SMALL STUFF

Rip It Up, Issue 5, 1 October 1977, Page 2

SMALL STUFF

Rod Stewart, Bowie, The Stanglers, Frampton Film The Commodores, Nils Lofgren, Status Quo and lots more.

The Latest and the Greatest Rock News

Julie Covington, who's made her name through the hit "Don’t Cry for Me Argentina" and her starring role in the TV series Rock Follies, is to record a solo album later this year. The producer will probably be John Simon who's previously worked with The Band and John Hartford among others . . . new albums on the way over the next few months include: The Stranglers whose second LP, No More Heroes, follows their highly successful debut, IV Rattus Norvegicus, which has racked up sales of over 200,000 in Britain to makethem byfarthe biggest album sellers of the British new wave so far. Graham Parker and the Rumour’s new album, Stick To Me, is due for October release overseas .. .

while Lowell George is working on the Little Feat live LP as producer, as well as preparing his first solo LP for release. The solo project will include versions of Allen Toussaint’s, "What Do You Want the Girl To Do” (already recorded by Toussaint, Bonnie Raitt, Boz Scaggs and Geoff Muldaur to name but four) as well as material by Fred Tackett and Jackson Browne. Bill Payne asserts that Lowell has hit a ‘dry spell’ as far as writing is concerned, hence the large amount of borrowed material .. . The Commodores are still on the US leg of the same tour that brought them to Godzone earlier this year. The natural follow-up to all this live exposure is, of course, a live album - what’s more it’s a double (of

course) and should see US release in mid-October .. . Nils Lofgren also weighs in with a double-live recorded at dates in the States and Britain. Nils is mixing it at present . . . Electric Light Orchestra are also working on a double album, but it’s a studio outing for them . . . meanwhile the on-again-off-again Gregg Allman and Cher duet album is . . . on-again. A rumour that it is to be titled Allman and Woman (groan) could not be confirmed . . . and Rod Stewart and Britt Ekland’s relationship, which is now off, will cost young Rod over 1,400 pounds a week until, the court case decides who gets what . . . EMI, the company who fired the Sex Pistols, have signed a British band led by gay, Tom Robinson. The Tom Robinson Band have recorded for forthcoming release a single entitled "Glad To Be Gay” . . . singer for The Runaways, Cherie Currie, follows bassist Jackie Fox in quitting the band. Internal squabbles appear to be a major reason ... the musical film, Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, now has a director. It’s Michael Schultz (who?) who’ll direct Peter Frampton, the Bee Gees and a cast of thousands all financed by Robert Stigwood . . . Ace, the band who broke through with one great single, "How Long” only to disappear again, seem to have called it a day. There’s been no official announcement but, currently, Ace mem-

bers are engaged in outside projects. Paul Carrack is paying with Frankie Miller, while Tex Comer is in the band put together by the Sutherland Borthers and Quiver for touring purposes . . . others in the Sutherlands temporarytouring band include Alan Ross on guitar & Mick Weaver on keyboards. On their new album, Down To Earth, the Sutherlands augmented the basic three piece with session musicians Brian Bennett and Mick Grabham . . .

Wayne Kramer, ex--MC 5 guitarist, who’s currently serving a 4 year sentence in Lexington Penitentiary in the good ol’ US of A for trafficking in cocaine, has a single released overseas. Distributed by two independent British labels, Stiff Records and Chiswick, they’ve printed a limited edition of 10,000 and all proceeds go to a fund to give Kramer some cash on his release . . . David Bowie is to make another film. This one’s to be directed by Clive Donner whose past work includes What’s New Pussycat, Luv and Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush

. . . Ritchie Blackmore’s ßainbow have found the missing two members for their line-up. Joining the basic unit of Blackmore, Cozy Powell and James Ronnie Dio are new members Bob Daisley (late of Chicken Shack and Widowmaker) on bass and David Stone on keyboards . . . Status Quo have revamped and re-shaped their stage act. The live album was the end of an era, they assert, and they’re recording a new album in Sweden for release later this year. Does that mean no more ‘‘Roll Over, Lay Down’’? Promise? . . . famed early British rock’n'roll band The Pirates as in Johnny Kidd and the Pirates have reformed. They’ve recorded their debut return album for Warners and it’s called Out of Their Skulls ... the Kursaal Flyers have now lost pedal steel player Vic Collins. He’s replaced in the band by a rhythm guitarist, Johnny Wicks .. . Jimmy McCulloch, guitarist in Paul McCartney’s Wings, has quit to join the reformed Small Faces. Meanwhile, Wings are off the road because of Linda McCartney’s pregnancy, but a new album is due later this year . . .

Bowie’s new LP, recorded in Berlin, sees overseas release this month .. .

Split Enz’s new style, "My Mistake”, will be released in Britain as a 12" maxi single, at least for the first 10,000 copies. Thereafter it’ll be your common 7" job . . . much-awaited Joan Armatrading album has also hit the shops overseas. Titled Show Some Emotion, ii includes backing musicians Tim Hinkley, Georgie Fame, Jerry Donahue and the Small Faces drummer, Kenny Jones . . . Ry Cooder has fired his Tex-Mex musicians, the Chicken Skin band after ‘‘disagreements’’ . . . Ex-Roxy music guitarist Phil Manzanera has completed his second solo album with the aid of various firends including Lol Creme and Kevin Godley late of 10cc (who feature on gizmo and voices), Eno and Eddie Jobson. A touring band will be put together once the album is released