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Doob By BARRY J. GLENN Gamecock Staff Writer If you haven't heard the Doobie lately a big surprise is in store on th release. "Livin' On Thf? PohU i group has taken on a reggae, lat that began with last year's album, It To The Streets." The Doobies 1 . tually abandoned their commercia sound for which they are so well kn content of the new album is a big sv needs a lot more vitality to be res] The change in style is the keyboardist Michael McDona guitarist Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, who Steely Dan last year to join the tsromers. while McDonald's influe felt on the Doobies' last effort, it is d on the new album. His keyboards an are dominant in almost every sonj The main problem with "Livin' Fault Line" is the failure of the kc and reggae beat to give life to the so many tunes become bogged dowi uneven beat. The guitars don't li vitality as in past Doobie efforts. Ir coming to the forefront, the guitars a rather eerie background soun shadowed by organ, bass and horns songs. A disturbing aspect of the albur virtual absence of guitarist Tom J Johnston is responsible for the grot success with such hits as "Lister Music" and "Chinagrove." On t! album Johnston took a minor ro !*% ? fink r I v y / ies ch cipally because of bad he the Fault Line," howeve be found. He has writter Brothers and his voice is undet eir latest "Echoes of Love." Johns ne." The leader has apparently in sound therefore his style of fast , "Takin' "Echoes of Love" is tl lave vir- sounds like the Doobies of lized pop a slow beginning to upb< own. The vitch and Basically the album is E>ectable. subdued than previous slower beat. "Little Darli work of mediocre fifties rocker, Id and other tunes are jazzy r both left Donald's keyboards pre i Doobie "You're Made That W? nee was remake of last year's hit lominant Streets." "Nothin' But A id vocals of the best tunes with a pi I. and the rest of the group chorus. "Chinatown" an< On The however don't fare as wel jyboards conglomeration of bass, ngs. Too plete with wailing vocals < 1 in the The title song is respect lave the just don't come through IStftaH nf sont* rpnr?hoc a nni?? ??' ? "o . M pviiu a IIV provide d over- The vocals on the a on most although McDonald seen his words at times. Th< some improvement. n is the ohnston. The Doobie Brothers i ip's past basic reggae and latini to the carry them to continued ieir Inst sminric nf Tnm ? V.W v? * VIII UU11IJLOIUI1 le, prin- present guitars can pick anther1 BY DAVID II. SIIINGLER ^ Gamecock Staff Writer "The Pink Panther" is the title of thr> firct in IViq caflnf ' ? ?.w > ? uv VIIV Obi ICO U1 1 UUI UlUVltSl about the escapades of Inspector Jacques Clousseau, the central character on which the four ventures are based. If you have a strong affection for the cartoon character, our pink little friend of Saturday morning cartoon fame, you do get to see him at his early best as he romps through the credits of the film. He is at constant odds with the lettering, and sets a precedent for the clumsiness and awkwardness that is to follow. "The Fink Panther" stars Peter Sellers as Inspector Jacques ^Clousseau who's characterization "provides almost all of the film's comeay. as he chases and attempts to outwit Sir Charles Lytton (David Noven), the "Phantom", who is out to steal the Pink Panther (a precious stone owned by Princess Dala, Claudia Cardinale,), The slapstick, clumsy antics of the inspector keep the viou/pr in dnnrl cniriio ? ... ^>pu no iwi uic triiuru 113 minutes. ^ The story line suffers at times, the result of a mediocre script. Clearly, however, the overall effect brought about by Sellers brings the movie up to the great comedy status it now enjoys. ange alth. On "Livin' avj wai ua, tuill" )n the former tune. able but the leads and let loose. The 1 does no more. Ibum are decent, is to be mumbling ? ??'''* e lyrics still need The Doobie Bi are gambling that Coliseum, based music will SUCCeSS Thp fun nmrlllOP snmofl i are gone. If the the Doobies car themselves up and pop world. Th 'is still i Several, scenes are ingeniously performed, but are not original in nature. Here lies the main fault of the script. It relies on the actors to maKe the scene successful, and does not succeed because of clever writing skills. The saving grace is that Sellers succeeds in making the repititious material relevant and does it early in the film. ine Dedroom scenes are easily some of the most memorable and funny ones in the film. With the "pants already down...I've got to hide under the bed" routine played so well, the insanity of situational comedy highlights the film again. Several of the big names in the movie come across as too shallow and the movie suffers somewhat from lack of character development. Claudia Cardinale as Clousseau's wife and the Phantom's mistrOCK ie in/tnn/l n? ? ? v. WU, IO lllUUCU Oil III* tegral part of the script, but she serves as an example of this lack of development. However, she does an adequate job throughout the film, and in the bedroom scene she is excellent. The most perplexing character is Robert Wagner, of "It Takes A Thief" fame. He is so in v.u^muoi iic is aimosi not needed. As the nephew of the Phantom, he does perform as well as in his other films, playing a lover in competition with another lover. style SH|| mm - P^w ^sss ^Warn 1^ %> rothers play up a storm in last ; ling other than lonely leads, Doobie i maintain their stature in the vibrant e thought, however, of the ^ -a Miiiudini i i <4 The overall feeling of comic relief is sustained, however, by the performance of Sellers. He is what the film is all about and is excellent AS tho cliimc" 1 1 * u wrvwal U UlSpCClOr behind "The Pink Panther," and its sequels (last year, "Return Of The Pink Panther," "A Shot In The Dark," "1964," and "Inspector Clousseau," 1968), is another genius, Blake Edwards. As director and co-author of the \ i J ' i|t&-v ;r ' J JBySg^iV' oalllard-THE OAMECOCK 0 Brothers without Tom Johnston's guitars is a sad one indeed. 9 ) Uu/ . I ' / K [/ _> screenplay, he provides ample evidence he knows what comedy is all about and can produce results on the screen. After all this, if you nt:n - ? <>i c sun aaamantly opposed to slapstick comedy, fine. If, however, you are at all impressed by the animated character known as the Pink Panther as produced by DePattie-Freleng Enterprises, go see the movie, but don't dare miss the credits. "r>