SMALL STUFF

Rip It Up, Issue 20, 1 March 1979, Page 2

SMALL STUFF

Those of us lucky enough to have caught Graham Parker and the Rumour on their NZ tour last year will recall a catchy little tune Parker used in his shows titled “Mercury Poisoning'’. The lyrics referred to his American record company, Mercury, and included several immortal lines such as: "Their geriatric staff think we're freaks/They couldn’t sell kebabs to the Greeks.” This was intended to be the B side of Parker’s new single "Protection" however Phonogram in Britain who handle Parker objected to the song as they are affiliated to Mercury, and consequently Parker has been forced to drop it and substitute his version of the Jackson s’s “I Want You Back", recorded in less than three hours as a replacement. The album, Squeezing Out Sparks, will contain several songs Parker previewed here last year "Passion Is No Ordinary Word", "Saturday Night is Dead", "Love Gets You Twisted” and, of course, "Protection". Phonogram in New Zealand are aiming for a late March release Paul McCartney has signed to CBS Records for an undisclosed sum that is believed to be the largest figure ever paid to a recording star. Featuring on his first album for his new label will be two tracks McCartney and Wings recorded last year with what has been termed a Rockestra twenty three well known musicians who were brought together to record two of McCartney’s pieces. The musicians included on drums John Bonham and Kenny Jones; on bass McCartney, Ronnie Lane, John Paul Jones and Bruce •Thomas (of Costello's Attractions); on keyboards Linda McCartney, Gary Brooker and John Paul Jones and on guitars Pete Townshend, Dave Gilmour, Hank Marvin, Denny Laine and new Wings' man, Laurence Juber. The six hour session was filmed by five 35mm cameras. Commented McCartney: "You would have expected a rougher, less controlled sound. But it didn’t turn out that way. When you get fourteen rock musicians together for the first time they can be incredibly tight” and while we're on the biggies we can now report that Keith Richard's first solo single of Chuck (Take the Money and Run) Berry's “Run, Rudolph, Run” and Jimmy Cliff’s "The Harder They Come" was in fact recorded using Peter Tosh’s band, Word, Sound and Power, for backing Meanwhile Keith is facing something of a dilemma. As the Justice Department in Canada are appealing against the light sentence Richard received last year, he faces the prospect cf having his passport confiscated if he returns to Canada. However if he does not return to Canada and play a benefit concert for the blind, he will be violating the terms of his probation. Lawyers are attempting to unravel this tangle currently fellow Stone Ron Wood has completed his third solo album. It includes one track, "Seven Days”, which was specially written for Wood by Bob Dylan and the Stones have booked studio tirrie in Nassau to work on a new album veteran

soul singer Al Green told Rolling Stone that he has been very pleased by the cover versions of his song "Take me to the River" by The Talking Heads and Bryan Ferry. Said Green: “I think it's fantastic. I appreciate the consideration of Al Green material by these artists. And I’m looking forward to covering some Talking Heads' material” Neil Young has a new album slated for May release under the title of Rust Never Sleeps, but don’t bet on it. As onetime Young back-up singer Nicolette Larson told NME: “He’s a grpat guy but he's totally cushioned. He doesn’t live in the real world. To get to Neil is impossible. He has all these people surrounding him who constantly patronise him." He is also as WEA Records have discovered, none too reliable. Comments Nicolette "He’ll says he's going out to buy a newspaper and re-appear in a month's time” a new Frank Zappa album is due from his new record company CBS under the title of Sheik Yerbouti. WEA are set to release an album of older material Sleep Dir\. Mrs Zappa is expecting the couple’s fourth child. The first three are named Moon Unit, Dweezil and Ahmet Rodan Manfred Mann has put together a new Earth Band with guitarist and vocalist Steve Waller and former Leo Sayer and Stomu Yamashta drummer, John Lingwood. Their first single is an arrangement of Dylan's "You Angel You" taken from their album Angel Station it appears that Dylan has formed his own record label, Accomplice Records. Bob is reported to be scouting for talent Steve Harley has been forced to re-record some tracks for his forthcoming album. The lorry drivers strike in Britain has meant that a tape recorded in the States is trapped on the British wharves Eric Stewart of 10cc survived a serious car crash but sustained a fractured skull. The injury has meant the cancellation of a proposed Far East tour Teddy Pendergrass, one-time lead singer for Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, who has now established a successful solo career is set to play the title part in The Otis Redding Story Albert Lee guitarist for Emmy-Lou Harris' Hot Band has joined the Eric Clapton Band and an ex-member of the EC Band Marcy Levy is completing work on her solo album a one off reunion of the Spencer Davis Group is under consideration, possibly for a TV show English New Wave News: keyboards player for XTC Barry Andrews has quit because of what he calls "personal differences and the fact that there was too much music to come out through the same outlet". XTC are currently auditioning guitarists and keyboards players with a view to

recording a new single to be followed up by a British tour The Clash have arrived in the States for their first tour there. On arrival they had knives, bracelets, chains and anything else that could be construed as potentially offensive weapons confiscated by US Customs. Bo Diddley is the support act on The Clash tour Johnny Rotten/Lydon has brought court action against his manager Malcolm McLaren and fellow Sex Pistols’ members Paul Cook and Steve Jones. Lydon seeks to appoint a receiver to untangle the Pistols’ finances and also to prevent McLaren from using the name The Sex Pistols other than in relation to himself, Paul Jones, Steve Cook and the late Sid Vicious. He further seeks to sever his contact with McLaren as manager. The case continues Lydon's Public Image have lost drummer Jim Walker. He has been replaced by black percussionist Vivian Jackson guitarist Bram Tchaikovsky who quit The Motors last year has signed his new band Battleaxe to Radar Records British punk band Sham 69 have called it a day New albums Section: George Harrison’s first album in some time is due soon. Titled George Harrison it includes contributions from Steve Winwood,' Willie Weeks and Andy Newmark Supertramp’s newie is Breakfast in America a live double LP from Velvet Underground recorded in the late 60s and including Lou Reed is set for overseas release The Allman Brothers reunion album is titled Enlightened Rogues from a phrase Duane Allman used to describe the band. Production is by Tom Dowd Denny Cordell has cancelled out of production on Carlene Carter’s second LP. Nick Basher’ Lowe will officiate instead next Patti Smith is Wave which will include her version of The Byrds’ "So You Wanna Be a Rock’n’Roll Star" George Benson has completed work on a double studio album Livin' Inside Your Love Phil Spector has produced both sides of the next Ramones’ single "Rock’n’Roll High School" Sparks have signed to Virgin Records and their first album for their new label is Number 1 in Heaven Rick Wakeman goes disco on his next solo LP