Avco-Embassy's $1 Million Fund Pseudo -Stereo: A Trifle Overdone? HOLLYWOOD - Although the recent exceptions to the bad -stereo rule. "The -Long campaign to orient consumers to an all- prime test of a stereo reissue," one Aids Year New Artist Promo stereo industry has been successful on collector told Cash Box, "is its ability NEW YORK - Avco Embassy Rec- also a special co-op ad fund to cover the whole, some people think it has to reproduce good in mono." The ords has set aside a $1 million fund for radio spot advertising and print ad- been too successful. While everyone mono reproduction is also very im- the promotion of new acts over the has been learning that stereo disks will portant for radio play, which, in the vertising on the local level in some an next 12 months. 15 key markets. National ads in under- play on mono machines, there are Drake era, has become important First project to utilize this fund is ground as well as college newspapers many consumers that don't realize factor in oldies sales, and many re - Eric Mercury's first album, "Electric on the album has also been set. The that mono will still work on stereo channeled disks fail the test, often Black Man,' part of the company's Richard Gersh Associates pr firm has sets. provoking on the air comments from initial LP release. Set, a deluxe, been retained to handle Mercury's According to Barret Hansen, a rock dl's. double fold single pocket offering, fea- publicity campaign. in the months historian who has been working on Hansen approached his task resigned tures Mercury and his nine piece ahead. Also, there 11 be tie-ins on p.a. collector's albums for Specialty Rec- to the knowledge that he alone couldn't band. In support of the $4.98 package, appearances as mapped out by the ords, this mono -purchase reluctance convert the public back to mono. "It the label will offer posters, mounted Robert Stigwood Organization, the on the part of consumers, aided by takes a lot of taste and a good ear to easels four in-store display. There's artist's manager. similar feelings on the part of many know when to stop fooling with a rec- In addition to the Mercury set, the dealers, has resulted in a rash of ord. There's only so far you can go other LP's introducing Avco Embassy poor quality stereo reissues from many before you destroy the original quality on the album scene are "The Saxo- record firms as the original mono of the record and its ability to re- Capitol Names Megg9 phone Circus," featuring Bill Ramal disks are deleted from the catalog. produce mono." As lannucci's Asst. and Dickie Goodman directing a 15 - In talking to several record col- sax ork, and "The Moog Plays the lectors, the Specialty series, which (Con't. on Page 46) HOLLYWOOD - Brown Meggs, Ca- Beatles," featuring Marty Gold and includes material from Little Richard, pitol Records vice president, interna- Walter Sear. Both these sets, too, are Sam Cooke, Larry Williams and Lloyd tional and classics, has been appointed deluxe double -fold packages selling Price, was singled out as one of the to the newly-created position of vice at $4.98. president & assistant to the president. Col Says It Knows According to Capitol Records pres- ident Sal Iannucci, Meggs will continue Dylan Bootlegger to be responsible for Capitol's interna- tional and classical areas, and will McCartney Death Rumor Spurs Singles immediately assume responsibility for NEW YORK - Paul McCartney is not Knight, "I wrote the song on my way NEW YORK - Columbia Records says the coordination of various other fsnc- dead, yet very much alive is label back from London in March, follow- it's uncovered the bootlegger of an tions of CRI and Capitol Records Dis- interest in the aftermath of the rumors ing a very moving personal experi- LP containing material performed by tributing Corp. that the Beatles member was gone. ence. I would not explain its meaning Bob Dylan. After a career as a writer for TV, MGM Records has purchased a to anyone when it was originally re- Claiming that the unauthorized al- films and magazines, Meggs joined Ca- master, "The Ballad of Paul" by the leased, and I don't intend to explain pitol in 1958 as a member of the mer- bum originated on the west coast, the Mystery Tour, for which Lenny Sheer, it now." label is instituting legal proceedings chandising department. Subsequently, director of sales and distribution, is he has served in a number of manage- in a Federal Court, California State directing an "all-out" campaign to Fact From Fiction Court and a Canadian Court against ment posts, including director of pub- include the packaging of the disk in a lic relations; director of Eastern op- Scholars of the erudite and apocryphal the alleged bootlegger, the manufactur- special sleeve, full page ads in the er and the distributors of the LP, erations (New York) ; and vice pres- have compounded a compendium of trades, saturation distribution of 5000 which has a white cover and blank ident, merchandising, CRDC. disks to radio stations and a direct proof that would point conclusively to the "fact" that Paul McCartney was label. Columbia said it's also con- mailing campaign of sample disks and sidering filing suits against retailers title strips to one -stops and juke box dead - in fact, that he has been dead for several years. Specks on album de- and racks in several major cities who operators. Also, reviewers on na- have sold the recordings. Notice is Lavong CRDC VP tional mags, newspapers and wire signs, the appearance of dozens of tri- vial points in lyrics, customs of dress also being sent to retailers who are services are being covered. currently selling recording advis- HOLLYWOOD - Reggie Lavong, R&B In another release, Silver Fox Rec- and the like topped off by the Beatles' the director for no appearance policy of recent years ing them that unless the record is with- Capitol Records Distrib- ords, thru Shelby Singleton's organiza- drawn from sale "appropriate" legal uting Corp., has been named vice- tion, is offering "Brother Paul" by exploded last week in a rash of televi- sion, radio and newspaper commen- action will also be brought against president, marketing-R&B for CRDC. Billy Shears & All Americans. The them individually. According to Capitol Records presi- name "Billy Shears" appears in the tary that served only to spread the dent Sal Iannucci, Lavong, 36, will Beatles' Sergeant Pepper's "Lonely speculation and add untouched brains The album contains 22 songs, only direct Capitol's comprehensive mar- Hearts Club Band." Furthermore, to the think tank of student concern. three of which are available in Dylan's keting program in the R&B field, head- Capitol Records has marketed a re- However, one point seems to dispel Columbia catalog. According to Rolling ing a national field organization of release, "St. Paul" an eight -month .all the evidence to the contrary, that Stone, the rock newspaper, they were twelve salesmen and seven promotion old tribute to McCartney written, being McCartney's existence. At least taped at Dylan's home in Woodstock, men. produced and performed by Terry his being alive as of press -time. N.Y. Lavong joined Capitol in July after Knight. The lyrics take on added "I was first informed of Paul's Columbia reports that it's received a stint with WWRL-NY as program, meaning in light of recent talk, but death," Lenny Hodes said, "when I "numerous complaints" from consum- music and community affairs director. Knight has refused to comment on returned from a meeting with him in London week." ers regarding the "poor quality" of the Prior to joining the station, Lavong the disk. last The general man- LP's sound. served as an R&B sales and promo Capitol has officially re-released the ager for Maclen Music in New York rep for CRDC on the East Coast. His deck, following activity in Philadel- noted that he was asked about the previous radio background includes phia, but Knight has refused to par- truth of the rumor as he reached Cus deejay stints in Chicago, Philadelphia, ticipate in promotional plans. Says toms on his return, and was forced to Wilmington, Del., and Norfolk, Va. (Con't. on Page 46) Capitol has moved heavily into the Diana Ross To Exit R&B field with recent distribution deals with Rick Hall's Fame Records and Holland -Dozier-Holland's Invictus Map City Reunites 4 Music Men Supremes in January; label. Latter is currently on the charts with "Crumbs Off The Table," by the NEW YORK - Map City Records, a available for general trade use. Mell Terrell Is New Voice Glass House. multi -faceted music operation, has stated that most of the label's distrib been formed in New York. The com- network has been set. At Kama Sutra, NEW YORK - Diana Ross leaves the pany, including a label, recording Mell was vp and general manager of Supremes in Jan. to start a solo career. studio and publishing -production unit, Kama Sutra Records. Levine joins In her place, Jean Terrell, sister of Seltzer, Balk To reunites four former music men as- Map City after serving as director of former heavyweight boxer Ernie Ter- sociated with Kama -Sutra. They are national promo of singles and albums rell, will become the new third Su- New Motown Roles Frank Mell, president, Peter Anders, at United Artists Records. preme, joining Mary Wilson and Cindy vp, Vini Poncia, vp, and Eddy Levine, Birdsong. Both Ross and the group NEW YORK - Ralph Seltzer has been vp. have renewed their long-term pacts elevated to exec assistant to Barney ap City, located at 236 West 55th with Motown Records. Ales, exec vp and general manager St., will offer pop, contemporary and of Motown Records. He will be re- soul sounds. Its first disk is The Blue Laura Nyro: According to an announcement, sponsible to Ales for the administration Jays recording of "Hang On." In ad- Diana Ross has been consistently of all Motown contracts and will handle dition, Anders and Poncia will record 1st Lady Of sought for film, Broadway and TV special projects as assigned. for the label as a duo. They are writer - Song(s) vehicles and has always turned them In another move, Harry Balk has producer-artists formerly associated down in deference to her role as a been named the label's director of with the Tradewinds, Critters and NEW YORK - Laura Nyro is emerg- member of the Supremes. creative services. His division includes Innocents. ing as the First Lady among com- Indicative of the amicable parting, the A&R dept., tape library dept. and On the publishing end, there's Sweet poser/performers. Ross will coach the new Supreme on the engineering dept. A 15 -year industry Magnolia Music (BMI), which has As a writer of songs recorded by the act's style before it's unveiled to figure Balk has been with Motown for under exclusive contract eight writers others, she holds down the number 1 the public early next year. the past year. He previously owned his and four producers. The recording spot with "Wedding Bell Blues" by the Meanwhile, Diana Ross and the own labels, Impact and Twirl. He also studio. Camptown Sound Studios, is Fifth Dimension (Soul City) and has Supremes headline their own TV spe- reports to Ales. further Top 10 coverage with "And cial with the Temptations on NBC on When I Blood, & Die' by Sweat Tears Nov. 12 (9PM, EST), and their last (Columbia) and "Eli's Comin"' by network appearance together will be Three Dog Night (Dunhill) is number on a special Ed Sullivan show on Dec. 17 on Top 100. On this week's her own, 21 devoted to During Laura is represented with a new single, the Sixties. this Japanese Rush EVR period, the trio established itself as "Time and Love," and an LP, "New the most important female singing York Tendaberry," from which the group in show business. To Beat U.S. Target Date single was culled. On the personal appearance front, Both Diana Ross and the Supremes (See Tape News) the attraction's Nov. 28 engagement at continue under the personal manage- Carnegie Hall has been sold out, ment of International Management Co. necessitating the scheduling of a sec- (IMC). William Morris is their book- ond midnight concert. ing agency.

Cash Box - November 8, 1969 9

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