Stereo Review In Review: April 1979

Yesterday was the last day of classes. I still have finals to write–and of course grade–but maybe I’m spying a tiny light at the end of my tunnel. Enough, at least, to feel like I can take a tiny break to squeeze in another look back at an issue of my old pal Stereo Review. This one was thoroughly enjoyable, I must say.

Articles
Steve Simels Talks to Frank Zappa
Zappa takes on Saturday Night Live, rock criticism, the charge of being condescending to his fans, and trying to work with orchestras. You learn a lot about the man by reading these extended quotes. Way worth a read.

A Career Retrospective of the Bee Gees, by Noel Coppage
Some select quotes: 
–“Despite their assertion, ‘Words are all I have to take your heart away,’ the Bee Gees did not have—and still do not have—much of a way with words…(w)hat they really had were melodies, good, old-time, straight, lush ones. What they needed was what they’ve got now, an audience that’s not into words.”
–“(Barry) has been quoted as saying, ‘I figure there are about a dozen ways to use falsetto that have never been tried before. Believe me, I’m going to find every last one of them.’ I believe him.”
–“Changing times are the biggest threat to the Bee Gees’ lofty status. The kind of style that culminated in the Saturday Night Fever music…more than likely won’t last.”

Our reviewers this go-round are Chris Albertson, Edward Buxbaum, Noel Coppage, Phyl Garland, Paul Kresh, Peter Reilly, Steve Simels, and Joel Vance, plus a special guest appearance.

Best of the Month
–The Grateful Dead, Shakedown Street (NC) “(T)he closest to spontaneity they’ve come in a long time.”
–Peabo Bryson, Crosswinds (PG) “…he is bound…to give at least a few well-known performers a run for their money if he continues to jog so stylishly along this exceptionally promising track.”
–Helen Merrill, Something Special (PR) “…one of those timeless, priceless, classic recordings that will be reappearing again and again through the years…”

Recordings of Special Merit
Rock/Pop/Country/Soul:
–Steve Forbert, Alive on Arrival (SS) “…the first New Wave folkie…Someone to watch.”
–The J. Geils Band, Sanctuary (JV)
–Bob Marley and the Wailers, Babylon By Bus (PG)
–The Neville Brothers, S/T (JV) “(They) provide some fine examples of the charm, ease, and lilt that results when the New Orleans attitude is applied to commercial pop.”

Disco:
–Dan Hartman, Instant Replay (EB)
–Side Effect, Rainbow Visions (PG)
–The Three Degrees, New Dimensions (EB)

Theater/Films:
–Noel Coward and Mary Martin, Together with Music (PK)
—Too Many Girls (PK)

Jazz:
–Toshiko Akiyoshi, Finesse (CA)
–Louie Bellson, Prime Time (PR)

Featured Rock/Pop Reviews
–Tonio K., Life in the Foodchain (SS) “…I think I’ll have to take back my earlier disclaimer: this is the greatest album ever recorded.”  Definitely recall this review–you’ll want to read it; Simels also picked Foodchain as one of the Best of the Year in the February 1980 issue. The question remains: would I have bought it had I ever seen it in a store?
–Peter Allen, I Could Have Been a Sailor (PR) Astute readers will recall that Allen also had a featured review in last month’s March 1978 post. Reilly really thought a lot of Allen’s music; when I was looking through April issues trying to pick one, I saw another featured review in 1981.
–The Bee Gees, Spirits Having Flown (SS and NC give separate reviews)  Quite the attention being lavished on the Brothers Gibb in this one! Simels’s take was the inspiration for this sketch (wish I could give proper credit to whoever LP is):

–Alice Cooper, From the Inside (NC)
–George Harrison, S/T, and McGuinn, Clark, and Hillman, ST (SS)  Simels pans ‘em both: “Although George’s record is a tepid bore trying to be as inoffensive and suitable for FM as possible, McGuinn, Clark, and Hillman is the most unconscionable sellout in recent memory.”
–Peter Tosh, Bush Doctor (Lester Bangs)  More claims of selling out. “…if the drivel like the stuff quoted at the end of the preceding paragraph doesn’t drive you straight into the Babylonian arms of “Boogie Oogie Oogie” disco, then nothing will.”
—Yiddish Folk Songs and Mazltov! (PK)
–Four compilations from the 50s and 60s on the Pacific Jazz label (CA)

Selected Other LPs Reviewed
–Neil Diamond, You Don’t Bring Me Flowers (PR)
–Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Love Beach (SS)
–Patrick Moraz, S/T (JV) “It is appropriate for Moraz to join (the Moody Blues), since he specializes in the presumptuous audio goo and the pompous, naïve abstract moralizing that originally made the Moodies successful.”
–Peaches and Herb, 2 Hot (PG)
–Pointer Sisters, Energy (PG)
–Kenny Rogers, The Gambler (PR)
–Todd Rundgren, Back to the Bars (NC)
–Tanya Tucker, TNT (PR) “The Mrs. made me burn the record right in front of her eyes. (Still got the album cover though—out in the tool shed.)”