Album Reviews
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ALBUM REVIEWS PEARL - London PS 692 - Producers: John Lombardo & EDDIE MONEY - Columbia PC 34909 - Producer: Bruce Leslie Pearl - List: 6.98 Botnick - List: 6.98 Siblings Leslie and Debbie Pearl, who write and sing, respec- Eddie Money never quite fit into that New York City tively, have teamed up here for a delightful and bouncy pop en- policeman's uniform even though two generations had try. If Carole King had a dual personality it might look and cer- preceded him in that role. But, as he so vividly tells us in "Wanna tainly would sound like the Pearl Sisters. Leslie has written the Be A Rock 'n' Roll Star" his aspirations have always leaned highly accessible material here, but also doubles as keyboard more to the concert stage than to the neighborhood beat. On his player, musical arranger, co -producer and singer on two debut album he does indeed show that he's got the stuff, tracks. Debbie, however, as the singing lead brings her knowl- primarily as a singer but also as an instrumentalist and a writer. edge of the theatre to her dramatic vocal renderings. Look for live performances especially to turn the trick for Money. CRAC KIN' - Crackin' - Warner Bros. BS 3123 - Producer: Michael Omartian - List: 6.98 PORTFOLIO - Grace Jones - Island ILPS-9470 - Producer: With this, the group's second Warner Bros. album, Crackin' Tom Moulton - List: 7.98 has further refined its own interesting blend of rock and R&B Very few people could get away with a disco cover of "Send In styles. The lyrics are unpretentious and optimistic and serve as The Clowns," but Ms. Jones not only pulls it off, but manages to a vehicle for the music, which is the nucleus of the album. The give disco a booster shot of class in the process. Jamaican - songs are upbeat, for the most part, and highly commercial. born Jones is, oddly enough, the only female signed to Island While some might lump Crackin' in the disco category, the but the high -fashion model with the alternately teasing and songs here feature a more complete sound, thanks to the powerful pipes shows why she may become disco's next heart group's musicianship and Omartian's production. throb on this sophisticated debut effort. FIRE IN THE WIND - John Stewart - RSO RS -1-3027 - LOVE'S AN EASY SONG - Melsburg & Walters- Casablanca Producer: Mentor Williams and John Stewart - List: 7.98 WAL NBLP 7067 - Producer: Thomas Williams - List 7.98 Singer/songwriter John Stewart has come a long way since WAL This vocal duo is still at their very best on soft slow -tempo his days as a clean-cut folkie in the Kingston Trio. Though he VAi ä ballads. But they are not shy about kicking up the tempo when it "ALT makes his RSO debut with this release, a sizable cult has suits their needs. Sweeter harmonies are hard to find and they ¡ALTA eagerly awaited each new release from Stewart in a nine year Y AAL once again show their dual songwriting ability on an album a WAL solo career. This album catches John in a variety of moods from .PALTERS which is half made of their own compositions. bitingly political to spiritedly fun -loving, with the best tunes be- SB URG & WAL si SleURG & WAL ing the ones blending quiet thoughtfulness with keen insight. ee'BURG & WALT =uTRG & WA^,T =s DENNY GREENE - Midsong/RCA - BKL1-2519 - Producer: JUBILIATION - The Rowans - Asylum 7E-1114 - Producer: Michael Love - List: 6.98 Joseph Carroll & The Rowans - List: 6.98 As the only black member of Sha Na Na, Denny Greene held a This Bay area trio stresses harmonies, approaching the vocal unique position within that '50s revivalist group. But, Denny has parts like master craftsmen producing a work of art. But they diversified of late, moving into films, television and now a solo don't neglect instrumentals, rather they augment their voices album that bears no resemblance to his group work. He is with their imaginative arrangements, using their instruments given a well-chosen variety of songs to perform here from more as punctuation than main subjects. They add a mild jazz romantic ballads to throbbing disco numbers. He handles it all touch to several songs, but leave the softer ballads to gentle with professional smoothness. acoustic backgrounds and throw in several other surprises before the disc is done. FAST/FORWARD - Randy Pie - Polydor PD -1-6113 - NEVER BEEN HERE BEFORE - Paulette McWilliams - Fan- Producer: Spencer Proffer - List: 7.98 tasy F-9536 - Producer: Ciner & Loizzo - List 7.98 The newly formed amalgam that is Randy Pie is a tough little Paulette McWilliams was the original lead singer with Rufus quintet, led vocally by Peter French and instrumentally by noted pre-Chaka Khan, whom, ironically she brought to the group. German guitarist Frank Diez who plays all axes except bass. Following work with Quincy Jones, a spate of singing commer- Their international backgrounds (French, English & German) cials and a chance to sing duet with Sarah Vaughan, Paulette give them a fresh approach that makes the music appropriate got her own solo deal and the chance to show her stuff. Her for a variety of tastes from disco to soft rock, and the combina- range, both vocally and dramatically, is quite impressive and tion of influences, from Bad Company to disco makes their goal the variety of material included here is ample evidence of her of commercial acceptance seem highly realistic. talent. THE MOTORS - Virgin/CBS PZ 34924 - Producer: Robert METRO - Sire/Warner SR 6041 - Producer: Peter Sames & John Lange - List 6.98 Metro - List 6.98 No one really knows what will come out of the current English Though you see only two, their number is three including Peter rock scene, influenced as it is by the preponderance of punk or Goodwin, Duncan Browne and Sean Lyons (not pictured) and New Wave bands. But, these four gents offer nothing less than they produce a high-class English pop sound that is hypnotic pure excitement and basic rock and roll intensity with no ob- and elegant. Bitingly clever lyrics, haunting melodies and vious punk undertones. It is simply well -prepared music with a overlapping instrumental textures, not unlike 10cc, are the driving beat and a high energy level that makes it very appealing keynotes of Metro's debut effort. They are pretentious and un- without being threatening. abashedly intellectual but they are quite capable of carrying it off. NETWORK Epic PE 34979 Producers: Albhy Galuten, - - STARWOOD Columbia PC 34785 Producers: Bruce Bot - Karl Richardson & Barry Gibb List: 6.98 - - - nick & Terry Powell List: 6.98 Network is a septet of musicians whose harmonies are not - Colorado -based Starwood is a seven -man group with a unlike the Doobie Bros. but whose instrumental arrangements strong sense of commercial appeal, whether intentional or not, show the influence of various styles from R&B funk to rock that enables them to glide from a gritty rocker to a tasteful power. Originally a quintet, the band got together this summer ballad without a hitch. Their depth allows them to draw from a and renewed adding an extra keyboard man the commitment diverse collective capable of many surprises. Harmonies are and percussionist then took their sound to Tommy Mottola who precise, and vocals as a whole are exemplary, but the band moved along for The wide-ranging appeal of their things them. features highly competent instrumentalists as well. tracks should get things moving for them on the airwaves as well. TWO MAN BAND -Splinter - Dark Horse/Warner Bros. DH 3073 Producer: Norbert Putnam List: 6.98 APRIL WINE AT THE EL MOCAMBO London PS 699 - - - - Splinter's Bobby Purvis and Billy Elliott are indeed a two -man Producer: Eddie Kramer - List: 6.98 band even though no less than seven instruments make their Being in the right at the right time not hurt April place did presence felt here. But Bobby the writer and Billy the singer Wine who shared the stage with the Rolling Stones for the make a dynamic duo that is more than up to the challenge of be- recording of the latter's live album in March. But, of course, ing different in a crowded field. It's true some fine people are April Wine has more going for them than good timing. Highly sitting in on the sessions too, but the focus should rightfully proficient rockers, this Canadian quartet has a vocal style belong to the pair who sing together. somewhat reminscent of the Guess Who but with a lot more sass and electricity. LA COSTA - Capitol ST -11713 - Producer: Doug Gilmore - MICHAEL SMOTHERMAN - Windsong/RCA BHL1-2416 - List: 6.98 Producer: Milton Okun - List 6.98 Having fully established a healthy country following, La Costa Singer/songwriter Michael Smotherman is not only blessed here shows off her versatility with pop songs written by such with the lyrical depth of which Thesauruses are made but has an composers of the form as Neil Diamond, Billy Joel, The Rolling amazing vocal quality that seems to suggest different per- Stones, and England Dan and John Ford Coley. Recorded in sonalities interpretating different songs. He's got most of the L.A., La Costa's fourth Capitol album is simply self -titled bases covered here too, from boogie-woogie to ballads to perhaps in anticipation of the fact that this album introduces her country -tinged numbers to mild rockers. On all, Smotherman's to a whole new set of listeners. But old fans will not feel betrayed energy is contagious and he puts out the right amount of emo- because even the pop material is done with a certain respect for tion to make it all work for him.