Grandaddy of Punk Returns

Rip It Up, Issue 12, 1 June 1978, Page 12

Grandaddy of Punk Returns

Ken Williams

Lou Reed Street Hassle

Arista Love him or hate him (and there are few in-betweens), Lou Reed is the Grandaddy of Punk. Lou Reed was bawling out songs of depression in a moronic monotone when Johnny Rotten was still bed-wetting. In “Heroin” he wrote what is still the most devastating hard drug anthem ever, in “Berlin” he showed what it’s like to be on the brink of suicide and in Rock ‘N Roll Animal he produced a live work of overwhelming intensity. How he survived at all remains a mystery, since his personality endears him to very few people, and his work has disappointed as often as it has pleased. Now, after the less-than-inspired Coney Island Baby and the lacklustre Rock N' Roll Heart, Lou has finally made the studio album that his devotees (count me in) always knew he was capable of. • ; • : The overriding feeling in listening.to Street Hassle js one of commitment. Lou sounds like he's really worked hard on this one. His singing carries real conviction, as does his guitar playing, and his production; aided by Richard Robinson, has genuine clout to it. What’s more, Lou seems to be baring a little of himself to public scrutiny for the first time. On the opening track, "Gimme Some Good Times”, he takes the piss out of Sweet Jane”, playing the smartass, asking what the guy is actually doing standing on the corner, suitcase in his hand. . - The title track is a fascinating trilogy of New York scenes; the casual pickup, how to get rid of an O.D.'d body and make it look like. a road accident, a love affair breaking up. Bruce Springsteen makes an appearance, and the insidious little string riff that runs right through all three songs just never lets you go. One of Lou's finest hours. At long last, “I .Wanna Be Black” is recorded, and here’s betting it took some courage all round. Lou has a rather perverse view of race- relations, and the easily-offended should steer well clear. Amazing that Lou ever found any ladies'

prepared to sing the backup lines too. Love it. Also resurrected is the Velvet Underground standard “Real Good Time Together", and I just know the other, new numbers are going to etch themselves inside the skull before long, they rock so hard and so well. -- If you thought Lou Reed had no balls left, listen to Street Hassle, then think again. Duncan Campbell

Atlanta Rhythm Section Champagne Jam Polydor Champagne Jam is dedicated to the survivors of the ill-fated Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash. Skynyrd and Atlanta Rhythm Section are part of a loose fraternity of Southern musicians, often given to mutual bad mouthing (Robert Nix, drummer for ARS and a former member of Roy Orbison’s Candymen, used to refer derisively to the hard-drinking, fist-throwing Ronnie Van Zant as "a pussy”), but a family nonetheless. The southern rocker’s credentials are hard work, good playing, and a reputation for boastful booziness. As personalities, ARS seem divided between excessive roughnecks and more introverted souls, but on record they’re superbly together. Ronnie Hammond has more shadings to his vocals than most of his contemporaries and he's backed up by a skin tight quintet. Exemplary stylings are provided by the guitarists, Barry Bailey and J.R. Cobb who use their instruments to provide texture rather than technical flash. The music is a mixture of Southern funk, thankfully free of cliche, and ethereal ballads, the extended "Imaginary Lover” a meld of the band’s two sides. Definitely recommended.