REVIEWS S I N G L E S REVIEWS FEATURE PICKS B. J. THOMAS (MCA 40854) THE SYLVERS (Capitol 4532) Everybody Loves A Rain Song (2:33) (Screen New Horizon (3:38) (Rosy - ASCAP) (Sylvers, Gems-EMI/Baby Chick Music - BMI) (James, Sylvers) Moman) The title cut from the Sylvers' recent album lives Considering the success Thomas has had with up to its ideals. Their first self -production reveals a rain songs ("Raindrops Keep Fallin'. ."), this one matured group that will also appeal to a slightly by Mark James and Chips Moman should be a older audience. A promising future on the pop and natural. Thomas' voice is perfectly suited to the R&B charts. light pop melody and the chorus which repeats the refrain makes it a catchy pop record. ANNE MURRAY (Capitol 4527) HERMAN'S HERMITS (Roulette 7213) Walk Right Back (2:38) (Warner -Tamerlane - Heart Get Ready For Love(2:55) (Chappell & Co. BMI) (Curtis) - ASCAP) (Bugatti, Musker) This Canadian songstress has widened her . Peter Noone is still living the life of a wealthy potential appeal immeasurably with this single, businessman, but Herman's Hermits are back on from the album "Let's Keep It This Way," the recording scene with this closely harmonized produced by Eagles' arranger Jim Ed Norman. little shuffle. Their ability to handle innocent love The melodic ingredients for a big break into top 40 stories should help them out once again at pop and MOR formats are all here. stations. SINGLES TO WATCH MOTHER'S FINEST (Epic 50483) ERIC GALE (Columbia 10670) BOB JAMES (Tappan Zee/Columbia 10668) Thank You For The Love (3:28) (Satsongs - ASCAP) Oh! Mary Don't You Weep (3:55) (Antisia - ASCAP) Heads (3:40) (Bob James & DeShufflin/Wayward - (Murdock, Kennedy, Keck, Seay, Moore, Borden) (Adapted by Eaton) ASCAP) (James) This single preserves the group's feeling for R&B/rock Guitarman extraordinaire Gale has come up with a The title cut from James' first album on a new label is a fusion styles, but they aren't hitting as hard as usual this most intriguing version of a traditional gospel piece in mildly funky instrumental that showcases his abilities on time, and the results are ear -pleasing. The vocal blend this single from "Multiplication." He's playing pure blues multivarious keyboards, from grand piano to unusually - and instrumental effects are reminiscent of some of Sly while the choir sings, creating a record that could catch programmed synthesizers. The rich instrumental tex- Stone's best work. This selection is from "Another on by virtue of its originality. tures and crisp production will appeal to all album - Mother Further," co -produced by Tom Werman and the oriented formats. group. GENE COTTON (Ariola America 7675) Before My Heart Finds Out (2:30) (Sailmaker/Chappell SOUTH ROAD CONNECTION (Mahogany 1277) COWBOY (Capricorn 0283) - ASCAP) (Goodrun) You Like It, We Love It (3:40) (Harrindur/Ensign - BMI) Takin' It All The Way (3:03) (Rear Exit - ASCAP) (Boyer) Noble sentiments are embodied in this song of heart- (Job, Gilman) Tight vocal harmonies and tasteful guitar work are the break. Cotton's singing style, combined with this melody, Speaking of disco groups, Southroad Connection's strong points of this single from a newly re-formed reminds one of James Taylor, but there's no sense of im- style seems to lie somewhere between that of the group's most recent album. Perfect for Top 40 and itation. A good choice for mellow -rock and top 40 sta- Trammps and that of B.T. Express. Not much of a mellow -rock stations. tions. message in the lyric, but the syncopated Latin percus- sion and surging strings should catch on with the dance market. clude scenes from the group's Woodstock performance as well as shots of their early gigs EAST COASTINGS / POINTS WEST in British pubs. THANK YOU Roberta Flack was presented with a special public service award by (continued from page - 9) Mayors Warren Widmer of Berkeley, California and Maynard Jackson of Atlanta, Georgia the title of the new MCA LP, "Willie Alexander And The Boom Boom Band." It is the title of at the Black Mayors' Convention held re- one of the tracks on the album .. cently in San Francisco's Hyatt Regency phil dimauro Hotel. All the members of Roberta's band POINTS WEST - THE SHOW MUST GO ON - How's the lip, Rod? Agile rocker Rod and road crew also received awards. Ms. Stewart reportedly slipped on a flower during his show in San Francisco which wrapped up Flack performed a special benefit show at his latest tour. Mr. Stewart smashed his face against a drum riser and managed to poke a the convention, with proceeds to be ad- nasty hole into his lip. True to his roots, he sang the remainder of the song through a blood- ministered by the National Black Caucus. soaked towel. After the show, Rod was rushed to the closest hospital which happened to be Steve Wonder recently received the United Children's Hospital. He received eight stitches and flew back to England the next day with Nations Symphony's Peace Award for his his stiff upper lip. Here's wishing a happy heal. dedication through music to the cause of HIGHER PROFILE - Elvis Costello came to America with three stated objectives: to play world peace. his unique brand of angry rock; to avoid anything resembling media hype; and to buy a A RECORD FOR PEACE - As millions of Rickenbacher 12 -string guitar. He succeeded in two of his quests. His concerts were well - BILLY BEER BELLY - Nashville's Sound people around the world wait for hopeful received and thanks to Mlles Hurwitz of Bam Magazine, he found his Rickenbacher. Shop has reached agreement with Billy events in the Middle East, it seems, ac- However, El received a higher media profile than he expected. Could it be that a visit on Carter to produce cornrnercials for his new cording to Starship, that the historic NBC's "Saturday Night Live" contributed to this unexpected development. Says Costello: "Billy" beer. Pictured (l-r) are: Jon Shulen- meeting between Israel's prime minister, "You can't stop people from talking." berger, executive vice president, Sound Menachem Begin and Egypt's president, RIPOFF TELECAST - The Doobie Brothers will star in a special two-part episode of ABC - Shop; singer Jack Barlow; Craig Anwar Sadat has launched a first for the TV's situation comedy, "What's Happening!" The story, written especially for the group by Deitschmann, president of Sound Shop; recording idustry. To mark the historic oc - Sally Wade for Toy Productions, evolves around an attempt by bad guys to bootleg a Carter. casion, CBS Records has released a recording of the Doobie Brothers in concert. The show is being taped in January and will air special recording of Elton John's "Love Song." The lyric which reads "Love is the opening in in late February. In addition to displaying their acting talents, the boys the band will per- door; Love is what we came here for; No one could offer you more; Do you know what I form four songs from their current WB album, "Livin' On The Fault Line." mean? Have your eyes really seen?" are sung in Hebrew by an Israeli artist. The flip side of- MEHTA ATTACK - Following the success of the L.A. Philharmonic "Star Wars" concert, fers an Arabic rendition of the song by an Egyptian singer. Both sides are interspersed with which received national news coverage, Philharmonic conductor Zubin Mehta has re- short clips from speeches made by Sadat and Begin during their recent meeting in corded John Williams' suites from "Star Wars" and "Close Encounters" for release on Lon- Jerusalem. The album cover features the two leaders and a white dove. Let us hope that don Records in January. The recording took place in December at Royce Hall on the UCLA every little bit helps. campus by a team of engineers headed by Ray Minshull, who were flown in for the date DYNAMIC DUOS - Indefatigable Jackson Browne is heading out on a minitour. Karla from England. It seems American expertise is not to be trusted. London Records is excited Bonoff will open the show. The tour will carry the pair from Albuquerque, N.M. on Jan. 11 to about the record, figuring that the two -for -one punch will outmaneuver the other combat- Miami, Fla. by the end of the month. The tour will be Ms. Bonoff's first national exposure.. ants in the space race. Crystal Gayle and Ronnie Milsap, the winners of the Country Music Association's top FILM NEWS - The song "A Small Circle Of Friends," by the late Phil Ochs, is the basis of a awards for 1977, will tour together for two weeks in February. The itinerary includes stop- screenplay being planned by Motown Records. The material deals with the relationship overs in the south and midwest. between America's middle-class and student activists of the 1960s. Remember? Filming GLAD YOU AGREE - Ms. Gayle and Bonoff were mentioned by John Rockwell in his will begin in Boston later in the new year.... Paul Simon has finished his first screenplay. year-end wrap-up of pop music for the New York Times. Mr. Rockwell agreed with the 14 new songs are included. Mike Nichols has agreed to direct the film. There is no word yet Cash Box year-end summary that Fleetwood Mac's success, the sad deaths of Elvis of timetable ... A new Monty Python film, cleverly entitled "Monty Python's New Film," is Presley, Bing Crosby and prominent members of the Lynyrd Skynyrd Band, and the being planned for production sometime this year.