disco talk

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33981, 23 October 1975, Page 4

disco talk

Play Don’t Worry — Mick Ronson — RCA APLI--0681-5. You’xe nobody these days if you don’t break away from the band or artist with whom you made your name, and begin a solo career. Ronson has been with Bowie throughout most of his career, and several albums, and his contribution has been invaluable — a guitarist of versatility, taste, and skill — completely sympathetic to the genius of his master. Then came the inevitable split, and what have we? What we have is a very agreeable surprise. Mick Ronson emerges as a fair writer, and a versatile singer, along with his firstclass guitarplaying. ‘Billy Porter” is being played on Top 40 radio—a fast-paced humorous rocker. “Angel No. 9” is a contemporary blues with some lovely heavy guitar work. “White Sight. White Heat,” and “The Girl Can’t Help It” are very fast, but less successful. “Play Don’t Worn 1 ” is a song to Ronson’s friends, the now defunct Mott the Hoople. But the real surprises come with two really excellent ballads. “This Is For You” is wistful, emotional, beautifully sung, but is surpassed by “The Empty Bed.” an Italian song with English lyrics by Ronson himself. This is one of the best heartbreak lost-love songs I’ve heard for quite a while. Ronson, then, is an excellent all-rounder. “Play I Don’t Worry” (his second album) has variety and warmth, and is really quite I good. John Lennon — Rock *n’ Roll — Apple PCS 7169. Take a whole heap of 1950 s rock 'a' roll songs,

such as “Be Bop a Lula,” “Ain’t That A Shame,” “Sweet Little Sixteen” and “Peggy Sue,” give them all new arrangements scarcely different from the originals, record them in brilliant stereo, and what have you got? You’ve got one of the most uninteresting and pointless albums of all time, and it staggers me that someone of Lennon’s talent should waste the time and effort necessary to record this epic of facile nostalgia. These were all good songs, way back in 1957 or so, and should have) been allowed to remainj there. John, in future pleasej give us some original ideas, : or nothing at all. —Brian Timms |