MUSIC WEEK DECEMBER 10, 1983 Edited Edited by by CHRIS WHITE [MmOSKlOK]® NIGEL HUNTER THE VOICE behind The Alan Parsons Project: Zakatek. Hifiiignit it YLANG-YLANG (Pronounced Elang-Elang) — derived from a Malaysian shrub from which Blue HimtaSmi perfume is distilled — is the name of a new UK duo. Singer Michelle Stewart is also putting together Morrison and Peter Newland write BLUE MOUNTAIN MUSIC, the some production deals, and one of all their own material, with Morrison first publishing company the first is with Paul Samwell-Smilh, concentrating mainly on the lyrics launched by Island supremo who is re-forming The Yardbirds and Newland, the music. For live Chris Blackwell in the early band Stewart plans to sign appearances they are joined by three Sixties, has been reactivated, producers and work with small other musicians. Ylang-Ylang have with new deals for Tom independent production enterprises played the Rock Garden in Covent Robinson among others. such as Innervision and Why Garden several times, and manager A considerable amount of Records. Gordon Reeves says, "they are part lakiteS^—wt from repertoire in its catalogue originates of a new breed bringing back the from Jamaica, from where the qualities of glamour". company derives its name. The Contact: Gordon Bleu same applies to sister catalogue Management, Glebe House, Rydim (Rasta for rhythm), while Deals Wheelers Lane, Brockham, prajjicted anonymity perhaps Blue Mountain s best- Betchworth, Surrey (tel: known song to date has been Rivers Betchworth 2049). THE RELEASE of The Best Of The Alan Parsons Project, which features stand- Of Babylon, published in Stif signing ODD out tracks from the five Project albums made for Arista, will again bring the conjunction with Sparta Florida EIGHT-PIECE Scottish band Combo voice of the UK's most anonymous rock singer to millions of homes around the Music. THE FIRST major signing for Stiff Vitto played their first London gig at world. Heading Blue Mountain s Music is Kirsty MacColl, the the Embassy Club recently. The Worldwide, Alan Parson Project albums have sold some 25m units — and activities is Nick Stewart, who writer of They Don't Know, the band was formed only a few months Zakatek's vocals have featured on all of them. Yet ask the average pop punter worked for the Island group as an hit single for Tracey Ullman and ago, playing gigs in their native who he is, and few would probably be able to give you the answer. Zakatek is A&R man from 1978 to 1980, during the title track of her debut album. Edinburgh and Perth, about which philosophical about this lack of public recognition for his efforts. "It's a great which time he signed Irish MacColl's own single for Stiff, Melody Maker wrote: "They blaze privilege to be asked to do vocals on the Project albums. Although other superstars U2 among others. Terry, has been released in both like a furnace and already make singers like Colin Blunstone and Dean Ford have also featured, I've probably Stewart left in 1980 to form a seven and 12-inch formats. most white funk outfits melt into done the most, and in fact my vocals feature on four of the Best Of tracks." production company through Virgin insignificance." His association with the Project followed a call from Eric Woolfson, Alan which handled Kissing The Pink, did THE WELK Music Group has Contact: Barry Wasserman, 35c Parsons' musical partner. Zakatek had built up a strong reputation as the a deal with Magnet, and then left the made an agreement whereby it Rosslyn Hill, London NW3 (01-431 vocalist with Gonzales, a band who, although having only one Top 20 hit, had music business to become a PR in will represent in Europe 1989). a large following at their gigs, (which included several nights at the the horse racing world. "I got a catalogues owned by country Hammersmith Odeon supporting Bob Madey and the Wailers). "Woolfson phone call from Nassau from Chris singer Ronnie Milsap. The pact, □ □ □ said that he had something I might be interested in, and it turned out to be the Blackwell asking me If I'd work for which includes Milsap Music and RALPH McTELL'S annual concert first Project album for Arista, I Robot ." him again," said Stewart, "and here Lodge Hall Music, covers the for children's charities takes place at Zakatek shares the disappointment felt by others involved in the Project that i am." territories of Germany, Austria, the London Palladium this Sunday while the albums sell millions on a worldwide basis, UK record-buyers have Blue Mountain is run separately Switzerland and Italy. (II). All proceeds will go to the shown a lack of interest. "I think part of the problem is radio programming — from Island, and Stewart's first NSPCC and the Nordoff-Robbins in the US for instance, there are radio stations to cover every style of popular signing was Tom Robinson. He's HEATH LEVY Music has made Music Therapy Centre. Among music. Here in the UK the Project albums don't receive the right amount of also signed Nick Berkeley, son of more US catalogue signings in McTell's guests will be guitarist radio airplay," he says. classical composer Sir Lennox, the shape of Makiki Music, Four Juan Martin whose debut WEA Aside of his Project activities — he has just finished doing vocals for the next whom he describes as "a good old- Hills Music, Dunwagan Music single, David's Song, has just been album, released early in 1984 — Zakatek has his own management and fashioned songwriter and craftsman and Gold Forever for UK released. production company, Amberm, based at his home in Surrey. in all styles", Jamie Bernstein, representation. daughter of another classical Makiki is Mike Chapman's composer, Leonard Bernstein, "who publishing interest, and co- is in the Nyro/Mitchell genre", and publishes the Pat Benatar single Two Heroes. Love Is A Battlefield and "Two Heroes is an extremely Agnetha's recent hit. Wrap Your over the) Top bounced onstage at and a bunch of arrestingly simple promising duo, an English Hall & Arms Around Me. Four Hills Eurythmscs Hammersmith Odeon to commit tunes. Oates," enthuses Stewart. "They Music represents all the Sugar GBH of the tympam, via a very Bragg's forte is his precise and write very commercial material and Hill catalogue, including hits by SUCCESS HAS been a long time powerful PA and very clever mixing concise embodiment of the melodies. I'm building up a stable of Grand Master Flash, and coming to Annie Lennox and Dave console emotions of disaffected youth, with writers who can fulfil the old- Dunwagan Music is the company Stewart, but now that they've got it A packed audience of the most straightforward of lyrics fashioned publishing function of of Philip Glass. Gold Forever's they're loving every minute of it. headbangers of all ages leapt to its and simple chords reactivated by providing songs for a wide variety of music catalogue includes some It's a rare treat to see performers feet, unfurled the Confederate flag their starkness. acts. People everywhere still material by the hit team of enjoying themselves as much as the and yelled its appreciation as one His abrasive voice allied to a appreciate good songs." Holland, Dozierand Holland. Eurythmics did at the Hammersmith strident old favourite followed strong lyrical imagery and healthy Palais — but that did not make for a another in a couple of hours of slick degree of world loathing, gave the sloppy, self satisfied performance. US/heavy metal cabaret. songs anger and sadness while his Both worked frenetically — Stewart The sophistication of the sound in-between number repartee STARS RECORDING ENTERPRISES in his quieter, more methodical system was matched by the lighting revealed a killing sense of humour manner, churning out guitar riffs rig, which used lasers and rotating which surfaced as heavy irony in rxcM/SMry I ( 11« « 1SMI I < IKSS from the corner, Lennox joyfully spots to brilliant effect. Everything, many of his musical vignettes. parading herself frontstage — and including the band, was rehearsed With his debut LP, Life's A Riot the pace didn't slacken for one to perfection. The result was great With Spy Vs Spy on Go! Discs, just second. entertainment, but it's debatable out, Mr Bragg is on his way. v Although they are undoubtedly whether anything recognisable as 592 Harrow r rar- equal in terms of artistic ■ Road, contribution, Annie Lennox is the music — in the good old lyrics and real star, the one who people came tunes sense — survived the dB Chris IRea jM London especially to see. She didn't overkill. 9^ WIDdflA disappoint them. The woman whose Possibly to make sure the current IN AN unusual and not very suitable tKKoi Go'- Telephone image has become so familiar over single stood out, they cranked down venue, the Phoenix Theatre, Chris . 01.968 6265 CORK ELL CAMPBELL the last few months, on posters, on the guitar sound and produced some Rea played a melodic set, magazine covers, looked superb in real vocal harmonies for Sharp accompanied by a group of highly Here listed are some of our current products that we have on offer- every costume she changed into. Dressed Man, and gave the same competent musicians. VIP treatment to some new They went through a selection of MMCURRENT LP 33 CP'sRaggv Joey Boy Tapper Zukic Characteristically, each presented a numbers, like TV Dinners But for MM LP 1A The Very Best o* Ruddy Thomas Ruddy Thomas very different image. Starling off in familiar songs taken from Chris MM LP 35 Earth Running Tapper Zukie black and white tartan with splashes the likes of Nationwide, Gimme All Rea's first four LPs along with a NEW L.P. RELEASES Your Loving, (I Wouldn't Touch It handful of numbers from his current SRE 30 LP Fo'Iow Instructions Cornell Campbell of red, she moved into an elegantly With A) Ten Foot Pole and other SRE 31 LP Showcase Album Mighty Diamonds cruel leopardskin number and finally such well-known, thumping LP, Water Sign. DISCOS into black leather S la Night Porter. The musicianship was at all times MM 66 12" Morgan the Piraic- Mighty Diamonds Her vocal range is similarly anthems they performed with all the polished and Rea, himself, came MM 67 12" A) Cornell Campbell and Peter Metro adaptable and the Eurthymics subtlety of enraged bison. across as a more than competent 81 VersionWhat Kind Of World Are We Living In Tapper Zukie moved with ease and grace to This UK visit, for which they have guitarist — his bottleneck slide work Homo T Four Jose Whale embrace a whole range of styles: added an extra Wembley show, was outstanding particularly on A) Changing 8) Changes Mighty Diamonds electro-pop, rock and some vaguely certainly can't harm the prospects of Texas. After two encores he MM 69 12" A) Whose Sorry Now B) Rebel Baby AI Campbell the Eliminator album, or the single MM 70 12" Give Me Love Latin-tinged dance numbers. But on which WEA is working so hard. rounded off the show with his Ho'd You JoseBarry WhaleBiggs/ * whatever they played Lennox's excellent single, I Can Hear Your MM <5 10 Ai Reflections Ruddy Thomas TERRI ANDERSON Warriors superb voice stood out - clear, Heart Beat. MM 22 7" A)B) VersionSensimelia Tappet Zukie bright and chillingly accurate. It was a show to leave you MM 23 7" Deja Vu B) One More Chance Ruddy Thomas DANNY VAN EMDEN wondering why does Rea not sell Someone To Love Ruddy Thomas BsDiy Bragg more records in this country on a par NEW RELEASES DISCO Tapper Zukio with his greater success abroad. SE1 7" h 12" People Are You Ready Ertol Dunkley "NAKED AND alert" is how Billy He certainly has the song- MMMOB 73 001 12 12" SpecialAi Bad BoyGirl Version Mighty Diamonds ■ B) Leaders Of Black Couniry The Vibesiones Z2 Top Bragg self-mockingly described writing ability, n may be just a MM 72 12" Al Too Rude African Star himself from the tiny Rock Garden question of time and a little more B) Let The Music Play Larry Marshall IN MATCHING white jeans and stage, but his modesty was exposure. Chris Rea is an artist to MIGHTY DIAMONDS NATIONAL TOUR DECEMBER matching beards, toting matching unnecessary for that's just what he watch. red hot rod-shaped guitars ZZ (right is: a regular guy with a treble guitar CHARLIE JEFFREY PAGE 20