New Faces To Watch Producers Series: Galuten/Richardson Aim For Records That Communicate by Charles Palkert I felt there was an objective ear missing. As NEW YORK - It's been their year. The artists, sometimes, the Bee Gees weren't production team of Albhy Galuten and Karl looking at the music as objectively as they Richardson have amassed, so far, a total of knew they should be. Albhy was in England seven number one singles and over 30 producing a record, so I called him up and weeks of chart domination during 1978. got him back to Miami on the next flight to The record industry hasn't seen anything cut a couple of tracks. The album turned like it since George Martin a scored string out to be the first album that Albhy and I co - Lynda Carter of four Beatle hits in six months in 1964. produced. Bob McGilpin Galuten and Richardson's rash of Expertise And Intuition "I see no conflict in combining music and "The last few weeks have been a total number one singles includes "Grease" by The two men blend electronic expertise acting careers," said Lynda Carter, whose learning experience," says Bob McGilpin Frankie Valli, "Shadow Dancing" by Andy and a sensitive intuition for today's popular angelic alto voice is featured on "Portrait," whose debut album, "Superstar," is re- Gibb, "How Deep Is Your Love" by the Bee music. Galuten has maintained that her Epic Records debut. "Years ago, Gees; "Love Is Thicker Than Water" by ceiving a concerted push from Butterfly "engineering is something I have to put up Ginger Rogers sang, acted, and danced. Records. "I never realized how the system Andy Gibb, "Emotion" by Samantha Sang, with." His real interest has always been, he Doris Day did that too. And look at John worked." and "Stayin' Alive" and "Night Fever" by said, "trying to be involved with the song Travolta! He's the perfect example of a con- McGilpin is learning fast. He moved to the Bee Gees. from the time it's the germ of an idea to the temporary performer that's doing it all - L.A. two years ago from Lincoln, Nebraska The co -producers reached their present final mastering on the tape. In other words, albums, movies and a television series. with a band called Straight. Typical of many renown by very different paths. Galuten the whole concept, and the ability to corn - Now it's time for a contemporary woman to young musicians' fortunes, the band ran grew up in Westchester County outside of (continued on page 53) do the same." aground after wide-eyed expectations. New York City, and developed an affection Carter, who plays the title role in the "I guess we were all a little naive coming for R&B music, which he listened to con- Allman Bros. Band television series "Wonder Woman," is from Lincoln," says McGilpin. "I had been stantly on New York radio stations. Pursu- already branching out into other areas of working In a grocery store during the day ing his R&B heroes, and hoping to make Re-formsAt Picnic show business. At age 25, the former Miss and playing with the band at night. We some money as a session musician, he MACON, Ga. Capricorn's 7th annual pic- World U.S.A. wants it all - - to excel as an came to L.A. to make it but then after down to Memphis before he turned 20, nic and birthday party concluded on a actress, a recording star, a nightclub per- several months of being low on money, we where he played piano and organ for nostalgic, historic note with the surprise former and a songwriter. She took her first had no choice but to break up. Everybody several of Stax sessions. He then spent a reunion of the legendary Allman Brothers step In that direction during July when she else pretty much drifted back to Lincoln but year and a half at the Berkelee College of Band. Capricorn president Phil Walden in- made her Las Vegas nightclub debut I at my wife and stayed in L.A. because if you Music in Boston before returning to troduced "the Allman Brothers Band and Caesars Palace. want to be in the music business, this is the Memphis. friends" to close the afternoon of music and "'Wonder Woman' has been really good place to be." R&B Exodus celebration, which had included Delbert to me," she explained as she prepared to As a result of the work with Straight, From Memphis, Galuten followed the McClinton, Stillwater, and MC Martin Mull. tape an for episode the program's fall McGilpin met independent producer Nor- R&B exodus to Miami and picked up work The "Jam" session was not completely a series. "Because of the visibility the show man Ratner who encouraged him to con- as a sideman on sessions with Aretha surprise as the rumor mill had been has given me, I'm able to sing as honestly as tinue writing songs. While he worked at the Franklin and Eric Clapton. He also struck grinding out hourly progress reports but, I can without having to worry about im- Broadway Wilshire department store as an up friendships with noted producers Jerry according to one Capricorn spokesman, pressing someone. As restricted as the assistant stock manager, McGilpin worked Wexler and Tommy Dowd, which led to a "nothing was sure until they took the stage." character or the show might seem, it's steadily to perfect his craft, writing many of job at Criteria Studios and an association Gregg Allman, Dickey Betts, Jaimoe and really given me the opportunity to get into the vibrant, rock/disco songs which appear with Karl Richardson. Butch Trucks, all original band members, something I love dearly." on the new album. When he showed Ratner Richardson, a native of Miami, was treated the Capricorn family and guests to Carter began singing professionally at the material, Ratner offered to finance always an electronics hobbyist. A ham an emotion -packed hour of ABB classics. age 15, when she worked weekends at a demo production. During the initial run radio operator as a child, he began study- Back To Studio pizza hangout in Tempe, Arizona. After around town with the tape, Motown ex- ing for an engineering degree at Miami's "This is the first step toward getting the high school, she sang and toured the coun- pressed interest and held the tape for six Dade College, and then became a disc original members back in the studio for a try with two different groups for three years. months. But the break did not come. jockey for radio station WEDR. He also recording session sometime in October," "It was a lot of hard work," she recalled. "Six "It was a big disappointment when began doing P.A. mixes for local clubs, Walden announced. The long hoped for days a week, four sets a night. It was just Motown passed," says McGilpin. "My wife which, he said, "naturally led to the studio." reunion was first discussed at a recent paying dues. I liked it for a while, but then I Janie and I felt a big letdown. But Norman And the studio happened to be Criteria. Dickey Betts concert in New York and the stopped liking it and tabled music. I just refused to give up and got our mood back While on the engineering staff at Criteria, Capricorn picnic on August 24 was selec- didn't want to make my living singing in up." Richardson worked closely with Arif Mar - ted as the site of their first public perfor- bars anymore." McGilpin went back into the studio and din, who produced the Bee Gees' "Main mance in over four years. That was in 1970. Two years later, away cut several more songs with the encourage- Course" album. Richardson engineered The band's breakup resulted from a dis- from music, Carter won the Miss U.S.A. ment of Ratner who counseled "write a the album, and the Bee Gees were so im- pute between its members over Allman's contest; she later went on to become Miss smash this weekend and we'll record it on pressed that they asked him to engineer testimony at the drug trial of a former band World U.S.A. While in England for the latter Friday." their next LP, "Children of the World." employee. However, no animosity ap- contest, she cut three singles for EMI, one With the resulting tape, Ratner ap- Although the Bee Gees had planned to peared to be present onstage, and the rift of which was called "It Might As Well Stay proached Butterfly and received an im- produce themselves, Richardson related, between the musicians seemed to be Monday." "The response was good, and it mediate strong response. After McGilpin "we got through one week of recording and bridged by the musical camaraderie. was a positive experience, but I didn't really met with A.J. Cervantes, label president, care for the country," she said. and the bond was strengthened, McGilpin Carter came back to the States to make signed for a million dollar, multi -album seal. the pilot for "Wonder Woman," then the The "Superstar" album, produced by serles. Now she has come back to music, Ratner, has received a concentrated But- encouraged by her husband and manager, terfly campaign, kicked off by special Ron Samuels. promotional packages which included a "Ron is the one who got me back into cassette, album and selected comments by singing," she admitted.