The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, October 10, 1979, Page Page 8, Image 8
F/inJg' 'I n>r
By Mark Platte
Assistant Naws Editor
Try and think of what you were doing three years ago. It's
a fair amount of time and you might not have even been at
USC. You may have recalled that the country rock group
Eagles had released their long awaited LP entitled Hotel
California, which boasted tunes like "Life in the Fast
Lane," "New Kid in Town" and "Victim of Love."
Three vears have passed, and the only release we have
heard from the Eagles is a forgettable Christmas single
"Please Come Home for Christmas." For Eagles fans, it
has been a long three years of going back to albums like On
the Border, Desperado, and Greatest Hits.
Suddenly, the Eagles have returned from obscurity and
released The Long Run. Starved for Eagles music, fans
have to be careful not to examine this album too sharply to
enjoy it. The frame of mind in which one has to listen to this
oiKiim ic nno of mif Mrwtinff too much. It won't blow
anyone away with "Take It Easy" or "Already Gone"
quality but if taken in small doses, this disc can provide
entertainment for adoring fans everywhere.
The first cut, title-track "The Long Run," seems to want
to set the tone for the rest of the album, a none-too-serious
approach to their collection. The song starts with the
familiar, raspy voice of Don Henley breaking into a strong
agreement with a reggae-influenced back beat. The song is
destined to be a hit single and will aeiigm tans 01 me a op
L to R: Timothy Schmit, Don Felder
Playwright Albe<
lecture in ballro
By Dale Smoak
S Osmacock Staff Writ*
Edward AJbee, one of America's foremost dramatists
Tuesday, October 23, at 8:00 p.m. in the Russell Houa
Holders of currently validated USC IDs will be admitted
dition. there will be a limited number of tickets available to
advance from the Travel Center at a cost of $1.00.
Albee will speak on "The Playwright vs. the Theater," a <
the problems, strengths and future of the American theater
read selections from his plays with commentary.
Albee has won two Pulitzer Prizes for his plays A Delicc
and Seaecape. Among his other plays are Who's Afrah
Wool/, The American Dream and The Zoo Story.
The evening with Edward Albee is sponsored by the Idea
committee of the Russell House University Union.
^ .
40" set. The slide euitar work of Joe Walsh is fine, but the
song drags too much and loses its appeal in the end.
The second song could easily have been mistaken for a
Poco tune. "I Can't Tell You Why" is a well-arranged song
with vocals by Timothy Schmit, but the composition, as is
true of all the album, is long and bleeds the song until it's
too repititive to keep one's interest.
Joe Walsh, the ex-Eagle come home, provides excellent
vocals as well as slide guitar in one of the album's best
tiMAc "?? fho Pifu " HaH Walch 1*?ft "I.ifp's Rppn flnnd" off
his last solo album, this would have made a fantastic
substitute. Here, it adds a definite plus in the Eagles'
direction while showing the versatility of Walsh.
"The Disco Strangler" has no purpose but to fill up time
on the first side. The driving beat of drums on this song
permeate this worthless cut. This song sets a bad tone for
the album only because it should have been left off the
record to begin with.
The longest song on the release, "King of Hollywood/'
provides the same basic drum riff with three separate
drum solos breaking up the six-minute song. The lyrics are
good, telling an enticing story of a big time Hollywood
producer promising a new female prospect all the riches of
a star. Don Henley and Glenn Frey work well together in
making their voices blend in effective fashion.
The second side opens with "Heartache Tonight,"
currentlv the 23rd hottest smash in the nation with^a-bullet, ?
according to Billboard Magazine. This single could be
mistaken for an Andrew Gold/Shaun Cassidy composition,
complete with handclaps and pleasingly blending vocals.
However, this song was penned by Henley, Fre, Bob Seger
and J.D. Souther. Although it has no deep-seated meaning,
FM listeners will find themselves humming it as it is played
more and more on the radio. As any "Top 40" single is
supposed to, it captures our attention and plays in our
hoaHc
"Those Shoes" features the talk-box guitars of Joe Walsh
and Don Felder. Again, Henley's guitar controls this song
rather than adds to it. The talk-box guitars wear thin on the
nerves and are overused on every other line of this song.
This song also seems to be filler, probably material cut
from Hotel California's worst recordings.
The vocal combination of Frey and Henley comes in
again on "Teenage Jail," but this time it's a disaster as the
<
Little River.
of successful
I By Mary Campbell Under th
AP Nowafeatures Writer ReCOrdS,
The Little River Band, from we've bro
Australia, in the middle of a 68-city as ^e
tour of America, has the pleasure Australia.'
of seeing its single, "Lonesome best-sellin
Loser," No. 7 and climbing on the begins,
best-selling charts as October Pellicci
Lead guitarist David iiriggs product is
wrote the song, the only one he's toured w
written. Drummer Derek Pellicci were fjnjn
and guitarist and singer Graham 5^ un(jer '
Goble are pleased about the song- they mad<
writing depth in the band. an(j zap_
j "I don't know of another act in happen th;
the whole world that has four in-' the right
dividual song writers each writing jj?s betU
hit singles," Goble says. "It's a big gradually
advantage. If you rely on one n0. 1."
I l?A rtAmrf f W?t/vi?rfU r\
Iwiiici anu lie io uuuugu a '1'MG gfOI
bad period, where are you? Even tour of Ai
now we've got a reserve of songs. January,
If we had to go in the studio George M
tomorrow, we could probably put fout honoi
together a good album even though tour. Pelli
we just made an album." was advis
Lead singer Glenn Shorrock the snow i
wrote "Help Is on Its Way," a them out t
single hit from the Diamantlna "But t!
A Cocktail album. Goble says he i0of. It's <
9 I 11 writes from personal experience thine we
and observation. some acts
Guitarist and singer Beeb Birtles this year
Am wrote "Happy Anniversary," the affected b
^J|H other hit single from Diamantina Their f
Cocktail. Goble says he writes a Band, cai
variety of kinds of songs. two albtj
n ncwaiiBuaviuuMBS0 Australia
will speak I No. 1 who dabbles in song writing, those tv
3 Ballroom. I -And I write mainly fictional America
free. In ad- I things,"Goble says. He wrote the Then thei
the public in I group's two biggest hits. He says album ii
I Reminiscing' went to No. 3 in the came Sle
liscussion of | United States.'Lady* went to No. 7 ninmnnti
He will also I but it sold 100,000 more copies than America
I 'Reminiscing.' makes si:
te Balance 1 "David's I^ser'. is
? niucl iva,
i of Virginia still climbing. It's our biggest the Adel
l single for radio airplay." released
sand Issues The tide of the Little River christma
Band's current album, First formancc
?'
zed blessing
Eagles put on their best imitation of Rush-style hard rock.
Cpou'c cunthooi70p onH ITolHpr'5 misnlflPpH cfiiit^r solo are
A." & VJ O OJ HVltVUICiVa unu JL viv*va w ?- ?
an intrusion to this trash.
"The Greeks Don't Want No Freaks" is a putdown of
college fraternities but will probably play for years to come
at McBryde Quadrangle along with Pablo Cruse and the
Commodores. An example of the genuis of Frey and Henley
is found in this song, "There was beer all over the dance
floor and the band was playing rhythm and blues. You got
down and did the gator and a half an hour later, you were
barfing all over your girlfriend's shoes." Jimmy Buffet
adds background vocals on this fast-paced song.
"The Sad Cafeis the only song that you'd immediately
recognize as tne Eagles, remimscem 01 ~rrewy xviaias aii
In A Row" from the last album. This song saves the record
from being more than a puzzling, mediocre effort. It
reminds the listener that maybe the Eagles aren't dead,
that they can still produce their old, familiar, likeable tunes
if they tried. David Sanborn, a superb saxophonist who has
played for James Taylor, David Bowie, Elton John, Cat
GtAirane orirl Paul Cimnn nmviHoo tho final annff with a
UtVTVIkJ U??v* Jk uua MIIIIVI1) VTAViw ?uw?? ** * < ?
carefree, pleasing ending.
Maybe it's not so bad an album; maybe it's pretty good. It
depends on what the listener expects. Let's just hope that in
three years from now, when our tastes change again, so do
the Eagles.
mwB&U&L
Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Joe Walsh
Band in middle
M _fl 1
iuur,uiuum sui&s
ie Wire, on Capitol be recorded and may be added so
Goble says, "means that a live album released in the
ken out internationally U.S. will be double. The Little
first band from River Band is now performing
It's No. 10 on the songs on stage they haven't
g chart as October previously recorded.
The group has not broken
says, "I believe we've through in England. When they
ing steadily because our first went there, in 1976, punk rock
? improving. In 1977 we was all the rage.
ith Supertramp. They "1 think a lot of the New Wave is
g 5,000-seat halls, a little an excuse for a lot of musicians
where we are now. Then who never found success with
e Breakfast in America anything else."
"AA A Tl r?/>kU r.rlJn UVn., J.nnU n
-ZD,UW sealers, 11 can uuuic auua, iuu uuii i iicuu a
at quickly. All we need is whole lot of musical expertise to
album. But Glenn says play some of the music. The proof
sr to be moving up of the whole thing will be the
?you can't add pluses to longevity of it. If it doesn't last,
that proves it wasn't so good."
up didn't enjoy a 12-week The second biggest trauma in the
merica which started in group's life has been two lineup
* * -?- ? * a. i m at. _ ? i
Decause Dass guitarist cnanges. jusi Dexore me ursi
[cArdle decided to leave American tour in 1976, lead
red his commitment to guitarist Rick Formosa decided to
icci says, "And the radio leave. Goble says, "We weren't 100
ing people not to go out in percent happy with the bass player
ind we were trying to get so we took the opportunity to
o our concerts. replace him, too. Lead guitarist
lis tour is through the David Briggs and George McArdle
easily the most successful came in. Then George left after the
've ever done. I know January tour this year and Barry
> aren't getting audiences Sullivan came in. For this tour,
but we haven't been we've added a seventh person, Mai
>y any recession." Logan, on keyboards.
irst album, Little River "George decided to go to fullme
out in 1975. The next time Bible college in Australia. He
ims were released in is doing what he wants to do now.
and the best cuts from He was an unhappy person before,
tro were released in It's nice to see him finding this
as Diamantina Cocktail, happiness."
re was a "greatest hits" The worst thing that has hapi
Australia only. Then pened to the band was Pellicci's
eper Catcher, which like getting burned so badly he missed
na Cocktail is gold in part of the 1978 tour. He had gone
then the new one. That to a backyard barbecue, and was
ir in AnntrAlin aim) fmir in standinff cIma u/hen snmebodv
A live album made with threw liquid fuel on the fire, which
aide Symphony will be sent flames all over him.
in Australia before He was in a hospital 54 days and
s. The last 12 per- on a plane to join his band eight
a of the current tour will aays later.
* % ?%< ?? e * ? A ? ? % S \ * *V .% *<.' * V ?