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Guthrie's i is his best By TOM S1IEALY Gamecock Staff Writer When the Beach Boys wait four years to release an album of new material the final product is 1 4-1 ? ? |muiiv,cu u|juii cinu MlcllCIlCU Up Dy the eager, drooling public. When Arlo Guthrie waits a couple of years to put out an album, the LP slips quietly unnoticed into the music world. Arlo Guthrie is the first to admit that he is not one of the most prolific artists in contemporary music. "I haven't done a record recently because I just never got around to it." Guthrie was last heard from musically on a live collaborative effort with old friend Pete Seeger. Before that time his only album of new material was "Arlo Guthrie," released in 1974. It was basically an uneventful album with an excess of orchestration and choir that detracted from the album's goodnatured mood. THE TWO previous albums, ObsessionSANDRA'S FLASHBACK the airport in "Obsession" would not have been nearly as effective if it were not intertwined with her current actions. It will be interesting to see De Palma's next moyie "Carrie," (complete and ready for release) based on the best-seller about a girl with tele-kinetic powers. Again the material seems a bit questionable, i I 3 BLUE OYST?? ; AGENTS OF FO P including: This Ain't The Summa ft (Don't Fear) The Ffc D E.T.L (ExtraTenestlallnt I Sinful Love/Detoi^l | Ba< I are Re ! TED NUGI i I FDPF CnD , a I l\L_l_ l V/|\"< including: Dog Eat Dog/Hamm Writing On The Well/Street I ! 81 0 Harden Street Five-Points BAcross from Don's Ba 771-7370 PMMMIMLM.M.M-MM.M-MIMM'M'WI newest albi yet "Last of the Brooklyn Cowboys" and "Hobo's Lullaby" displayed Guthrie at his best. With a blend of light, innocent ballads, bouncy rags and an AM hit ("City of New Orleans") Guthrie regained snmp _ -0-* of the success and popularity that had slipped away since his, legendary epic, "Alice's Restaurant." NOW IT'S 1976, and Guthrie is working again. "I have a lot of energy this year. Some years I really feel like pushing, and some years I feel like sitting back and listening to the leaves rustle," he said in early Sept. just before the release of the new album, "Amigo". "I'm essentially a lazy person but I think this is one of my best." "Amigo" is indeed the best album Guthrie has recorded. The sound is fuller and richer than any of his previous works. "Amigo" is nnt IvtOCfpH Hmi;n till 11 TU? . V.V uuggvu UUTTU UJ JJ1 UUUCC1 3. X11C album relies on the music, not the studio. From Page 11 but if De Palma's -past performance holds true, it will be another engrossing film. An uncomfortable aspect of "Obsession," however, is the ending. De Palma had two routes from which to choose: a happy ending or a sad ending. Without giving away which one he settled for, the unused alternative might have had more effect. * ALL ALB [CULT RTUNE r Of Love IAOAT INgence) 3>6niM :k-to-School Sales tady to Turn you on 1 ENT i Ml I erdown Rats/Turn It Up :::U* I THIS IS *3.99 IS 1TH ' AmiBt album fuller o Guthrie througli THE MUSIC is uncluttered and basic. Only the essential and necessary instruments were used in the songs. A few extra touches, like the accordian and Spanish fiesta horns in "Manzanillo Bay," give the material a Latin flavor. Guthrie's voice has matured through the years. "Amigo" best displays his vocals. His voice is more refined, better controlled; it Hops not rrapk ac it nnno mu iv VUV.V UiU CII1U grate on the listener's nerves. His best vocals are evident on the many medium-tempo ballads that dominate the album. Whether he sings of a political hero as in "Victor Jara" or merely expresses sentiment through songs like "Darkest Hour" or "My Love," his voice no longer detracts from the music. The orchestration on "Amigo" is not as obvious as it was on "Arlo" where the strings blatantly once stood out, now they successfully accent the songs. In "Patriot's Dream," the strings play an integral part, blending smoothly au 41? * -- - * wiiu uit: material. [The Gamecock ne< guest column Drawer A or UMS ON THE Emotions FLOWERS including: I Don't Wanna Lose Your Love/Me For You How Can You Stop l.oving Someone No Plans For Tomorrow/Special Part i are over. We at S to someCONSISTEN <7<4e Q'fjcuf& MESSAGE IN THE MUSIC including: Darlin' Darlin' Baby (Sweat, Tender, Love) Desire Me/Make A Joyful Noise I Swear, I Love No One But You Mossttge In Oih Music t NOT A SALI OUR JMOVL/ nrggwiri.i.iiMaKarKa'iEi'iii:! >" is Arlo Guthrie's best HH|^| to date. The sound isH^HH n this production, andHf^^JI *s voice has matured *v the years. ' ? ^ll m 'M: There is a hint of reggae in "Walking Song" and Guthrie can get away with it. Some of his earlier songs had reggae influences long before the current craze brought the Jamaican sound to the States. THE ONLY flagrant deviation on "Amigo" is an Americanized treatment of the old Jagger & Richard song "Connection." Guthrie's intriguing version is heavy rock 'n roll with slide guitar and back-up vocals from Linda Ronstadt. As it's the last song on the album a question could be raised: was it stuck at the end ?ds columnists for the i . Send copy to The Gan call Karen Whitaker a LY*3.99 CHiCi incl Another Rainy D If You Leave Me t You Are On My CHOOL KIDS RECC * % M Wm A y^ M m m m. m mm. *m. ? 11 YtAK KUUNU SA fS MICH LR PRICK ? ! because Guthrie was unsure about whether to include it at all? YEARS AGO when he surfaced in the music world Guthrie was dismissed as Woody Guthrie's offspring. Arlo developed a cult following and brief national prominence with "Alice's Restaurant," but eventually receeded into obscurity. Now with Amigo, Arlo Guthrie has shown that he is more than the son of a folk legend. He is an artist who views life with a keen sense of awareness and conveys his discoveries through an appealing style of music. "? 1 editorial page's tecock | I 7181. qlCji cy x \ uding: Q ay In Now YofK City 3 tow / Once Or Twice Mind/Skin Tight I )RDS ! VINGS! ! | Jl<ut RoUL I 9ft ^Utte including: I I You're The One You'll Never Find I IAnothor Lovo ( Like Mine | From Now On \ This Song Will \ Last Forever t" Groovy People | OPEN: Mon.-Fri. j 10-7 ! SAT. 10-6 "'iff