Page 6 Capitol Campus Reader Goes By Tim Adams and Ann Clark The holiday season in Hollywood means the release of new films. 1976 was no exception. King Kong and A Star is Born are the two pictures being pushed by producers. One reason for this is production costs. Steer clear of both films. Not that your not going will decrease the take of these movies, but just that films that draw audiences on their own merits are much better. Kong is a Remake A modern day version of the 30’s film classic King Kong sounds like a great idea, especially with a 45 foot version of the beast. How could they miss? They missed. They didn’t even come close. King Kong, playing at both Trans Lux Discuss By Gregory Hall fis the end of a year, ana time to look over the best and worst with some sense of critical retrospect. The fol lowing list of albums I believe represent the prime of the music we listened to in 1976. Silk Degrees- Boz Scaggs Boz Scaggs presented us the most infectious and enjoyable album of thp past year. Before the release of Silk Degrees, Scaggs was confined to being a cult figure and another of the lesser-known survivors of the 60’s; however, the alAbm introduced him to the main stream. His tasteful blending oi disco-styled pop and rock was a welcome relief for the stagnant AM airwaves. Hejira- Joni Mitchell This album is a pure representation of music as art. Simple, stark, scary, and deeply beautiful - a tapestry only Joni Mitchell could create. Hasten Down The Wind- Linda Ronstadt As for interpreters of other’s songs, Ms. Ronstadt is the perennial queen. Hasten is one more in a string of superb albums by the Lady With The Golden Throat. Songs In The Key Of Life-Stevie Wonder Despite some minor flaws, among them an over-abundance of material, Songs is a sure bet to reap the Grammy harvest for Stevie. The album shines with the Wonder gift of music and positive spirit. Desire- Bob Dylan Dylan serves up a fine collection of songs backed by a theaters in Colonial Park, is a dud from beginning to end. The acting, lighting, settings and camera work combine to make it a grade B movie. Jessica Lange, who plays Dwan (yes, Dwan), the beauty who killed the beast, looks good but can’t even match the acting capabilities of the 45 foot dummy. Jeff Bridges, Kong’s competitor for Dwan, turns in a credible performance, but he’s all alone. During one of the many boring moments, the viewer wishes he would just tell Kong to keep her. All of the money for the film must have gone into the construction of the model of Kong. That is worth seeing, but at these prices, it ain’t cheap thrills. It will tickle you Pink The Pink Panther Strikes Again is another holiday ons 76 band that matches him per fectly. Fleetwood Mac- Fleetwood Mac Being the surprise-success of the year, this album was one of those few successes that was well justified. After ten years of “paying dues” and making records destined to be ignored, Fleetwood Mac was ‘dis covered’ in 1976. The Royal Scam- Steely Dan Those wonderfully absurd boys who call themselves Steely Dan struck again. Their album was another collection of great music and strange lyrics. The Pretender- Jackson Browne Although this album may rank among the more depressing albums of the year, it was also among the best. As a songwriter-poet, Browne is one of the best of the gendre because of his potent and often moving imagery. Wipe The Windshield, Check The Oil, Dollar’s Gas- Allman Brothers Band This two-record live set captures the Brothers at what they did best A grouping oi many of their well known songs done in concert is an apt farewell to a great band. Hotel California- Eagles More high-flying harmonies that have become the Eagle’s trademark. This time around, recent addition Joe Walsh contributes razor-sharp guitar lines, giving the album a heavier sound than previous Eagles albums. Honorable Mentions go to: Bigger Than Both Of Us by Hall & Oates; Small Change by Tom Waits; Maria Muldaur’s Sweet Harmony; and Eric Andersen's Sweet Surprise. Most Promising Debuts Boston plays rock n’ roll with a passion long since missing. Whereas most ‘heavy metal’ rock these days is cliched and sleep inducing, Boston plays their music with convic tion and command. Sure, it’s all been said before; but rarely has it been said as well as on the album called Boston. Dreamboat Annie was the first musical effort by the Canadian group Heart. Vocals by Ann Wilson recall the spirit of Janis Joplin; or, more often, a bitch Karen Carpenter in heat A new album, Restaurant, will hopefully duplicate the of its predecessor in 77. release. Clouseau does indeed strike again. This may well be the best in the Panther series. For sheer entertainment and lots of laughs, this film has to be one of the year’s best; it’s loaded with both. The fight scene with Clouseau’s valet the twelve international assissins that ineptly try to kill the even more inept Clouseau, and the dentist scene with the former chief inspector will be remembered long after you’ve seen the film. We recommend this film to all who have never seen a Pink Panther movie; to Panther enthusiasts, you need no encouragement. Silver Streak is an up and down film. Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor share the lead. It is not without humor; however, Best On Record Southside Johnny Lyons and Bruce Springsteen have much in common. First, they both share northern New Jersey and vicinity as their ‘roots’. Next, they grew up together, and many a night played together at a bar called the Stone Pony in Asbury Park. But most importantly, they both play music as it hasn’t been played since the early 60’s. Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes’ first album was called 1 Don’t Want To Go Home. Success Story Award of 1976 All honor goes to Peter Frampton for the overwhelm ing success of his two-record live album Frampton Comes Alive. That phenomenal album is now certified as one of the biggest-selling records of all time, making Frampton the commercial commodity of the year. His name became a household word, and his smiling face was seen on countless magazines, posters and T shirts. Cuteness and charisma can sell records, if they are persistent enough. Worse Disappointments of 1976 Endless Flight by Leo Sayer chronicled the prostitution of an artist. Apparently Leo wasn’t selling enough records, so his record company enlisted the aid of ace producer Richard Perry to make him a success. What resulted was a conversion from a talented artist to just another Elton John sound-alike and one more faceless voice attached to a hit single. The album represented the biggest waste of talent in 1976. American Flyer, combining the talents of Eric Kaz, Craig Fuller, Steve Katz and Doug Yule, on paper was 1976’s most promising new band. The album of the same name, produced by ex-Beatle pro ducer George Martin, was among the blandest and most boring albums of the year. However, the single worst disappointment of the past year was not any one album, but rather the lack of a new album by Bruce Springsteen. Because of a series of legal battles with his ex-manager, Springsteen was prohibited from recording any new material. This legal action was begun early in '76, and hopefully will not continue too far into the new year. C.C. Reader Silver Streak’s Derailed To The Movies there are dead spots through out the film. The movie tries to accom plish too much. It is serious while laced with slapstick humor. The two elements mix as well as the proverbial blend of oil and water. It is not a totally bad film so wait and see it when it comes on television next year. 100% Holmes The Seven-percent Solution is a most surprising film. You’ll get more than seven-percent of your money’s worth. This movie is truly entertaining. Anybody who was vaguely intrigued with Basil Rathbone’s Sherlock Holmes will be doubly pleased with Nicol Williamson’s portrayal of the sleuth. This is not the ordinary Holmes flick. Holmes is addicted to cocaine. The cause Alternative To Higher Education? In cooperation with the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare and the Capitol Campus Department of Continuing Education, the following non-academic yet pratical courses are being offered to students free of charge during the Winter Term. Each course is taught by a qualified 2nf floor member. A list of courses, their instructors amd the required text(s) follows. COURSE 1. Ralphing made easy- C. Smith- “So you drank too much?” 2. Introduction to Grubbing- H. Horstman- “Good looks to get handouts.” 3. Not Making Out- D. Cecconi- “How topick up chicks... and talk.” 4. Analytical Slugs- P. lobst- “From cabbage to beer; we can fake 5. Applications of Slinky- B. Neary- “No matter how much you pull it, it returns to its original shape. 6. How to Strip a Car- L. Seager- “Manual for 1969 Chevy Camaro.” 1969 Chevy Camaro (396) also required. 7. Creative Zitting- M. Dill- No text, but instructor requires dirt, oil, potato chips, french fries and dearasil. 8. Being Average- J. Marinko- “Everyone can be an average Joe.” 9. Music Depreciation- J. Cerra- “1812 Overture and other battle 10. Basic Dieting- T. Kurtek- “How to devour 4000 Hostess Twinkees and not be seen.” 11. Sex and Criminal Justice Applied- S. Marchini- “16 will get you 20.” Instructor also requires 13 yr. old girl and a good lawyer. 12. Helment Design and Care- D. Dicks- No text, but instructor requires a bowl, a pair of scissors and a 2qt can of Alberto VO-5 Hair Spray. 13. Basic Bullshiting and Wisecraking- J. Vajda- No text, just listen to lenghty lecture. 14. Group Sex- All the above serve -The instructors will provide as instructors except all materials and enjoy D. Dicks whose independent study with credentials fell short. students. IKLY SPEAKING \jdsT cAt 6XFST/0N OONaeRMG 7NIS QDMt OJALU4T7M - )O0 Ask TOR CMPLBt HdMESTY om A& you, A MSOCWT? of his addiction is his delusion about Professor Moriarity, played by Sir Laurence Olivier. Watson, Robert (Godfather) Duval, takes Holmes to Vienna, using deceptive methods usu ally credited to Holmes, to see Dr. Sigmund Freud. Freud helps Holmes to overcome his addiction and in the process the three, Holmes, Watson and Freud solve a case involving Mmde. Deveraux (Venessa Redgrave). This picture should at least rate an award for it’s casting, if not for the best picture of the year. Unfortunately it will probably get lost behind such hyped-up films as Kong and A Star is Born, for which those awards are usually reserved. At any rate, if you want to be entertained and get your money’s worth, this film is a hundred-percent resolution. 2ND FLOOR WRISBERG “FREE U” INSTRUCTOR TEXT—MATERIALS marches. January 20, 1977
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