Top music awards tor 1980

Press, 31 December 1980, Page 10

Top music awards tor 1980

By

NEVIN TOPP

Once again the critic risks life and limb by choosing the best and the worst of rock music for 1980 — nerve ends frayed after another ragged year, sweat dripping on to the typewriter, and New Zealand nine down with no hope of winning; 1980 was the year of the great cultural debate On • rock music in New Zealand, sparked off by • the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon), who once said that he. saw the light at the end of the tunnel-. The well-known , expert on anything that comes to hand was given the ideal opportunity to comment on culture in May when a group within the record industry took out advertisements juxtaposing a record album by Kiri Te Kanawa , against a copy of “Playboy,” and asking why should records be taxed, when- magazines like “Playboy” were not. The lobbying that had gone oh to get the sales tax on records reduced was upset because bf the ham-fisted approach of the advertisement.’ A Sex Pistols album could have easily-been used as a comparison to “Playboy.” The advertisement used provided the ammunition for Mr Muldoon to fire, since a high proportion of albums sold come from contemporary rock and the popular music fields.

However, the groups in the record industry must have learned a lot from the 1980 campaign, - and should be better prepared to meet the Minister, of Anything That’s Going in 1981. The main event to: overshadow rock '. music this year was the murder of John Lennon, outside the Dakota apartment block,

New -York, earlier this month.

Lennon, together with Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, shaped a musical generation, and his death sent a shock around the world, causing comment from both the leaders of nations and the "little people.” For many it was the end of a generation, just as Elvis Presley’s death meant the end of his generation.

The shooting of John Lennon really cast a pall over the whole of the year for music, and the recognition of his talents, combined with , that of the other three members of the Beatles, were enough to have him featured on the cover of “Time” and “Newsweek.” In New Zealand rock music took an international step forward with Split Enz really getting into the big time, and other groups such as MiSex also attracting overseas attention.

A lot of New Zealand groups were also exported to Australia, having .varying success, and at the same time, a lot of singles and albums were released in this country by indigenous artists. There was a maturity about New Zealand rock music which had not been evident before. Competition was fierce, but so was the help. A circuit of pubs and clubs was developed in the North and South Islands during the year, but just as it seemed to be at its best, the whole rock music scene seemed to fall into a vacuum, . caused mainly by groups leaving for Australia or breaking up- 1 There were also a wide number of tours by overseas and local bands during the year, and in one

particular three-month period 12 rock concerts were performed, causing a strange numbing sensation to the critical faculties. -In the album section many records were not reviewed for many reasons, including being overlooked, not sent, or not interested. However, readers may be faced with a new problem in the New Year. because WEA Records has instituted a new policy of not sending out review copies of albums that they consider will normally get in the top-40 album list. Apparently, WEA Records were not happy about the quality of some of the reviews. So for those searching for a review of Rod Stewart’s latest, may be out of luck. That also applies to the Eagles, and Fleetwood Mac, for example. But do not despair, a scheme is being devised whereby your favourite artists will still go to print. More next week.

The Boys’ Own Annual award for. the best album of the year goes to “Re main In Light” by-Talking. Heads, for its imaginative approach to rock music, its originality and inventiveness. Best record album artists:

“Remain In Light,” Talk-

ing Heads (Sire). “True Colours,” Split Enz (Polydor). “Broken English,” Marianne Faithfull (Island). “Pretenders,” The Pret end ers. (Real). “Regatta de Blanc,” The Police (A and iM). “Signing Off,” ÜB4O (Graduate). “The River,” Bruce Springsteen (CBS). “Me Myself I,” Joan Armatrading (A and M). “Common One” Van Morrison (Mercury). “Peter Gabriel,” Peter Gabriel (Charisma). There were also a number of other albums bubbling under including Jackson Browne’s “Hold Out,” Alberta Hunter’s “Amtrak Blues,” Eric Clapton’s "Just . One Night,” and

Neil Young’s “Hawks and Doves.” Worst album of the year: Not as many reviewed this year as in 1979, but two spring to mind. “Mad Love” by Linda Ronstadt and the Supertramp live album “Paris,” which did little for the credibility of the group.

Best live album: “Just One Night” by Eric Clapton. So easy to listen to. Does nothing for his career, but has the spark about it that “Paris” did not have. Best N.Z. album: Far and away, “True Colours” by Split Enz. However, it would be thoughtless not to mention “Heard The Newz” by the Christchurch group, The Newz, which was good, ancl could have sounded first class. “Hammond Gamble” by Hammond Gamble rates highly. Best concert of the year: Surprisingly, the one given by the Newz as a charity function for the North Christchurch chapter of the Jaycees. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers was excellent fare. Split Enz and XTC also get four stars. “ Worst concert review: The Cure. Should be shot. Best rock mtuic film: “Rust Never Sleeps” by Neil Young. Best Soundtrack: “The Long Riders” by Ry Cooder. Best group: Split Enz. Best male artist: Ry Cooder. , Best female artist: Joan Armatrading. Most promising group: ÜB4O. Most promising male artist: Hammond Gamble. Most promising female artist: Marianne Faithfull. Best N.Z. group: Split Enz. Best N.Z. male artist: Hammond Gamble. Best N.Z. female artist; No award. Most promising N.Z. artist or group: The Newz. Best local group: The Cowboys. Best humorous album: “One Step Beyond,” .Madness (SEEZ).