies. off with "Timothy" and also features "Give Their lead singer, Charlie Allen, has really Up Your Guns" and "Bloodknot," two other come into his own. And it's his rich deep story songs of more than passing interest. voice that makes the group special. Fine cuts: Numbers are divided between Buoys com- "Rock And Roller's Lament," "Short Doga positions and works by their arranger Rupert And Englishmen," "See The Monkey Run," Holmes, with the former being innocent and and "Thank God For You Baby." This should the latter lyrically striking. be the start of a PG&E comeback.

Cash Box July 31, 1971 34 - www.americanradiohistory.com