Page 6 Portland Obeerver June 11.1881
Proline
Marlin McClain explains Pleasure split
By Ullysses Tucker, Jr.
The word is around town that
M arlin McClain, former vocalist/
g u ita rist fo r P ortland’ s own
Pleasure, left the group because he
was a "s e ll-o u t, a Black jew, a
traitor,’ ’ and out for individual gain
only. But after a recent conversation
and lunch w ith M cC lain at the
"Last Hurrah,” there is something
the community should know about
his departure from the group. Let
him explain.
"T here are a few reasons why I
decided to leave,” he said firm ly .
"F irs t, we started to have musical
differences and each o f us had a d if­
ferent perspective on which wav we
should go. I wanted to stay in the
direction o f the "F uture Now” LP
because we sold 300,000 albums and
there were some positive things on
it. Then there were some differences
in how the band’ s business should
be handled which caused some
problems.
" A ll o f this was happening while
we were away in California record­
ing our "Special T hings" album.
When we should have been con­
centrating on cutting the album, we
were too busy trying to take care of
other matters. People fail to realize
it but I didn’t finish the album. I left
and headed back to Portland. , f
those problems could have been
worked out, I would still be with the
group today.”
M cC lain also pointed out that
"Special Things” was a total heart­
break since "F u tu re N o w " re­
presented the largest number
(300,000) o f albums sold by the
group. It sold only 50,000 copies.
" I could have left the group a
long tim e ago,” said M cC lain.
"Fantasy Records had been asking
me to do a solo album fo r three
years before I accepted their offer.
The only reason 1 stayed was
because I wanted to wait until the
group got successful and I d id n ’ t
want to take anythin« from them.”
Were there very bad virbrations
after you decided to go?
"N o t on my part,” he said quick­
ly. "T h e y resented me and we
haven’t been on the best o f terms. I
haven't seen any o f the guys. I don’t
know how they feel either, only
what I hear through other people in
the business and around town. The
group thought that I was leaving to
better myself which really hurt me
because I did not. A ll we had to do
was w ork out our problem s and
things would have been cool.”
Specifically, what was the biggest
problem confronting the group at
the time you left?
"Som e o f the guys in the group
didn’ t get involved and did n ’ t un­
derstand the business aspects o f the
recording industry,” said McClain.
" T h a t’ s an im portant part o f the
industry and I pay very close atten­
tio n to it because a lo t o f good
groups fa ll victim to mismanage­
ment.
" A guy like Roy Ayers has built a
sound business foundation over the
years and he does well w ith his
music. He can come out w ith an
average album and s till do good
because he knows how to market his
product. I f you are to be successful
in this business, you must take care
o f the business end o f it. It can
make or break you.”
"C h a n g e s ," M c C la in ’ s debut
solo album brings his talents to light
as a guitarist and a composer. He
co-produced the LP with engineer
Phil Kaffel; handled lead and back­
ground vocals; wrote most o f the
m aterial;
and,
througho ut,
displayed the masterful technique
that has established him as one o f
the most impressive and versatile
young artist today.
M arlon uses a variety o f guitars
on "Changes.” He utilizes the Gib­
son 335 most o f the tim e, but he
makes great co n trib u tio n s to the
album with his Fender Stratocaster,
Schecter Telecastcr, two Ovations, a
six string and a 12-string guitar.
"Changes" can best be described
as a cross between Pleasure’ s
Progressive Funk and Jeff Lorber’ s
Jazz Fusion. In less than two
months, the album has sold twenty-
thousand copies and the heavy
marketing has yet to come.
“ There’s not a huge difference in
being a solo artist,” he said. "W ith
Pleasure, I was always involved in
the production and business aspects
and its the same now. What I miss
the most is the non-verbal com ­
m unications w ith the guys in the
Dick
The topics o f the last several
columns have been pretty heavy
with the crisis o f the 80s Blacks are
facing, changes in the police de­
partment here and the disregard for
the poor o f the Third World by the
U.S.
So this week its going to be lighter
and more fun.
The dearth o f good nightclub jazz
has ended as my favorite lady and I
found out why this past weekend.
No longer are we going to have to
go to Bourbon Street or, do
without...good Black music.
I refer to Bourbon Street as the
"Headless Horseman” because no
one ever seems to be in charge, no
one seats customers and it takes
forever to get a drink.
A c tu a lly there are two break­
throughs.
First and foremost, the best quin­
tet jazz I ’ ve heard in at least five
years is happening each Friday and
Saturday at Brasserie Montmarte at
626 S.W. Park.
It’ s the Dànny Osborn Group and
features Osborn on electric piano;
Jarvis C hristm as, drums; Kenny
Dew, electric bass; Michael Y ork,
tenor; and Thara M em ory on
trumpet, cornet or flugehorn.
Osborn is a local musician who
has been gone for about four years
gigging in the Mid-west. The Jeffer­
son High graduate says during those
four years, he played all kinds o f
$17 S.W. Alder 224-8401
(•cross from the Galleria)
P R O S H O P S T Y L IN G S A L O N
Specializing in all curly perm s, styling ft trim m in g .
TCB • Care Free • Classy curl & California Curl.
$48.
A llen's BAR B Q U E & D E L I
M AR LIN M cCLAIN
group. I have the same kind o f vibes
playing with Jeff Lorber but I was
with those guys all o f my life. We
were lik e a fa m ily . I s till wish
Pleasure the best o f luck and I want
them to be successful.”
McClain’ s advice to young artists
is very simple and direct.
" A career in the recording in ­
dustry is a w o rth w h ile dream to
chase but it must be kept w ith in
reality. Dedication and extra hard
work will get you there. Most young
negotiations
Public meetings win begin at 7 30 p m
following registration at 7 p m Locations and
dates are
Seattle • Tuesday June 23
Seattle Center Fidaigo Room
First North and Republican Street
artists get frustrated because they
d o n 't see im m ediate results. You
have to really stick it out if success is
what you desire. Another mistake
the younger artist makes is that he
or she looks at their music making
them a star instead o f looking at the
music in terms o f fulfillm ent. Last­
ly, you must understand the legal
and business o f the industry.”
M cC lain is managed by David
Leiken, (503) 221-0288.
Specializes in Bar-B-Q but our menu also includes variety of Deli
Sandwiches, Delicious Bar-B-Q Chicken, and Fried Chicken like
you've never had before.
TEXAS BARBECUE
and Delicious Deli Sandwiches
Open Tues. - Sat. 12pm - 10pm • Sunday -1:00 - 8:00
112 N E K illin g sw o rth
BOB SHIPSTAD
ON STAGE'
PRESENTS
ogle
music including jazz, country, rock
and rhythm and blues. He also
toured with Jan and Dean in 1979.
His varied experience shows and
tells at Brasserie as the quintet takes
o ff on an A rt Blakeyish jazz tune
w ith strong solos by Memory and
Y ork and shifts q u ickly in to a
Mongo Santamaria sounding Latin
tune.
They handle the standards with a
jazz flavor and then get down with
some fine examples o f Gospel-Funk
contemporary sounds.
It was my first time to hear bassist
Dew, who is fro m D e tro it,
Michigan. He is badd and 1 would
have to hear both him and
Nathaniel Phillips on the same night
Spokane - Wednesday, June 24
Sheraton Hotel. South B Ballroom
Spokane Falls Boulevard
Portland - Wednesday, June 24
BPA Auditorium
1002 NE Holladay Street
Boise
50
Lim ited Tim e Only
Itfc your turn to talkagoin.
This time we re asking you to com m ent on
wholesale power contracts currently being
negotiated with Bonneville Power
Administration customers
Information concerning draft contracts will be
sent to you upon request You can comment
orally at a public meeting or submit written
comments
Our customers include public and private
electric utilities Federal agencies and direct-
service industrial customers All are to be
offered new long-term contracts by
September 8. 1981. in accordance with the
Pacific Northwest Electric Power Planning and
Conservation Act
Negotiations have been under way since
January with interested members of the
public participating Additional information
on the concerns of individuals and groups
was received at public meetings field in May
and was made available to those involved in
the negotiations
Pubic comments on the draft contracts are
requested at this time so they can be
considered during the final stages of
Beauty
Products
Thursday, June 25
Hall of Mirrors. East Conference Room
Capital Mali
To request information concerning draft
contracts, contact the nearest Bonneville
Power Administration area or district office or
call toll-free in Oregon, 1 -BOO-452-8429 in
other Northwest states. 1-800-547-6048
Written comments on the draft contracts will
be accepted through July 13, 1981, by
Public Involvement Coordinator
Bonneville Power Administration
Post Office Box 12999
Portland. Oregon 97212
ie m e m b e i What you say counts
Bonneville
Power
Administration
to determine who is the baadest elec­
tric bassist in town.
Tenorman York is from Seattle
and is very good but his tone is not
quite as fu ll as for example, Pat De
H art’s, but then again it could have
been where 1 was s ittin g or the
sound system.
Pianist Osborn is there five nights
a week, playing solo piano on
Tuesdays and Wednesdays. He is
joined by the tenor, bass and drums
on Thursdays, and on weekends
Memory adds the piece de resistance
with his horn and showmanship.
D on’ t miss th e m ...it’ s the best
jazz act in town.
On the other side of the river at a
place called The Vintage, Robbie
Robinson and Jazz T ra in are
holding down the fort on weekends.
I t ’ s almost the same Jazz T rain
which w orked at Bourbon Street
and the Greenwood Inn with Robin­
son on tenor, Cleve Williams, trom ­
bone, but drum m er B illy Joe
Newman is no longer w ith the
group, so Bobby Bradford who is a
superior trumpeter shares the drum­
ming with Robinson. One addition
is pianist Bud Young and another is
vocalist Paul H u ff who sings stand­
ards and soul tunes in a refreshing
manner.
The group has an interesting
schedule. They are at Carmens in
the H o llyw o o d d is tric t Mondays
and Tuesdays, o ff on Wednesdays
and back to the Vintage on Thurs­
days, Fridays and Saturdays. Sun­
days they anchor a jam session
beginning at six.
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620 5199
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$7 50, $6 50. & $5 50
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Gl Joes Meier & Frank Frederick &
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For information call 239-4422
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Wed July 1 7 30 p m • ’
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S en d a m o n e y o rd e r o r ch e ifc
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i i i i i n
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A/
The Portland Start and Stripes were a smash hit in
the Rose Festival Starlight and Children's parades,
taking First Place In the Junior Rose Parade
A p plication s are now being taken fo r the
Portland Stars & Stripes D rill Team. I f your
child is interested, please send the enclosed
coupon to the P ortland Observer, Box 3137,
Portland 97208.
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