MUSIC WEEK, APRIL 28, 1979

D D C D C IV r IV n was time for performing most of her The nagging doubt probably None the less, MMEB plays a All We Need Is The Music — "The recorded repertoire, of which Roll lurked in a lot of minds — ten years well-paced, well-rehearsed, record company have made sure the Kate Bush: after her last Top 10 hit, and after simplistic but effective rock n roll LP is a well-kept secret" he told the The Ball. The Kick Inside, show. The music is backed with a audience — and one other song, it Wuthering Heights and Wow were such a long absence from these was a typical one hour and 20 Palladium predictably the biggest shores resulting from a self-imposed good light show and entertaining showstoppers. exile in California, could Dusty back projection to illustrate the minutes of Sedaka music. songs. A few more new songs would have THERE'S NOTHING like writing This tour has been a triumph for prove that she is still a top-class star? been welcome, and reminded the your own reviews, and it's a the artist, and her entourage. The answer was a resounding, JIM EVANS However much one wants to avoid unqualified yes. The looks, the audience that Sedaka can still be a suspiciously close chance that Kate glamour and most important of all valid force in the Top 30 today. As it Bush's current hit coincided with her something like a drivelling was, the audience anyway was 30-ish stunningly good debut tour. If it sycophant, it is only fair to say that the voice are still there, and there is upwards and they had obviously weren't a rather passe exclamation Kate Bush has brought to the pop absolutely no reason why Dusty, concert stage a kind of pure, exciting if she be prepared to put in the Blue: come to hear the old numbers. It was for these hard bitten times. Wow! entertainment — so good in its effort, cannot become one of a polished and professional would probably be the best and Britain's leading record sellers performance — naturally — simplest reaction to this whole critic- concept that her graceful vocal although at times the music suffered defeating entertainment. gymnastics almost seem like a bonus again. Berlin — which actually deserves the The frenzied days of the 1960s THREE YEARS ago. Scottish band from the lack of a brass section. So, admitting that the lady has pop world have long gone, but However, Neil Sedaka was herself provided the vocabulary, overworked adjective "new". Blue toured with Kiki Dee in the US, obviously happy with the audience here goes: amazing production — Of course, only the voice can be Dusty's hits of that period still and the result was a recording put on record, but this tour must remain fresh, and have not dated at contract with Rocket Records, an response, they were happy with his combining song, dance, mime and all. She included many of them in music, and everyone went home dramatic spectacle (which seemed have strengthened her commercial album and several singles. In the last knowing that they had witnessed a like a low-budget collaboration chances here in the UK. The British, her act — Clive Westlake's 1 Close 12 months or so, it has been all quite between Truffaut, de Mille and however, are the converted. The My Eyes And Count To Ten, All I quiet on the Blue front however, but great artist in action. Peckinpah); incredible question for the artist, her See Is You, Son-Of-A Preacher now the band have returned with a CHRIS WHITE professionalism all round, from the management and her record Man, Brand New Me, Some Of fine album, Fools Party, partly tightly rehearsed band, backing company must be, can she repeat the Your Lovin', I Just Don't Know produced by Elton John and by the singers Liz Pearson and Glenys performance in the other major What To Do With Myself, Stay band themselves. Groves, dancers Stewart Avon world markets? Awhile, 1 Only Want To Be With Currently the group are playing TERRI ANDERSON You and the show-stopping You support to CBS band Lake on an Arnold and Gary Hurst, Lighting Don't Have To Say You Love Me. James Last: and sound technicians, set builders, But the show did not rest on old extensive German tour, and Blue's to costume creators and quick hits alone. In the last 12 months appearance in Berlin on Saturday change assistants. Magician and Dusty Dusty has recorded two albums and indicated that everything's alright on Albert Hall mime Simon Drake deserves a songs from them featured heavily in the live performance scene too. The special name check for adding his the act. Her latest single, I'm band's all-too-short 45-minute set THE FACT that it was James Last's own kind of visual magic to the Springfield: Coming Home Again, co-written by featuring songs by both Hugh and 50th birthday made his RAH concert singer's vocal prestidigitation. Carole Bayer Sager, was evidence Dave Nicholson was snappy, well- on April 17 an extra special occasion The final tour date in London was that Dusty can tackle an emotional paced and musicianly. (see Dooley's Diary). The festive air like a series of finales. The show did Theatre Royal number in a way that no other Focal point of Blue is Hugh of general jollity was abroad before not so much build as start at a Nicholson, one-time member of the immaculate white-suited figure moment of crescendo and maintain THE SIXTIES golden girl of pop, British female singer can. The Barry Marmalade who wrote several hits Dusty Springfield, returned to Gibb number, Save Me Save Me, of maestro Hansi appeared on stage it. It is a critic's duty to carp was more the lucrative disco vein. for that band including Cousin to a roar of approbation. wherever possible, but for theatrical London last week for three concerts Norman. He is joined by brother Musically, the mixture was pre- production surrounding them, some at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane — Sandra, an ode to a housewife who David, bass guitarist Ian MacMillan her first British appearances for six feels trapped in her marriage, could dictable but excellently presented of the more pot-boilerish songs turn out to be a maudlin number in and drummer Charlie Smith. and executed, and exactly what the would have become rather tedious to years — and if any final evidence Blue are typical of so many other capacity audience wanted to hear. listen to. But then this was intended was required that she is one of the less capable hands, while Melissa bands around at the moment — they premiere singing talents ever to come Manchester's Be Somebody called Last draws his programmes from a to be atheatrical production for all the well-known Springfield play good, commercial pop music, wide spectrum encompassing disco throughout, and it succeeded. There out of the UK, then this was it. vocal techniques. which isn't too lightweight to be versions of Summertime and How It was a triumph of a performance dismissed as bubblegum pop, yet High The Moon (complete with which drew enthusiastic accolades they find it difficult to establish a African talking drums), Quincy strong musical identity for Jones' Stuff Like Dat (with Last from an audience welcoming back a themselves. Which is a pity because Country seminar long-lost daughter. There were a few there is a lot about this band which is defining stuff as green, green grass tears from Dusty herself, laughter good and deserves greater at home), a lilting Floral Dance, the during her Rollerina sequence (ever recognition by record buyers and adagio from Max Bruch's violin FROM PAGE 22 as an effort is made. Unfortunately seen someone sing while also roller- industry alike. concerto for a string section feature larger audience by introducing new there seems to be apathy towards skating around stage?), and roses and a concert arrangement of Chuck flung onstage in abundance. Drury Their first singles Gonna Capture Mangione's Children Of Sanchez. material." country music in most A&R Your Heart and Women (They Let Then after the interval, with the A dissenting voice from that view departments in London." Lane hasn't seen anything quite like You Down) should have fared better came from Dick Beeching of the Songwriter and performer, Terry it since the days of Nell Gwynn! atmosphere even more mellow, came CHRIS WHITE in the chart. More recent numbers the cockney songs like Down At The American Forces Network (Europe), McKenna, advised: "The only way like Fools Party, Stranger's Town Old Bull And Bush, aimed at getting who asked: "How do you get to succeed is to persevere with and Danger Sign continue in the the audience singing along lustily, country music across to younger original material. I have been told to same musical vein, while I'm Alone climaxing in Land Of Hope And kids unless you introduce them to forget country and go with pop as : would be well worth consideration Glory, and two Beatles encores in people like Hank Williams?" the only way to make a living but I as a single. Get Back and Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da. As a final point for the morning don't accept that." Yet Geoff Blue had the difficult task in Last's direction is effortless — session, Reg Cooper, of Radio Thome of MCA provided a sobering Paris Berlin of opening the concert and Nottingham, noting that there are rejoinder, asserting that the average then only having 45 minutes in indeed most of the string section at only three DJs in the CMA (GB), British country fan wants to hear CURRENTLY IN the middle of a which to develop their act — in the back were unsighted as far as his called for all radio presenters American songs and not British sell-out 60-date European lour, addition the usual reticent manner conducting was concerned — but the interested in the music to join the material. MMEB, won over 3000 Paris of the German audience was another orchestra is a precision instrument CMA (GB) to provide an exchange Several DJs said they would be punters with their new line-up, new disadvantage to contend with. of unerring timing and polish and of ideas on how best to promote delighted to present more British stage show and new material from However they gave a good boundless energy and enthusiasm country to listeners. product on their shows, if only they the recently released Bronze LP, performance which should be seen for what they do. It's also a very After a lunch provided jointly received more of it. . by British rock audiences at the cosmopolitan organisation with with Music Week by the CMA based On the subject of British artists in The album is currently charting in earliest possible opportunity. Britons, Americans and in Nashville, the discussion moved comparison with the greater number eleven countries including Germany, CHRIS WHITE Scandinavians in its ranks, and the on to topic four with British country of US artists gaining exposure in the Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, three lady string players come from artist, Tony Goodacre, who, UK Colin Ward suggested that there Austria and Scandinavia. The UK Australia (two) and Canada. speaking from personal experience, is a cream of British artists — sales prospects — it is already selling An extra treat for the Last faithful asserted that British country artists perhaps 20 — and then there seems steadily here — will be enhanced was the appearance of Last's son are accepted on US TV and radio to be a gap with the others following with an eleven-date UK lour running Ronald, who sang three of his own singing mostly British country on some way behind. And reminding from June? to 22. songs creditably to his own piano songs. "Yet here," he continued, everyone of the record companies' The band's music is heavy rock ieii Sedaka: accompaniment. The last of the "Yorkshire TV has said that it's not ultimate interest, Richard de Sylva based, allowing for reasonably three had been dashed off the day interested in me doing a series, while added; "We have got to remember lenglhed instrumental solos — either before apparently as a tribute to it happily buys the Canadian George that record companies are in synthesiser from Manfred or fine Paibiim London. Hamilton IV shows for selling to the business to make money. They hope but controlled guitar passages from AFTER AN absence of two years, Immensely professional, network." to get their investment back plus a new boy, Steve Waller. Of the new Neil Sedaka returned to the scene of velvet smooth and highly Telling a similar story, Richard de little more on top. The bottom line is material, the haunting Oh Carol was his last UK triumph, the London entertaining, Last's formula is an Sylva recalled trying for three years still important whatever type of outstanding, building gradually to a Palladium, on Sunday with a series infallible one which will continue to interest BBC's Pebble Mill in music it is. It's a sobering thought fine climax, while older numbers of concerts that again underline his packing them in everywhere he goes, Frank Jennings and yet they took no that a new punk act can sell 50,000 from their repertoire — Spring- tremendous talent as a because this musical language is notice until the artist had achieved albums while Frank Jennings, steen's singer/songwriter. Despite a lack of totally universal. success on the other side of the despite the promotion and publicity, Davey's On The Road Again, Father hit records he is still a huge box- NIGEL HUNTER Atlantic. has sold only 20,000 in two years." Of Day Father Of Night warmed the office attraction, his concerts all this Fellow panelist Colin Ward had Perhaps suggesting one solution, audience who took a little time to get week having been sold-out weeks got more joy from TV producer Larry Mercey from Canadian group, off on the gig. ago. Douglas Hespe. explaining that The Mercey Brothers, said: "We Lead vocalist Chris Thompson's Sedaka is taking no chances with Hespe became interested in The have got to put money into it and throaty vocals will be missed when his act. From the opening Other Side Which music publication do Hillsiders once he had been keep putting money into it. When we he leaves MMEB to work with his Of Me to the final 1 Go Ape, the dealers choose for the best persuaded to see a whole set by the were with RCA we sold 16,000 of the own band and producer Richard numbers were all tried and tested. all round coverage of the band in the right atmosphere. first album, 20,000 of the second. Perry of Planet Records, Perhaps Solitaire, The Immigrant, the Oh "It is a matter of effort," he Then we set up our own little Manfred should look for a more Carol medley, Bad Blood, A Little music industry? added. "Persuade the producer to company and have sold 50,000 enigmatic out-going character as Lovin' and Thai's When The Music Music Week 78% come and see the act if you arc copies of the latest album. new front man. Because, if the band Takes Me have all been featured in Record Business 7% certain that the act is good enough. "American companies are in our lacks anything, it is close contact his performance for several years Radio and Record "I'm finding that TV stations and countries to sell product and a lot of with the audience. With the songs now — and they always go down as the IBA radio stations are the best it is damn good. That makes it all and arrangements they have, the well as ever. News 3% place for exposure at the moment. It the more important to believe in right person up front could work With the exception of the title (Source: NOP Market is possible to make inroads as long homegrown acts." that audience into a frenzy. track of his latest Polydor album, Research) PAGE 62