, /ALEIV r Watley's Looking For A New Career Ex- Shalamar Singer Finds Success Solo gins to grate. If you really want to black marketplace," Mann says. BY DAVE DiMARTINO be involved, then it can be a night- "Not forgoing Jody's roots -be- LOS ANGELES After eight years mare." cause that's really important." as a member of Shalamar, Jody The most noticeable aspect of her Watley herself ascribes her new- Watley is almost a music business new solo freedom may be her in- found solo success to one major fac- veteran -though to many, she volvement in songwriting. "I got to tor. "It's timing," she says. "Like seems a highly talented newcomer write six songs on this album," she Andre, for instance -he's been out who has just made a very popular says. "During my eight years with of Prince's band for three or four debut album for MCA. But from the Shalamar, I only wrote two." years, and he's really talented. record's inception, Watley knew Lou Mann, MCA vice president of Someone said, 'He really got it to- precisely what she was doing. marketing, says the company is in gether for the album,' and I said, "We had it pretty much together, "phase two" of its Watley cam- 'He's always had it together-it's my manager [Bennett Freed] and paign. Now that "Looking For A the timing.' I," says Watley. "The producers New Love" is a hit on top 40 radio, "Sometimes things happen for In Demand. Backstage after an SRO show at Pittsburgh's Civic Arena, Jon Bon time. were already committed to doing the company is launching a multi- different people at a different Jovi was presented with a plaque commemorating his band's fast sellout at the the album before I'd even had a deal media campaign in "about 50 mar- And for me I think it's timing, it's venue. Pictured, from left, are Ed Traversari of concert promoters DiCesare- signed." kets," Mann says. the music, and I guess I'm singing Engler, Bon Jovi, and promoter Rich Engler. Bon Jovi has a May 5 return Among those producers were An- "We've dubbed April Jody Wat- about something people can relate engagement at the arena. dre Cymone & David Z., Bernard ley Month, essentially, at retail," to." Edwards, and Patrick Leonard. says Mann. "What we're asking for Throw in ex-Wham! leader George at retail is this: to get as much up- Michael, who sings a duet with Wat- front display and visibility on Jody ley on the album, and the result is a as we can. We've got two separate powerhouse lineup and, apparently, posters that we're utilizing, and tied Suzanne Vega LP No Sophomore Jinx; success. in with that, we're trying to get sale That success is reflected in the price and positioning at the account song "Looking For A New Love" - level." Hot Freshman a crossover smash that held the No. Accompanying that effort is a Tom Kimmel-PolyGram's 1 slot on the Hot Black Singles chart "massive" top 40 radio campaign, for three weeks and is currently says Mann, aimed at those same 50 NEW YORK Be sure to check out Suzanne Vega's the album's standout cuts are "That's Freedom" and bulleted in the top 10 on the Hot 100 markets on a staggered schedule. second A &M album, "Solitude Standing;" due April "True Love." Plans call for PolyGram to start work- Singles chart. From all indications, "Our goal here is to just explode 27. It's an excellent follow -up to her self- titled debut ing the Kimmel project in May. Be on the lookout. the album will likely follow suit. Jody at the top 40 level, with the top set, unquestionably one of 1985's finest releases. Watley, thrilled with her solo suc- 40 consumers, throughout the The new album was recorded at New York's Bears - INSIDE TALK: Hats off to Ian Copeland, president cess, says her days in Shalamar month of April." ville studios, and once again Vega worked with pro- of the F.B.I. (Frontier Booking International) agency, were frustrating. "It wasn't fun Just as phase one of MCA's Wat- ducers Lenny Kaye and Steve Addabbo. "Going back for his informative monthly status report providing anymore," she says. "When you ley campaign was "to establish her to the same team definitely worked," she says. "Ev- the lowdown on all company clients. can't make your own decisions, as a major black artist," phase three eryone was being a little careful on the first album, Some of the highlights: Flock Of Seagulls is record- when it's pretty much told to you will be the release of the second sin- but we stretched out a lot more this time. On the first ing in the U.K. and plans a fail tour; recent F.B.I. sign- what to do and you do it whether gle, "Still A Thrill," which will "get record I was playing solo ing Bad Brains is off to you like it or not, after a while it be- us back and get us stronger in the more, but this time I real- Europe in May; the Ban- ly developed working gles have North Ameri- New Release Is Tribute To Crash Victim with a band. I certainly can dates set for the sum- wasn't so afraid to use ATME mer and fall; Adrian Be- drums as I was before." lew will be supporting his Vega says she deliber- new PMRC album here Osbourne Salutes Guitarist ately took her time mak- with a late spring tour; minimal, he adds that he was con- ing the new record. "So Island is shipping a new BY STEVE GETT cerned about its presentation. much happened in the BEAT Marianne Faithful al- NEW YORK With the release of a "Sharon and I discussed the fact last two years," she says. bum in June; in addition new Epic /CBS Associated album, that we wanted to remember the "I really felt it was im- to starring with the Ban- "Tribute," Ozzy Osbourne is finally nicer side of Randy," says Os- portant that I concen- by Steve Gett gles' Debbi Peterson in a able to present a selection of con- bourne. "I didn't want a black al- trate on my writing. In a way, my work was interrupt- new Slice commercial, ex -Go Go drummer Gina cert recordings featuring his for- bum cover with a crucifix, or an ed by my career taking off." Schock has a new band, House Of Schock; three mer guitarist, Randy Rhoads, who R.I.P. kind of thing. Why put a pic- "Solitude Standing" was mixed at the A &M studio R.E.M. members are on the road in Warren Zevon's died five years ago in a Florida ture of his tomb on the front? We in Los Angeles, with Shelly Yakus helping out at the band; and the Smiths kick of a U.S. tour July 9. plane crash. tried to make it as colorful as possi- desk. The end result is positively refreshing, further The former Black Sabbath vocal- ble. So we got loads of collages of testimony to Vega's tremendous talent. Among the al- OPEN DOOR: After more than five years at the type- ist originally planned to deliver the Polaroids and photos of Randy -as bum's highlights are the title track, "Luka," "In The writer, Danny Sugerman, longtime Doors represen- double live album to his old label, a kid, with his family, with his dog, Eye," and "Language." tative and author of the Jim Morrison biography "No Jet Records, in 1982. But, he says, and just goofing around on the Plans call for Vega to start a world tour with a May One Here Gets Out Alive," has completed his latest "When Randy died, I thought, road. There's a letter from me on 3 concert at New York's Shubert Theater. Also, don't book. Titled "Wonderful Avenue (Tales Of Glamour & 'There's no way I can do that. It just the back and one from Mrs. Rhoads. be surprised if she ends up moving into the acting Excess)," the work will be published by William Mor- looks like I'm cashing in on some- If it goes gold or whatever, fair world sometime in the future. "I'm crazy about mov- row in early 1988. body's death, and it's in bad taste.' " enough, but that's not been the mo- ies and theater," she says. "So that's definitely some- Sugerman has landed a heavy movie deal for the In order to fulfill contractual obli- tivation behind putting it out." thing that I'd like to get into." book -it's a rock'n'roll novel set in Southern Califor- gations with Jet, Osbourne made For its part, Epic /CBS Associated Before Madonna landed the part, Vega was asked nia during the late '60s and early '70s -with producer live recordings of old Black Sabbath plans a heavy push to promote the to read for the role of Susan in "Desperately Seeking Gene ( "Rocky" / "The Pope Of Greenwich Village ") material, which the label released in album, due in stores Monday (20). Susan." "Someone had seen me perform at Folk City Kirkwood. Oliver Stone has agreed to direct the mov- late 1982 as the double album According to Robert Smith, the la- and thought I'd be good for the role," says Vega. "So I ie if Sugerman handles the screenplay ... back to the "Speak Of The Devil." Says Os- bel's director of merchandising, went along, but they said they thought I was 'too se- typewriter! bourne, "I figured that was about "We've got a major consumer ad- rene.' " the only thing to do at the time." vertising campaign in the works, SHORT TAKES: The Everly Bros. are self- produc- The decision to release the "Trib- and we'll be starting a major in- READY TO ROCK: Just over a year ago, Nashville- ing their next PolyGram album, due sometime this ute" album was "purely down to de- store merchandising contest April based artist Tom Kimmel was being courted by a&r summer ... John Hiatt has inked a new deal with mand from the fans," says Os- 29 to support our work at retail. We chiefs from several major labels, all of whom recog- A &M. His label debut, featuring Ry Cooder and Nick boune. "It was also at the request serviced a three -track advance cas- nized his immense potential. Kimmel eventually went Lowe, is set for June release ... Echo & the Bunny - of Randy's mother that we put it sette through the trade, and we'll with PolyGram's Dick Wingate, who had just moved men have signed on with Steve Jensen and Martin out. Mrs. Rhoads was telling Shar- also be shipping a promo -only CD to the label from Epic. Kirkup's Direct Management organization. The L.A. - on [Osbourne, Ozzy's wife /man- featuring about half the tracks on After spending the past few months in the studio based managers also represent OMD and Wire Train ager] that she'd gotten thousands the album. On top of all that, there's with veteran producer Bill Szymczyk, Kimmel has ... Dio is cutting tracks for its next album in Los An- of letters and phone calls from fans a special video being directed by just completed his debut album. With additional mixes geles. Look for a June release, says manager Wendy asking about this live album and Wayne Ishaam, and Ozzy himself is handled by Bob Clearmountain, Kimmel has come up Dio ... Vigil has been promoting its self-titled Chrys- when it might come out." going out on a six -city promo tour." with a highly auspicious package. Solid rock in the alis debut album on the Stranglers tour. Dates are Though Osbourne says his in- In addition to satisfying fan de- Bryan Adams /John Mellencamp /Don Henley vein, booked through May 4. volvement in the project has been (Continued on page 26)

24 BILLBOARD APRIL 25, 1987 www.americanradiohistory.com