January 12, 1978
DISC ussions
By Gregory Hall
1977 Discussions Awards
THE BEST OF THE BUNCH
-In no particular order, the
following eight albums are my
choices for best of the year.
Hopefully I've included some
thing for everyone. Aja by
Steely Dan was unquestionably
the all-time best fusion of jazz
with rock and pop strains.
Hopefully this album will be a
trendsetter, and as for Becker-
Fagen duo,
.their intellectually
warped, sardonic, and rich
poetic imagery of the '7os
America is a welcome step
outside the rather bland
mainstream.
J.T. by James Taylor
marked a new highpoint in this
singer / songwriter's long.
uneven career. Special credit
must go to producer Peter
Asher for the state-of-the-art
recording which works to make
James and his songs sound as
they haven't in years.
Itasurs by Fleetwood Mac
is the most logical, if not
necessary, choice for the album
of the year. Not much more can
be said for an album that as of
the first week of the new year
has returned to the number one
position on the charts after
previously holding a near
monopoly on that position for
28 weeks out of the year put.
This album is justified not only
by massive, record-breaking
sales figures but by the
enormous talent of the group
itself.
Simple Dreams by Linda
Ronstadt, although on a whole
not her best effort, is
nevertheless a finely crafted
record, again thanks to the
talent of Peter Asher.
Little Criminab by Randy
Newman is a brave, poetic,
weird, sometimes somewhat
For All
By Bob Buckingham
Bluegrass started with Bill
Monroe, but where did Monroe
start? The basis for Monroe's
music can be found in the
country music tradition.
Ancient fiddle tunes and
ballads, a smattering of blues
and some popular songs make
up this tradition which survives
today mostly in the form of
bluegrass. There are however
those who find that these
traditional elements make for
good music on its own. The Red
Clay Ramblers are one such
group.
The Ramblers see their
music, as a means for growth
which is apparent from the
variety., of music they play.
Blues such as Bo Carter's "I've
Got The Whiskey" or Bessie
Smith's "I've Got What It
Takes (But it Breaks My Heart
elusive, inspired work of a
genius at large on New Orleans
and an undeserving America.
Rough Mix-Pete Townshend
and Ronnie Lane. The Who's
Godsend Prophet and Guitarist
meets the British roots and
ballads of Ronnie Lane. The end
product is sixties British,
insightful, and a great collab
oration which produces some of
the best . Townshend writing
since Tommy /Who's Next era.
Des Juan's Reckless
Daughter is a rather late
arrival from Joni Mitchell,
having been released in
Mid-December. This two-re
cord set carries the progressive
jazz and folk mixture begun on
her last album to an extrava
gant conclusion with brilliant
use of her personal style of
poetic metaphor and stark
self-confessional impressionism,
both verbal and musical.
Beanbag Oa Dimity by
Jackson Browne may be the
definitive statement of the
American mindset in the
seventies. Also released in
December, the album consists
of ten new songs recorded live
on stage, in Holiday Inns, and
on a bus. So far Browne has
been the only performer with
the balls (and the talent) to
state what he feels, exactly how
he feels and sees it.
RUNNER'S UP AWARDS:
Mewllower - Santana
Book of Dreams - Steve
Miller Band
Year of the Cat - Al Stewart
The Stranger - Billy Joel
Down Two Then Left - Boz
Scaggs
Going For The One - Yes
ECCENTRIC FAVORITES-not
for everyone
Foreign Affairs - Tom Waits
You Feces Flailers
to Give it Away), are side by
side with fiddle tunes, "Give
the Fiddler a Dram", and a
sentimental piece, "Keep the
Home Fires Burning."
The Ramblers have a bit
more sophistication than some
other groups and this may be
due to their role in Diamond
Studs, an off Broadway
production based on the life of
Jessie. James. With each of
their three albums they have
evolved more articulate ar
rangements and have even
written material incorporating
old forms with new lyrics to
produce old sounding contem
porary songs. They make little
effort to sound slick or citified
preferring rough edges to
;glossy smooth production.
.Their new Ip, "Merchants
Lunch" has been released and it
will be interesting to see where
they, will go nests ,
Good newsier ll you feces
ARTS and CULTURE
Peter Gabriel
My Aim is True - Elvis
Costello
MOST PROMISING NEW
TALENT OF '77- the best
debuts
Karla Bonoff
Sea Level
Kenny Loggias
Dickie Betts & Graet
Southern
' Southern
HOLDING PATTERN
AWARD, for no career advance
ment
Graham Parker for his third
album Stick To Me.
DISAPPIHN
THE YEAR
Heart
Crosby Stills and Nub
COMPETENCY AWARD
Foreigner
DOROTHY AND TOM
AWARD
Kowa, also winners of
the first annual "That Oughts
be Hung by Their Fingernails"
Award for pretentious lyric
writing.
OUTSTANDING JAZZ
AWARD to Pablo Records for
their outstanding output of
great records.
SECOND ANNUAL
FOREVER WAITING STILL
AWARD
Again, to Bruce Springsteen
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
FOR '7B AWARD
Bruce Springsteen
Boston "2"
FIRST ANNUAL
BLIND - LEADING - THE
BLIND CONSUMER AWARD
The "New Wave" music
The Punks themselves
Their promoters, producers,
investors, and exploiters
Next Week: Guest columnist
Joe Taylor talks about the
State of the Rock....
flailer,s, bluegrass is getting a
foothold. The Open Hearth is
finally getting some really
outstanding bands. Namely The
West Orrtanna Stringband
(January 14) and the outra
geously. fine Bluegrass
Cardinals (january 20). This
will be the Cardinals first job in
the Harrisburg area and one of
the few by The West Orrtanna
Stringband.
Thursday night is bluegrass
night at Dante's and they too
are featuring some top notch
bands such as Whet Stone Run
and Still on the Hill on
consecutive Thursdays.
Mackley's Mill continues to
have fine music every weekend
featuring Ted Lundy and The
Southern Mountain Boys and
other bands mentioned in this
column. So now if the money
holds out, well then perhaps I'll
see you there. Until then flail
those feces.
C.C. Reader
Januaryl2
6:00 P.M. - Women's Basketball.
8:00 P.M. - Varsity Basketball - Lancaster Bible
College vs. Capitol - Capitol Campus.
Januaryl3
9:00 P.M. - Keggar - ITE - Student Center.
1:00 P.M. - Bowling - Capitol Campus vs. PSU -
University Park, Pa.
1:00 P.M. Women's Basketball - Capitol vs.
Delaware College Campus- Media, Pa.
January 15
1 :00 P.M. Bowling - Shippensburg State College vs.
Capitol - Capitol.
7:00 P.M. - Mass - Student Center.
8:00 A.M. - Making the "I'm OK - You're OK" Ideas
work for you workshop- Continuing Education -
Capitol Campus.
7:30 P.M- Varsity Basketball - California State vs.
Capitol - Capitol.
7:30 p.m. - President's Council Meeting - Gallery
Lounge.
Januaryl7
9:00 P.M. - Keggar - Beta Chl - Student Center
January 18
8:00 P.M. - Varsity Basketball - Capitol vs. Delaware
College - Capitol.
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