Portland observer., February 21, 1980, Page 6, Image 6

Page 6 Portland Observer February 21. 1980
entertainment
G E T T H E O R IG IN A L
C U R L 'M A C H IN E "
ENTERTAINMENT
NORMAN H A R R IS -TH E HITMAKER
BYOM AKA
The man's well earned nickname is The Harris Machine. And (hat comes
as no surprise because Norman Harris, the extremely versatile guitanst/com-
poser/producer/arranger, has been churning out some of the major sounds
ol Philadelphia lor over a decade now. So, once again, it comes as no sur­
prise that 7HE HARRIS M A C H IN E just happens to be the title of his debut
Philadelphia International album.
And anyone who doubts his fantastic reputation as one o f the premiere
scssionmen in the City o f Brotherly Love need only listen to the quiet fury of
his renditions o f such well known hits as "Jus! D on't Hunt To Be Lonely, ”
"D o n 't Leave Me This W ay" and "You Make Me Feel Brand N ew " as well
as some Norman Harris originals, all o f which bear the special touch o f his
stellar production, arranging and playing skills.
Although Norman began playing guitar in 1962 and working on Philly In­
ternational sessions in the late 60s, he considers 1973 to be the year "when it
really began to happen. That was the year,” he explains, "that I hit with the
group Blue Magic. From that point on it ’s been uphill all the way."
When Norman (along with partners Bobby Eli, Vinnie Barrett and Alan
Eelder) produced and arranged the hits "Spelt, " "Sideshow, " "Three Ring
( ircus and "Welcome To The C lu b " for Blue Magic, the music world knew
it had a bonalide talent to reckon with. In 1975 he continued that success by
w riting, producing and arranging for The Whispers. 1976-77 had him
writing, producing and arranging hits for such renown stars as the Dells,
Lolleatta Holloway ( " H u A nd R un"), ex-Temptation Eddie Kendricks
("G oing Up In Smoke" and "H e ’s A Friend O f M in e ") and Double Ex­
posure ("T en Percent"). Since then Norman has loaned his considerable
talents to The Temptations. The Four Tops, Linda C lifford, Curtis Mayfield,
Ronnie Dyson, Jermaine Jackson, Gloria Gaynor, Margie Joseph, Love
Committee and The Manhattans. How he’ s managed to do all that work
while continuing to appear on numerous sessions is anybody’s guess.
WELL - It's not really a "Machine ' BUT, as a
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PAGEANT, 1980.
Ask fo r O M A K A at your favorite Beauty & Barber Supplier.
s«.
DO YOU REALLY WANT TO SAVE
ON YOUR FOOD BILL?
BROWN'S NEW WORLD RECORDS
Polydor Records recording artist James Brown is the number one rated
Black performer in the category o f singles sales, according to Top Pop A rtist
and Singles 1955-1978, a record book w ritten by Joel W hitburn and
published Records Research Inc., o f Memomonee Falls, WI. On the over-all
list o f singles sales, Brown rates No. 4, behind Elvis Presley, the Beatles and
Pat Boone.
In addition, the February, 1980 issue o f Ebony Magazine carries a feature
entitled "Top Record Sellers O f A ll Time," compiled by Joseph Murrells,
that ranks James No. 3 in All-Time Record Sales for a Black artist. Brown is
tied with the Supremes at 50 million units sold, preceded only by Nat King
L ole s 75 million sold and Fats Domino's 65 million. On the combined list o f
units sold, Brown holds down the No. 19 position. Josephy Murrells, who
researched the piece, has also written The Book O f Golden Discs and The
Records That Sold A Million.
With the hit status o f "O riginal Disco Man, " " It's Too Funky In Here, "
and his new hit single, "Regrets, " from the upcoming Peoples album, James
Brown continue to break sales records.
‘TRUITT’IE
MÛ
€>
o
We offer savings of up to 40% and more on fine quality wonder and Hostess
products, plus large discounts on other baked goods Besides our every
day low prices, we feature in store specials daily. Just look for the "bar
gain signs on the displays in our store. Discover for yourself what thou
sands of smart shoppers in the area have found
You'll be am azed at the savings you
m ake at our W onder T h rift Shop!
Food stamps gladjy accepted
SATISFACTIO N
GUARANTEED
You m ust be com pletely satisfied w ith
every purchase or w e w ill cheerfully
refund your purchase price
r
WONDER-HOSTESS THRIFTSHOP
115N. Cook St.
Corner of Vancouver b Cook S t.. Portland, Oregon
Open M on thru Sat — 9am-6pm — Closed Sundays
"A n d that’ s not even all of it,” smiles Norman. "L e t’ s move on to the
really big s tu ff." And the really big stuff is indeed “ really big.” In 1972
Norman started his own Golden Fleece Records label which churned out —
under Norman’s guidance, o f course - hit singles by The Trammps ("H o ld
Back The N ig h t" "Where Do We Go From H ere" and "Zing Went The
Strings O f My Heart"), Robert Upchurch (who later became a lead singer of
The Trammps) and Love Committee ("G ood L u c k " and "One Day O f
Peace").
Those tunes, co-produced by the formidable team o f Baker-Harris-Young,
came right around the time Norman was working with The O ’Jays ("W ho
Am I , " " I Love Music, ” "You And Me, ” "N ow That We Found Love" and
"Family Reunion"), Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes ("L e t Me Into Your
W o rld ," "Be For R eal" and "Satisfaction Guaranteed"), The Delfonics
("W alk Right Up To The Sun") and Dusty Springfield ( "Joe").
With all o f that experience behind him, those in the know were not at all
surprised when, in 1973, Norman hit paydirt again with the group First
Choice. Working almost exclusively with partner Alan Felder, Norman and
First Choice came up with hit after hit. Starting with "Arm ed And Extremely
Dangerous," the Harris Machine’s winning streak continued with "Smarty
Pants, ” "Newsy Neighbors, " "The Player, " "D r. Love " and, most recen­
tly, "Double Cross. "
Not one to rest on his laurels, Norman’s machine continued in high gear
via such hits as "Love Vibrations" (BY Joe Simon), "Tender Lovin Care"
(by MFSB and co-produced by Bobby Martin) and "G ood Things D on't Last
Forever" (by Ecstasy, Passion & PAIN). And don’ t stop there because while
all o f this was happening Norman somehow found the time to be directly
responsible for some of the biggest dance smashes o f the decade.
Under Norman’s guidance The Trammps began a string o f hits that, even
today, stands virtually unparalleled. "Disco In fe rn o " (which was a smash
upon its release and then became a smash again when it was included on The
Saturday Night Fever soundtrack), "Hooked For Life, " "T h a t’s Where The
Happy People Go, " "D ark Side O f The Moon, ” Where Were you (When
The Lights Went O u t)" and "Body Contact Contract” have all become part
o f the Norman Harris legacy.
First Choice, The Trammps, The O’ Jays, The Delfonics, Blue Magic...all
o f these groups bear the distinguished trademark of Norman Harris. And
now "L a Machine" is cranked up and ready to smoke once again with his
solo LP, THE HARRIS M ACHINE, an album he describes as "easy to listen
to and easy to dance to. Not to discoish and just the right touch o f contem­
porary music.” No doubt about it, THE HARRIS M A C H IN E has done it
again.
C O M M E R C IA L
E L E C T R O N IC S
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COLOR
IN C .
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TV, FLOOR
MODEL
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We also have microwave ovens. Full ser­
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8139 Denver
285-1626
We are open from 9 a m. to 6 p.m. each day except Sunday.
American State Bank
"The Bank that integration b u ilt"
2737 N.E. Union
282-2216
Billy Taylor, host of JAZZ ALIVE, which is heard every Friday night
on KBPS, will be Interviewed by Homer Clark on an NPR "STAR'’
CALL TELEPHONE INTERVIEW at 8:30 p.m. Friday, Feb 29
The Interview is a highlight of JAZZ NIGHT, one of the special
theme nights during the fourth annual KBPS SEEING SOUND
PLEDGE WEEK.
JAZZ ALIVE ON KBPS
Jazz Night on Friday, Feb. 29, is
one o f the special theme nights
during the fo u rth annual KBPS
SEEING
SOUND
PLED G E
WEEK, scheduled Feb. 24-March I.
PLED G E W EEK brings seven
days of daily programming to raise
under-writing funds for the on-the-
air program service requested o f
KBPS by blind and handicapped
persons. This special broadcast ser­
vice is not supported by the station
licensee, the P ortland Public
Schools.
Jazz Night w ill be on the air from
7 p.m. un til m idnight with hosts
Homer Clark and Ray Horn. Nick
Barnett o f the KBPS Citizen A d­
visory C ouncil fo r com m unity
listening is helping the co-hosts with
"pitching for pledges" all evening.
The Advisory Council is the sponsor
of PLEDGE WEEK, and has set the
1980 goal at $22,000.
A highlight o f the evening will be
an NPR “ STAR” C A LL interview
with JAZZ A L IV E ’ s Billy Taylor at
8:30. Homer Clark w ill talk with
Taylor, who is a pianist, composer,
recording artist, arranger, conduc­
tor, teacher, lecturer and radio and
TV personality.
The JAZZ A LIV E host holds a
doctorate in music from the Univer­
sity o f Massachusetts and is an in­
defatigable jazz educator, holding
school programs fo r elementary
students as well as high school
workshops, college seminars and
special classes for university faculty
members.
Jazz N ight also includes ap­
pearances by Oregon Jazz Society
members and perform ers, jazz
critics and other guests.
SEE SPORTS ON GIANT SCREEN T V
JOE’S PLACE
1801 N.E. Alberta
The Friendly Tavern
In Oil
Beachciiff Sardines
3-34
In MuJtord or Tomato Sauce
Beachciiff Sardines
3-k. ox.
Assorted Varieties
jv
Mug-0-Lunch
69‘
’7 “
Dry
Purex B leach................. / I 48
Chocolate Flavor
f
Hershey's Syrup
Rogu Trodifionol Plain, with Meat, or With Mushroom«
Spaghetti Sauce
_
2B
^ $1 35
a
m
. . . 13H ox.
Chicken Noodle
_
lipton Soup M ix .........
4„ O3‘
3 Musketeer»: Snicker« or Milky W ay
(
1
n n
Candy Snack B a rs .....1 ’ 8
SE 20th & D IV IS IO N
Forest Grove 2329 PACIFIC
SE 72nd & FLAVEL
0-e8on City 878 MOLALLA
(ME 15th b FREMONT
Candy 1061 SW 1st
W BURNSIDE et 21st
LLOYD CENTER
SAN RAFAEL 1910 NE 122nd
....
SE D IVISIO N
3966 SE POWELL
NE 74th b GLISAN
HILLSBORO 960 SE OAK
T S IDDQDQI L L