HITS OF THE WEEK SINGLES SLEEPERS ALBUMS JOHN LENNON, "STAND BY ME" (prod. by PAUL DAVIS, "MAKE HER MY BABY" (prod. by JIMI HENDRIX, "CRASH LANDING." Re- John Lennon) (Hill & Range/Trio/ Paul Davis/Bullet Prod.) (Web IV, cent relocation of Hendrix studio tapes APT Ent., BMI). Ben E. King's '61 BMI). That "Ride 'Em Cowboy" man spawns this first of four sets to be re- follow-up to "Spanish Harlem" be- is gunning for an even bigger giant leased over the next two years. Pop comes Lennon's first oldies single this time. Gentle upper sits tall in roots flourish with blues blossoms as outing. Culled from his "Rock 'N' the smash saddle, galloping into Hendrix' genius remains strikingly im- Roll" album after heavy AM air- pop territory from a subtly intoxi- pressive. "Somewhere Over the Rain- play, John takes his "Stand" with cating southern direction. Make it a bow," "Stone Free Again" and the a happy and healthy hit posture. hit for his "Baby" and one more for title track are simply spectacular. Re- Apple 1881. the road! Bang 717. prise MS 2204 (Warner Bros.) (6.98). PAUL ANKA, "I DON'T LIKE TO SLEEP ALONE" RICK DERRINGER, "HANG ON SLOOPY" (prod. ALICE COOPER, "WELCOME TO MY (prod. by Rick Hall/Fame Prod. w. by Rick Derringer) (Wren/Robert NIGHTMARE." This eventful album Paul Anka Prod.) (Spanka, BMI). Mellin, BMI). Rick first scored with marking the ever -so -lovely Alice's Long-awaited third Anka single un- this one as part of the McCoys. Now April 25 television special whirls the der the UA banner is bound to rival he parlays it into a '75 monster via Cooper charisma through the grooves. "(You're) Navin' My Baby" in its 11 years of musical maturity. Fun The visions stirred are fancifully varied: overall effect. Pleading ballad re- and frolics from his forthcoming infectiously pop on "Some Folks," lates to all demographic strata, "Spring Fever" album should see openly moving on "Only Women Bleed" assuring Paul plenty of new action. him hang onto a solo gold 45. Blue and metal musings on "Cold Ethyl." United Artists XW615-X. Sky ZS8-2755 (Col). Dreamy! Atlantic SD 18130 (6.98). MAC DAVIS, "(IF YOU ADD) ALL THE LOVE IN LINDA LEWIS, "THE OLD SCHOOLYARD" (prod. DAVID BOWIE, "YOUNG AMERICANS." THE WORLD" (prod. by Rick Hall; by James Cregan) (Ackee, ASCAP). With the casual look of Katherine Hep- assoc. prod. Gary Klein) (Big Mitzi/ One time background vocalist for burn but the polished music now em- Mashy, ASCAP). Opening with an Cat Stevens now explodes on her bellished with the soulful Sigma sound, "Everything Is Beautiful" -type kid- (3 own. It's a tune he wrote especially Bowie emerges with his most com- die chorale, the title tune to Mac's to suit the most stunning soprano to pelling album to date. R&B basics beat current album quickly sets a family come our way since Minnie Riperton. as they magically mix with Bowie's mood. Mathematically heavy but Nostalgic song for all occasions will cabaret aura, at their best on "Fascina- easy -on -the -ears masterpiece for bring the British -based lass over tion," "Fame" and the title track single. the TV star. Columbia 3-10111. here in style! Arista 0109. RCA APL1-0998 (6.98). NEIL SEDAKA, "THE IMMIGRANT" (prod. by DAVID B DAVID, "HORSE NAMED STORM" DONALD BYRD, "STEPPING INTO TO- Neil Sedaka & Robert Appere) (Don (prod. by Mike Taylor) (Hit Brigade, MORROW." Distinguished jazzman adds Kirshner, BMI; Kirshner Songs, BMI). This one will no doubt bring a more commercial flavor to his product ASCAP). Moving from "Laughter in to mind America's debut hit about without relinquishing any of his aesthe- the Rain" to some soul-searching that nameless equus. But this doubly tically pleasing attributes on this out- brought about by the international monikered duo displays their own ing. Soft waves oscillate through the plight of John Lennon, Sedaka fur- gifts for traversing a musical desert disc, aided for airplay via vibrant ther proves his contemporary genius. to discover their own oasis. Make harmonies and rich arrangements-all Reflections on the Statue of Liberty's way for a lightning bolt of talent! combining into Byrd's best set yet. inscription. Rocket 40370 (MCA). 20th Century 2174. Blue Note BN-LA368-G (UA) (6.98). www.americanradiohistory.comAmericanRadioHistory.Com These were the words used to describe Richard Torrance's first album: c°; CALIFORNIA In this perfectly executed album, with masterful playing and songs oflove, charm and sadness, g TORRAN[E Richard Torrance is a sensation perched on the lip of recognition, waving g000dbye to obscurity. SHEIiER SR -2112 Bye Obscurity, Bye Bye Richard Torrance and Eureka's second album "Belle Of The Ball" charted this week at *83 `i'1/7,f7f a 17/'f, utfle irlr .SMELThM1 SR -2134 Distributed by MCA Records, Inc. Watch out for red hot single "Don't Let Me Down Again:' Produced by Duane Scott for Manx Productions. www.americanradiohistory.comAmericanRadioHistory.Com Dedicated to the Needs Of the Music/Record Industry MARCH 15, 1975 RECORD RLD NAIRD Members Meet Heilicher Rack Talk NARM '75 Copes With Changes On Range of Topics Keynotes NARM Meet LOS ANGELES-Over 75 inde- LOS ANGELES - NARM's key- From Business, Economic Fronts pendent firms including distribu- note speaker, Amos Heilicher, By ELIOT SEKULER and LENNY BEER tors, manufacturers and record - president of Pickwick Internation- LOS ANGELES The necessity The workshops and panels cov- related service rack - companies partici- al, described the role of the for the industry to respond to ered a wide variety of relevant pated in NAIRD's third annual jobber in the volume growth of changing conditions in the econ- topics, including radio promotion, convention, beginning on Febru- the recording industry and warned omy and changes within parts of use of point of purchase displays, ary 27 and continuing through of the problems now facing the its own structure was underscored accounting, specialty product and March 2. Business transacted in- rack accounts, which currently in workshops, speeches and panel tape merchandising. A guest lec- cluded the election of officers, the account for as much as 80 per- discussions at last week's 17th turer, Professor Theodore Howard conduct of several workshops and cent of the industry's sales. Ac- annual convention of the National Levitt of Harvard University Grad- the meeting of various NAIRD cording to Heilicher, the rise of Association of Record Merchan- uate School of Business delivered standing committees. In addition, record and tape sales upward of disers (NARM). Conducted with a speech on "The Leisure Time Ira Heilicher J. L. of Marsh Co. the two billion dollar mark can the theme "Music Is Our Busi- Business 1975." His summation and Peter Eichler, attorney and be directly attributed to the avail- ness," the convention drew over served to paraphrase the most specialist in trademark law ad- ability of product in the discount 1,500 delegates to the Century widely voiced concern of the con- dressed the association's member- and department stores serviced by Plaza Hotel here for five days of vention. According to Levitt, the ship. rack jobbers; those locations, and meetings and festivities. Problems danger is that we will meet the Participating manufacturers var- especially the discount chains, inherent to the mass merchan- same fate as the railroads, who ied widely in size of operation have been severely shaken by the dising of recordings, the disparity assumed that they were in the and type of product, although the sluggishness of the economy. between the audiences upon railroad business and not the great majority were specialty la- Price Wars which the radio and recording in- transportation business. bels. Despite the diversity of re- Aside from economy-related dustries depend, the issues of The continued importance of corded material that the several factors beyond the control of the pricing, returns and the role of mass merchandising in racked lo- firms produce, the mutuality of industry, Heilicher underscored the single were primary subjects cations, price wars, the shopping problems facing all small inde- the price -war tags on product in of discussion mall and the problems of time pendents and their distributors some markets (especially southern lag between the initial exposure was stressed throughout the four California), the proliferation of Additional coverage of the 17th An- I of product and its availability in day series of meetings. Subjects nual NARM Convention on pp. 46-49. (Continued on page 46) the market place has increasingly covered in workshop discussion vexed all segments of the music groups included legal problems business. Most heated were the arising from trademark laws, mar- Wonder, Hamlisch Take Top Honors discussions between rack jobbers ket reserach and the problems of and radio personnel with the for- distributing indie product in an mer group, and most specifically era of mass merchandising of At Grammy Awards Presentation George Wilson of the Bartell recordings. By ROBERTA SKOPP chain claiming repeatedly that his New Officers NEW YORK - Steviie Wonder recording artist Marvin Hamlisch unwillingness to break a new rec- New officers of the association came away with four awards, received another artist award for ord is based upon the rack job- (Continued on page 28) matching his coup at last year's Best Pop Instrumental Perform- bers' slow delivery patterns. A ceremonies, Marvin Hamlisch was ance ("The Entertainer") and two future meeting was proposed in Record World Debuts cited four times as well (twice as other awards for his collaboration (Continued on page 46) an artist and yet another two with Marilyn and Alan Bergman Radio/Trade Seminars times as a songwriter) and Olivia for "The Way We Were," which NARM Best Sellers NEW YORK - Record World Newton -John scored twice, in- garnered Grammys for both Song will hold the first of a series of cluding Record of the Year honors of the Year and Album of Best Named at Banquet 17th Annual Original Score Written For A Mo- Radio/Trade Seminars Saturday, at this year's Gram- i LOS ANGELES - The NARM March 15 my Award presentation (1).