ROCK-A-RAMA

ROCK-A-RAMA

RECORDS

ETTA JAMES - All The Way Down (Chess):: Etta James, unheralded Queen of Soul, singing Randy Newman and produced by Gabriel (Steppenwolf) Mekler might sound like a bad idea to you, and it is. On the bright side, she has finally detoxified from her terrible heroin habit, so she'll probably be more active now. Hopefully she'll do better than this in the months to come, and meanwhile you are directed to the two-record anthology Peaches to find out why Etta is so great.

MELBA MONTGOMERY (Elektra):: Even though it's on Elektra you aren't likely to get too confused about the fact that Elektra has gone (partly) gut country. Melba knows how (see cover) to wear a bra: I'm supported and proud.

COUNTRY GAZETTE - Don't Give Up Your Day Job (U,A.):: There is more good crossover C&W (from the vice versa direction) stuff than you can (as it is said) shake a stick at this year. This falls in the category of "if you like this sorta stuff, plunk, yore money down right quick" ~ 12 songs, including "Honky Cat."

RICK SPRINGFIELD — Comic Book Heroes (Columbia):: This album is just the same as it was (except for the switcheroo on the last songs per side) when Capitol released it sev months back. Rick is a Saturday morning superhero. He is also doe eyed in real life... Unlike the many of the current time, he may be shooting for being the new Bee Gees.'

ANDY WILLIAMS - Solitaire (Columbia):: Richard. Perry produces with the usual staff honk (Kalus Voorman, Nicky Hopkins, Jim Keltner) the best Andy Williams album ever, and you don't care. Which is okay, "cause f Andy wouldn't care for your songs either.

DAVID GATES — First (Elektra):: My eye doctor guy, who's David's brother, persists in telling me at my biannual checkup about how classy Dave is. He says: "This album is dedicated to JAC HOLZMAN^ I shall miss him." Even though Jac's gone to folkie heaven (???) this is simply the next Bread album. Quite good in its own version of the goo.

MONTROSE — Montrose (Warner Brothers):: Ronnie Montrose was with Edgar Winter for "Frankenstein," and. then came to San Francisco to form his own band. This, the product of only a few weeks" playing together, is the result, and it sounds like it. There's something there, but hardly enough to set them off from the rest of the crowd.

ORLEANS - Orleans (ABC):: John Hall's done some super studio work, and written some good songs ("Half Moon" for Janis, frinstance), and this is his Woodstock band. Trouble is, most of these songs depend on the same — admittedly good - guitar lick, and the album pales after a few tunes. Still, there is excitement here, and this is a band to watch.

JEANNIE SEELY - Can I Sleep In Your Arms/Lucky Ladies (MCA):: In which the Bad Girl of Country Music sings songs about Being Bad. Badly, unfortunately.

VARIOUS ARTISTS - Fillet Of Soul (Stax):: Hooray!! Stax has always had a knack for anthology albums, starting with Memphis Gold, and this here platter is the

antidote to all Stax" recent boring album output. Just the hits, mind you, and yeah, there's two Isaac Hayes cuts but he's a vice-president of the corporation or some shit, so they gotta. But "Watcha See Is Watcha Get," "I'll Take You There," "Starting All Over Again" AND MORE!!! A fabulous album, sez the guy with the small allowance...

MIKE SEEGER — The Second Annual Farewell Reunion (Mercury):: Great album. Mike went around the country, recording with Triends ranging from David Rea to Elizabeth Cotton, and despite the fact that Mike's voice has seen better days, this is a scintillating cross-section of Folk Music Today. Even half-brother Pete sounds better than he has in ages. Most highly recommended.

FRANK WHITE - Nice To Be On Your Show (Fantasy):: Sort of Joe Cocker (voice reference only) meets (no horns) Roek-a-billy. A pleasant romp through 12 (count "em) songs, that doesn't exactly exude flash, but which doesn't wander too far afield either. Nice spare item. ,

GENESIS ^ Selling England By The Pound (Charisma):: Jethro Tull fans (much abused poor things) here is the answer if you aren't top hung up on the flute stuff. Non-JTers: don't worry about the above reference; this is Genesis" best ever and one of the best records this year (textured multilever multilevel FUN).

DOBIE GRAY — Loving Arms (MCA):: This chews up Chuck Pride to the venal spew that he is: A perfect album of C&W (and R&R) flavored love songs that'll stone you to your soul, or somethin" like that.

BUCKWHEAT — Hot Tracks (London):: The category here is "laid back smoke-sucker funk (Oklahoma)." This is Buckwheat's second, and in their category they are par great.

THE HOLLIES — Greatest Hits (Epic):: This is frankly the only way to listen to The Hollies. There are mints amidst the gringo slurp that lapse beyond the edges of most of

their album efforts. This is one you can listen to all day and then come back to, despite (because of?) the lack of.chrono order.

PAINTER (Elektra):: The eclectics of this are comparable to Big Star; they don't get in the way that much. Painter slices out a metal edge for CSN&Y (old) folkdom, which is exactly what that stuff needed all along.

DAVEMASON - It's Like You Never Left (Columbia):: A lot of folks seem to be really down on Davy these days, simply "cause he hasn't done shit for years. Well, this particular poop is a goodie (beautiful in fact) proposing mystic chug (musically) as Dave puzzles (again) love from 16 angles.

THE O'JAYS - Ship Ahoy (Philadelphia International):: It's nice to know that there is some element of consistency these days (O'Jay's albums). Despite what you may think of the Philadelphia sound ("Me and Mrs. Jones" - yeeesssuuk) and its recent manifestations of weird (Billy Paul drops acid — War of The Gods; Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes meet Cabaret - Black & Blue; and tit pictures we could easily do without - The Three Degrees) know this, honkers: The O'Jays are smooth and right.

JOBRIATH (Elektra):: This whole business has carried a bit too far. It's no longer cool to be gay, it's old fashioned. Get that! Your Mom and Dad are gay. The N.Y. Dolls are going to be the last of the gay bands to almost make it. There's going to be a new run on closets, Jobriath is the poh man's Davie Bow Wow. Flush him.

JERRY LEE LEWIS — Sometimes a Memory Ain't Enough (Mercury):: To make up with the C&W fans JLL has gone back to strings and voices for one inning (boo), but don't worry about it son, "cause 30+ albums on Jerry Lee is still pumping it out like nobody else (rock or C&W). You can buy any one of Jerry Lee's albums (except the Relig one) and get -your money's worth (more than). Who else can you say that about? (Impt. valuable pote: Pick up right now — before it's gone — Mercury single 73402; on the flipside of "No Headstone On My Grave" you'll find the incredible "Jack Daniels (Old No. 7)" - not to be missed by the lovers of the true honk everywhere.)

SUN RA — The Magic City (ABC/Impulse):: Impulse has reissued this 1960 set from the master of space music, and a good set it is. Very strange sounds from the years when the Ra was just beginning to feel his musical oats, but very engaging for all that.

KEITH JARRETT - For Yawuh (ABC/ Impulse):: Jarrett keeps getting better and better. Recorded live, this album is nothing short of astonishing. Any FM station that could resist playing "De Drums" from side 2 should have its license, revoked. Super reed work by Dewey Redman, super bass work by Charlie Haden, super drums by Paul Motian, and super Jarrett piano. Get it. Now.

GARY SARACHO - En Medio (Impulse):: Los Angeles Chicano pianist Gary Saracho is to Bitches Brew what George Shearing was to Jazz at Massey Hall. This is the "cocktail jazz" of the early 1970's.