MUSIC WEEK, NOVEMBER 18, 1978

D D D IV C C THELMA HOUSTON Read To Roll. Motown STML 12098. Produced by Greg Wright and Hal Davis. Classy soul album from the lady who scored a massive TV album from Cleo hit with her single, Don't Leave Me This Way (1977). Nothing as CLEO LAINE . , , THE CARPENTERS outstanding on this album, but pick Cico. Arcade ADE P37. Ii has ©CHART CERTAINTY Singles 1974-1978. A&M AMLT of the nine tracks are Strange and been a triumphant year tor Ms Laine Sales potential within 19748. Ideal for the Christmas Can't We Try. — after years of always being market and no doubt A&M arc *** around but being taken for granted respective market going to enjoy huge sales with the b v the general public, *** Good second Carpenters' TV package. ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK she suddenly found herself in the Surprisngly there are more hits on album charts with Good Friends ** Fair this LP than on its predecessor with The Silent Witness. Gull GULP (along with John Williams), had a * Poor Please Mr. Postman, Only 1030. The Silent Witness is a 60- sell-out season at the London Yesterday, Solitair, A Kind of minute film documentary, currently Palladium and made an appearance DARTS Hush and Calling Occupants of on general release, which tells the on the Royal Variety Show. Now The Amazing Darts. K-Tel DLP Inlerplantetary Craft — with a story of the Holy Shroud of Turin. comes her first ever TV-promoted 7981. Producers: Tommy Boyce & couple of very strong B-sides Side one of this album features the album, specially recorded for Richard Hartley. A 20-track thrown in as well. It goes without atmospheric background music, Arcade, and featuring husband John compilation featuring the band's saying that this is going to be one the composed by Alan Hawkshaw, Dankworth and his orchestra. The four Top Ten hits, Daddy Cool, It's television albums of the year. \ while side two is devoted to a 20 songs are all show hits including Raining, Come Back My Love and narration by Kenneth More. Don't Cry For Me Argentina, If Boy From New York City, and some o Soundtrack albums generally stand Love Were All, On A Clear Day and of the best tracks from their two VARIOUS/DISCO or fall on the success of the Who Can I Turn To? With her albums for Magnet. A year ago Don't Walk, Boogie, EMI EMTV j acompanying film but there are current TV specials and an Darts were virtually unknown — 13. THELMA HOUSTON: A classy indications that this LP could reach Boogie Fever, Ronco RTL 2034. soul album with a three star rating upcoming Palladium season, Ms today they are one of the hottest EMI's compilation has the edge on a broader audience than most. The Laine is going to be back strongly in recording acts around and while Ronco's at the moment, but it's spreading the word wider with each very nature of the subject, and the the public eye, and this album many people will already have these early days yet. Though two tracks new disc. Keith Richard also joins in fact that there is also a best-selling should be her first chart hit in her tracks, the LP should still be a biggie clash (Substitute and Singing In The (Tosh has warmed up for a Stones paperback about the Shroud, should verv own right. for the Christmas period. Rain) there are plenty of up-to-the- tour and the band has supported his stimulate interest. This is a record o o minute titles to make both LPs career) so he has a guaranteed circle which should have a lot of long-term BILLY JOEL worth having, especially as the party of followers. But he is a valid reggae value and will be particularly useful 52nd Street. CBS 813181. Producer: season gets going. EMI's mixes pop artist, too, and his current tour ***in schools and colleges. Phi! Ramone. Billy Joel gets better such as Tom Robinson, T Rex and should boost sales without him and better. His last album, Stranger, Marshall Hain with the boggie losing his cult status as a diehard VARIOUS ARTISTS made his reputation here — long tracks, while Ronco's is heavier on fighter for the cause. He has only 20 Super Hits — 20 Super Stars. overdue — and this set will confirm disco titles plus Abba's Take A recently recovered from yet another Pickwick PLE 7000. Pickwick has his permanent status in the British Chance, and Child's It's Only Make unfortunate tussle with the police in Jamaica. launched a new range of budget- charts. His occasional Elton John Believe. Both well put together and *** price 20-track albums and tapes, soundalike songs are quickly highly saleable sets. supported by a £120,000 radio forgotten through his individuality TOE WOMBLES promotion campaign, and this is one on tracks like My Life (the single), o Wombles Christmas Party. Stiletto and this album's Phil PETER TOSH Hallmark SHM 977. This virtually of the strongest items in the Limited Spector tribute. Until The Night. Bush Doctor. Rolling Stones CUN amounts to a greatest hits package Edition series. Star line-up includes 39109. Ex-Wailer Tosh's third with such titles as Remember, the New Seekers, Neil Sedaka, Lyn Joel is a highly accomplished and and probably most commercial Paul, The Rubettes and Jimmy intelligent with a much solo album, proven by the fact that You're A Womble, Wombling Ruffin, all performing hits that needed ingredient. With more one cut, (You Gotta Walk) Don't While Tie And Tails, Minuetto they had in the last two or three concerts here would be welcome. Look Back has made the Top 75. Allegretto, Banana Rock and The years. Space forbids individual Incidentally, 52nd Street is CBS' BILLY JOEL: His album assures This could be the prescence of Mick Wombling Song included. Excellent reviews of the other albums in the current home. him permanent station in the British Jagger on vocals, but reggae fans budget value, ideal for the series, but suffice to say that they o charts. will want to think that Tosh is Christmas market. that they all represent excellent value