Records

Rip It Up, Issue 89, 1 December 1984, Page 36

Records

The Best Of Louis Jordan (MCA) Forties bandleader Louis Jordan was the main source and celebration of Joe Jackson's 1982 album Jumpin' Jive Louis Jordan was also an original force behind the genesis of, rock n' roll, whether through his vocal style serving as inspiration for Chuck Berry,for through the musical structure of such class as 'Saturday Night Fish Fry' (on occasion Bill Haley simply covered the > song verbatim). Jo' dan's band was also a major influence behind many important jazz big bands of the 50s and 60s. None of which really indicates the infectious delights still to 1 be found in his music { today. These 16 tracks offer a joyful survey of Jordan's’ styles, ranging from hot jump and jive to oddball blues to wacky novelties. A past master indeed reet petite and gone.PT Various Artists Every . Man Has A Woman Who Loves 4 Him (Polygram)MJßM| ' .Songs by Yoko Ono sung by Nils'- n. Eddy Money, Trio,. Elvis r.-,)-,tello, Sean Ono Lennon and more, ltd make a passable single. .? L'-;," CK Mark Knopfler, Cal (Vertigo) - Mark Knopfler’s music to 1 the film Local herowas an impressive start to the writing of theme music. This, his latest soundtrack, is steeped in traditional Irish music and features some outstanding contributions from Plonxty mem-

bers Paul Brady and Liam O’Flynn. Underpinned throughout by Knopfler's distinctive guitar style, the music ranges from the majestic to the serene. Highly recommended the sedative we all need after a hard day. DP Status Quo Live At the N.E.C. (Vertigo) Status Quo have at last called it a day. I can reveal to you now, however, that their recorded career still has several years to run: 1984, Live At the N.E.C, 1985, Status Quo. The Early Years 1986, All the No. 1 Hits of Status Quo. 1987, Quo Rarities 1988, Classic Qua 1989. Live At the Budokan 1990, Golden Favourites 1992. Remembering ... Status Quo At this stage the release for 1993 is not confirmed but I suspect it'll be The Reunion Concerts R I P CC Various, Heavyweights (RCA) Yet another heavy metal compilation that loses 10 points right off for including 'Paranoid' yet again. This one's reasonably useful, nonetheless, in that alongside several tried and tested bands (Scorpions, Saxon, Sabbath and Slade) it introduces several new bands. Pick of the bunch is Graham Bonnet's latest band Al catrazz, who as well as featuring the classic Bonnet vocal chords have the added bonus of a real speedfingers guitarist who sounds as if he could give Mr Van Halen a run for his money. Germany's Bullet also sound great; an uptempo rocker is featured here. Four Australian bands are included the feeble Heaven with their hand-me-down AC/DC riffs, the much-touted Boss who surprise with a pomp-rock sound and Avion and Black Alice, competent and confident yet too derivative of 1001 other metal bands to really stand out. Overall, an enjoyable collection. CC

Chaka Khan I Feel For You Warner Bros Funk wars. Lesser talents would perish beneath the scratchm' and percussive effects heaped on Chaka here. But not Chaka ultra funk and 80s electro claptrap is no match for the spark of Chaka energy. The single 'I Feel For You’ (a Prince composition also on Pointer Sisters’ So Excited) is a fabulous meeting between old and new Mel Melle on rap and Stevie Wonder on harmonica share the limelight with Chaka, yet her vocal edge is the crucial element. Ironically, it's produced by veteran soul producer Arif Mardin, though elsewhere on the album hip producers such as John Robie challenge Chaka with their gimmick funk. Best Robie collaboration is on My Love is Alive (a Gary Wright ditty), Chaka gets effectualised, oscillating from speaker to speaker. Fun. Not to be outdone, Arif Mardin scores with another exercise in excess This Is My Night' a Thriller' based romp of immense proportions. My fave track. It's great to have Chaka in a contemporary context. Few vocalists can compete with the strident power of modern funk. Chaka can. Murray Cammick Nile Rodgers Adventures in the Land of the Good Groove Mirage Signature tune of a well-known

Auckland radio show and one of the best albums released in a long time. Nile Rodgers and Chic created a paradigm for late 70s black music; the subtle and witty 'Good Times’, the majestic 'I Want Your Love' and the classic production work on Diana Ross’s 'Upside Down' and Sister. Sledge’s We AreFalnily'.lU^BßMßßß On this album he presents us with an X-ray of the" Chic magic, taking us through different "good ; grooves", from the hard, edgy rhythms of 'Yum Yum' and 'Get her Crazy' to the ballad feel of My Love Song For You'. Each song is a workout of Chic rhythms and melodies. but also a 1 transition point between his old work and his new, production style, with Bowie, Duran Duran and (more successful[ly^MadonnaJpJHß A vital selection for anyone interested in black groove music and a virtual textbook of modern production techniques. Kerry Buchanan Bobby. Blandj You Got Me Loving You (MCA) Every home should have a Bobby Bland LP He's so cool he’s got his very own groove and this LP has some very fine examples of Bobby Bland cool. The first three tracks on Side One are aces, particularly 'lt’s Too Bad' an uptempo, old ; fashioned prefunk mover. Wow! Bobby at his best. Yet next track 'Get Real Clean' is possibly the worst lyric he has ever sung. Oh, well the rest is great. Remember, you’ll never I understand coo! unless you own (a Bobby Bland LP MC Slave, Best Of (Cotillion) Available in kiwidom on tape only, this compilation of Slave gold gives you 10 tracks from ’Slide’

(1977) to ‘Steppm’ Out’ (1983). Powerful stuff Slave have had one of the best funk bass sounds for years and this is an ideal way to sample it. My fave track is 'Are You Ready for Love?’. MC Bobby McFerrin The Voice (Elektra Musician) Recorded live in Europe, this LP features McFerrin vocalising unaccompanied a oneman Persuasions performing diverse material from Lennon & McCartney’s 'Blackbird' to James Brown’s ’I Feel Good' (superb). His own compositions are equally varied, from jazz to the autobiographical ‘l’m My Own Walkman’. Very entertaining. Nearly as cool as Bobby Bland. MC