Hi-fi Harmony Cr'.

The best pop records reviewed in recent months

Roy AcuFF: Smoky Mountain Memories. HICKORY H3G 4517 July HOYT AXTON: Southbound. A&M SP 4510 July JOAN BAEZ: Diamonds and Rust. A&M SP 4527 August. BLOOD, SWEAT, & TEARS: New City. Cot_ PC 33484 Sept. COLEMAN HAWKINS: Sirius. PABLO 2310 707 In Concert. PHOENIX 8 August CHUCK MANGIONE: Chase the Clouds Away. A&M SP 4518. August MARIAN MCPARTLAND: Solo Concert at Haverford. HAL 111July THE NUN'S STORY. STA SRO 4022 Sept BUD PowELL: Bud in Paris. XAN 102 Sept JOHN STEWART: Wingless Angels. RCA APL 1-0816 August

variety of musical forms, each executed Fairley, drums, percussion, beer cans, and with a finely honed set of musical skills. For low vocals; Alun Roberts, lead guitar, banjo example, he offers up sentimental ballads acoustic guitar, and bass vocals; Kimberley ("For the Minute"), genial rockers ["(I Beacon, lead vocals; vocal, strings, reeds, Think I Wanna) Possess You"], and offbeat horns, and bagpipeaccompaniment. Over- "think" songs ("Bye Bye Man"). Each is drive; Without You; Josephine; six more. treated to a full-scale but nevertheless con- [String Driven Thing andA. D. Munt, prod.] crown trolled musical setting, which does noth- 20TH CENTURYT 470, $6.98. ing to diminish the good-natured feeling of IC -150 and the entire disc. This English band aroused some curiosity Moore aims to please, and he does. That's when it made its American debut, because D -150A why these tunes, most of which possess ir- it featured throbbing, distinctive strings ar- resistible musical hooks, can only serve to rangements and surreal lyrics. On its sec- *80 watts per channel min.RMSinto make the talented Mr. Moore a better- ond LP (the first for 20th Century), String 8 ohms (1 Hz -20 KHz), total harmonic known member of the pop community. H.E. Driven Thing-currently touring the U.S. as distortion of .05%. Lou Reed's opening act-has sacrificed nov- elty in favor of a conventional approach, JEFFERSON STARSHIP: Red Octopus. one that might make the band more acces- In any great vocal group, each singer Grace could make it on his own. Together, Slick, piano and vocals; Paul Kantner and sible to the public but robs it of the qualities they're beautiful. Craig Chaquico, guitars and vocals; Marty that initially made it interesting. That's how we designed the Balin, vocals; John Barbata, drums; Pete For example, the disc commences with Crown IC -150 pre -amp and the Crown Sears and David Freiberg, bass and key- "Overdrive," reminiscent of early Beatles D -150A power amp. boards; Papa John Creach,violin. Fast Buck and Bee Gees tracks but hardly as good. In- The IC -150 provides precise Freddie; Miracles; Git Fiddler; Al Garimasu deed, throughout the recording one hears control with minimum distortion. The (There Is Love); Sweeter Than Honey; Play echoes of other-and better-English rock D -150A provides reliable power* to on Love; Tumblin'; I Want to See Another bands. Only "Black Eyed Queen," involv- drive almost any stereo speakers. World; Sandalphon; There Will Be Love. [Jef- ing a series of subtle rhythm changes, im- Each one could be a superb addition fersonStarship and Larry Cox, prod.]GRUNT presses as genuinely creative song -writing to your system. BFL 1-0999, $6.98. Tape:MEBFK 1-0999, and performing. But together we think they're $7.95; 03BFS 1-0999, $7.95. Kimberley Beacon's strained vocals do incomparably beautiful, whether you nothing to ease the doldrums, and Grahame think of beauty as powerful, clean Has anyone considered establishing legal Smith's strings cry out for more attention. sound; or honest, uncluttered appear- machinery to bar certain rock groups from There's still potential here; one hopes that ance; or simple, accurate control. recording songs they themselves com- String Driven Thing once again decides to If the receiver or integrated amp posed? Jefferson Starship, for example, is a be true to itself. H.E. in your current system seems solid rock band that plays well, at times ex- somehow limited, please consider quisitely, but writes the most god -awful seriously the Crown IC -150/D -150A tunes since "Three Little Fishes" (or how- combination. You'll be pleased at a new quality of sound, and surprised ever many fishes swam and swam right at a real bargain. over the dam). Write us today for the name of "Red Octopus" contains much good rock a dealer near you. It could be the start singing and playing-but those songs!It of a harmonious relationship. makes you realize the artistry that went into the creation of "My Old Man Said Fol- When listening low the Van." M.J. becomes an art, KING KONG. Original rim scoreby Max Steiner.LeRoy Holmes, cond.UNITED ART- STRING DRIVEN THING: Please Mind Your ISTSLA 373G, $6.98. Tape 40....EA373H, Head.James Exell, bass guitar and high vo- $7.98. crown cals; Grahame Smith, violin andviola; Colin CITIZEN KANE. Originalfilm score by Ber- Box 1000, Elkhart, IN 46514 CIRCLE 6 ON READER -SERVICE CARD OCTOBER 1975 97