The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, January 21, 1981, Page Page 7, Image 7
Ententainr
Record r<
By Ward Borden
Staff Writer
After boom years for record sales in 197778,
which included the release of hits such as
"Grease" and "Saturday Night Fever",
record companies panicked when sales for
1979 dropped off and no releases matched
the hits of the previous year.
Some record companies went out of
business while others were bought up by
large corporations and a new philosophy to
eliminate was supposedly adopted by record
company executives.
In 1980, record companies kept hanging
tough, but experienced only an average
year in sales. Though there was growth in
some areas, the growth was less than in
previous "boom" years. Billboard quoted
Arista Records executive vice president and
general manager Elliot Goldman who said,
"No longer do the margins avai I able on a few
successful projects cover the lack of success
with other records and the necessary
developmental money poured into new
artists."
Sales seemed to improve for most record
retailers in Columbia in 1980 also. Mike
Steward, of Sounds Familiar said sales were
up in 1980 but "there was certainly less
growth this year than in the past years."
Stewart said rock, soul, rhythm and blues
and other styles of music were all selling.
He also said beach music made a
resurgence in the Sounds Familiar stores
because of some releases made available
for the first time in years.
Stewart said today's record buyer is mure
cautious and wants to know all the songs on
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still people who buy albums in quantity, but
they are the exceptions. "The economy is
really prohibitive to buying more than one
or two albums a month," Barnum
reiterated.
Barnum added that the lack of an album
oriented radio station in Columbia influences
sales. He said there is presently no
local station that will play new releases,
especially by unestablished artists, so the
record buying market is given no chance to
hear an album before buying it. "Basically,
Styx keeps
By Danny Powell
Staff Writer
Unlike most rock bands who go on concert tc
a new album release, the Chicago-based ban
parently done just the opposite.
"Paradise Theater," the latest from the
group, is like the sound track from a motion p
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closing theme "A.D. 1958/State Street Sadie
between the first and last tell the story of looki
losing "paradise."
The concept for the album came fi
player/lead singer Dennis DeYoung, a Chief
desired to revive the once great Paradi:
monumental style. He has reached his goal w
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Styx, as they appeared in concert a\
Coliseum in 1979.
nent,?^s
etailers c
I don't think Columbia is ready for a
progressive radio station," Barnum said.
Record Bar sales were up about 5 percent
over the past year and holiday sales jumped
10 percent in 1980 he said.
Barnum doesn't think the $9.98 list price
put on a new album, especially those of
"super groups", will hinder many future
sales. "People will pay for what they want
to hear." Barnum said.
Barnum attributes the price increase to
inflation and petroleum cost. He added that
many of today's artists are demanding a
greater percentage of the royalties also,
thus reducing the record company's cut.
Denise Thomas, manager of Budget
Tapes and Records, thinks the price increase
can be traced to the expensive tastes
of record company executives. "It isn't the
oil. The cost of manufacturing a record 3 1/2
years ago was only about 35 cents. A 100
percent increase, even a 300 percent increase
in production cost couldn't explain
the price increases," she said.
She added that the artist still gets only
about $1 per album sold and many get as
little as 25 cents per album.
Though Budget had fair sales in 1979, 1980
will be a poor year according to Thomas.
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we never reany recovered irom our
summer slump,"Thomas said.
The same cannot be said for School Kids
Records. Owner Dan Douglas said his sales
are up 20 percent from 1979. "We've bettered
last year's sales and things are
looking good," Douglas said.
Many buyers now relate a style of music
to their own lifestyle according to Douglas.
He cited the releases "Saturday Night
Fever" and "Urban Cowboy" as examples
of music which propagated social trends.
"People seem to be looking for something to
hang their hats on,"he said.
Douglas also expressed skepticism about
oil costs causing increased record prices.
He said a 12 inch disco single, which is the
same size as an album but has only one song
on each side, costs dollars less than a
regular long playing album in spite of the
fact that there is just as much vinyl in one as
the other.
'Paradise'<
work of musical art.
A little background is needed
>urs to promote parallels its namesake. The or
d Styx has ap- acclaimed as one of the best in
1928. But after the Great Depre
popular rock \osi mUch of its appeal and beg
icture in that it 0f paying customers. A reviva
j. iyz? 10 me times got better, but by this tin
i." Every song out jn the growing Chicago sut
ng, finding and entertainment were emerging.
was torn down.
om keyboard The music Styx uses, like tt
igo native who journey back into history. Whe
se Theater in early 1970s, their music was h
ith a masterful sidered mellow by today's stan<
album are much like their ear!
wailing guitars, pounding drum
Mr However, Styx has also mi
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their music a jazzy tone. With
the sound Styx produces
thoroughly enjoyable.
The opening number, "A.D.
troduction to the entire album
Theater. In simple words, the}
and enjoy as they turn back the
Then, like a clap of thund
begins with loud guitars, h(
pounding piano. It is a great i
and an album because it will g
fast and heavy beat. It is also d<
The next three songs on "aci
rather well. "Too Much Time
and mellow rock, like the s
nerstone" album. "Nothing Ev
the same stock, and after a brit
I "The Best Of Times" follows si
last has potential hit qualific
sound and popular theme -- lov<
The opening of "act two" is a
I first heard it I had to glance <
was not hearing things. Amid
cracks, a sax soloist is playii
disapproval of someone who i&
threatens to call the police an(
theater torn down.
"Lonely People" is a hard s
back-up. It is a somewhat stra
and synthesizer solos that are i
very good song and has a chanc
#?. r // After a few listenings, "She <
r the Carolina ag a meuow almost coun
Tommy Shaw doing the honoi
wrr?
an't pred
Optimism was shown in the Columbia
record market when the nationwide chain
Peaches Records recently opened a store
near the USC campus. Store manager
btepnen Pagano said Columbia was tne
smallest market Peaches has moved into.
"The market is a good one and has growth
potential," Pagano said.He said the
presence of the university and the state
capital in Columbia make the town a
stopping point for the type of person who is
interested in music and buys records. He
said there are other good stores in town but
they found the market is great enough to
support more.
Pagano said that while 1977-78 were boom
years for Peaches Records, they are barely
making profits in 1980. "There is more to
compete for the entertainment dollar. The
record buying market is older," he said.
He explained that as the record buying
market grows older, their interests
diversify and people utilize a wider range of
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Inside Budget Records and Tapes, whe
with 1980 expected to see a stump in r
to why
iginal Paradise Theater was I
the country at its opening in l^\
(ssion took its toll, the theater
an to decay because of a lack 9
il of the theater began when
le the paying customers were [JMLq
>urbs, where other centers of Kj^HH
In 1958, the Paradise Theatre II||Mh_
le topic they chose, is like a
n the band first started in the j ~-'-?
ard rock, though it was coniard.
Many of the tunes on the
lier works: hard-hitting rock,
is and a steady beat. easy transitio
xiified their sound with the mellow.
id saxaphone section, to give James You
hard rock and jazz combined, nothing less
is thoroughly unique, and Young's lead
along the line
1928," is merely a soulful in- and "Ballerin
and concept of the Paradise "Half-Penn
{ ask the audience to sit back Its heavy be<
hands of time. America," "S
er, "Rockin' The Paradise" country were
?avy drums and DeYoung's "Half-Penny,
>pening number for a concert no time.
;et your blood flowing with its The ending
estined to become a Top 40 hit. purpose is to
t one" all seem to go together Sadie" is a sh
On My Hands" is fast, steady like "Clair Dc
ongs heard on Styx's "Cor- Overall the
er Goes As Planned" is one of has ever prod
;f re-cap of the opening theme, over very we
lit. Of the three songs, only the aside from th
lations because of its tender surprise for tl
v When lookii
i rain storm. No kidding, when for "act one"
3ut the window to make sure I the album ov
st the downpour and thunder turer made a
1g Ms beptt out much to the But if you i
ttying te g^t some sleep, who "imprint" of
i confesses his wish to see the is a unique a!
destined to be
ong with heavy horn and sax anybody's col
inge tune at times with guitar And with th
Dizzare. Other than that, it is a out at the Car
;e to make it to the "big time." stage version
Cares" becomes very likeable a winner witl
try-rock tune with lead singer sound and lig
rs. What the song lacks is an album and pu
lict sales
entertainment devices .it her than records.
He said that because ui the po^i VSoi Id War
II baby boom, the record buying market is
now older, in that there are more 25year
olds than 17-year olds.
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Peaches Record store in Columbia symbolizes
faith in the record market here by
some marketing people. While no one seems
to be getting rich at the moment, most of
Columbia's record retailers seem to be
hanging on or making small gains.
Problems within the record companies,
which will influence local record retailers,
still exist. Most of the record retailers said
promotional material and co-op advertising
were much scarcer now than in past years.
Also, every price increase issued by the
record company influences the retailer on
the front lines. Most local retailers,
however, are optimistic about the strength
of the Columbia market and the prospects of
future sales.
re only fair sales were reported in 1979
ecordbuying. (Photo by Chip Lowell)
Paradise Theater in 1928
n to the next two tunes, which are anything but
ing's woeful introduction of "Snowblind" is
than fantastic. The rest of the song follows
and turns out to be a masterpiece of hard rock.
?s of other Styx greats " Suite Madame Blue"
a."
y, Two-Penny" is a study of classical Styx rock,
it and loud guitars are throw backs to "Miss
luperstars" and "The Great White Hope." If the
! for more hard rock, both "Snowblind" and
Two-Fenny" would become Top 10 hits within
, "A.D. 1958" is just like the beginning, but its
say goodbye instead of welcome. "State Street
ort oiano solo that Styx adds from time to time.
Lune" and "Aku-Aku."
album is very good and among the best Styx
luced. The concept of reviving the past was put
11 and the songs relate the story uniquely. But
le musical aspect, Styx has placed yet another
lose who buy the album
ng at side one, you will notice that the listings
and "act two" are listed side by side. If you flip
er, at first glance you will think the manufacmistake,
because side two is apparently blank,
jvill hold the disc at an angle, you will see the
the first side's inner circle minus the words. It
jpect to a great album. "Paradise Theater" is
icome a classic and would be a great addition to
lection.
ip Stvv rnnrort Thursdav niuht nr?rtirallv sold
olina Coliseum, many people will get to see the
of the album live. The concert is expected to be
ti a reported seven tractor-trailers loaded with
5ht equipment. For those who miss it, buy the
it your imagination to work.