Abba's :Album' Makes Listening Fun By Bernie Russell Start with Jackson Browne and Paul Simon and begin moving in the other direction; past the Eagles, past Fleetwood Mac, past the Bee Gees, and past Barry Manilow and you finally end up with Abba. Abba's music is as different from Browne's and Simon's as possible with its sumptious background arrangements, infectious melodies, triv­ ial lyrics, and perky delivery. Abba does not pretend to be innovative or even artistic in their music; their aim is purely, blatantly commercial success. In spite of this less than noble goal, Abba's music is terrific. Anyone who has heard their hits ''Mamma Mia'' and "Dancing Queen" knows that Abba's music has a contagiously happy sound that is all but irresistable. Abba's latest, simply called ''The Album,'' carries on their tradition elf light, escapist music and it is entertaining in the way an amusement park is entertaining. There's very little intellectual going on-certain­ ly nothing revolutionary-but the mood is so happy and energetic that it is impossible not to enjoy yourself. Every song on ''The Album'' has a melody so catchy that it lingers in the mind long after the record is over. The lyrics that go with these melodies are, as usual, very slight; such as "There gotta be rock'n rolVTo fill the hole in your soul.'' Much of the music.on "The Album" sounds like Fifties music that has been slicked up and transplanted into the Seventies. "Take a Chance on Me" has a beat like a polka that is occasionally interrupted by one of the singer's cooing "C'mon, gimme a break, baby" the way . The last three songs on ''The Album'' actually is. The Music of "The Girl with years back, "MacArthur Park."· many singers of the Fifties used to are part of a ''mini-musical'' called ''The the Golden Hair'' is very light in the way There is nothing complex or subtle "talk" lyiics to songs. "One Man, One. Girl with the Golden Hair." It is about a most Broadway musical tunes are light. about Abba's "Album" but those are Woman'' is about a marriage in trouble girl with singinr, talent who leaves home ·"Thank You for the Music" has the two points in its favor. "The Album" is and has a sad, slightly melodramatc tune to go into show business. Once there, same dance hall quality as Barbra good for the most basic reason any pop like "Cryin' in the Chapel" and other she discovers s11e is being manipulated Streisand's "Second Hand Rose;" "I or rock album is good; the music on it is Fifties hits. The single ''The Name of the by the record companies and press Wonder (Departure)" is like "I Could so-happy and fun that it makes listening Game" has that "jazzy" style of beat agents that surround her. Have Danced All Night" from "My Fair a pleasure. "The Album" may not be an that has not been heard since "Green The storyline of this "mini-musical" Lady;" and "I'm a Marionette" is •artistic triump but it is certainly . an Onions" was popular twenty years ago. makes it sound much deeper than it similiar to Richard Harris's hit of a few entertaining one. Oscar {rom page 7. · •Campus Calendar• recent past. Woody Allen, again for was cute, but no Tatum O'Neal she. Dragon," and "Someone's Waiting for .''Annie Hall,'' is the real mystery here. Melinda Dillon of ''Close Encounters of You," from "The Rescuers." (What?) Great writer, excellent directOr he, but the Third Kind," was just outclassed, Along with "The Slipper and Rose Tuesday, April 4th no real actor. John Travolta, while good and Leslie Brown of ''The Turning Waltz" from - you guessed it- "The Chemistry Department in "Saturday Night Fever," just does not Point,'' can dance well. Slipper and -the Rose, the Story of Greater Washington Area ESR Sympo­ Now for the one really frustrating Cinderella.'' -deserve the award. Marcello Mastroian­ sium ni has been up before, but this time with category - the Best Song. I really think it's about time the Academy faces up to The last two candidates in this BS 120. 1 o.m. - 5 n.m. a film that did not quite make it, it will category at least make some sense. The not be his year. it and admits that it knows nothing at all title song from "You Light Up My Life," UMBC Division of Education That leaves us with Richard Dreyfuss about music except that it's the stuff that from a forgettable film. of the same Early Childhood Program Process for "The Goodbye Girl," and Richard is usually in the background as a ship sinks or lovers kiss. name. And last, but certainly not least, Seminar Burton for "Equus." Dreyfuss has been "Nobody Does It Better," from "The Dorm ill, Room 078, 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. How else can you explain the riding on a crest ever since ''Jaws,'' and Spy Who Loves Me~'' which gets my nod is really coming into his own as an actor, oversight of the Bee Gee's music score for success this time out. Student Government Association - but it's going to be Richard Burton this for ''Saturday Night Fever,'' which "Open Mike" time. And not because his was the best pr11ctically is the film. If ever there was I hope you' 11 be an armchair Old Rathskeller · performance, because it wasn't. But one element that went into the success of handicapper tonight as Bob Hope leads Hillcrest Building, 8 p.m.- 12 Midnight ·there seems to be at least one . a movie, that was it. Yet the music was the lucky ones into the Winner's Cirlce -- sentimental favorite each year and this ignored by the Academy. there surely will be at least one - Wednesday, April 5th time it's his turn. · And what do we have in its place? photo-finish to keep you on the edge of Office of Campus Activities "Candle on the Water" from "Pete's your ,seat. Noontime Jazz Series Now for someone who really deserves Jimmy Wells Trio the award -- Peter Firth of "Equus." - from page 7 There is really no competition here. His Schedules Commuter Cafeteria, 12 Noon - 2 p.m. was a performance that left you limp. Or, if you're like most students in the Dean of Faculty/Dean of Students The others, Alec Guiness ·of "Star Campus. just tell a physics major that science is screwing up the universe, tell middle of the semester, you're way "Choosing a Major" Program Wars;" Jason Robards and Maximilian LH II, 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. Schell of "Julia;" and Mikhail Barysh­ a history major that studying dead behind on all of your classes and you're looking for someone to stimulate your nikov of ''The Turning Point,'' are all generals is a waste of time, or tell a Student Government Association academic urges. What better place to lightweights in comparison. Although it music major that studying dead Movie Series ''Greased Lightening'' and pursue your research but in the serene must be admitted that Baryshnikov is .composers is an even bigger waste of Andy Warhol's "Dracula" climate of the UMBC Library? ·also incredibly lightfooted -- can that time. The results are always pretty much LH II, 7:30 p.m. These are just some of the methods mAn DANCE! the same. Admission $1.00 For Supportmg ftcj;ress, my guess is Suppose you're just looking for a way you can use to search out the "right" that Tuesday Weld of "Looking. for Mr. to meet a lot of people in an atmosphere person for you. The registrar's office · Thursday, April 6th Goodbar,'' will ffnally make it to the big quieter than the dining halls or the puts out a schedule of classes every. · History Council of Majors - Bake Sale time and ga~ recognition of her talent. commuter cafeteria? Let me suggest for semester, for your convenience, to let Administration Building Lobby, 11 a.m. Vanessa Redgrave might have had a you Biology 100, which meets in the you know what kind of people . are 72 o.m. chance here, but her politics, even more peaceful atmosphere of Lecture Hall Two meeting on what days, at which times, Student Government Association .than Jane Fonda's used to, will do her and is always packed with students and it even tells you the precise room Special Events Film Series in. Quinn Cummings of ''Goodbye Girl,'' looking for a good time. numbers. Continued on page 9 .