M Alent Producers' Aim: Singles, Longevity Ocean's Latest in the Ballad `Zone' Ers Was, "Establishing Billy As a in New York
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M alent Producers' Aim: Singles, Longevity Ocean's Latest In The Ballad `Zone' ers was, "establishing Billy as a in New York. BY BRIAN CHIN great vocalist." That orientation Eastmond found the atmosphere NEW YORK While working on shouldn't be surprising, considering of London liberating. "In New Billy Ocean's second Jive /Arista al- Eastmond and Brathwaite's sepa- York, I write a certain way that's bum, "Love Zone," producers Barry rate production successes with not always representative of the Eastmond and Wayne Brathwaite Freddie Jackson and Glenn Jones, rest of the country or the world," he say they had to forget about the respectively. says. "London was a nice change, a double -platinum success of "Sud- "Love Zone" is the first collabora- lot more creative." denly" -the singer's Grammy -win- tive studio project shared by East- As for Ocean's input, Eastmond ning debut release that spawned no mond and Brathwaite. They are also says, "Sometimes he really blew us less than four chart hit singles. the first American producers to away. Wayne and I would start a Creating enough singles -quality have signed management deals with groove, and Billy came in with these material to give the new "Love Zomba, the diversified parent com- great melodies -we'd just say, Zone" longevity similar to that of its pany of the Jive label. 'Keep singing, keep singing.' " Keith Diamond-produced predeces- Eastmond was especially pleased With "Love Zone" entering the sor was of utmost importance. Yet, that Jive Records chief Clive Calder Top Pop Albums chart at No. 48, the challenge was not to copy its di- invited the pair to produce the en- matching the producers with Ocean rection- "not to write 'Caribbean tire album, rather than farming it was clearly a prudent move. And Queen' ` Loverboy, Two,' The while is in England rehears- or Part " out as a multiproducer project. Ocean Surprise Performance. Prince joins the Bangles on stage for a hot rendition of says Eastmond. latter approach comes of "trying to ing for a North American summer "Manic Monday" during the group's recent performance at Warfield Theater in in "We just wanted to get the best get a hit from each producer," says tour, current work progress for San Francisco. The Purple Wonder then watched from the sidelines, joining in out of every song," adds Brath- Eastmond. "But it never jells as an Eastmond is a new Freddie Jackson again on the encore. Prince has been popping up unannounced at clubs across RCA waite. "People are more mature album." album and for Brathwaite, the the country to warm up for his forthcoming tour. (Photo: Ron Delany) now; singers have to have more go- The creative process for "Love debut of Genobia Jetta. ing for them." Hence, the emphasis Zone" was quick-most songs came on more ballads, and as Eastmond together in two to three days in col- puts it, "real songs that could last laboration with Ocean. Songwriting five or 10 years." and major recording took place in Equally important to the produc- London, while overdubs were done LeBon Docks, Duran Duran Rocks; Synth Wizard Looks To New Directions Tina, Phil Head Royal Superjam by Steve Gett will perform before clearing the Giuffria bassist Chuck Wright has stage for a superjam, featuring the replaced Rudy Sarzo in the lineup; Dolby Moves Into Movies NEW YORK Duran Duran is likes of Tina Turner, Phil Collins, former Rick Springfield keysman by a female rock band that figures ready to record its next album -ten- Eric Clapton, Paul Young, Elton John Purdell is another new addi- BY SAM SUTHERLAND centrally in the plot. Even though tatively titled "Notorious" -now John, and Mark Knopfler. Alas, tion. LOS ANGELES Electronic pop pio- George Lucas is executive producer that Simon "Sea Dog" LeBon is there are no plans to film, televise, neer Thomas Dolby has his sights set of the picture, Dolby says he was ini- back from an around -the -world race or record the event. LIONEL RICHIE collaborated on film music. He's scoring and writ- tially wary. aboard his yacht, "Drum." this past month with the Cities In ing songs for the upcoming Univer- "I'd stayed away from situations Keysman and landlubber Nick SHORT TAKES I: Following a Schools (CIS) organization on a pro- sal Pictures fantasy, "Howard The where I would just be putting songs Rhodes, who busied himself with brief stint at New York's Power Sta- gram encouraging students to gain Duck," developed from the cult comic into a film," he says. An offer to assorted photographic, video, and strong grades, keep perfect atten- book. Dolby says he has tabled work broaden that role into scoring helped writing projects while LeBon was on dance records, and generally stay on his own recording and stage proj- close the deal. the high seas, had told the British out of trouble. ects because he has found greater I ended up getting involved in ev- press that he was concerned about ONiNE BEAT Boys and girls at participating creative challenges in writing for the ery aspect of the movie, from set de- the singer's safe return. (Remember CIS schools stand to win prizes that big screen. "Even in my solo music, I sign and choreography to dialog," he last summer's capsizing escapade ?) Artist news, touring, include concert tickets, tour jackets, think you can hear that I've always says proudly. Happily, 'Drum" recently finished signings, venues ... for and backstage passes to meet Richie been very visual, very cinematic, in The musical elements of the proj- the marathon, sailing into Britain's those who need to know on his upcoming tour. Sounds like my approach," he says. ect may surprise those who still type- Portsmouth harbor in third place. an incentive for juvenile delinquen- "It was through Quincy Jones that cast Dolby in electronic terms. Al- Rhodes has already collaborated cy! Only joking, of course-Tipper I got my first score," says Dolby, al- though he's employing synthesizers separately with bandmates John tion studio, David Lee Roth has Gore would be proud. luding to an ill -fated Richard Brooks to compose the instrumental cues and and Andy Taylor on new material, taken his new band back to Califor- picture, "Fever Pitch," which was score, the songs that will be played but actual recording sessions had to nia to complete his first post -Van WITH OFFICES in California and canceled shortly after shooting was by the movie's girl group were con- wait for LeBoñ s return. Halen album. Roth embarks on an the. Far East, the new Inter Pacific supposed to start. " 'Fever Pitch' was ceived for a conventional lineup of Guitarist Andy Taylor, working extensive global tour with U.S. Entertainment Group (a subsidiary an eye -opening experience, and not guitar, bass, keyboards, and drums. on his debut MCA solo album in Los dates in mid -August ... Don't cry of the Inter-Pacific Financial Corp.) entirely pleasant. But I learned what "They're a struggling band from Angeles, continues to deny reports for Madonna. She's rumored to be will handle concert promotion in Ko- went into creating music for film, and Ohio -very low- tech," Dolby says of his pending departure from the up for the lead role in a movie ver- rea and Taiwan. Says company head that was very valuable." with a grin. "But during the course band, saying, "It's impossible to sion of "Evita." Her new album, due Thomas B. Watson, "Korea may Universal subsequently ap- of the movie, Howard becomes their stay in Duran Duran without pursu- next month, will be called "True be where Japan was 15 to 20 years proached Dolby for "Howard The manager and begins teaching them ing other musical interests." Blue" ... Bonnie Raitt is releasing ago, musically. But its catch -up will Duck," asking him to compose songs riffs from the biggest hits on his A release date for the Nile Rod- her first album in four years on be meteoric." that would be performed on camera (Continued on page 22) gers- produced Duran album has yet Warner Bros. Produced by George to be confirmed, but the group is Massenberg and Bill Payne, the al- SHORT TAKES II: The highly un- planning to embark on a major bum is due in July ... the Cars' Ric derrated U.K. hard rock combo PUBLICITY world tour next year. Meanwhile, Ocasek has a new Geffen solo al- UFO is set to make its long overdue congrats to Rhodes and his wife, Ju- bum set for mid-July. North American concert comeback PRINTS lie -Ann, who are expecting their this summer to promote the Chrysa- first child in August. REMEMBER QUIET RIOT? The lis release "Misdemeanor." Word umoorapl+ed On Meaty Gloss stock 19,200 L.A. hard rockers were all the rage has it that the band will play a spe- BLACK & WHITE 8x10's ROCKIN' ROYALS: First they when their 1983 "Metal Health" al- cial club date at Brooklyn's metal - $60.00 1000 - 85.00 500 watched Loverboy and Sheens bum notched quintuple platinum haven L'Amour this Saturday (31) COLOR Easton perform at a gala concert in sales, but they subsequently fell ... The first output from the new 1000 - SEATS $388.00 Vancouver during their trip to Cana- from grace with the followup re- IRS Home Entertainment Label Above Prices Include Typesetting 8 Freight da earlier this month. Now Britain's lease, "Condition Critical." The lat- (distributed by MCA Home Video) is 8x10 Photo - M.O. Send Check or Prince Charles and Princess Di- ter album actually sold a respect- a 30-minute Belinda Carlisle video, Full Color & B/W Posters ana are scheduled to attend a June able 1.5 million copies, but the band tying in with the release of her first Composites .