DEDICATED TO THE NEEDS OF THE MUSIC 'RECORD I SINGLES SLEEPERS ALBUMS BOZ SCAGGS, "LIDO SHUFFLE" (prod. by Joe THIN .LIZZY, "DON'T BELIEVE A WORD" (prod. NATALIE COLE, "UNPREDICTABLE."It Wissert)(writers: B.Scaggs & D. by John Alcock)(writer:P.Lynott) is rare that an artist "arrives" on the Paich) (Boz Scaggs/Hudmar, ASCAP) (RSO/Chappell, ASCAP) (2:18). The scene, estabiishes herself with a first (3:40). One of the best tracks from closest that the group has come to release and :mmediately takes a place Scaggs' much acclaimed "Silk De- the infectious,rockingbadboy among the giants of popdom with every grees" album, this one seems the sound of "The Boys Are BackIn indicatio' being that's where she'll re- most likely contender to follow in Town," this "Johnny The Fox" track main for many years. Such has been.thie' thesuccessfulfootstepsof"Low- has already charted in the U.K. Be- case for Ms. Cole, whose remarkable down." Scaggs' easy going vocal lieveit: the boys are back to stay. growth continues unabated with yet a blazes the way. Columbia 3 10491. Mercury 73892. third Ip. Capitol SO -11600 (6.98). DAVID BOWIE, "SOUND AND VISION" (prod. GENESIS, "YOUR OWN SPECIAL WAY" (prod. JETHRO7JIi.L, "SONGS FROM THE )114K)1.1 -,P - by David Bowie & Tony Visconti) by David Hentschel & Genesis) WOOD." .::te tour of smaller halls re- (writers: David Bowie) (Bewlay Bros./ (writer: Michael Rutherford) (Warner cently completed by Tull has put the Fleur, BMI) (3:00). "The man who Bros., ASCAP) (3:03). The group is group in the proper frame of reference fell to earth" is still one step ahead currently enjoying its biggest album for this latest set. As full of fun as it 0of all the rest as he's recently proven to date ("Wind and Wuthering") and is musically valid, Tull's music continues with his "Low" album. The highpoint this edited track should cssure some to weld form and content in high fash- of the set is this track, shrouded by degree of single success 'o go along ion.The theme songand"Pibroch his haunting vocal and Eno's syn- with it.Phil Collins' vocal could set (Cap In Hand)" contrast especially well. thesizer. RCA 10905. the spark. Atco 7076. Chrysalis CHR 1132 (6.98). LYNYRD SKYNYRD, "GIMME THREESTEPS" SAMMY HAGAR, "CATCH THE WIND" (prod. by YVONNE ELLIMAN, "LOVE ME." The (prod. by Tom Dowd) (Duchess/Hust- Carter) (writer: Donovan Leitch) titlesongiscurrently on the charts,' MCA lers, BMI) (3:19). (writers: Allen Col- (Southern, ASCAP) (3:33). The second and Ms.Ellimanhas maintaineda RECORDS lins & Ronnie Van Zant). The track cover of a Donovan record to appear steady presence through her solo ef- originally appeared on the group's recently ("Hurdy Gurdy Man" is the forts as well as recordings and tours first album but thislive readingis other)isthis1965 number which with the likes of Eric Clapton. ''Hello primed for singles action. The triple has been transformed from a folk Stranger," "I Know" and "Keep pronged guitar attack and Ronnie ballad into a dramatic song. Hagar's Hangin' On" are among the more po- Van Zuni's vocal have never sounded forceful vocal conveys the power to tent selections contained herein. RSO better. MCA 40647. make it work. Capitol 4388. RS -1-3018 (Polydor) (6.98). ZZTOP,"ARRESTED FOR DRIVING WHILE R. B. GREAVES, "WHO'S WATCHING THE HENRY GROSS, "SHOW ME TO THE BLIND" (prod. by Bill Ham) (writers: BABY (MARGIE)"(prod.by Helen STAGE." Let it never be said that Brook- /01/101 Gibbons -Hill -Beard) (Hornstein, BM!) Miller & Stephen Metz) (writer: R. B. lyn hasn't bred a few top-notch rock (3:05). One of the stories from the Greaves) (Wig Out, BM() (3:12). The and rollers, with Henry Gross one of trio'srockin'"Tejas"album,the singerof "Take A Letter Maria" those leading the way. Both the title boogie rhythms and stinging guitar 0fame kicks off the new label with song and the second side-the more licks leave no doubt but that ZZ Top a hardlucktaleofa cheating melodic rockers-will no doubt appeal is driving chartward again. Messrs. woman. Aspiritedreggaebeat to those who were enamored of his Gibbons,Hilland Beard arestill underpinsthesongandframes shaggy pet hit "Shannon." Lifesong LS rollin'. London 251. Greoves' vocal. Bareback 523. 6010 (6.9?) AmericanRadioHistory.Com WE.A.R. EXPANDING We have a few select artist openings for 1977. So let's We have about one promotion man for every artist talk business. Here's what's happening. Columbia on the label. Not ten or twenty artists for every pro- is offering you a fat deal you can't turn down. Capitol is motion man. Our Sales Team knows its roster by sound, spinning on its axis and The Tower is leaning your way. face and flesh. They can carry a monthly release in one A&M has found you a special spot in the parking lot. hand. No suitcase required. There's no way to get lost The MCA guard has in the shuffle at E/A been ordered to smile because the pace is as you walk through the comfortable and people door. Warners takes are easy to find. Our you to lunch in the Marketing Man is fifty Blue Room. You're yards from the front walking on air and door and not on the Ahmet's got the WO executive turntable. Jet-the trans -Atlantic Fifteen seconds up the pick-up. Limos and stairs and you'll find me domestic champagne with the door open. No flow like the future's waiting for elevators. yours. And it is. The Maybe you've choice is up to you and heard all this before. everybody's offering From the Big Guys and just about the same the Little Ones, too. deal. So why choose Sometimes we fall into Elektra/Asylum? Are we any different...? Sure we are. the habit of making grandiose claims like everyone else. Like every other label in the business, we like to But we seem to be right at least 80% of the time. We're call ourselves a "family" operation. In our case, it's true. the Elektra/Asylum Precision Team. We've got tradition Our roster is probably a third the size of the Big Guy's on our side. Statistical and human. accounting department. Last year we released only 30 So, give us a ring. We're on the phone with most "pop" albums. Not 30 per week. 30 for the year... total. of our artists day in and day out. And we're looking That means visibility. 80% of our albums made for a few special musicians to join us in the coming the charts. 20% were Top Ten. That's what you call year. Yes, the family's growing. We're expanding. Last family determination. Most of our artists make it and year... 30 albums. This year... maybe 36. that's why they stay with us. If you're interested, call me '41 Our staff is as stable as our artist stable. Most have direct. Simple as that. My name is been around to see careers built through half a dozen easy to remember: Joe Smith. 14a um albums and more. At E/A we're personal. Not personnel. (213) 655-8280. Say, 5 'o clock?'Elektra Asylum Records AmericanRadioHistory.Com Dedicated to the Needs Of the Music/Record Industry FEBRUARY 26, 1977 RECORD LD Many Penney Outlets To Eliminate Records;Promoter Tells of Station Coercion Other Major Chains Keeping Record Depts.As New FCC Payola Hearings Begin By JOHN MANKIEWICZ By MICHAEL SHAIN LOS ANGELES- The decision the south and midwest) and dis- WASHINGTON-A local Wash- Pressures to pay off the disc as to whether or not to discon-covered that almost half, 17, will ingtonradiostationhasbeen jockeys - who had their own tinue record departments in exist- either elect to abolish record sales charged with coercing thousands concert production firm, DJ Pro- ing J.C. Penney's outletsis now or are seriously considering that ofdollarsover thepast three ductions - came primarily from atthediscretionofindividual option. years from an area concert pro- the acts themselves, Washington store managers, and many will Said one manager in the New moter by threatening performers said.Severalacts,including Al choose to concentrate on other York area:"It'sa questionof contracted to the promoter with Green, EWF and the Isleys, were areas of retail sales. space. We have a much higher loss of airplay. William E. Wash- afraid that "their records might Record World contacted40 markupwith,say men'sand ington, the president of Dimen- get lost" at WOL, Washington ex- Penney's outletsinkey markets women's highfashions,so wesions Unlimited, an independent plained, if dates were not turned throughout the country (east and want to use the space previously concert promoter in Washington, overtothejocks'production westcoasts,PacificNorthwest, designated for records and acces- aswellasothercitiesinthe company or DJP was not included soriesforthoseitems witha mid -Atlantic region, told a Fed- inthesplitof concertprofits. Mary MacGregor Single highergrossprofitper square eral Communications Commis- Washingtonsaidhereluctantly foot." sionhearinglast week (16-17) made the payments, disguised as Regains Top Chart Spot Those stores that are continu- that he was forced to cut ina "saturation promotion package" By LENNY BEER ing to retail records are thinkinggroup of WOL-AM disc jockies fees,in order to keep the per- of ways to make the space count. on the proceeds from concerts formers happy. Mary MacGregor (Ariola Amer- ica) surged back to the top of "We cut back 16 feet (in the rec- which featuredEarth, Wind & Washingtonfinallygot"fed The Singles Chart this week with ord department) recently," said a Fire,ArethaFranklin,theIsley up" in April 1976 when he was in- her pop and country smash "Torn Penney's manager in Buffalo, New Brothers and Al Green, amongformed by Natalie Cole's man- Between Two Lovers." The single, (Continued on page 49) others.