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Home , Billy Swan, Steve Cropper

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LONDON TOWN — Wings — Capitol SW-11777 — Producer: MAGAZINE — Heart — LON Mushroom MRS-5008 — Producer: Paul McCartney — List: 7.98 DON TOWN Mike Flicker — List: 7.98 One of the true superstars in the music world, Paul With their legal hassles behind them, the Wilson sisters, McCartney continues to produce some of the tastiest pop songs Nancy and Ann, and the rest of Heart are back with an out- around. This time out he and Wings offer 14 songs and more standing power pop collection. Their new single, “Heartless,” than 50 minutes of beautiful melodies and sparkling music that rates with earlier Heart rockers and the title track is another should fly straight to the top of the charts. “With A Little Luck” is beauty. Two excellent live cuts, including “I’ve Got The Music In

already a smash single and “Morse Moose And The Grey Me,” are an added bonus. As the saying goes, especially if Goose” is a prime AOR cut. Overall, a brilliant collection. you’re an AOR or pop programmer, you gotta have Heart. THIS YEARS MODEL — Elvis Costello Columbia JC 35331 — Producer: Nick Lowe — List: 7.98 ... AND THEN THERE WERE THREE ... — Genesis — Atlantic Elvis Costello so far has produced the highest yield of any of SD 19173 — Producers: David Hentschel and Genesis — List: England’s new wave crop imported to our shores. His second 7.98 album is every bit the equal of his superb debut LP, enabling Genesis fans have received one shock after another as band Costello to transcend the early comparisons to Graham Parker members left the group one after another, most recently Steve and Bruce Springsteen and emerge with an identity all his own. Hackett. As the title says, only three members are left, but their Key to that image is his stance against the shallowness of new release is nonetheless brilliant. With no compromise in the human character which is happening too much in today’s group’s musical quality, these 11 songs may well be the best mechanized, passionless society. For AOR and Top 40. Genesis album yet. Initial AOR response — this is the week’s YOU CAN TUNE A PIANO, BUT YOU CAN’T TUNA FISH — second Most Added FM Album — indicates this could be an air- REO Speedwagon — Epic JE 35082 — Producers: Kevin wave giant for months to come. Richardson and Paul Grupp — List: 7.98 Cronin, Gary WE CAME TO PLAY — — Columbia JC 34906 If you like your rock ’n' roll to sizzle without burning and be — — Producer: Steve Cropper — List: 7.98 passionate without being pretentious - then REO Speedwagon Oakland’s Tower Of Power is back with perhaps the group’s has the LP for you. This mid-western quintet has been rocking best effort since "Back To Oakland.” Famed session guitarist for almost a decade, and at this point they’ve got it down. Steve Cropper adds his production expertise and some hot Powerhouse cuts like "Roll With The Changes” and “Say You guitar licks to spice up the LP, already quite hot from the sizzling Love Or Goodnight” are what this album is all about. Me Say Tower horns. Best cuts include the current concert favorite Already the fourth Most Added FM Album this week, this could “Lovin’ You Is Gonna See Me Thru,” the irresistible “Yin-Yang be REO’s breaker. Thang" and the powerful “Share My Life.” Already getting heavy DOUBLE DOSE — Hot Tuna — Grunt/RCA CYL2-2545 — R&B and AOR airplay. Producer: Felix Pappalardl — List: 9.98 This double-album should announce to the general public PHOTOGENIC — NOT JUST ANOTHER PRETTY FACE — what the rabid Hot Tuna cult has known since the band’s incep- Melanie — Midsong MCA-3033 — Producer: Peter Schekeryk tion: The proof of the musical pudding is in the live perfor- — List: 7.98 mances. A variety of styles are touched on here, with side one Melanie is back, with a mix of classics (“Knock On Wood” and spotlighting Jorma Kaukonen on such Tuna classics as “Em- “Let It Be Me”), covers of pop hits (“We Can Work It Out” and bryonic Journey” and “Killing Time In The Crystal City” and a “California Dreamin’ ”) and four of her own new songs. Promi- plethora of full-tilt rockers on the other sides. AOR program- Another nent among the new songs is “Record People,” which gives the mers should gulp this one down whole. Pretty Face industry quite a ribbing. Overall, the remarkably sustained and YOU’RE OK I’M OK — — A&M SP 4686 — Producer: moving album is proof that this pretty face has been gone too Booker T. Jones — List: 7.98 long. Deserves substantial airplay, with something for every for- With his first album for A&M, Billy has gone back to the mat. freewheeling style with which he created the out- ARCHIVES — Rush — Mercury SRM-3-9200 — Producers: standing “” in 1975. Legendary rock ’n’ roll figures Rush and Terry Brown — List: 13.98 Otis Blackwell, Scotty Moore and lend their This three-man band from Canada has long been regarded hands on several tracks giving the session a true rock ’n’ roll as one of the more inventive groups from north of the border, spirit. Additional touches such as ’s harmonica on the and this 3-LP set containing material from three albums title tune and Swan’s own organ make the album a total delight. released in 1974-75 shows why. All the songs were composed AOR, Top 40 and country programmers all should pick up on within the group, and Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and John Rutsey this one. all shine as musicians as well. AOR programmers should have a MANDRE TWO — Motown M7900R1 — Producer: Andre Lewis field day picking songs off this top-notch collection. — List: 7.98

In addition to superbly producing and arranging this disc, the FINAL EXAM — Loudon Walnwrlght III — Arista AB 4173 — Masked Marvel penned five out of the eight tunes himself and Producer: John Llssauer — List: 7.98 two of the remaining three with a partner. This second offering With some of the most well-wrought, whimsical lyrics around has some interesting and innovative compositions, among and plenty of infectious melodies to boot, Wainwright really them ’ “Fair Game," “I Like Your Freaky Ways,” makes the grade on this LP. A serious songwriter with a comic and “Doing Nothing, Nothing Doing.” Anything goes. For a style that’s in a class all its own, Wainwright takes the out-of- variety of playlists. the ordinary approach here as he stabs back at hecklers, school PURE POP FOR NOW PEOPLE — Nick Lowe — Columbia JC and collect callers. And as always, his manic-depressive vocals 35329 — Producer: Nick Lowe — List: 7.98 add a delightful dimension to his lyrical punch. Straight A’s on The title says a lot about the first domestic release by the man this one. who has produced Elvis Costello and Dave Edmunds, among GOTHAM — Dream DA3501 — Producer: John J. Williams — others. The songs are framed in classic pop melodies and List: 7.98 arrangements, but as might be expected from someone with Gotham might be described most easily by just calling them Lowe’s track record, the lyrics often offer stark contrast to the the Pointer Brothers. The male vocal trio, like the Pointer bright pop sound. “Marie Provost” is a perfect example with its Sisters, takes some old standards, such as “South Rampart bouncy melody and story about an actress who goes to Street Parade” and “Jersey Bounce," as well as come contem- Hollywood from New York, fails and winds up as dinner for a porary tunes by the likes of Elton John and and canine. of Great sense humor. dresses them up in fancy vocal arrangements. A varied album SECOND WIND — Delbert McCIInton — Capricorn CPN-0201 (*2 which projects a number of sounds and styles that should be — Producer: Johnny Sandlin — List: 7.98 good for several formats. McClinton’s latest release features consistantly top-notch — United Artists LA845G — Producers: Snuff Garrett arrangements by the Muscle Shoals Horn Section and his own GRINGO and Steve Dorff — List: 6.98 . McClinton's style is reminiscent of the Allman Gringo. The very name conjures up images of the Pecos, Brothers, especially in his vocals. He also uses other artists’ horizons buzzards hovering over a lone prospec- material, such as ’s “Big River” and Jesse parched and tor. But wait! This band from New England has a veritable posse Winchester’s “Isn't That So." His own writing style is in the of talent and is armed with 1 0 of the catchiest pop-rockers ever southern folk-rock genre that tells a story and entertains to hit the musical trail. Pop programmers who can’t find room musically. For AOR playlists. on their playlists for Gringo have until sundown to get of town. NO PROBLEM HERE — Mac McAnally — Arlola America SW 50029 — Producers: Clayton Ivey & Terry Woodford — List: GOOD, BAD & FUNKY — Shotgun — ABC AA1060 — 7.98 Producers: Stuart Alan Love, David Chackler and Shotgun — Mac is back with his second LP and a hearty second helping List: 7.98 of his well-crafted story-songs that always deserve a close Arm yourself with some good ears ’cause you’ll need a couple listen. McAnally’s mostly mellow, acoustic-oriented songs take to get a load of this. The title tune is an indication of things to a lighthearted, slightly off-center approach in their examination come, but don't get discouraged by the latter adjectives. All of a variety of subjects which range from funerals to dating seven members exercise their writing abilities on this second plastic dolls to love. Although most of the emphasis here is on effort, which is enhanced by excellent musicianship. Take a “All McAnally’s vocals and lyrics, his guitar playing is also shot. "I Wish I Could See You Again,” "Love Attack" and noteworthy. His songs should do well on AOR, pop and easy Spaced Out (All Funked Up)” are good ones. R&B programers listening stations. should take aim at this one.

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