Things Are Gettin' Better

Juke Box Jury

GREG SHAW

Things Are Gettin' Better

Aug. 25

You may have noticed this column’s disappearance last month. It vanished at some point too near the deadline for anything to be done, unfortunately. Meanwhile we have been thrown out of step and this column will have to be limited to a rundown of the very best singles of July and August. You wouldn’t have bought the obscure ones anyway.

I began the last column with a rant against inanities like “Coconut” and the abominable “Outa-Space” that were keeping great summer records like the Beach Boys’ “Marcella” off the air. "Where is the spirit of summer," I cried into the wilderness. Since then I’ve mellowed, thanks to a number of fine pop records that have lately graced the charts. Like “Alone Again (Naturally)” by Gilbert O’Sullivan (MAM 3619) which proves his mastery of lyrics if not his versatility. Or the Carpenters’ “Goodbye to Love” (A&M 1367). Is that Procol Harum backing them? Sure sounds like it, and if so, they haven’t sounded this good to me since their first album.

Other fine sounds include “Too Late to Turn Back Now” by Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose (UA 50910) which is everything Todd Rundgren should’ve been, “Brandy” by Looking Glass, the first big hit for this Canadian group (Epic 5-10874), and “Where Is the Love” by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway (Atlantic 2879).

The latter song is a good example of a trend that seems to have taken over soul music, much to my delight. It’s a soft, ultra-mellow sound, pioneered by. the Chi-Lites, Stylistics, Dramatics, etc. As in the R&B of the ’50s, the emphasis here is on vocal subtlety rather than the fake-psychedelic grossness we’ve heard so much of. Rain songs are suddenly big, the latest being “The Coldest Days of My Life” (Brunswick 55478) by the Chi-Lites. It’s got some wind too. And Donnie Elbert is looking fine with “Ooo, Baby Baby” (Avco 4598), the old Miracles song.

There’s some great rock records out lately. “Go All the Way” by Raspberries (Capitol 3348) is a fantastic song, combining the Badfinger thing (and what happened to them??) with a taste of Gilbert O’Sullivan and a freshness all their own. This group, incidentally, has been recording for years as the Choir on Roulette and Intrepid and then The Quick on Epic. Then there’s Argent’s long-overdue hit “Hold Your Head Up,” another song we’re very lucky to have on the radio. The Who’s “Join Together” (Decca 32983) seems to indicate a new direction for the group, away from punk aggro and toward a kind of cybernetic harmony. I don’t have to tell you how I feel about this, but I think we can all agree it’s the weakest single from them yet, whatever its intentions. Better they should release “Let’s See Action,” which so far is available only in England.

“Rock and Roll Part 2” by Gary Glitter (Bell 45,237) is the latest reggae smash to hit these shores. I’m biting my nails waiting for that stuff to catch on here — it’s got so much vitality it could wipe all this other shit off the boards if only people could hear it. The record in question is just T. Rex grit chords and a lot of aimless double-echoed shouting. I think it’s super. Also, forgot to mention last time that “Louie, Louie” by Heavy Cruiser (Family 909) is a reggae record. I didn’t notice until I heard “me see Jamaican moon above” and then it all made sense. Great record. Same for the Troggs latest, which is now out here on Pye 65,011. Go get it!

The Troggs’ producer, Larry Page, has captured their sound well with another group, the Barron Knights. They’ve been around for years doing cabaret and satire, but “You’re All I Need” (Mercury 73302) is a straight-out raver. And here’s one that seems to have been inspired by “Troglodyte.” King Tip Toe sounds like some old Kim Fowley record with “(Love Me Like A) Dinosaur” (Metromedia 252). Lovers of the bizarre, don't miss this one.

I wish you all could hear some of these fine records I get. I’d tell ya to phone your stations but I know that won’t do any good until somebody rubs out Bill Drake. But the stations are probably throwing away the best records, so maybe you should try goin’ down there. I’m sure they’d never play a record like “Gonna Have a Good Time” by Streak (A&M 1375) because it’s too good. Produced by Roger Bain, who also produced Black Sabbath, Streak’s music has been called “raw excitement rock” and it is. Another English group called Madrigal has a heavy version of “Time of the Season” on Capitol 3431. Yeah, the Zombies song. Both sides are excellent and the album should be great. Also cool from England is “Free Four” by Pink Floyd (Capitol 3391) who I think have finally found their groove in this form of teenie-bubblepop.

What else is new? Jonny Rivers has one called “Come Home America” (UA 50948), a loser which is being withdrawn fast (get busy, collectors!) and replaced with his superb rendition of “Rockin’ Pneumonia,” which I hope to review next month. The Ventures do a fine recreation of “Honky Tonk” on UA 50925, and it’s getting airplay (Capitol 3363). It’s a stomper all the way, as is the new album.

John Fogerty’s solo album is due out soon, and you can get a taste of it in “Blue Ridge Mountain Blues” by the Blue Ridge Rangers (Fantasy 683). Fogerty is credited only as producer, and the hoax is compounded by a cover photo of him in quintuple exposure looking like a whole band, but it’s just him doing old time bluegrass music, and right nicely at that.

When does Slade hit the charts, anyway? Soon, I hope. “Take Me Back Home” (Polydor 15046) is killer high energy raunchrock, with a healthy dose of mid-sixties boogie rave. Also plenty of echo and a stark production job like that on “Long Cool Woman.” Sharp! And if you wanna rock all night, pull out the Move’s latest biscuit, “California Man” (UA 50928), slide it on next, and prepare to bop your ass off. This has to be the best take-off on Jerry Lee Lewis I’ve heard yet. Now, as soon as it ends slip on “Burning Love” by Elvis (RCA 74-0769) and get set to hear his wildest record since “Stuck On You.” The King is back! Long live rock & roll!!

Customer Service: Couple months back I listed some oldies dealers and places to get promo singles. I neglected to mention Lenny Goldberg, 5539 College Ave. Oakland, Calif. For 25 cents he’ll send a catalog listing thousands of cheap oldies, and he also makes the amazing offer to CREEM readers of 100 mixed new promo singles for only $5. Can’t beat that. I also asked if anyone knew a reliable source for new singles by mail. John Gregory of New York informs me of two record clubs which claim to offer any LP or 45 to members. Membership fee is $ 1 and the cost per single is 74 cents. He doesn’t know how their service is, but for you in out-of-the-way places this could be just the thing. Write to National Record Plan, Box 568, NY, NY 10008, or Saturnian Records, 507 Fifth Ave., NY, NY 10017.

I need the help of you loyal readers with some research I’m doing. First, does anybody know anything at all about a group called the Squires, who recorded “Going All The Way” on Atco 6442 in 1966? I must know! And find the record if you can, it’s fantastic. Next, if you were in a group back in the years 1964-67, playing rock & roll, punk-rock, folk or English-influenced rock and had any

records issued, on local or national labels, or know somebody who was, please write me at 64 Taylor Dr., Fairfax Ca. 94930 and tell me all about it. Or even if you were around some local scene somewhere and remember the groups and their records. Or know of local groups of that era whose members are now in other groups. Or anything else along those lines. I’m writing a history of American rock in the ’60s, and need a lot of information. Finally, if any of you have tapes of any pre-1967 rock, live or unreleased, let me know. I have plenty to offer in trade. Thanks!