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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (March 5, 1981)
LPs Kilimanjaro The Teardrop Explodes Mercury SRM-1-4016 Crocodiles Echo and the Bunnymen Korova/Sire SRK 6096 Leading contenders for Band Name of the Decade, The Teardrop Explodes and Echo and the Bunnymen have much in common. The groups share producers (David Balfe and Bill Drum mond, known collectively as the Chameleons), keyboard players (David Balfe, who plays on both albums but is officially a member of Teardrop), and po sitions in the forefront of the new English art-rock movement. Their lead singers, Julian Cope (Teardrop) and Ian McCulloch (Echo) share songwriting credits on ‘'Read It in Books,” which appears on both albums. It's a credit to the talents of the Chameleons production team, not to mention the accur acy of their name, that the two versions of "Read It in Books” sound like completely different songs. The initial releases of the two bands also sound completely different. Depending upon the cir cumstances, it can be a pleasure or a disappointment for a listener to be able to name the albums a band was listening to when it cuts a record. In the case of Echo and the Bunnymen, the discovery is a disappointment. Echo and the Bunnymen sound alternately like Jim Mor rison fronting the Gang of Four or the Talking Heads; it could be a fascinating starting point, to be sure, but rarely do they do anything with it. Only on “Rescue” are the influences transcended. The rest of Crocodiles is made up of reasonably good songs, but bogs down in a bloated sense of self-importance. The Teardrop Explodes' Kilimanjaro is much more interesting. The difference between it and Crocodiles is illustrated perfectly by "Read It in Books.” When performed by Echo and the Bunnymen, “Books” sounds like a slightly rearranged version of the Talking Heads’ “Warning Sign.” The Teardrop version begins with a martial drum introduction lifted from Roy Orbison's “Oh, Pretty Woman,” and turns into a bouncy dance track punched up by David Balfe’s sprightly keyboards. Balfe's prominence is the real key to Kilimanjaro'ssuccess. His piano and organ add a brightness to the overall sound, and his synthesizer work cap tures the sound of a harpsi chord. Cope’s songwriting reveals a sense of humor completely lacking on Echo's Crocodiles. Occasionally he gets a bit too cute, but generally Kilimanjaro fulfills the promise of the back cover’s invitation to "Hop, skip, and jump; wait for the bump. ” The Teardrop Explodes have come up with a rarity: art-rock with a smile. Phil Bernstein Touch of Silk Eric Gale Columbia JC 36570 You’ve probably heard of jazz guitarist Eric Gale before, but most likely on other people’s albums. He’s been a New York session man since the sixties, playing with the whole CTI (Creed Taylor, Inc.) jazz label crew as well as Aretha Franklin, Michael Ffanks, Carly Simon and other pop artists. Most recently he played on Paul Simon’s One Trick Pony, gracing the title cut with his bluesy, halting, note squeezing style. Gale's latest album, Touch of Silk, is the seventh showcase record he's made since his first, Forecast. Gale has also record ed with Stuff, an impromptu jazz combo that plays New York clubs when they're not on studio dates. But this time around it's Gale’s record; he does the leads and chops throughout. Gale didn’t write any of the writing; all but two of the numbers are by "swamp-style” New Orleans-influenced com poser Allen Toussaint. Touss aint plays piano and organ on all the songs, and he produces the album as well. The music ranges from the soft, lilting title cut to a revamped and funked Charlie Parker classic blues tune, “Au Privave.” In between are some good listening songs, like ‘With You I’m Born Again” and “Once In a Smile,” basically com fortable jazz rounds with each player hooting or bumping his solo. Toussaint’s “War Paint” doesn’t work — it’s hard to step into a jazz session with some Indian-sounding opening piano bars, then tell the fellows to sound tribal.^ Stylistically, Gale’s playing is tasteful and simple. Unlike some guitarists who’d rather blister f through umpteen single line scales and remind us of all their practice hours, Gale will pick a note and play variations on a theme. His style is to ' feel" his way through a tune, searching for that mellow sound instead of hoping just a lot of notes will make the message felt. Touch of Silk is a blend of nice horn solos, jazzy winelight mu sic, pretty piano and some organ-driven feelgood blues. With Gale vibrating his guitar throughout, it's an album most jazz fans will like. John Malarkey WANTED Your Unwanted Records Top Prices Paid "We Buy- Sell-Trade Current, Rare, and Out of Print Records” HOUSE OF RECORDS 258 E. 13th Between Pearl and High Streets ACTION SURPLUS Lane County’s Surplus and Outdoor Store Check out these sale prices! 100% wool Air Force pants in-green or blue Reg. $4.95 Now $2.50 100% wool green Reg. $8.95 10% OFF ALL OTHER WOOL PANTS ... 13 button Navy to 6 pocket Army, there are many styles, sizes and colors to choose from! Plus 100% wool shirts are 10% OFF! (Reg. $12.95) These make great spring jackets. Open 7 days a week Mon.-Sat. 9:30-6:00 Sun. 11-4 4251 Franklin Blvd. on the Glenwood strip just before the Springfield Bridge. 746-1301 Layaways WOODY ALLEN DIANE KEATON MICHAEL MURPHY MARIEL HEMINGWAY MERYL STREEP ANNE BYRNE Muse by MANHATTAN" GEORGE GERSHWIN A JACK ROLLINS-CHARLES H. JOFFE i Wntlen by „ . r WOODY ALLEN « MARSHALL BRICKMAN WOODY ALLEN „ EwcJwsProOjc® CHARLES H. JOFFE ROBERT GREENHUT GORDON WILLIS United Artists [r] ‘m • Friday, March 6th $1.75 7:30, 9:30 & 150 Geology Special Midnight Showing Mayday Cultural Committee
