THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 12, 1995 TAG: 9503090193
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 13 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: John Harper
LENGTH: Medium: 91 lines
``Heard anything good lately?''
It's a question this former radio programmer and now music columnist hears on a regular basis. Most of the time the question is from 30- and 40-something friends and acquaintances who know there has to be more to current music than the vocal aerobics of Michael Bolton and Whitney Houston.
Well, I'm pleased to report that record companies are finally realizing that there is a market for thoughtful, intelligent music. Artists like Nancy Griffith, Mac McAnally and Pat Metheny release at least one record a year. Unfortunately, many of these artists fall into radio's formatic cracks, meaning the artist is ``not country enough'' or ``too jazzy.''
It's frustrating for the artists and for those of us who have discriminating ears.
So, for discriminating ears of the Albemarle, here are some recent releases in my ``A'' rotation.
``Forest'' - George Winston - Windham Hill Records
Winston calls his music ``folk jazz.'' No overdubbing on his records, just a man and his piano. This is Winston's first release in three years. Be warned: His music can put you in the twilight zone. This is part of my recipe for a perfect Sunday morning: the newspaper, a cup of coffee and George Winston on the stereo.
``Live at the BBC'' - The Beatles - Apple Records
Yes, I know these recordings are 30 years old, but most of us never heard the Beatles play live. Their performances on the Ed Sullivan Show were difficult to hear over the screaming teenagers in the studio.
This batch of live radio recordings, culled from the vault of the British Broadcasting Co., offers 68 songs, many recorded before The Beatles arrived in America. Some of their later hits, ``A Hard Day's Night,'' ``I Feel Fine'' and ``Can't Buy Me Love'' are heard without the studio sheen of the hit versions. Hearing these songs sends me to boo-hoo city. The Beatles' music is the soundtrack of my life.
``Amplified Heart'' - Everything but the Girl - Atlantic Records
This duo is huge in Europe, but for some reason their music hasn't really caught on here. Tracey Thorn is the singer, and Ben Watt provides everything else. Most of their songs deal with love, but Watt and Thorn find a unique way to express their feelings.
``Blink Of An Eye'' - Michael McDonald - Reprise Records
Michael Bolton, take notes. McDonald tugs at the heart strings without straining. His husky baritone wraps around Carole King's ``Hey Girl'' and 10 other songs and never lets go.
``Hourglass'' - America - American Gramaphone
Dewey Bunnell and Gerry Beckley recorded their first album in 1970. During the last 25 years, the band has scored a dozen hits, some of which have reached the burnout point. (I would like to see the ``Horse With No Name'' finally make it out of the desert.) On this album, their first since 1983, Bunnell and Beckley are joined by Beach Boy Carl Wilson for 12 songs about love, hope and friendship. Nothing flashy here, just straight ahead harmony singing and spare guitar and piano playing.
``Knots'' - Mac McAnally - MCA
What's up with this guy? He's got a great voice. He's a top-notch musician, melody writer and wordsmith who plays on hundreds of records made in Nashville. And his records are rarely heard on radio. Most of his albums are out of print. Listen to his song ``The Knot'' and tell me it's not the most haunting song about a broken love affair you've heard. In my radio programming days, I always found room on my station for this guy.
``Suspending Disbelief'' - Jimmy Webb - Electra Records
You may not know the name, but you know his work. Here's just a partial list of the songs he's written: ``By The Time I Get To Phoenix,'' ``All I Know,'' ``MacArthur Park'' and ``Wichita Lineman.'' No one will confuse Webb with Sinatra, but he sings of what he feels. My favorite cut on the album is ``Adios,'' a song he wrote for Linda Ronstadt to sing. His version is equal to her take on the song on the album ``Cry Like A Rainstorm, Howl Like The Wind.''
``Broken Moon'' - Lowen and Navarro - Parachute Records
Their first album ``Walking On A Wire'' is one of my all-time favorites. Eric Lowen and Dan Navarro do most of the playing, singing and writing. Their music is folk-rock for the '90s. I had to mention this album because Lowen and Navarro thank me in the liner notes for my radio help on ``Walking On A Wire.''
This is just my ``A'' list. There are at least 20 current adult releases I listen to on a regular basis: Metheny, Griffith, Dan Fogelberg, Deborah Holland and Paula Cole among them. And on the horizon, there are new recordings by Stevie Wonder, Linda Ronstadt and Van Morrison.
Adult rock 'n' roll is here to stay. MEMO: John Harper covers Outer Banks music and entertainment for The Carolina
Coast. Send comments and questions to him at P.O. Box 10, Nags Head,
N.C. 27959.
by CNB