MUSIC LIST/ROCK
I FORTHCOMING GIGS by Paul Haig look set to see him reunited with Malcolm Ross on guitar, and we can reveal that Haig is set to play the Oueen's Hall in the next lew weeks.
I THE RECENT ANTI-POLL TAX GIG at the Usher Hall was apparently much less united oll stage than on. Many altercations have been rumoured, reported and even witnessed, the most serious apparently involving the management at Texas and Hue and Cry. Fortunately the threats came to nothing and all parties Ielt in relative salely.
I DEACON BLUE SURPASSED EXPECTATIONS with the sales at ‘When The World Knows Your Name.’ Apart lrom entering the album charts at Number One and toppling Madonna in the process, some 238,000 copies were sold in the lirst week, more than ‘Raintown’ sold in 16 months.
I ALONG WITH THE NEW band nights at the Buck in Glasgow is a demo disco, tor which the events organisers are requiring . . . you guessed it . . . demos. All tapes worthy at being heard (much sell censorship required) should be sent to Craig Tannock at Tower Studios, 92 Woodside Terrace Lane, Glasgow 63. The lirst event at its kind was held on Tuesday 18th, and details oI luture ones will appear in the listings. I THE SAME PROMOTERS are also responsible lor the kind at event that many bands must have been waiting lor tor ages. Yes, their chance to tire abuse at the two sub-sections ol society most worthy oi abuse . . . A&R people and journalists. The event takes = place at the Third Eye Centre on 23 April, beginning at noon with a two-hour panel leaturing journalists and radio presenters, lollowed by 2 another two-hour panel at 3pm
leaturing various scouts and ASR persons. g I ALTHOUGH THEY MAY be sold out by g the time you read this, It’s worth trying 3 to get tickets lor Deacon Blue's gigs in 1 Ayr on Thursday 27 and Friday 28. The band, whose new LP has sold f staggering amounts already, are playing In aid at the Lockerbie Disaster Fund. The tickets that went on sale at Trash Records in Ayr are the only ones that don’t include coach travel in the price. Try the Virgin stores in Edinburgh and Glasgow to see it there are any Ielt, but don’t hold out too much hope.
ISINGLES
I I Simple Minds: This Is Your Land
i (Virgin). Aye, it’s a long one, Jim. Even twelve Inches seemstoo small lor the
2 Simple Minds sound which, while
' moving away lrom the pounding
% excesses ol the last lew years, still
seems like it wants to grow to encompass the known universe. Personally, though,l could do without the bit that sounds like it sneaked in Irom a Hipsway session. (Mab) I Pop Will Eat ltsell: Wise Upl Sucker (RCA). ll you ask me, the Poppies took the wrong path when they decided they were the Chosen Band to mesh grebo with hip-hop. My prool? Only that everything they’ve attempted in that vein has been a terrible bloody mess. As this single shows, they’re alarmingly consistent. (Mab) I When in Rome: Sight ot YourTears (1 D)/One Nation: My Commitment (lRS)/Breathe: Don’tTeII Me Lies (Siren)/Bang: You're The One (RCA). And as we roll the trolley down the supermarket oI pop we pass the tinned vegetables shelves. . . and what a lot there are! Is there anything to choose between these bands? Pointedly, all have picture sleeves to lure adolescent desires, but it's pot luck-they’re no more nor less attractive than any at the other boys in the charts; none ol the songs show the remotest talent, or the suggestion that those responsible will ever grow into interesting writers or perlormers. Not one ol these records is any betterthan another, and none worth giving up a can of peas lor. (Mab) I David Bellamy: Some Things Must Change (Sealadelic). It's impossible to dispute the message at Bellamy’s conservation-oriented ‘eco-Iunk’ rap, but in the tally ol man-made disasters this record is going to have to jostle lor positiom alongside a certain drunken tanker captain. The conspirators were Jesse Rae and Jo Callis, gang, and ii the royalties Ior this weren’t all going to conservation charities in Scotland I’d recommend you shouldn't buy it. Which ol course you should. (Mab) I The Pastels: Baby You're Just You (Chapter 22). Stephen Pastel’s gone a long way down the well at misery in his time, butthis vocal sounds like it’s only a short step to wrist-slashing time. What makes it that bit dillerent is that it unaccountably reminds me at Lynyrd Skynyrd. Weird. (Mab)
ALBUMS
I Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper: Root Hog or Die (Enigma). ‘Debbie Gibson is Pregnant with My Two-Headed Love Child’ bawls Mojo, and you wish the ‘Sunday Sport’ could come with gutbucket RBB accompaniment every week. Okay, he’s a genius. But mad? Don't decide until you’ve heard his version at Woody Guthrie’s “This Land is Your Land’. Alterthat, even the unlorgettable ‘She's Vibrator Dependent' sounds like the ravings at a sane man. We need this man -to take us to Mojoworld, where we can munch hot dogs and coleslaw, catch ‘Two
I Lane Blacktop’ at the drive-In, and where every Saturday is Evel Knievel night. Yeah! (Mab)
I Soul II Soul: Club Classics Vol. One (10 Records). Soul II Soul’s lirst album is prool at how ellective genre-mixing can otten he. Unlike many sell-conscious attempts by lesser
’ talents, the merging ol rap, reggae,
house and soul on ‘Club Classics’ sounds entirely natural. Splitting it between the two vocalists-Janie B’s declamatory style and Caron Wheeler’s more sensual tones- sets up lault lines in unexpected places. Taking It at a relaxed pace, they've the courage to let the instruments drop out completely lor some gospel-influenced harmonies on ‘Feelin Free Live Rap’. This sounds more like an album than just a collection at possible singles, but there are a goodly number oI tracks on it that could do rather well on 45, I’m sure. (Mab)
I Sham 69: Tell Us the Trutth hat’s Lile/Hersham Boys/The Game (Receiver). Eight sides at Sham. It’s enough to give you the shakes, just thinking about It. ‘That’s Lile’ Is the weirdest period piece, a concept album in its way, but with all the sophistication at a play tor schools on the perils awaiting youngsters in the big world. At the time ‘Hersham Boys’ sounded like a band wanting to expand their borders, but it soon became clear they didn’t know, or didn’t want to know, how. Still, ‘Poor Cow‘ on the linal side is rather a touching moment alterthe bluster. (Mab)
I Goodbye Mr Mackenzie: Good Deeds and Dirty Rags (Capitol). It has taken a long time lor this album eventually to make the shops, and while It would be easy to snipe at the lack at new songs on this LP, it is a collection at excellent songs gathered over a long period at time. Five ol the ten tracks have been released in some lorm over the last three years, and the rest will be lamiliar to those who have lollowed Goodbye Mr.MacKenzie’s sometimes erratic progress as a live act.
The best tracks here are ‘Wake It Up’ and ‘His Masters Voice’ - both obvious single selections - and the two sides at their classic 1986 indie single, “The Rattler’l ‘Candlestick Park.’ The album version (no sell-censorship evident) at ‘The Rattler’ is virtually identical to the original, while ‘Candlestick Park’ gains lrom a dramatic production, bringing out the structure oi the song superbly.
Elsewhere, the other singles ‘Open Your Arms’ and ‘Goodbye Mr MacKenzie’ are known and loved, with ‘Generous Thing’ being the album's only truly weak link. ‘Good Deeds’ itsell is a lrantic and exciting climax, perhaps more suited to a live show, to an album which is a solid, ratherthan spectacular introduction to a major talent. (JW)
I Carole King: City Streets/Bonnie Raltt: Nick ol Time (both Capitol). Two major talents lrom a bygone era return at the same time and on the same label, attempting to lollow in the wake ol the likes ol Randy Newman in linding a new audience with the ‘0’ magazine set.
Both have a chance at success, as neither at these albums are at all bad. King’s collection begins with the truly wonderlul ‘City Streets’, which promises more than the rest at the album delivers. Always pleasant, the more noteworthy moments come in ‘Legacy’ and ‘Ain't That The Way’, and In one at the two collaborations with ex-husband and songwriting partner Gerry Gollin, ‘Someone Who Believes In You.’ The rest tails to make any lasting bridge between the technology and session men, and the strident warmth that made ‘Tapestry’ an all-time classic.
Raitt, who continues the collaboration with Was (Not Was) that began with ‘Baby Mine’ on the ‘Stay Awake’ album, allows a smooth Don Was production to take away slightly lrom the quality at her voice, which is still evident. More diverse musically than King, the quality is also more variable, ranging lrom the excellence ol the yearning ‘Cry on My Shoulder' to the mediocrity ol the country-ish ‘The Road's My Middle Name.’
Both these albums are the product at what happens when huge talents are surrounded by top session players and recorded in expensive studios. They are sale where they could be exciting and pleasant when they should be sparkling. Both however contain moments at simplicity and attendant beauty that suggest both artists have a lot Ielt to otter. (JW)
RADIO CLYDE LISTINGS
I Sat 22: THE KEVIN MCDERMOTI’ ORCHESTRA (Clyde FM, 9pm). Recorded live at the Pavilion.
I Sun 23: THE HIGHLANDERS In session (Clyde FM, 7pm).
I Sat 29: THEN JERICO (Clyde FM, 9pm). Recorded live in Newcastle.
I Sun 30: MONI In session (Clyde FM, 7pm).
PLAYLIST
Alastair Mabbott spins the lorlnightly LISTEN! Hitlist.
1. LAST EXIT: Iron Path (Venture LP). 2. JAMES: Burned (One Man LP track). 3. DEACON BLUE: Love and Regret (CBS LP track)
4. MOJO NIXON S SKID ROPER: She’s Vibrator Dependent (Enigma LP track). 5. JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE: Radio One Sessions (The Collector Series LP).
6. DUB ORGANISER: I’ve Got a Weapon/It’s Insane (Playhard 45)
7. PIXIES: Monkey Gone to Heaven (4A0 45)
B. LET ’S ACTIVE: Every Dog Has His Day (IRS LP)
9. BLISS: Your Love Meant Everything (Parlophone LP track)
10. PALEFIRE: Angel (in a City at Silver (demo)
Gfi'l'hc List 21 April — 4 May 198‘)