Point for The

Record Minor, January 1, 1977 9 +++++ Unbeatable ++++ Ray It +++ Given a spin ++ Given' mli, + Unbearable Point Joan's for us JOAN ARMATRADING: Whatever's For Us' (Cube 1 e Hlny It) the +. With remarkably speedy hindsight, Decea have woken up to the fact that their former itrtist Joan Armatrading Is making money. So why not for Dacca" (And such an appropriate tide). Shame they didn't apply the same confidence when Joan was still Way with them. Even on this, her first recording nude In 1872, there Is ample evidence of her exceptional vocal THE POINTER Sift talent. The music is hard, tough, ju.et like her style TERN: 'The Beet Of' today. That quality she's gained in the last four years (ABC) 8111 seems to be a mellow strength. The other difference was that then she was co -writing material with Pam You can't get blood out Nestor. The Intervening time shows there has been a of a stone dept. This maturity there too. 1 like the album, as an example of double album set is how she's progressexl, but 1 do think she's travelled a really just 'The Pointer long way since. Listen to 'Child Star' - the variety Sisters' and 'That's A she brings to vocals and guitar Is incredible. + + + Plenty' revisited The Rosalind Russell sevenUes answer to the Andrews Sisters simply . '. haven't recorded that ' much to warrant such an elaborate 'Hest Or collection, And some of M the material that Is included has been cut to high heaven. The intro I to the original version of STEPHEN STILLS: foryourdelight 'Steam Heat' is here r _a - almost non existent and 'Wang Dung SUPREMES: no classic Doodle' has been sev- The best of Stills? erely wanged. Still. If you aren't familiar with STEPIIEN STILIA: 'Still Stine / The Best Of' the four Sisters then this (Atlantic 850327) is the one to get hold of Not so Supreme For the scatterbrained Another 'Best or collection for your delight- Now only. + + + Harry Cain that Mr. Stills has changed partners and Joined cos. SUPREMES: 'Mary, Scherrie And Susaya' (Tamla Atlantic rash In with this selection from the four Motown STML 17347) albums he made with that company - 'Stephen INNER CIRCLE: 'Reg- Stills', 'Stephen Stiffs 2' M tanasous', and 'M anaes,u gae Thong' (Capit l E- they've made an album that won't Down The Road'. The first solo album dill stands as ST 11574) Disappointing - selected from that go down aatt a memorable sound. The musicianship Is Me beet and the four tracks - The Inner Circle are the thing that carries this album. The brass Is driving 'Love The One You're With', 'We Are Not Helpless', among the elite of and punchy and to a certain extent the singing follows 'Go stack Borne', and 'Sit Yourself Down' are Ow Is supported by old Jamaican reggae art - a pace or two behind, but the songs themselves are standouts. On those be team- lots Listen to 'Roman mediocre. Even affix repeated Ilstenings there didn't mates Crosby and Nash plus John Sebast,ar, Class Soldiers of Babylon' or seem to be one that had the mark of being a Elliot, Booker T, Claptun, Lofgren, etc. Steve was 'Love Is the Drug' and Supremos' classic. More of a time finer album I'd say never able W make hie mark over here and this Stills They get something chiseler together. + + hasty after all these years compilation won't mean you'll know why. - until they can hard and tough have a professional Rosalind Russell JOAN ARMATRADING: much to anyone. ++ + Barry Cain developed style, beyond the fairly basic sound that many reggae And with the newest song music. Everyone to artists think they get by arrangements. STRAY, 'Hearts Of MARYANN FARRA &/ what a strange selection recorded in 1969 their own opinion. but on. The group has been VARIOUS ARTISTS: Fire' (Pye NSPL 111812) 'Motown DIscotech 3' SATIN SOUL - 'Never of songs - 'Unchained There's 'Green, Green there's no disguising the working for several Leave You' fact, the guy must have ( Motown STML 12044). Gonna Melody', 'Happy Birth- Grass Of Home'. 'I'll years and is like the lBrunswick BRLS 9022) day Sweet Sixteen', 'The Never Fail In Love something and in the Jamaican equivalent Motown delving into the Show Must Go On' and Again' plus a liberal nine years since his first This hard working outfit to John May'all - vaults to bring out this They've actually got even 'Jesus Christ sprinkling Of stand - by hit, 'Release Me' - the have been trading the all the best below par album. The sleeve notes on this Superstar'. All so very standards All In all opening track on this riffs for some years, but musicians have passed grave raves stretch as album Remember pointless, and a waste of very unoriginal and double album melee - have always seemed through it at me time or far back as 1971 those' They were vinyl + Barry Cain uninspired. + + Barry lion - Engelbert has Incapable of, lifting their another. The only two (Thelma Houston's 'I stopped because the Cain made himself millions music out of a rock rut. songs I really didn't like To Go Back There notes were often more TOM JONES: '24 Great and kept millions The essential spark Want than the ENGELBERT IIUM- with his to Ignite were on side two - Again') and a majority Interesting Standards' (Decea DILL PERDINCK: 'The Very entertained necessary Love' record. Get a load of sloppy love ballads power is missing, 'Gronvin' In The of the numbers are 7/1 7/2). Best Of' (Dacca DILL super They this, "When they're There are 24 numbers so that on tracks like and This World'. culled from 1973 - not a 9,1-2) both suffered from the home, they pursue their There's been nothing here, Including 'Winter 'Mister Wind' and particularly vintage Love', 'There same faults. They were year. Included: Diana individual hobbles. new from Tom Jones for According to the sleeve World Of 'Buying Time' the who was a Goes My Everything' flicker, but never just too bland, too Ross Marvin Gay Frank, a long time now so once notes, this Is the man names and A English at 'The l.ast Waltz' commercialised, too su- 'My Mistake (Was To double in again we get yet another who brought back and really burst Into names. permarket sounding. Love You)', Cone college, plays baseball. compilation double set romance Into popular + + + .lion Evan.. ++ David Brown They strayed from the Basketball, football or modores 'Machine Gun', season". spirit of the rest of the Edwin Starr 'You've whatever's In which was Right on Frank. Long, album Got My Soul On Fire', disco sounds superb. + + + Rosalind 'I'm So walling Jr. Walker a seven piece Russell and the Tempta- from Glad' white, New York based tions 'Keep Holding On' Ground' band. As I was saying and 'Shakey notes were usually VARIOUS ARTISTS: which just about sums the 'Philadelphia Freedom situation at more Interesting than up Motown's the records. + + Barry Vole One and Two' the moment, + + + (Landon IIAUa500.1) Barry Cain Odin RONNIE McNEIR: .ANK.A. 'The Down' with- PAUL 'Love's Capin The Philly sound Painter' (United Artists (Motown STML 13041). out the cheese A very UAG 29957) We need Gary special two album Mr. McNelr sounds release showcasing the As someone unkindly like a below par It was a rather acts that appeared .on pointed out, Stevie Wonder - which and good idea to have a fun Lowe Kai be ton bad. His the Bernie Can't for label painting of Paul Anka slips Mann's Cameo Inexperience often Long' (Arleta which sprung up In 1957 on the sleeve, since the under the gloss GARY GUTTER: 'It Takes All Night inside does down Yes, In glorious mono colour photo but he's got youth on his R5) you can hear The Orions nothing to enhance his is beginning relied on the same formula - be a side. This Gary's old singles ail singing the 'Wah- image. He -used to like a New Faces beat, coupled with the the '10's, to read a compelling, monotonous w' W'atusl', original punks superstar in panel review. Presenta baste of melodies. but he hasn't regained most ' & The Mysterians' '96 tlon 7, Content 6, On this one, the monotony's still there, and the Tears', Patti LaBelle that status. And judging Value 7, as ever, but It's all been done an Entertainment rhythm's as insistent and The Bluebells by his performance Star rating + + + Barry lighter hand. In fact, when I first heard this record. I don't think with a much version of 'You'll Never Odin it at Gary's comeback show on December 19, It Walk Alone', Chubby he's likely to. He Just and understated to register. to have seemed too low-key Checker, The Tymes, doesn't seem CHRISTIAN: 'The First listens to the single, though, that dead Caught up with the After a mew Bobby Rydell, The Christian' (Polydor 25144 simple rift worms its way.into your head . and Dovells and many, times. The songs are all 091). and stays there. many more Cameo was weary and dated, it goes on too long two r do Christian appears to be My only complaint is that - eventually said to Allen the arrangements song Is a bit too much to take But a Scottish lad with an sides of the same Klein ( remember him? ) nothing for them. makes the charts, 'cos there's always and Abbey Butler In about time he identity Crisis.

Load more