UK BUZZ Wait0n (Continued from Page 5) Even Shy
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' INTERNATIONAL NEWS UK BUZZ WaiT0n (Continued from page 5) even shy. For the most part she You're opinion starts changing of ' OW HEAR DISS - The popular with numerous car remains holed-up in her cluttered yourself when everyone starts ca charts are dominated manufacturers, British Gas, and the Hollywood office 12-14 hours a day, ing and you get a couple of big roy .r business via with the current dance Observer newspaper. writing tunes and doing ty checks. Wow, I can make a livi: ig . " music craze. "Beat Diss" Horrocks continues; "The label telephone. For her, writing is a labor at this stuff! Even when it wasn't ha N to encourage British of love. She disdains a "calculated" pening, though, I >t by Bomb the Bass (Rhythm King) was formed was doing the be ^ demonstrates the new power of the black talent in all fields of music, al- approach to songwriting. work I could" deejay. In February, Hm Simenon though we have some American "I'm not a conscious commercial Warren primarily writes on h’r^ was a waiter in a Japanese res- acts. We recently rediscovered songwriter. I very rarely try to mold own, but has had some some fruitlilT studying to be record McCray, used to be a song to an artist. While I'm writing collaborations taurant and a Gwen who with Albert Harn- _ producer at a North London col- married to soul star George Mc- I sometimes get ideas about who it monds and Desmond Childs. Never^ lege. For extra cash, he did a Satur- Cray. She was working in a would be good for. But I just write the theless, she still gets the greates^-t - day deejaying spot at London's McDonald's on a freeway in best song I can. satisfaction writing her own tunes. trendy Wag Club. Florida, still wearing her afro and Warren learned her craft by writ- 'Three out of the five of my last hits His single "Beat Diss," which he flares. The song, 'All This Love ing hundreds of songs. She first ap- wrote myself. However, two heads < ^ wrote, produced and performed, That Tm Giving You,' has become peared at Los Angeles Songwriter can be better than one, what Albert began as a college project and an anthem for the '70s disco Showcase meetings when she was a and I create he or I would never do ended up a smash hit. It has al- revivalists." teen from the San Fernando Valley. on our own." ' describes ready broken two chart records by Horrocks attributes the label's Her first tunes were, as she One of the frustrations o^ . being the highest new entry ever success to their no-star policy. them "bad songs". songwriting is hearing a mediocre I forget some of achieved by an unknown artist, "Our object is to make good "I wish could cover of a carefully written song. Jt t . _ going straight in at Number Rve, music and to be recogiuzed for it. them! I'd go in every couple of weeks has spurred Warren to try some and being the highest new entry for We couldn't deal with prima don- with a pile of twenty or so tunes, producing with such artists as an independent label. nas. All the artists and the five staff most of them we're terrible, but Cocker and Bunny DeBarge. "I've j This success is largely due to on the label are paid the same wage. they'd pick out the best of them. I just been lucky enough to get some good' Simenon's own entreprenurial skill. We operate on a profit-sharing wanted to get good. I looked up to covers that became hits. But some-^ " 'Beat Diss' started off as a scheme. We find most of our artists the Brill building writers in the six- times it's depressing when they doni; j project at my school for audio en- prefer to be on a wage rather than a ties, Goffin-King, and great writing come out the way you want them to, 1 gineers. I originally pressed 1,000 huge advance which has to be paid groups like the Beatles, that was my you say. I'll do it myself. Producing of excellence. Not tracks copies and exported them to back. standard doesn't mean as much to me as wri^ j America; 500 sold instantly. Then I "We split the royalty profits with a vocal, but songs with struc- ing a great song though." realized that I had a potential hit 50/50, instead of giving the artist ture, with lyrics that mean some- Lately, most things have been turr^ record and asked Rhythm King if the normal 12%. We've got to be the thing. ing out a lot better than Warren ex- ' they would take me on," Simenon best deal around. We work long, 'Tt's like being a pro-tennis player, pects. "When I wrote 'Nothing’a*' tells Cash Box. hard hours to achieve it, but we all there's some ability you're born with, Gonna Stop Us Now' with Albert At just 19, he seems bemused by love what we're doing." but you get good working on you're Hammond, he liked it a lot, I wasn'if his overnight fame. craft. When it's done right, there's sure. But when I heard the record I I "I only ever wanted to be a nothing I love more than a great pop finally knew it was a hit." Despite producer, and I am going to keep on song." Diane Warren's modesty and oc^' ! being a deejay at the Wag Club, it's "Even when I wasn't getting casional doubts, it seems nothing's been such an important influence anywhere, I always thought of gonna stop her now, or anytime sooi.i.. .. on me. I'm in touch with all the myself as a professional writer. Jxilius Robinson latest imports and I can play all my own Rare Groove tracks." Simenon is half-Scottish and half- Dolly Parton Forms Chinese. "I am fanatical about Bruce Lee Education Foundation and Jackie Chan films and I prac- Morrissey ticed martial arts for awhile," he - KEEPING UP WITH THE NEW YORK Dolly Parton has enough to work is encouraged to do* i says, but he has no apparent inter- SMITH - Most acclaimed album of formed the Dollywood Foundation so, usually at the expense of asp - est in Scottish culture. He was the year is the long-awaited solo to raise funds to support educational education. hope to bring a We , brought up by an uncle who still album by Morrissey, Viva Hate. It projects to help reduce the drop-out 'spotlight' on the need for the kids ot^' thinks he will either a become features the Top Five single, rate in her native Sevier County, Ten- the '90s to be educated more than any^ ' lawyer or an accountant. "Suedehead," which reached a nessee. Funds will be allocated to generation before.” Rhythm King is something of a higher chart position than any create college scholarships for all Dolly Parton will donate all net phenomenon itself, having become single by Morrissey's former group. high schools in the county as weU as proceeds from her concerts the most essential label for British The Smiths. to develop porgrams which motivate Dollywood's Celebrity Theatre oJi_ - dance music. Co-founder James Morrissey flew to Indiana to the middle school students to remain in April 30 and May 1 to generate the in- tells Horrocks Cash Box: "People gravesite of James Dean to fUm the school. Sevier County has a 40% itial funds for the Foundation.- Tax- ! will buy a record without even video. The location bore no ap- drop-out rate. deductible contributions can be sent t hearing it just because it's on the parent signficence to the track. But 'In this part of the country," said to: Eunice Eledge, Executive Direc-^ Rhythm King label. 'Beat Diss' that's Morrissey for you: he's still Dolly Parton, "the work ethic is very tor, Dollywood Foundation, 700 Doi- didn't need any promotion or Radio got his telephone in his sock drawer strong and any child who's old lywood La., Pigeon Forge, TN 37863.* 1 airplay." so that he doesn't have to answer, The label, which is affiliated to causing great distress to EMI/Par- Mute Records, was formed last year lophone head of press, Murray and the first signing, Taffy, had a Chalmers. He had to take the train Top Ten hit with 'T Love My Radio." to Manchester and sit on I Simenon's other labelmates in- Morrissey's doorstep all day. He Mi elude The Beat Masters Italian Cuisine I and had urgent interview business to Cookie Crew, who have also been discuss, but it seems Morrissey Graciously Served in a Cozy Atmosphere j in the Top 10 recently. The Beat wasn't I even answering his door- Luncheon Dinner i Masters produce most of the other bell, though Chalmers was certain Mon.-Fri. 11 am-2:30pm Tues.-Sun. 5-1 1 pm acts and have recently cornered a in I he was there. Gloria Competelli, Ovyner market composing TV commercial Blvd., • I Chrissy Iley 10463 Santa Monica West LA Valet Parking themes. Their services are very ; For Reservations: (21 3) 474-3577 18 Cash Box April 16, 1988.