DEDICATED TO THE NEEDS OF THE MUSIC RECORD INDUSTRY SEPTEMBER 30, 1976 $1.95 Sylvers 4 HITS OF THE WEEK SINGLES ALBUMS EVELYN "CHAMPAGNE" KING, "I DON'T LINDA RONSTADT, "LIVING IN VARIOUS ARTISTS, "THE WIZ." KNOW IF IT'S RIGHT" (prod. by THE USA." For Ronstadt's latest There's no shortage of talent on T. Life)(writers:T.Life -J.H. Ip she has selected material that thisstar-studdedtworecord Fitch)(SixContinents/Mills & ranges from Elvis Presley ("Love soundtrack to the forthcoming Mills, BMI) (3:40). One of the Me Tender") to Costello ("Ali- movie.Producer Quincy Jones years'biggestandyoungest son") and Chuck Berry ("Living maintainsasmoothflowas new stars ably follows up her In the USA") to Eric Kaz ("Blow- DianaRoss,Michael Jackson, "Shame" mega -hit with a sul- ing Away"). Her delivery can be and Lena Horne among others trier new tune geared to cross sweet or gutsy and here she "ease on down the road." MCA in several directions. RCA 11386. does it all. Asylum 6E-155 (7.98). MCA2-1400 (14.98). JOHNNYMATHIS / DENIECE WILLIAMS, HEART, "DOG & BUTTERFLY." STYX, "PIECES OF EIGHT." Since "THAT'S WHAT FRIENDS ARE The group's fourth album is taste- the group's"The GrandIllu- FOR" (prod. by J. Gold) (writ- fullydivided between rockers sion" Ip, they have gone on to ers: McDonald-Groves-Baskett) (dog side) and lighter, acoustic become one of the country's pre- (VIP-Newbag) (3:30). The new oriented songs(butterflyside) mier attractions. The soaring vo- hit duo is best on sweet bal- thatshowcasethevocalsof cals and strong melodies of their lads and this one is just right. Ann and Nancy Wilson. The lat- last success have been equalled The vocals are lovely and make ter's"Mistral Wind" and the or surpassed here with songs the record suitable formulti - former's "Straight On" are high- like "I'm OK" and "Blue Collar format airplay. Columbia 10826.0826. lightsRF 35555 (7.98). Man " A&M SP 4724 (7 98) ACE FREHLEY, "NEW YORK GROOVE" (prod. AL STEWART, "TIME PASSAGES." FUNKADELIC, "ONENATION by E. Kramer -A. Frehley) (writer: Two years after his last album UNDER A GROOVE." Both musi- Ballard)(April/Island, ASCAP) ("Year Of the Cat") Stewart re- cally and graphically,Funka- (3:01). Russ Ballard's neo-classic emerges as an articulate and delic can be an overwhelming gets the strongest treatment yet musical songcraftsman. His band, and with their latest al- from theKissguitarist.It'sa songs should continue to appeal bum they enter the realm of P - boogie beat drivenhigh and to top 40 and AOR formats with funk. A hint of reggae and a wide by a thunderous bass line their clever arrangements and touch of rock creeps into a cou- and dramatically placed hand theAlanParsonsproduction. ple of numbers with some unus- claps. Casablanca 941. Arista AB 4190 (7.98). ual results. WB BSK 3209 (7.98). CHAKA KHAN, "I'M EVERY WOMAN" (prod. BLUE OYSTER CULT, "SOME EN- 10cc, "BLOODY TOURISTS." by Arif Mardin) (writers: Ash- CHANTED EVENING." The group While the group's singles have ford& Simpson)(Nick -O -Val, has a good reputation forits hit with some consistency in the ASCAP) (3:42). The lead voice concerts, a point brought out by past, this is their first 1p in some of Rufus debuts as a solo artist their second live1p.This time time to display the wit and mu- withthissexy and up -tempo it's a single record that includes sical prowess of the group from Ashford & Simpson tune. Mar - materiallike"Don't Fear the beginningto end. "Dreadlock din's productionis superb and Reaper," "Godzilla," and "We Holiday," "For You and I" and it could give her a whole new Gotta Get Out Of This Place." "Last Night" are all exceptional. career. Warner Bros. 8683. Columbia JC 35563 (7.98). Polydor PD -1-6161 (7.98). AmericanRadioHistory.Com VvAV E L ENCT-1 Van Morrison. Wavelength.Pi-oducec/ by Van Morrison for Caledonia Productions. On Warner Bros records and tapes. 8SK 3212 Direction: Bill Graham Management AmericanRadioHistory.Com Dedicated to the Needs of the Music/RecordIndustry SEPTEMBER 30, 1978 Lieberman Gathering Alexenburg Unveils 'Infinity Records Draws Nearly 700 By MIKE FALCON Announces Artist Roster, Exec Lineup LAKE GENEVA, WISCONSIN - By BARRY TAYLOR reassuring to see that New York 270 Lieberman employees were isalive, vibrant, and active. We joined by approximately 400 in- NEW YORK - The launch of Ron Alexenburg'srecord com- not only have high hopes for terestedindustry observers and the label, but we have great ex- pany,InfinityRecords, was an- manufacturer representatives for pectations and confidence in Ron the opening of the massive rack nounced last week by Lew R. Was- sei man, chairman of the board and his fine company." jobber's1978conventionheld ad- of Alexenburgimmediately Tuesday (19) through Friday (22). andchiefexecutiveofficer himself tothe task of MCAInc.,andSidneyShein- dressed Theconvention had"Nobody label, thedifficulty berg, president and chief naming his Does It Better" as the theme and in gettingworldwide operatingofficerof MCA Inc. being featured a number of workshops, along with Alexenburg, who is clearance. "Wedid getthe supervisor meetings, product on Friday of last president of the new label. Based Lew Wasserman (left) with Ron Alexenburg clearance presentations and discussions, as week," (September 15) he said, in New York, Infinity will be aspeculation with the formal an- well as live entertainment. anddescribed"Infinity"as a fullline company separate and the Of particular interest to observ- nouncementof "Infinity" that projects "energy, apart from MCA Records with name, its initialartist roster and name ers was the mannerinwhich youthfulness and excitement . Lieberman Enterprises dealt with distribution going through MCA key executive staff members. Distribution.Infinitywill also to our artists and the people in the major organizational changes "We have been very fortunate have officesin Los Angeles and radio.Infinity saysitall,lasting instituted since last year. A major inconvincing Ron to head upforever." A logois expected to London.Initialproduct isex- our new label and we are also executivetierrestructuring,the be designed and finalizedthis addition of 1500 new accounts pected to be released early next quite proud of the fact that this month. week. and approximately 165 field per- will be a N.Y.-based record com- Infinity'sartist "It will be alabel character- pany," Wasserman said. "To the Indiscussing sonnel, a massive warehouse ex - roster,Alexenburgnotedthat ized byitsenergy and aggres- bestof my knowledge this is (Continued on page 36) productwillbeshippedwith siveness," Alexenburg told Rec- thefirst new New York based biosandpressreleasesalong ord after a record company since thelate Grusin & Rosen press conference held here end- sixties or early seventies, and be- with a film presentation for use inallof the MCA branches in ing four months of rumor and ing a fan of the Big Apple, itis Form GRP Label early October. Among thefirst By BARRY TAYLOR releases are albums by Memphis NEW YORK - Dave Grusin,Mushroom's First Convention Focuses on guitaristRobertJohnsonwith noted record producer/recording an Ip recorded in Memphis and artist/Hollywood film composer, A&M-Canada Tie, Domestic Roster Growth New York, Dobie Gray, who has recorded with producer Rick Hall andLarryRosen, a producer/ By SAM SUTHERLAND engineer, have established their in MuscleShoals and about SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA-New TheInnAt McCormack Ranch whom Alexenburg commented, own label, GRP Records, which roster talent,an expanded dis-here last week. Marking Mush- will be distributed by Arista, RW "I've admired Dobie's work for tribution arrangement with A&Mroom's first 30 months of opera- a long time and feel that he has learned exclusively last week. tion in the U. S., the convention Under the new deal, GRP is Records of Canada and a heavy had a good start and that we will turnout were some of the high- kicked off Thursday (14) as staff- be able to add on to his begin- planningtomaintain a small ers, distributors, independent lightsofMushroom Records' ning," and Hot Chocolate with a artist roster. "By having a small promotionrepsandmarketing (Continued on page 77) first annual convention, held at new album produced by Mickie consultants,retailers,radio reps Most. Johnson and Hot Chocolate and other guests converged on are signed to Infinity for the U.S. ai.l.fic I 004 the Phoenix suburb for three days and Canada only. 11111 I SALES 1113EXof meetings, showcases, and Alexenburgnoted thatthe product previews. roster is rounded out by Orleans, (Continued on page 48) (Continued on page 54) Albums 19771978 Singles 280.0 260.0 Mechanical Proposals Due This Week; 210.0 220.0 More RIAA-NMPA Controversy Likely 200.0 By BILLHOLLAND 180.0 WASHINGTON - TheU.S. caused between the two main Copyright Office will hand down protagonistsintheissue, RIAA 160.0 proposed newregulationsthis and NMPA, the National Music 140.0 11111WMI VEIN!ill week gc erning compulsoryli- Publishers Association. 120.0 censingofmechanicalroyalty Themechanicalrightsrules, 100.0 payments to composers and mu- stillin draft form at this writing, 80.0 sic publishers. no doubt will include the highly ug. ug. Sept. Sept. Sept. Sept. Aug. Aug. Sept. Sept. Sept.`Sept. 19 26 2 9 16 23 19 26 2 9 16 23 The regulations, which won'tdisputed "reserve funds" section. becomefinaluntilscheduled NMPA earlier this year reluc- RIAA's The Record World Sales Index is based on a broad cross-section of quantitative sales data public hearings are completed in tantly went along with reported to Record World from retailers, rack jobbers and one -stops across the country. The base late November, are sure to once contention that the use ofIRS figure for both the singles and album indices is a smoothed average of these quantitative reports during periods in March, 1976, with each weekly figure being a percentage increase or decrease on again spark the controversyaccounting standards could de - the base.