MUSIC WEEK, JUNE 10, 1978

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In search of involvement b> DAVID DALTON THE TERM "musicians' musician" is oTicii a euphemism applied 10 anonymous artisls with no hope of individual success. U is true ihat not many of the record buying public have heard of American guitarist Elliott Randall, but judging by the demand for his services as a session player, there are many people within the music business who respect his £ talent. And he has big plans afoot r for him to make an impact both as a Is this the solo artist and a producer. His currently available contribution is Elkic Brooks' Shooting Star album (A&M AMLH 64695) "for which he was musical Rubbish director. He was fulfilling a similar function at The Manor Studio at Oxford recently for Kiss bassist Gene Simmons, whose solo album Ellioll Randall and film of the acts. Record you've all should be available in the autumn, Randall wants to move more into and was also md on a recent Joan production though his reputation company budgets have increased to Baez LP. ridiculous figures and I want to has been built as a guitarist. He is avoid that." responsible for the dazzling solo on To retain as much control as Where there's the Steely Dan track Rcclin' In The possible over his acts he has formed been waiting Years from the album Can't Buy A a production company and a Thrill and contributed to three more publishing company in partnership Europe, of the band's albums, though he couldn't face becoming a full with Alan Surjil. I've Got Your lime Steely Dan member when Publishing Incorporated is the for? publishing arm with a distinctive there's Brass asked to join. Similarly, he has been logo of an alligator silling in a THE RECENT success of Brass a pan time member of the Doobie deckchair smoking a cigar, while the Construciion's UK tour saw an Brothers and spent a year with Sha production company is called ambition coming closer to being Na Na, visiting the UK with both. WIIFM, which stands for What's In achieved by manager Syd Moira and Randall's ambitions have It For Me. his partner, Fred Frank — a break recently been modified as he's The first product to appear from through in the European market. looking for a total involvement in this arrangement should be Randall's Apart from managing Brass the music business. "All my life 1 next solo album, produced as future ASIDE Construction, the black group from wanted to be a rock star and it's not projects will be in his own New York New York, both Moira and Frank that way any more," he says. "I care apartment studio. The option for the LIVING IN NWS 4JR also run Roadshow Records, one of more about putting something into album, tentatively tilled Elliott the top black music labels in the US. music. I've got five album projects (Anarchy in the UK) which I want to work on Randall or 10,000 miles, Whichever Roadshow Records was started simultaneously but I can't mention Comes First (pan of the US vehicle B SIDE several years ago and had first all the artists. I want to present each guarantee), has been taken up by successes with BT Express and Do It Don Kirshner and it is due to appear Till You're Satisfied; shortly artist to record companies as a later this year. THE OTHER SIDE afterwards Brass Construction complete package, including video UP36405 released their first album and sold more than a million copies. In the UK. the band arc signed direct to United Artists Records but Road- show Records has a distribution deal Virgin fiinscire This is brought to you by World Wide Rubbish with the company. "Wc want to concentrate more on the UK market because our reasoning is, if we want to break the European market then we must be a mirter iKiidte success in Britain first," Moira says. "Brass Construction's recent tour was a sell-out everywhere and it IAN GILL AN Band keyboards looks like the band will now be player Colin Towns had never EDITED BY returning to the UK on an annual composed for a film soundtrack basis. This is a good foundation for before, so when a music publisher CHRIS WHITE us to build Roadshow Records told him that he had just three hours upon." in which to record a demo tape for Roadshow currently has offices in such a project, it wasn't exactly the Their original plan was that 1 should New York and Los Angeles, and easiest of tasks that he had been write the music and Gus Dudgeon Moira plans to open an office in faced with. However the results were produce it, but in the end he London. "We're looking for our obviously successful because the couldn't do it so 1 produced the own offices — until now everything director of the film concerned. Full sessions, has gone through United Artists, Circle, which stars Mia Farrow, "Chrysalis was also interested in and they have been a tremendous invited Towns to do all the film's the album rights at one stage but help. We have a very good background music. they dropped out, and that is when relationship with people like Cliff The result is that Towns' music Virgin stepped in with an offer. *r Busby, the md, but it is important has now been released on a Virgin They gave me a free hand in what to for us to have our own London LP and a single has also been issued. do. Because the film is an Anglo- v base." Full Circle Theme. Not only did he Canadian production, some of the Roadshow has recently been write all the music, and produced the work had to be done in Canada but signing various black artists, as part sessions himself, he also managed to all the music was recorded in of the company's commitment to play all the musical instruments as England, in fact at Ian Gillan's 'both the gospel and black music well! The film, which was directed Kingsway Studio." field'. Among those who have by Peter Fetterman, has just Recordings for the film product released in the near future premiered in London and will go on soundtrack and album took about arc Tina Turner, and a band called general release shortly. ten days, and Towns says that 90 per Enchantment which has just broken Towns joined the lan Gillan Band cent of the music is how he wanted it in the US. "There seems to be a two years ago and has since toured to be. "When I saw the film, 1 problem breaking black acts in the Europe, Japan and the US. realised that heavy orchestrations UK because so often ihcy arc Previously he had been asked to join for the soundtrack would destroy relegated to the disco field," Moira Grccnsladc as a replacement for the atmosphere. The LP actually adds. "The term disco can be very departing keyboards player Dave includes two tracks which don't confining, and we arc looking for a Lawson, but the band broke up appear on the film soundtrack, but I formula that can break this before he had the chance to play. think that they still stand up on their problem. It can be very difficult "My involvement with the film own without the benefit of seeing the gelling black product played by the Full Circle came when I published a film." BBC." song through April Music — 1 was Towns hopes to work on more He also predicts: "Within the next given a script and asked to read film music in the future, but 12 months Roadshow will become through it. 1 made a few notes about meanwhile he is continuing with his V one of the biggest gospel labels in the the plot, and was then lan Gillan Band commitments which US. We have a deep commitment to informed I had three hours of studio include a new album and an overseas gospel music and this has been time in whjch to make a demo tour. "The good thing with the band indicated by two of our recent tape." Towns says. "I literally is that all the members can still signings, Shirley Caesar and the rushed in and rushed out, but the pursue their own musical directions. Mighty Clouds Of Joy " film producer liked what he heard. We all make the band's decisions. PAGE 38