Browne's %Empfy' A
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1ZC High Point Enterprise, Sunday, January 29, 1»78 Vocals Spark 'Emotion' Browne's "Show Some Emotion" A&M Recordi From the country blues of "Woncha Many rock connoisseurs tend to view Come On Home," to the laid back jazz negatively Top 40 singles and the artists tune of "Opportunity," to the flowing % recording them. These reviewers are melodies of "Warm Love" and "Willow," further inclined to judge with displeasure the secret ingredient to the album is Empfy' A the recording containing the so-called hits Joan's dynamic, prominent vocals. — albums which do nothing more than fill out the remainder of the disc. Most obvious on "Woncha Come On So when Joan Armstrong (pronounced Home," where she performs with nothing ARM-a-trad-ing) released "Show Some more than her acoustic guitar and a thumb Good LP Emotion," critics were greatly surprised piano, vocals are clearly the difference to learn that not only were the album's "Running On Empty," Aiylum Record! between a good album and a great one. two Tpp 40 hits worthy of praise, but also Jackson Browne is perhaps more talented than we ever realized. that the rest of the recording was as good "Emotion" marks Joan Armatrading's or better. Without even trying too hard, Browne has become fourth album in a five year career. Born On her third album, "Joan Ar- the underground monarch of the teen-age music world. on the isle of St. Kitts in the Caribbean, matrading," this talented artist revealed He first started his musical career shyly writing later moving to England at the age of 8. that she was on the threshold of brilliance. songs, ignoring his own talent and saleability, and she has attained half of her musical goal And with "Emotion," Joan Armatrading providing sheet music for the likes of The Eagles, while permanently preventing another — Linda Ronstadt, Kiki Dee and Joe Cocker. has taken that final step forward to a goal to be both famous and anonymous. greatness. Almost by accident he started cutting a few of his By JEFF COHEN Joan Armatrading own records. And lately, he has made enough of a stir to rank in Rolling Stone's year-end poll as one of the hottest recording acts in the business, despite almost She's Gof Nothin' To Brag About non-existent air time on commerical AM radio. That Jackson Browne shuns the type of PR hype that is currently "selling" Andy Gibb should be his down- "Almln1 To Please," Columbia Records tion, coupled with the singer's limited fall. But music-minded people will always eventually Mary Kay Place has made a living as vocal range, makes this album C seek out such and after a huge success with "The well as an art out of playing second rate material. Pretender," Browne now has released "Running On singers — first as the star-struck Loretta Mary Kay's experiences as a television Empty," which in less than a month has climbed to Haggers of television's "Mary Hartman, comedy writer are evident in the lyrics of number 10 on the Top Ten LP chart. Mary Hartman," and recently on film as a her own compositions, which often provid- As "Running On Empty" spins on the turntable, it is not-so-hot torch singer in the ill-fated ed an earthy, humoresque look at easy to tell that the title cut and "You Love The musical "New York, New York." America's working class in her first Thunder" are standard Browne material. They may "Aimin1 To Please" is her second album, "Tonite! At the Capri Lounge." even smack of dullness because it is so easy to tire of attempt at shifting musical focus from the The intention is the same on "Aimin'-To the same old lyrics and the same old musical flow. character(s) to herself, but one wonders if Please" but lyrics alone cannot keep songs But the amazing talent that emerges on this disc is the transition from a comical bowling like "Marlboro Man" and "Cattle Kate" the fact that several songs are recorded either alley songstress to a serious country from being overshadowed by humdrum backstage, in motel rooms and even on a Continental music singer will ever be completely melodies. Silver Eagle bus somewhere in New Jersey. Browne is possible after listening to a few bars of It's true, Mary Kay Place has the voice incredible when recording under any conditions — he this album. and the backing to make inroads into an always sounds good. unusually tight facet of the music in- The off-beat material that makes "Running On There are bright spots such as "Dolly's dustry. But unless she soon decides Empty" more than just a standard Browne LP are Dive" and "Something To Brag About," whether she is shooting for acceptance as Daniel Kortchmar's "Shaky Town" and a revised ver- the single release with Willie Nelson (who a novelty singer or a bona fide member of sion of "Cocaine." sounds amazingly like Lee Hazlewood on the "world of country music." albumslike this cut). Both songs are up-tempo where In essence, the album literally packs your bags and Mary Kay Place "Aimin' To Please" will always hit off books you on a tour with Browne. Each song reflects May Kay's greatest singing ability lies. target. However, the rest of the material selec- aspects of being "on the road." with the majority of By MIRIAM PACE the lyrics being on the depressant side. For instance, "I got a bottle of wine (pass it over)/I got a broken white line (I'm still soberl/There ain't nothin' but time between this Silver Eagle/And that New Jersey 'Reckless Daughter' Too 'Weird' line." "Don Juan's Reckless Daughter," Asylum Records section of "Talk To Me," with black-faced Joni struttin' on But lyrically. Jackson Browne has established One of Joni Mitchell's most famous trademarks is that she the album sleeve to complete the effect. himself as poetically superior to all current music per- is absolutely "weird," And never has she proved it more The really trying parts of the album come in "Paprika sonalities, save Joni Mitchell. On this album, his lyrics than with her new double album release entitled "Don Juan's Plains" — a 16 minute 19 second excursion through slow ring the side of "superstardom" that the fans never Reckless Daughter." melodies that are innovative, but tiresome — and "The experience — the constant road travel, the one-night Tenth World" — a six minute 45 second bongo lesson that stands and "when they got up on their feet they made No doubt, die-hard Joni Mitchell fans will drool over this repeats itself at least 250 times. the show/And that was sweet/But I can hear the cut, but from start to finish the LP is tough to like as schizoid By BOB LONGINO sound/Of slamming doors and folding chairs/And Joni balances her several "personalities" (folk, rock, jazz, that's a sound they'll never know," classical) in a mish-mash of music and words. Currently. Browne is headlining a concert tour Lyrically, Joni is her ever-genius best, poetically master- across the South. Amd most likely. 1978 will be his ing her unusual ideas. But musically, this time she's a year. Browne is starting to get more radio air time downer. Before, albums like "Court and Spark" mixed BINGO without asking. He deserves the recognition because beautiful melodies and sounds. But on "Reckless Daughter," Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday 7:30 pm he has arrived at the front door without disc jockey Joni concentrates on a synthesized bass with a hornish sound FREE Tickets Given Each Night backing or big business hawking. And he's added that is distracting as well as too overly unique. another good album to his un-hyped collection. Most of the songs include a hint of jazz which she first Good For Participation ON By BOB LONGINO started to develop in "Court and Spark" with "Twisted." TV - CB RADIOS • COUNTRY HAMS She's downright black with "Cotton Avenue" and the opening BIG JACKPOT PRIZES ARMY-NAVY UNION of U.S.A. City Boy Is Slick But Solid Group 2904 N. MAIN (Next Door To Blue Bell Outlet Store) By ROB PATTERSON new English rock bands. the heartily approving to the producer — Robert John fourth album (which Steve equivalent of a Grammy for While the bulk of new British outright ecstatic — it looks Lange — who almost func- Lol Mason and Steve and Lol are determined to Best New Album of the Year, TRIMS OR rockers are political punks like City Boy's got a sure tioned as a seventh member make a killer). City Boy will and was released early this Broughton, ihe singing- with a cause, City Boy's mis- foothold on success. As one of the band. The first offspr- writing tandem of Britain's be back to the States later fall here by Columbia sion is music. California reviewer noted, ing of that partnership, titled this spring. Though the old Records. Though the half City Boy. are certainly a Judging from their reviews "Their sophistication is con- City Boy — was likened tfy TREMENDOUS CUTS welcome change from most adage, "good taste is German, half Scottish band's ) — which seem to range from tagious." some to Genesis. lOcc or timeless," fits them to a tee. fall tour here wasn't without The dearth of high quality even the Hollies, but I've the only problem is counting complications (they were Whether you want a monthly trim or a whole in a lot of today's music always found their music uni- the long hours until they opening for Lynyrd Skynyrd new you with a short cut, we can take care of would almost scorn to create que.