ROCK.A.RAMA

ROCK.A.RAMA

BLACK SABBATH—Technical Ecstasy (Warner Bros.):: When a band's been around as long as this one, it's time to talk about packages. Ergo: Nice Led Zeppelinesque title. Provocative, Magritte-like cover art. Hmm. Seems to me that the Rascals seized on surreal covers during their musical decline, too. Who can forget the total Functionality of the Master of Reality package? R.R.

GATO BARBIERI—Caliente! (A&M)::Barbieri's definitive recordings of his neo-Latin music can be found on the Impulse Chapter albums recorded a few years agorBefore that he was involved in the jazz avant-garde, "Screaming," he once said, "for different reasons than Pharoah Sanders screams." And now he's stuck in this pop instrumentalist album which doesn't move or say much or even hold the interest for long. Apparently this is what Gato wants to play for now, but he is so possessed by energy that it's doubtful that he'll stay in this flat groove. v R.C.W.

VARIOUS ARTISTS-Peter And The Wolff (RSO) ::This isn't the same Peter and the Wolf they used to torture us with during second grade musical appreciation hour. This is a rock version and if that sounds like stale crackers consider the presence of Manfred Mann, Eno, Stephane Grappelli and his ageless hot violin, Alvin Lee and many lesser known rockers playing their buns off with Viv Stanshall doing the narrative honors. Prokofiev's original themes are abetted with extra material by Jack Lancaster and Robert Lumley and there's pictures too. Highly recommended for hip kitties and arch adults.

R.C.W.

LOU REED—Rock V Roll Heart (Arista)::

Dear Lou,

Honest to god, I played this album at least 46 times ALL THE WAY THROUGH, listened to it in every possible condition I could put myself into, went to see the "show" with the 40-odd video screens wanking behind you (got a bottle lofted at me from the balcony there, too, so had to be taking some chances), have only been drunk twice and filled my Valium script once since it came out, quit seeing my shrink, got a steady job.. .blah blah blah. All I can say is: your LP IS LESS TEDIOUS than Stevie Wonder's latest, but that's like saying Novocaine is more effective than Procaine.. .1 don't feel anything. I find it as painless and bpring as modern dentistry. Two questions: 1) Where did you hide the guitars? 2) What in the name of modern science is a "Rock 'n' Roll Heart"? Sincerely,

P.L.

STEVIE WONDER-Songs In The Key off Life (Tamla)::Was it worth the wait? No. Why? Listen to Greatest Hits. Hell, you can even put on Talking Book for the 8 millionth time. I'm gonna listen to Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers with headphones. G'night. P.L.

JOHNNY COUGAR (MCA) ::File under "Your Pretty Face Is Goin' To Hell (In Somebody Else's Sled)." P.L.

HUGH MASEKELA - Colonial Men (Casablanca) liA theme album on anti-colonialization Masekela's music hasn't changed noticeably since "Grazing In The Grass." Amiable songs of outrage. ITC.W.

ELTON JOHN—Bine Moves (MCA)::Same review as Little Stevie's latest, only skip the Greatest Hits part.. .1 don't even like the brand of Scotch this guy drinks, and I'm STILL gonna listen to Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers before I crash. P.L.

RICHARD & LINDA THOMPSON—Poor Down Like Silver (Island) :df you're sad that the Byrds broke up, and that the Band are about to, hang on to your heart. If you've never heard this Thompson character (hint: he was a founder and lead guitarist for Fairport Convention), you're going to~be clawing the walls of your local import shop for MORE. Island Records, with its usual display of true finesse when handling artists that don't hail from Trench-town, has already cut this beauty out, although it was only released Stateside THIS SPRING. Why? Any lp Thompson has been associated with is well worth import price, but you can still find Silver for $2, so LOOK. Good luck getting the one on Reprise, though... heh...heh... P.L.

JEAN-LUC PONTYImaginary Voyage (Atlantic) ::Ponty places himself intheusualfusion setting but he has enough chops to eat his way through and dominate the music with the languid authority that one usually associates with jazz violin virtuosos. If you've resisted the form this far this one will grow on you, tho only time will tell if it's a beauty mark or another mutant cyst. R.C.W.

JIM HALL—Commitment (Horizon) ::This features jazz guitarist Jim Hall in a variety of settings—duets,. overdubbing with himself, a quintet (straight and augmented), and backing his wife's non-pro singing on a cut so homey that Paul McCartney would blush. It's unusual for a Hall album to present his music in so many different ways. It's a good opportunity for the uninitiated to get into Hall's exquisite understatement without being blown away by a long trio or duet session. It's not that his music is difficult but it is elusive, like most "best" things. R.C.W.

CHUCK MANGIONE—Main Squeeze (A&M) ::Mangione's brand of commercial jazz comes in a more paletable flavor than most apparently because its accessibility is derived from his actual limitations rather than an effort to pander or play down his abilities. His romantic flugelhom playing is featured here backed by a soft electric rhythm and some refreshingly discreet brass and string arrangements (though he does cut out on the title tune). A pleasant album from a modest talent, fans should be pleased. R.C.W.

This month's Rock-a-ramas were written by Peter Laugh ner, Richard Riegel and Richard C. Walls.