Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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"Golden Ea Satisfying,] ByHank Gilman Gamecock Staff Writer Last Wednesday night there was a concert in Columbia that attracted very little attention but a fairly good crowd at the Carolina Coliseum. In fact, I would have never attended the show unless I had received passes fi om the C.J. Strauss agency in New York handling the group that opened the show, Golden Earring. The concert itself included two other groups, namely Lynyrd Skynard and the Blue Oyster Cult, a group that has been hailed by the New York rock critic community as the uttimate, heavy metal band in the land. They were heavy alright, just heavy enough to send me to a bar in Five Points to get drunk after two or thee songs. But I had seen the Blue Oyster Cult before and there was no sense seeing them a second time. Then there was Lynyrd Sky naird. Well, concerning that, I happened to be sitting on one of the P.A. stantions with a very attractive young lady who was telling me everything I wanted to hear about myself, when a goofy looking fellow named Rusty Album Prices By Chuck Cromer - Gamecock Staff Writer The record induastry has done it again. As of July 1, Warner Brothers, Atlantic-Elecktra, and London have committed them selves to an across-the-board list price level of $6.98 for pop albums including catalog items. Until now, other major com panies have moved up to, the $6.98 level on a selective basis, limiting such increase-s to new itmes by top selling artists. But now all record prices are going up. From the above companies, increases will also affect the "t rring" Conci lut Nothing questioned my authority to sit on the sacred stage Lynyrd Skynard would be playing on. I told him. Well, it was fine with him, as long as we would "sit still." Wouldn't want to detract from the elaborate stage show Lynyrd Skynard puts on. But I was given passes to see Golden Earring and they are busting the proverbial charts with a single called "Radar Love". If you have been reading Rolling Stone or any other rock trade sheet, probably seen all the various "hype" for the group. The same scene as always: flashy clothes in publicity pic tures they wouldn't be caught dead wearing on the street, (as a matter of fact, after the concert they all dressed like Ivy Leaguers) and articles on the group written from publicity releases and various grandoise claims. They played well. - - Not a potential super group though, as some would tell us. Let me put it this way, being as safe as I possibly can - the group played well technically but didn't show us anything that we haven't already seen over and over again. Golden Earring has been in this on the Rise Agi smaller record companies for whom they distribute. The most notable of these are Capricorn, Bearsville, Chrysalis, Reprise, and Asylum As of this writing, only four other major companies have not raised ther catalog list price. They are Columbia, RCA, Capitol, A and M and their af filiates. However, an increase for their records is soon ex pected. The main reason given for these increases is the rising cost of vinyl and manufacturing materials. This, however, only appears to be an excuse for these business oranizatins to reap rt: Thuch country on an extensive tour on the strength of a hit single and one album. it seems that the next tour should be backed by a little more material before spoon feeding the public. And though I couldn't - find anything in the groups performance that par ticularly annoyed me, there just wasn't a spark. Somehow, the group was merely going through the motions, not seeming too comfortable with the material, and certainly not feeling too comfortable with the audience. Again, this was a personal reaction at the time. I enjoyed Golden Earring but wasn't thrown for a loop either. The group now goes back home to Holland where they begin recording their second album on MCA records which should be released sometine in January. That was the concert. A pleasant evening only for those who were dedicated enough to the groups involved to spend their well earned money on a ticket. For me, the best part of the show was watching the peoplee backstage playing harder and better than the groups on stage. But that's what it really is all about in the end. We all play for the groups or they won't play for us. more profits. The album price increases will effect record sales, industry profits and the entire marketing structure of the business. The effect on the local level, though, is predictable. With an increase of $1.00 or more on every album, most people will buy fewer records, if any at all. A minimum of $5.00 for an album is ridiculous no matter how good the record is. For large record collectors like myself the increase is almost catastrophic. In the long run, however, it will make most record buyers more selective about what they buy. Blending Faith and few "Americ Tries Hard, By Chuck Croi Gamecock Staff We ."America" has come a long way Name" in.terms of success and pof has progressed little since those ear in their latest album, "Holiday." "Holiday" is the fourth album talented trio of musicians. They mE 1972 in their debut album, "America classic of low key, tight vocal har Two albums, "Homecoming" a followed. Even though both wer neither could match the musical expi "Holiday" is not a bad album, but Mediocre may be the right word. dominate the record and the instrum serves as background only. It is unfi combine the vocals with their excello such a way that one side does not don I have always considered 'Americ to be one of their trademarks. Ho' acoustic is sparsely used and theE take its place. Two basic themes seem to domin enough each has one whole sid point across. The first side deals with the optin People" is the best example of this lonely and unhappy people not to giN they will achieve and come to ter harmonica solo in this tuner that is r in his early days. The theme of giving people a relationships with others is previ Man," "Glad to See You," and "i "Tin Man" is the only song on ti released as a single. Its melody a single, Ventura Highway," are almi "Another Try" has Gerry Beckle he was a young child watching tl between his parents. The child between his love for his father and I This song has a valuable messag and is probably one of the best song Side two of "Holiday" deals with in society and the not too distan1 painful memories. "Hollywood" is a song of disillu: by "America's" personal experien glitter, colored lights, and intrigui and corrupt many good people. The songs, "You," "What Does]1 Up To You" all deal with people wi lives in order to be accepted in ti songs are strong lyrically al melodramatic. "Old Man Took" is a song of ch In it a boy fondly remembers thi: with who has long since died. Tha orchestration is in good taste. T1 just thinking about this old man. On the lighter side"America'giv~ the fun of it. "In The Country" city to emigrate to the country and Overall, "Holiday" will not a masses. Unlike their last three a solely on the quality of its lyrics strumentation. People will have ti to the lyrics if they wish to enjoy a sngs. Pessimism a" Album, But... ner iter since "A Horse With No ularity, but their music ly days. This is evident to be released by this t with instant success in ." It has since become a nonies. rid "Hat Trick" soon e financial successes, trtise of the first album. neither is it a good one. America's" fine vocals entation, in most cases, )rtunate that they can't mnt acoustical guitars in kinate the other. a's acoustic guitar sound vever, on "Holiday" the lectric guitar and piano ite "Holiday" and oddly e of the ialbum to get its iism'of living. "Lone ly optimism. It tells all the e up on love, for one day ms with it. There is a eniniscent of Bob Dylan second chance in their ilent in the songs "Tin nother Try." is aalbum that could be nd that of an earlier hit )st the same. y singing the vocals as if ne decaying relationship is caught in the middle is mother. e for all of us in its lyrics s on the album. disillusionment, changes past with its fond and sionment perhaps caused ces there. It criticizes the of Hollywood that dazzle t Matter," and "'Baby Its io must change their past ie future. None of these id their contents are ange and sentimentality. old man he used to fish lyrics are sound and the ne listeners can feel blue es you two songs just for :alls for residents of the enjoy life. Lppeal to the consumer buyms, this one depends mnd vocals and not its in pay very close attention >r even to understand th