DEDICATED TO THE NEEDS OF THE MUSIC RECORD INDUS -R? DECEMBER 3i9 S1 75 Who In The World: 3 HO NOINv N °VWIS 1176 HITS OF THE WEEK OS013d : 9 3/1 ti )) o SINGLES SLEEPERS DONNA SUMMER, "I LOVE YOU" (prod. by GARY WRIGHT, "TOUCH AND WN TWO THEN Giorgio Moroder &PeteBellotte) by Gcry Wright)(writers:Wright- LEFT." The sophisticated soul of Boz's (writers: Summer-Moroder-Bellotte) Reicheg)(High Wave/WB, ASCAP) "Silk Degrees" turned him into a plat- (Rick's,BMI)(3:17).With"I Feel (3:30). Wright hos a good chance inum artist and itis from that plateau Love- just added to her list of major tcduplicatehis "Dream Weaver" that he takes off here.Producer Joe hits, Summer should enjoy a speedy successwiththememorabletitle Wissertagainprovideshimwith a return to the charts with this swirl- track from his new album. The song solid musical core cver which he exer- ing, melodic disco tune. The simple rockswithsynthesizers,andthe cises his distinctive tenor on some stim- sentimentinthetitleshould keep hook is one of tl-e best this veteran ulating material: "Still Falling For You,- heads spinning. Casablanca 907. has written. Warner Bros. 8494. -Hard Times.- Col JC 34729 (7.98). COMMODORES, "TOO HOT TA TROT" (prod. GRAHAM PARKER AND THE RUMOUR, "STICK NATALIE COLE, "THANKFUL."With by James Carmichael & group) (wri- TO ME" (prod. by Nick Lowe) (wri- numerous gold records and Grammys ters: group) (Jobete/Commodores itt ter:Parker) (Inte-song-USA, ASCAP) inwhat has been arelatively short Entertainment, ASCAP) (3:30).This (":::27).Thetitlecut from Parker's MotnwN career so far, this songstress has proved most consistently productive of male thirdIpisa hard -driving rock'n' -hatshe can do no wrong. Coleis r&b groups should continue its soul - roll song that linkslove and des- participating more in the songwriting chart dominance and crossover suc- peration. Filled with the tension and thistimealongwithJacksonand cess with a thumping funk exercise elergy that marks Parker's style,it Yancy and should once again stand from a live Ip. The chorus/hook is a could be his introduction to a mass poised to go all the way to the top. strong one. Motown 1432. Aimerican audience. Mercury 73970. Zapitol SW 11708 (7.98). FOREIGNER, "LONG, LONG WAY FROM BABY GRAND, "BRING ME YOUR BROKEN EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER, "WORKS, HOME" (prod. by John Sinclair & HEART" (prod.by RickChertoff & VOLUME 2." The group's second Gary Lyons) (writers: Jones-Gramm- Rob Hyman) (writers: Hyman-Kagan- "'Works" album haslittleor nothing I \11.1itil)s.1. \ l' \I, \ 1E13 McDona Id) (Somerset/Evansongs/ Clhertoff)(Abattcir/Arista, ASCAP) in common with the first, instead being \V1,11KS WB/Mud Drum, ASCAP) (2:45). The (3:19).BabyGrand'sfirstsingle a collection of asso-ted singles, b -sides Anglo-American band that has pro- 0fades up withBeatle-likereverse pnd various oddities that were previ- vided the rock'n'roll in many a pop tape effects, then moves into a me- ouslyunavailable.CarlPalmer and playlist this year ought to have its lodic pop -rocker with a good hook Back Door'sBullfrog' and Greg Lake's third straight hit with this powerful, thatbuildsnicelythroughout.Its -Father Christmas" are the most im- tuneful rocker. Atlantic 3439. chances are strong. Arista 0293. mediate. Atlantic SD 19147 (7.98). PETER FRAMPTON, "TRIED TO LOVE" (prod. by BACCARA, "YES SIR, I CAN BOOGIE" (prod. by "THE STORY OF STAR WARS (FROM THE Peter Frampton) (writer:Frampton) Rolf Soja) (waiters: Soja-Dostal) 'ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK)." Withthe (Almo/From-Dee, ASCAP) (3:25). A (Magazine) (3:58f. Two German pro- movieandtheoriginalsoundtrack loping rhythm and blues with sig- cucers discovered this female Span- 'albumstilldoing good business, this nature instrumental effects will like- ishduo, and theresult,a Donna spoken word Ip that includes dialogue ly be Frampton's third straight sin- Summer-ish, breathy -sexy dance rec- from the flick should benefit from that gle success from "I'm In You.- The ord, has been a top 10 hit all over momentum. A 16 page pamphlet of rhythmisengaging, and willre- Europe. As an American single,it pictures from the movie is included and mind many listeners ofhisearlier should reach discos first and build. should help to make it perfect for the recordings. A&M 1988. Manhattan 1104 (UA). season. 20th Century T 550 (7.98). AmericanRadioHistory.Com GO MRS 5009 IFIRST STOP DOWN THE ROAD M 7029 (The single from DOUCETTE's debut album, MAMA LET HIM PLAY on MUSHROOM RECORDS AND TAPES) (e "THERE'S MAGIC UNDER OUR UMBRELLA" AmericanRadioHistory.Com Dedicated to the Needs Of the Music/Record Industry DECEMBER 3, 1977 I. Backorders Slow Tape Manufacturing FCC Probe Continuing In Several Cities By MIKEFALCON LOS ANGELES-While the na- thought they would," said Dan Apparent Thrust Is Indie Promo Practices tion'srecordpressingfacilities Boyd, vice president of opera- By SAM SUTHERLAND struggle to meet the demand for tions for GRT. "There's about a LOS ANGELES - The broad- visitedby the three -lawyer in - vinyl product (RW, Nov. 26), an 25 percent to 35 percent higher basedFederalCommunications vestigative team during the last equally frustrating but less severe rate than there was last year at probe into broadcast and record- seven weeks. Because the investi- tapemanufacturing crunchhas this time," continued the execu- ing industry practices that began gationshiftedfrom a public slowed delivery of both cassette tive, "and the increaseincas- last March in Washington, D.C., and eight -trackconfigurations. settes has been really dramatic. arena at the open hearings to a has been following an itinerary secret enquiry, radio and record The severity of the problem ap-Our overalleight -tracktocas- tions in key cities that was firstcompany insiders are maintaining pears to be more varied than in setteratio is runningroughly record manufacturing at this three to one." Despite the fact suggested,andlaterretracted, a tight-lipped stance; according point, with large discrepancies in that GRT isrunning three fullduring the early phases of the to RW's sources, that reluctance claims made by some manufac- shifts in producing cassette tapes open hearings. has been abetted by the probe's own low-keyed approach, which turers and correspondingretail (eight -track productionismore RW has learned from industry reports. normalized), there is a backlog in sources in Los Angeles and has apparently avoided blanket "Generally, we've found that cassette configurations, although Chicago that thosecities,both subpoenas in an effort to limit the allof our customers have been eight -tracks are movingwell on the probe's itinerary as first number of witnesses and thus runningwellabove what we (Continued on page 77) indicated last March, were minimize any leaks about their activities. In Washington, Theodore Boone Tops Singles Performers Right Study Kramer, who took over as head of For Eighth Week 111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111, the investigation replacing Keith By ALAN WOLMARK Fagan last spring, was unwilling Fortheeighthconsecutive An In -Depth Analysis to comment on the probe's pro- weekDebby Boone(Warner/ By MICHAEL SHAIN gress to date. "I can't confirm or Curb) is thetopsinglewith 11111 WASHINGTON-While only a ers who makethe nation'sre - deny," hesaidinreponseto heavy sales and enough cross- handful of studio musicians each corded music. questions aboutthe probe's over strength to have it bullet at year can make a full living out of The study was ordered by Con- presence in Los Angeles, Chicago, #5 on The Coun- their chosen trade, even for those gress and contracted for by the Cleveland,Detroit,Philadelphia Chart trySinglesChart. who are successful, studio workU.S. Copyright Office to survey (Continued on page 72) Analysis Boone leads a num- comes in feast or famine cycles. the economic impact of the pro- ber of female artists That was only one conclusion of posed performers royalty, a con- Rocket, MCA Split; who hold half of the Top 10 slots. a voluminous government -com- troversial, new copyright which CrystalGayle(UA)sticksat missioned study of the record and would give to musicians and their Elton Remains on MCA (Continued on page 6) radio industries and the perform- recording companies the same LOS ANGELES-J.K. Maitland, right to collect royalties from the president of MCA Records, Inc., users ofrecordedmusicthat and John Reid,presidentof composers and publishers have Rocket Records, Inc. have jointly FIECUBD WERE SFILES INDEX to charge for the use of written announcedtheterminationof compositions. The study - pre- the agreement by which Rocket FIL13111S pared by the Washington -based is distributedby MCA. While * Sales Oct.Oct.Nov. Nov. Nov. Nov. * Sales Oct.Oct.Nov. Nov. Nov. Nov. research firm of Ruttenberg, finaldetailsof the termination x 22 29 5 12 19 26 Index 22 29 5 12 19 26 Friedman, Killgallon, Gutchess & have yet to be resolved, both 200.0 200.0 Associates - was released three parties emphasized that the dis- weeks ago (RW, Nov. 19). Before solution was amicable. 180.0 180.0 formally sending the report on to MCArecordingartist Elton 160.0 160.0 Congress, the Copyright Office is John, whose first album under soliciting comments on its find- his current contract was released 140.0 140.0 ings. Interestedpartiesshould last year, and whose second Ip write by Dec. 1 to the U.S. Copy- (Continued on page 77) 120.0 120.0 right Office, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20559.Reply 100.0 100.0 comments are due Dec. 15. Snow Storms Slow 80.0 80.0 Below are some of the report's Sales in Northwest research and findings on the eco- By MIKE FALCON 60.0 60.0 nomic status of recording musi- LOS ANGELES-Heavy storms, cians and the recording industry. which deposited more than a 40.0 40.0 Much of it has never been gath-foot of snow in various areas of ered before and some of its con- Northern California and Oregon 20.0 20.0 clusions are startling.