EAST COASTINGS / POINTS WEST

EAST COASTINGS - SHOW YOUR STUFF - When is a rock jock not a spinner of rec- Ariola Markets Gay Humor LP ords? When he's a musician who temporarily leaves the big stage to prove himself on the field of sport. Although the media has stereotyped rock and rollers as pale, gaunt, base- ment -haunting types without much athletic ability, the rock community will have its chance As A Minority Comedy Album to disprove these generalizations before a nationwide audience this spring when NBC-TV by Randy Lewis albums as well as doing con-edy writing for broadcasts a "rock olympics." Bill Aucoin is the organizer, but no further official details are and Rod LOS ANGELES Although Ariola America television. available at this time. It's easy to guess at a few possible events however; Elton - kicking soccer balls the width of Madison is promoting its new social comedy album "There is a yellow pages of gay bars in Garden and beyond, or a replay of "Out Of The Closet" in publications aimed America which we nave used and sent out Square famous' Eagles baseball games. No at the gay community, the producers of the records specifically aimed at a specific those will record said the company's marketing ap- market," said Howard Stark executive vice doubt Roger Daltrey once again show most of his peers. proach is not substantially different from president of Ariola. "But we're not just go- up was that for any other of their comedy records. ing for the gay market. It's called 'Out Of HE DID IT - Robert Gordon playing to "The most important thing about selling The Closet' because it is essentially gay his home -away -from -hometown crowd at New York Loeb Theater last a comedy album is that you must have a humor, but anybody that's even just a little University's a guest suddenly subject which is hot," said Bob Booker, who 'hip' can laugh at a lot of the things on it." weekend when surprise along with George Foster and Bruce Stark said when the album was recorded gave the concert a new dimension. It was Vilanch created, produced and directed the it was also videotaped with the idea of using Bruce Springsteen who leaped to the stage in a "Heartbreak album. The idea behind the album is that visual clips of some of the material for to join Gordon stirring A of vintage songs, gays are now more visible in all aspects of (continued on page 52) Hotel." connoisseur Fantasy American society. "However," as the LP's MARTHA REEVES SIGNS - Gordon has found things he likes in Spring- Martha Reeves he will liner notes state, "no one has yet addressed records recently signed steen's work, and be recording at Looking Back will recording her first album for next themselves to the fabuous humor of this in- who begin least one new Springsteen song on his 1 Year Ago Today (12118/76): with Hank fluential group." the label in mid -December album for Private Stock. Tommy Bolin died of a drug overdose Pictured (l -r) are: Ralph NEW Early Booker explained that the album is just Cosby producing. FALSE STARTS, STARTS - Bob Marley was shot in Jamaica while Kaffel, Fantasy Reeves; Al Ben - had indicated another form of minority humor and that is president; last year, persistent rumors rehearsing with his band dich, Fantasy chief counsel, and Cosby. that Southslde Johnny And The Asbury the way they, with Ariola, are merchandis- The Smithsonian Institute planned to ing it. Jukes were planning a shift in affiliation that would add the Cleveland International logo to issue a series of jazz LPs "Of course we are taking ads in several their Epic label. The move seemed logical because Cleveland International's chief ex- The UPS strike ended however, in- gay publications, such as The Advocate, ecutive, Steve Popovich, was involved in their management. Recent reports, Ads for "A Star Is Born" dominated record but we have also advertised in the Los dicate that SSJ & the AJs are no longer affiliated with Popovitch, and will continue to Sunday newspaper record ads under their present Epic arrangement ... The Michael Stanley Band has been released Angeles Times and KMPC radio. We are King signed with Capitol Carole from its recording contract with Epic, and will seek their next deal through their new going after as wide an audience as possible vp mar- Richard Bibby was named management company, the Cleveland -based Belkin Productions. Belkin has also signed because we think this album is as universal MCA keting for one of the band's former members, writer/vocalist Jonah Koslen, for management as a as any form of ethnic humor." Gordon Bossin was appointed vp 'The First Family' solo artist. Both artists maintain a following in the midwest centered around their home city, marketing for UA Cleveland. Booker and Foster first gained wide- was selected to Bruce Lundvall GOT THE FEVER- Although a Brooklyn disco is a crucial scene of action in "Saturday spread attention in 1962 as the creators of T.J. Martell Memorial Award receive the Night Fever," Robert Stigwood's latest film, the movie's central focus is surprisingly not on "The First Family" album, which satirized The Frankie Crocker trial began House life with the Kennedy family. the self-contained world of disco. Rather, the film is a modern morality tale that serves White Charlie Tuna resigned from KITS; award that year primarily as a star vehicle for John Travolta, who plays Tony Marino, a tough, lonely The record won a Grammy Buzz Bennett left WNOE and the pair has since produced 14 comedy Brooklyn kid seeking to make some sense out of his restrictive environment. However, the 5 Years Ago Today (12/16/72): film will undoubtedly serve to further legitimize disco's popularity among a broad -based Buddah began a promotion for their audience, as it skillfully blends crossover disco hits such as the Bee Gees "You Should Be Genesis LP Charisma -distributed Dancing," with pop songs like "How Deep Is Your Love," all in a well -made and seemingly named vp Steve Popovich was sure-fire hit movie. national promotion for Columbia CIRCUMNAVIGATION Electric Light was named director of - Dick Sherman Orchestra will literally be touring the globe west coast operations for Bell in 1978, according to drummer Bev Bevan, Hot Rocks" London released "More who dropped by to give us the news. They'll by the Rolling Stones begin rehearsals in Los Angeles in January, Cooper was upped to national Shelly and kick off with their first performance in Warner artist relations coordinator at Hawaii, probably on January 25. Then Brothers they'll be off to Japan, Australia and New Suzanne de Passe was named cre- Zealand, hopping off to England for a tour ative vp at Motown Records and some time off in early spring. ELO will Neal, a salesman for WEA, Marshall cover Europe and Scandinavia in the re- 4 in a firebombing incident at f was killed maining months of the season, just in time Sanders One Stop in Chicago FOREIGNER FROM NORTH POLE - to reach America for a summer tour that will lead Santa Claus stopped by the Los Angeles of- Michael Fennelly, former singer include many outdoor dates. Though no TUCKER ON NEWTON SPECIAL - with Epic fice of Cash Box recently to deliver a copy of Crabby Appleton, signed specific plans for visual effects have been Singer Tanya Tucker was greeted back- of "Long, Long Way From Home," the latest 10 Years Ago Today (12/16/67): made as yet, ELO and lighting designer stage by Steve Gold (I) and Bruce Wayne of the single from Foreigner's debut album on Mercury Records lowered Steve Bickford intend to entertain in grand Far Out Productions, her management of singles from 490 to Atlantic Records. Pictured (l -r) are: John wholesale price style. company, during .the recent taping of David Kalodner, west coast director of A&R 460. WATCH THE BLUE LINES - The Sex Wayne Newton's upcoming television - Ed Rosenblatt was named merchan- for Atlantic, and Gary Cohen, editor-in Pistols created a great deal of public in- special. and ad of A&M chief of Cash Box. dising director terest by using "objectionable" language on British television, and they face a golden op- Handleman a two for one declared portunity to do the same Stateside, now that they're booked for "Saturday Night Live!" on stock split Blue Note Reports December 17. The possibility doesn't concern the producers, however. A seven -second a scholarship in NATRA established broadcast delay leaves them the option of bleeping out any rotten or vicious commentary, Pacific Jazz Cat. memory of Sam Cooke and besides, they have the experience of some of Richard Pryor's spontaneous perfor- Norm Winter joined Dot as director of mances under their belts. Reissue Series publicity AN AUDIOENVIRONMENTAL ALTERNATIVE Syntonic Research, Inc., is planning two "Darlin' " by the Beach Boys was a - LOS ANGELES Blue Note Records will new releases in its "Environments" LP series. The tentative titles of the ninth and tenth - pick hit re-release the Pacific Jazz Series catalog, albums in the catalog are "Caribbean Lagoon" and "Winter Storm." They will continue the Don McGregor joined Don Schaefer beginning early next year, according to an series' unique use of natural sounds in studio -produced recordings. The Syntonic record Promotions in Dallas as southern announcement by Eddie Levine, general division has appointed two new distributors, Kinnara Distributing of Chicago, and promotion director manager of Blue Note. Associated Distributors, Inc., in Phoenix, Arizona, bringing the total number of indepen- Mercury held a party to introduce one Pacific Jazz Records, founded in 1952 by dent distributors to 21. The first three "Environments" discs are still manufactured by of their new signings, Kenny Rankin Richard Bock, was sold in 1965 to United Atlantic Records. Mitch Ryder and Wilson Pickett were Artists, then Liberty Records, under the SHOWCASE RETURNS After several months of inactivity, the New York Songwriters set to tour together - direction of Al Bennett. Artists on the label Showcase has been reactivated at the Bottom Line. A showcase was held on December 6, 15 Today included Gerry Mulligan, Chet Baker, Les years Ago (12/15/62): and the organizers hope to be holding regular afternoon showcases every month, starting A realignment of the Jay Gee promo- McCann, Wes Montgomery, Buddy Rich, in February. As in the past, they will screen tapes sent in by new songwriters, and choose tion department found Sal Licata in up- Jean-Luc Ponty, The Jazz Crusaders, Ger- the most promising applicants for live performances featuring five or six acts each. All state New York, Fred DeMann in the ald Wilson's Big Band and Ravi Shankar. showcases are open to publishers, managers and record companies in search of un- midwest and Mickey Eichner in New According to Levine, the move to re- signed writing talent. York issue the Pacific Jazz cataglog was THE WRONG STORY Last week we mistakenly credited Michael Brown of Stories with Ivan Mogull was named a rep for Four - spurned by the response to a recent Pacific the authorship of "Brother Louie," the group's big hit. The actual writer is the leader of the Star Television Jazz series made available in Japan group that had a hit with the song outside the U.S. The group is Hot Chocolate, and the Chess named Don Dumont's dis- through United Artists Japanese licensee, confusion arose because the writer is named Errol Brown. tributing co. in Boston as their rep King International. The re -issues, as they SHORT SHOTS Cathy Chamberlain's Rag 'N' Roll Revue will headline at Reno Sweeney Henry Droz of Arc Distributing joined - will appear in the United States, will consist December 13-18 ... The Alessis have cleared up their British booking setbacks and are the board of ARMADA of two sets with two volumes a piece span- now touring England with David Essex ... Genya Ravan and Taxl made their New York Dion cut his initial single for Columbia on page 18) ning the 1950s and 1960s. (continued

Cash 16 Box/December 17, 1977

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