arts
Joel, Loggins offer music entertainment
By F. T. Morris
For The Print
“The Nylon Curtain,” Billy
Joel’s latest release, shows
remarkable growth compared
to his past albums. Some of the
compositions show such
maturity and stunning insight
that one can scarcely
remember that this is Billy Joel.
The same Billy Joel that
came out with that ultra-funny
pop anthem, “Only the Good
Die Young”? Who failed so
miserably on “Glass Houses”?
Even the voice has somehow
changed: caught up in his new
songwriting skills, Joel’s voice
has become even stronger
(much of his stridency is gone)
and he tries to convey more
shading to a lyric.
“Allentown,” the album’s
first track, is a song about
spiritual ennui in a financially
depleted Pennsylvania town.
The desperate, slightly ironic
lyrics coincide with the snappy
tune, and the result is nothing
less than magnificent.
However, if one had to
pick the masterpiece from
“Curtain,” the only answer
would be “Goodnight Saigon,”
the best recreation, in any
medium, of the attitudes of the
soldier fighting in Vietnam. To
call this song awe-inspiring
would be an understatement.
The angry words (“They sent
us Playboy/They gave us Bob
Hope”) build to a chilling
chorus, sung by what sounds
like an entire barracks: “And
we would all go down
together/We said we’d all go
down together.” The song
winds down until all that is left
is the partial quiet of nightfall.
While all the songs are
quite good (“Laura” is probably
the least effective and the most
derivative
of
Lenon-
McCartney), it is “Allentown”
and “Goodnight Saigon” that
give “The Nylon Curtain” its
power and resonance. There is
no doubting it; Billy Joel has
grown up.
Kenny Loggins probably
hasn’t grown up much, but he
has finally learned to relax. In
the past, Loggins has always
sounded strained, and it was
easy to see that he was simply
trying too hard to connect with
the listener and “do good” (he
shares this disability with Liza
Minelli, and while both are
talented, there is often that
temptation to turn away from
them).
“High Adventure,” Log
gins newest offering, is an ex
ceptional pop album. The lush
production doesn’t drown out
the songs themselves, and the
vocals are better than ever
before. “Don’t Fight It” kicks
off the album in great style; a
duet, it features a surprisingly
restrained performance from
Steve Perry (the least flexible of
todays singers). “Don’t Fight
It,” which was written by them
and Dean Pitchford, allows
Perry to wail without shrieking
and lets Loggins use his
strangely affecting trademark-
that gurgling way he has of run
ning his words together (check
out his line, “Tonight we’re
gonna raise it”).
“High Adventure” has a
lot more rock than one expects
from Loggins, yet it also has a
few of the mellow pop songs in
which
he
specializes.
“Heartland” is quiet and effec
tive, and “Only a Miracle,”
though it stumbles a bit, is
sweet: how can you dislike a
song he wrote for his infant son
(“When I held you/1 held a
miracle in my hand”)?
“It Must Be Imagination” is
one of those songs that come
along so rarely, the kind that
absolutely floors you. Relying
heavily on Tom Snow’s keen
use of synthesizer and sung
with near-perfection, “Imagina
tion” positively soars with year
ning and confusion as the nar
rator tries to convince himself
that his mate’s infidelity is only
a dream. This is the album’s
best cut by far but it doesn’t
make the others look like trash,
which should give you some
idea as to the quality of this
record.
“High Adventure,” with its
funny pseudo-cinematic cover,
promises a high time in front of
the stereo.
Props needed
The College Theater
department desperately needs
props for the fall production,
“Appointment With Death.”
Needed among many other
items are: a hypodermic needle
and case, a small dinner gong
and striker, a copy of the “Lon
don Times” and a wooden
cane with a removable cap.
Anyone interested in help
ing out (and getting a special
“thank you” in the play pro
gram) are urged to contact Lin
Morris in the theater depart
ment
on
Mondays,
Wednesdays and Fridays from
3-6 p.m., ext 356.
IF BALLOT MEASURE #3
PASSES
b S
YOUR COMMUNITY COLLEGE
FAILS!
Ballot Measure #3 proposes to limit property
taxes to $15 per $1,000 of property value. This
would result in significant losses to Oregon’s
cities, counties, schools, and community col
leges, including Clackamas.
If Ballot Measure #3 passes, College President Dr.
John Hakanson forecasts a reduction in staff of
about 20 percent. This means fewer classes,
higher tuition, and, ultimately, fewer oppor
tunities for CCC students.
No one questions the need to reduce property
taxes. But proposition #3 is more than a reduc
tion, it’s destruction ... of police and fire depart
ments, of municipal services, and of schools, in
cluding Clackamas.
On November 2, protect your investment in
yourself. Stop the proposed destruction of
Oregon’s economic recovery.
Ronald E. Kaiser
Kate Ellis
Karen Lever
Sherri Schoenborn
Marilyn Wynia
Eileen Elliott
Dianna Shepherd
Beverly Matychuck
Gloria Tomlin
Bernice Evans
Kim Faddis
Donna Ford
Betty Reynolds
Lee Turpin
Norm Bemey
page 8
VOTE NO ON MEASURE #3.
This ad was Daid for by the following college personnel:
Dave Buckley
David Campbell
George Warren
Kevin McMurdo
Vince Fitzgerald
Patrick Miller
William. Shearer
Kheo Chan
Chuck Scott
Gail Jacobson
Loren Studer
Florence Lee
Shirley Cressler
Mel Hostager
Lois Lynch
Mary Dykes
Maria Plunkett
Marie Feddern
Peggy Hess
Judy Mickel
John Hakanson
Jim Roberts
Stan Johnson
Bob Wynia
Scott Fischer
Chuck Hudson
Lynn Vaught
Philip Garver
Jack Scrivener
Margaret Arighi
Steve Brown
Jeani McLean
Hal Bender
John Snively
Mike Aronson
Ginny Weber
Harrison Platt
Patricia Lantz
Paul Fiskum
Chuck Adams
Jenny McMurdo
Joanne Truesdell
Edward Matthew-Coyne
Kathleen Scheer
Lee Fawcett
Mary Patterson
Debbie Bennett
Pat Fontaine
Wayne Logemann
Carol Patterson
Art Hames
Marv Thornley
Deborah Baker
Bonnie Hartley-Linse
Bob Russell
Dale Swenson
Kelly Sullivan
Clackamas Community College