ALBUM REVIEWS

Covay's funky 'Letter Full Of Tears'built around sharp, stabbingorSHAKIN' PYRAMIDS:Celts and and the bluesy 'This Night Won't Lastflowing guitar lines. The material isCobras (Virgin V2216) Prod: Roger Top 10 Forever.' The album is obviously des-still strong, ranging from the hypno-Becherian tined for a long run in the best sellers. tic 'Days On The Mountain' (the ROLLING STONES: Still Life (Amer- The Scottish trio that seem to be able current 12 -inch single) and 'ClearIt ican Concert 1981) (Rolling Stones to play anywhere from a market square CUN 39115) Prod: Glimmer Twins Away' to the haunting and slowerto a concert hall have made a debut titletrack and current 7 -inch single The Stones' timely release of the best Top 40 album that shows of their versatility in 'Postcard From Waterloo'. Devotees R&B cuts from the recent American) the rock 'n' roll stakes and should win tour certainly makes the best of theVARIOUS: Hit List (Warwick WWwill again devour and adore, but it isthem many friends. The Pyramids hard to see any real chart success cavernous acoustics available at the5123) Prod: Various have called in a fair number of rocking giant stadia they played last year, andFor the price of a 20 -track hits compila-despite 'Waterloo's' melodic andsession persons to add to the basic tion, Warwick has decided to extendcommercial strength and the factsound, and throw in some interesting provides a good idea of what British that Virgin will be fully behind the audiences are hearing on the Britishthe 'twofer' concept to throw in a 45 covers as well as showcasing their artist. outing. Among the re -treads (somerpm EP featuring four full-length ex- own material. The Everlys and Elvis good, some merely interesting) of oldtended versions - two pop/rock andASHFORD & SIMPSON:StreetCostello are in the mix along with material like 'Under My Thumb' andtwo disco - of recent chart hits, a goodOpera (Capitol EST 12207) Prod:heartfelt originals like 'Like Me With 'Time Is On My Side' there are gallantidea for those who were unable to getNickolas Ashford/Valerie SimpsonNo-one' and 'ReeferbillyPolka'. A goes at 'Twenty Flight Rock' (OK),hold of the 12 -inch versions of 'HappyAs writers of many a Motown andlikeable album. `Going To A Go Go' (disappointing)Birthday' by Altered Images or Im-post -Motown -funk hit Ashford andBEAUTIFUL MUSIC ONE (ASV and 'Imagination' (quite good). Shouldagination's 'Just An Illusion.' The mainSimpson enjoy the highest regardABM750) Compilation: Martin Has- do well on the back of the tour but atalbum is the usual amalgam of hits andamong their industry peers. The jobkell any other time maybe just a pot-boiler.near -hits teaming Gary Numan andwhich Capitol has taken on is toThe album is sub -titled 'The Swan - Tygers of Pan Tang and Natasha's 'Ikomake the public view them the sameJulian Lloyd Webber, and 12 other GENESIS: Three Sides Live (Charis-Iko' and Girlschool's 'Don't Call It Love'way. Two sell-out concerts in Lon-great classical themes.' The name - ma GE 2002) Prod: Genesis for instance. The TV promotion shoulddon did much to spread the wordcheck for the highly popular young A double album containing some of thesee it home. as did the single, 'Street Corner', takencellist, will help focus attention on this group's greatest hits recorded live last frm the concept opera side of theenjoyable selection of classical 'lolli- year in Europe and America. Such album. The tracks on this album are ofpops', but it should not be assumed numbers as 'Turn It On Again', 'Aba-Best of the rest the highest calibre and if heard wouldthat he is the featured soloist. He's only cab', 'Duchess', 'Follow Me, FollowLENA ZAVARONI: Hold Tight, It'sbe enough to guarantee success. It ison one track and the remainder are by You', and 'Misunderstanding' soundLena (BBC Records REB443) Prod:simply a matter of getting these songsthe likes of the RPO, LSO, Orchestra no worse for being delivered live givenStewart Morris before the public. of St. John's Smith Square and the the class of a Genesis concert. ThreeSongs associated with her TV series THEATRE OF HATE: He Who DaresNew Philharmonia. tracks were recorded the previouscause inevitablestylistic comprom- year and as a bonus for long term fansises. This album, which has much toWins (Burning Rome SSSSS 2P)MOON MARTIN:MysteryTour Prod: Terry Razor there is also a version of `If/Watcher Ofcommend it, suggests an exercise in (Capitol EST 12200) Prod: Robert This live album (not to be confused The Skies' from 1976 when the line-upspanning the generation gap. Side one Palmer/Moon Martin included Bill Bruford and Steve Hack-has 20s -type flapper songs rubbingwith a cassette -only release of theNot quite a magical Mystery Tour, but ett. This is the usual quality Genesisshoulders with Swing Era standards,same title from 1980) is a clear indica-with Robert Palmr collaborating on the tion of the band's increasing appeal. It product but packaged ina simpleincluding a sparkling 'Sing, Sing, Sing'. production, the album is laced with sleeve with a thoughtless sparcity ofThe reverse attractively covers thehighlights both the dramatic traditionalamiable,good -rockingtracks.His information. familiar territory of the Presley, Man-rock structure of the group as well asvoice is a bit too lightweight for any- ilow, Beatles and Paul Simon song-the recent rebel guerilla stance. Led bything really supercharged to emerge, RANDY CRAWFORD: Windsong the charismatic Kirk Brandon, TOHbut his heart is in the right place as (Warner Bros K57011) Prod: Tom-books. The outcome is a testimony to her versatility, but a blurring of her truesweat and drive their way through aproved by 'Finishing Line' and 'She's my LiPuma repertoire which includes 'Rebel With-In Love With My Car' which move Long awaited, Randy Crawford's newidentity as a singer. The usual BBC -TV 'commercials' will give the album aout A Brain' and 'Westworld', bothalong purposefully in that clean, Amer- album turns out to be very much recent releases. Should top the indie helping hand. ican AOR way. Probably not for the UK SecretCombinationVol. 2. The chart and cross over as well. market without a hit single. music mix is that same blend of softlyTOM VERLAINE: Words From The EDGAR FROESE: Sold L974-79 (Vir- floatingballads andtidy,unforcedFront (Virgin V2227) Prod: Tom THE GUN CLUB: Fire Of Love (Beg- mid -tempotracksexquisitelyper-Verlaine gin V2197) Prod: Edgar Froese gar's Banquet BEGA 37)Prod: As a member of Tangerine Dream, formed by the best black female singerThe level of critical acclaim for Tom Chris D./Tito Larriva to emerge in years. Indeed, the treat-Verlainehas suffered an unfortunateFroese has been a leading exponent ofShortly to re-emerge on Blondie mem- ments are so resolutely in the mould the electronic synthesiser movement.ber Chris Stein's new label, The Gun decline since his band, Television,He also came up with some solo previously developed, that there is anbroke through with Marquee Moon Clu built their reputation on this debut initial temptation to give the LP less ventures, on which this compilation isalbum on the American Ruby label, back in1977. Now solo, thisis based. Most tracts conform to the than its true worth. But repeated playsVerlaine's third album and his first now available here through Beggar's confirm the quality of the songs, parti-for Virgin, which continues his pen-established formula: bubblingBanquet. It's a fine album of strong and rhythms, drifting, melodic synthesis- cularlyherinterpretationsofDonchant for rhythmic, urgent songs savage New York rock with some good ers, and are highly pleasing to the ear,tunes, a nice sense of dynamics led by if a bit soporific. 'Stuntman' and 'Tropicsinger Jeffrey Lee Pierce and guitarist Of Capricorn' are the best tracks on anWard Dotson's slide work - which pro- TWO NEW SINGLES FROM CLAY - album which could do quite well in thevides some of the roughest and most present climate. tellingedges.Stand -outcutsare RICO: Jama Rico (2 -Tone CHR TT'She's Like Heroin To Me' and 'Sex 5006) Prod: Dick Cuthell Beat'. It's an album that could go well if Rico's battered trombone sound hasthe band manages to make a tour been one of the trademarks of thehere. 0 2 -Tone sound over the past couple ofROBERTA FLACK: I'm The One years, and the old boy has built up(Atlantic K50890) Prod: Ralph Mac- quite a following in his own right. ThisDonald William Eaton/Roberta collection of nine gentle reggae in-Flack/William Saler ic strumentals rarely strays from the solidRoberta Flack's eleventh album for groove formula, with an easy lopingAtlantic will not be remembered as her THE LURKERS Clay 12 beat and the slightly more stridentmost stimulating. She is now in danger G.B.H. Clay 11 counterpoint of Dick Cuthell's cornetof disappearing into the morass of and fluegl horn with which the trom-bland American easy -listening pop. bone links in some imposin choruses.There's arather good Bacharach- Itis only on 'Destroy Them' that theSayer song, 'Making Love' which pro- Phone The Hotline: 0689 73146 music gets at all angry or different, andvides a bright spot, but the remaining here might lie a new musical directionmaterial comes and goes without any for Rico. real impact.

16 RECORD BUSINESS June 71982