Soul Lps,. Work Has Dropped Considerably

Home , I Can Understand It, The Valentinos, Zulema

53 General News Billboard SPECIAL SURVEY for Week Ending 3/8/75 He Has Cut Country Album; BOBBY WOMACK 'Something I Wanted To Do' By JEAN WILLIAMS ANGELES -"There is a line. That's how I wrote `That's The dience but prefers the intimacy of tightness in the record industry and Way I Feel About Cha.' nightclubs. "You must first realize Soul LPs,. work has dropped considerably. I "My music has graduated from that I am a born preacher," says Wo- this publication may be be- the elementary level to senior high. mack. "I am able to stir the people. I Copyright 1975, Billboard Publications, Inc. No part of have turned down dates recently reproduced. stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted. in any form or by any cause there is no reason to gross But now I am about to enter college, enjoy the performing and of the means. electronic, mechanical. photocopying. recording, or otherwise. without prior written permission of the publisher. $200,000 and walk away with which is the way I deal with my mu- business or anything that will afford the $30,000," says Bobby Womack, sic." me the luxury of being closely in- United Artists' star. Although he is the composer of "I volved with people. *STAR Performer -LP's registering It has been several months since Can Understand It" which won a greatest proportionate upward prog- "But when I sit down to write a ress this week Womack's last release and he says, gold record for the New Birth, he did I; ä song, I know that I am not only deal- TITLE 3C 3C TITLE "I will not throw just anything to- not record the tune until recently. Artist, Label Number Artist, Label b Number ing with my particular situation, but I 1; to a record on the Womack is the owner of three (Dist. Label) (Dist. Label) gether just have others that feel the same frustrations a a market. The competition is too stiff." gold records, "Looking For A Love" that I may be feeling. That makes me He is keenly aware of his decline in and "Harry Hippie" as the per- 1 11 AVERAGE WHITE BAND 32 34 24 LIVE IT UP feel that I am contributing. Atlantic SD 7308 Isley Bros., T-Neck PZ 33070 popularity due to prolonged periods former, and "I Can Understand It." (Columbia) I my message songs, 1 between records, and he comments, As a producer in his own right he "When sing 2 2 15 FIRE of Ohio Players, Mercury SRM 1 1013 "you're as popular as your last hit." has undertaken the challenge of air- can always tell from the reaction 33 44 2 RIDDLE OF THE SPHINX (Phonogram) As soon as you come out with a new ing the Valentinos (his five brothers) the audience, who are having, or Bloodstone, London PS 654 problems. That record, it's as if you. have never left and singer Mary Wells. have had similar 3 3 10 RUFUSIZED 34 14 11 WITH EVERYTHING I FEEL makes me feel that I am really reach- Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan, the scene. even IN ME "In these times of inflation, ABC ABCD 837 ing them, and hope that in some SD 18116 "Many artists will put out records some of the top artists are doing only Aretha Franklin, Atlantic to have their small way I have made them smile one after another, just weekend gigs," he says, reverting 4 4 14 EXPLORES YOUR MIND names before the public, but that is about it for at least a little while." Al Green, Hi SHL 32087 (London) 35 36 20 IN HEAT back to the job situation. "When T-443 dangerous and can do more harm Love Unlimited, 20th Century you're carrying 30-40 people along 8 6 REALITY than good if the product is inferior." with you, even though you gross a James Brown, Polydor PD 6039 36 46 2 GOT MY HEAD ON He freely admits that the offers for lot of money, it doesn't pay to do Buddah And GRT STRAIGHT personal engagements are not com- weekend dates. We can 6 6 10 SUN GODDESS Billy Paul, Philadelphia International more than Ramsey Lewis, Columbia KC 33194 KZ 33157 (Columbia) ing in abundance. However, the de- benefit from the kind of situation Sign A Tape Pact mands for Womack as producer, 1 5 13 SATIN DOLL that exists now only if we work 20 -25 NEW YORK Records 37 40 3 THE THREE DEGREES -Buddah Bobbi Humphrey, Blue Note BN- writer and motion picture actor in Philadelphia International KZ 32406 one -nighters. Group has entered into a long -term LA344-G (United Artists) addition to composing music scores (Columbia) "For the most part, the promoters tape duplicating agreement with are keeping him quite busy. 8 9 11 NEW AND IMPROVED have had to cut back on the acts be- GRT, thereby ending a similar asso- 16 PIECES OF DREAMS A new r &b album and single due Spinners, Atlantic SO 18118 38 22 cause people afford the price ciation with Ampex Music Division Stanley Turrentine, Fantasy F -9465 in April will coincide with his Euro- cannot a few that had endured for several years. 9 10 14 FLYING START pean tour scheduled for the entire of the tickets. There are artists like Elton John, Marvin Gaye, The Buddah /GRT agreement, simi- Blackbyrds, Fantasy F-9472 47 2 TO BE TRUE * Harold Melvin 8 The Bluenotes, month. "I came off the road to regr- Stevie Wonder or Al Green who are lar in structure to the old Ampex KZ oup and get something together for 16 12 FOR YOU Philadelphia International 33148 still making it. But unless you are in pact which was not renewed, gives Eddie Kendricks, Tamla T6-335 (Columbia) 1975. I have gotten deeper into my it pay to accept GRT tape manufacturing and distri- (Motown) music, and have more to say now, that bracket, doesn't all dates." bution rights to Buddah product in 40 17 9 TOTAL ECLIPSE plus, I am utilizing new instruments 11 12 6 WOMAN TO WOMAN Billy Cobham, Atlantic SD 18121 He is comfortable with any au- the U.S. and Canada. Shirley Brown, Truth TRS 4206 for the first time, such as the steel (Sfax) guitar." 41 31 26 CAN'T GET ENOUGH Barry White, 20th Century T-444 Womack has also recorded a 12 7 15 DO IT 'TIL YOU'RE country album for UA. "I now have Chicago Dept. Store Goes SATISFIED B.T. Express, Scepter SPS 5117 42 33 43 MARVIN GAYE LIVE the opportunity to try a lot of things Tamla T6-333S1 (Motown) that I have always wanted to do with With a 10 -Day Disco 13 18 17 SOUTHERN COMFORT Soul Crusaders, ABC /Blue Thumb music. For a long time I've wanted to 43 43 3 ZULEMA BTSY-9002.2 RCA APLI-0819 sing country, but the field was not By ANNE DUSTON But people like 14 15 45 SKIN TIGHT open to black artists. the plans are Den- 44 51 3 THE DYNAMIC SUPERIORS CHICAGO -Soul artist appear- Coordinating Ohio Players, Mercury SRMI-705 Charley Pride impressed me and - Motown M6 82251 ances and a 3,000 square foot sale nis Sinclair, sales supervisor for Lie ( Phonogram) to try it. gave me a reason as a will berman's Elk Grove Village offices, area designed discotheque THE BEST OF THE "So when I went into the studio, Yoksoulian, buyer at Car- W 23 4 NIGHT BIRDS highlight an r &b record album sale and Mary La Epic KE 33075 (Columbia) STYLISTICS what was sched- Belle, instead of cutting of unprecedented proportions being son's. Avco AV 69005698 uled, I cut what I wanted, and out held here March 13 -22 by Carson, Appearing during the sale are soul 16 25 5 FOREVER, MICHAEL Michael Jackson, Motown M6 82551 came a country album. I just hope it Pinie, Scott department store in co- artists Leroy Hutson, The Impres- 46 49 6 URBAN RENEWAL will be accepted, and everyone will Tower Of Power, operation with Lieberman Enter- sions, The Notations, Rasputin 17 19 23 THRUST Warner Bros. BS 2834 benefit from it," say Womack. prises. Stash and Linda Clifford, all from Herbie Hancock, Columbia PC 32965 in inventory repre- LOVE'S THE THING His recordings are predominately Over $150,000 Curtom, and 21st Century from 18 11 14 ALL IN LOVE IS FAIR Barbara Mason, Buddah BDS 5628 message tunes, "Most of my ideas senting all major and independent RCA. Nancy Wilson, Capitol ST 11317 come from everyday people, listen- soul product, including catalog and by Lie - Total advertising budget 19 38 3 PERFECT ANGEL BUS STOP ing to different conversations, and cutouts, with an emphasis on top Oliver Sain, Abet 406 (Nashboro) berman's exceeds $12,000 and in- Minnie Riperton, Epic KE 32561 will offered dur- out comes a song. Someone may say charted albums, be cludes co -op advertising in the Sun - (Columbia) something or come up with a catchy ing the ten -day event. the Defender, I'LL BE YOUR EVERYTHING Times, The Tribune, 26 4 DON'T CHA LOVE IT Percy Sledge, Capricorn CP 0147 Metro and the Downtowner. Radio Miracles, Tamla 76 33651 (Motown) (Warner Bros.) spots preceding the sale and follow- MIDNIGHT BAND: Treatment Of Gospel Acts ing through the nine days will be 27 5 I'LL BE YOUR SUNSHINE THE FIRST MINUTE carried on WVON, WJPC, WBMX, Vernon Burch, United Artists Continued from page 52 their dedication to gospel music, OF A NEW DAY UA- LA342-G WSDM, and WLS (although con- Gil Scott Heron 8 Brian Jackson. they chose the contemporary ap- sidered a white pop station, WLS Arista A 4030 BODY HEAT "We are now considered pop or proach that they may stay in close has the second largest black demo - Quincy Jones, ABM SP 3617 r &b artists. However, we do not feel touch with gospel, although being 28 5 A SONG FOR YOU * Motown C6 96951 grahpics). Temptatoms. that we fall into either category. If considered an r &b group by their THE O'JAYS The sale will be held in the Carson Bell 6082 (Arista) you see us at the Met (a church and newly acquired fans. 23 24 8 EVERLASTING LOVE on the eighth floor, with Carl Carlton, ABC ABCD 857 gospel auditorium) in Philadelphia, * * * auditorium 100 browsers arranged in the 3,000 GREATEST HITS Vol. 2 you would see the same show at the Dells. Cadet CA 60036 Sonny Taylor, program director square foot area. The area will be 24 13 11 KUNG FU FIGHTING AND Whisky A Go Go (a nightclub) in OTHER GREAT LOVE SONGS (Chess /Janus) of WJPC, in Chicago, is leaving to like a discotheque, with Los Angeles. We are contemporary designed Carl Douglas, 20th Century T-464 take over the same position at lighting, contin- HOT CITY music singers. We merely sing mes- flashing, colored WWRL, in New York. uous slides of performers and con- 25 21 16 I FEEL A SONG Gene Page, Atlantic SD 18111 sage songs that would relate to ev- Enoch Gregory, program director Gladys Knight 6 The Pips, tinuous taped music. Buddah BDS 5612 eryone," says Martin. and 6 -10 a.m. air personality of FULLFILLINGNESS' THE Signs on the main floor, at each FIRST FINALE The Mighty Clouds Of Joy's new- will 26 29 4 LOVE IS A FIVE LETTER WWRL, relinquish the post of escalator landing, and on the sixth Stevie Wonder. Tamla T6 332S1 WORD est album "It's Time" started in the program director in favor of remain- floor record department will adver- (Motown) r &b market, crossed over into gospel Jimmy Witherspoon, ing on the air. The station's general tise the sale. Capitol ST 11360 and then the pop market. manager says although Gregory MY WAY Record companies are coopera- Major Harris, Atlantic SD 18119 produced excellent results as pro- co -op 37 2 GREATEST HITS "Gospel will always be in order," ting by supplying talent and * WB 1005 Ohio Players, Westbound says Martin. "We are still receiving gram director, both positions are advertising. Atlantic is providing (Chess/Janus) GREATEST HITS royalties from records that we re- full -time jobs. 300 T- shirts with the slogan "Carson Funkadelics, Westbound WP 1004 * Explosion." Daily 28 32 9 THE MAGIC OF THE BLUE (Chess/Janus) corded ten years ago, and they are * * Pine Scott Soul Blue Magic, Atco SD 36-103 100 still selling. But in the pop field, if Jai Rich, music director of KJLH- giveaways include 100 LPs and BUTT OF COURSE the record lasts a year, you are FM, Los Angeles, reports that they posters. 29 35 16 WHITE GOLD Jimmy Castor Bunch. lucky." A total store effort involves the Love Unlimited Orchestra. Atlantic SD 18124 have incorporated "Spotlight 75" 20th Century T -458 special events, display, advertising, The Mighty Clouds, for the past into their format. Each evening from CIRCLE OF LOVE depart- 30 20 15 CAUGHT UP ten years has been voted Quartet Of 12 -12:30 a.m., an artist is spot- audio /visual and publicity Sister Sledge, Atco SD 36 105 ments. Millie Jackson, Spring SPR 6703 The Year by NATRA. "But we lighted, with five- minute segments (Polydor) could see what was happening to throughout the day giving a brief Advertised prices will be $3.99 for THAT NIGGER'S CRAZY $5.98 list albums; $4.99 for $6.98 39 5 HARD CORE POETRY Richard Pryor, Partee history the artist. PBS (Sfax) gospel, and it was getting desperate of * Tavares, Capitol ST 11316 -2404 for us, so we had to make some kind Remember ... we're in communi- list; $5.99 for $7.98 list; $6.34 for of move," says Martin. Because of cations, so let's communicate. $9.98; and $7.98 for $11.98 list.