Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 18, 1992                   TAG: 9203180131
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: E-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Mike Mayo
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Long

LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE WOMEN AND THEIR SONGS

The strongest of the lot is "Koko Taylor: Queen of the Blues." In keeping with its subject, this is an anti-MTV concert tape.

Mrs. Koko Taylor, as she is introduced at each show, is shown in her element. Her performances were filmed in several small clubs. She calls her style "old-fashioned Mississippi blues," meaning that she sings with a big, growly voice in front of a solid five-man band. No frills, no tricks, just straight-ahead blues.

Between numbers the tape presents brief snapshots of her past and her life away from the stage. She's a sharecropper's daughter from Tennessee. Her career began back in the glory days of Chess Records, and, as shown here, she's never strayed far from her musical roots. For the uninitiated (like me), think of her as a blues version of Ella Fitzgerald.

The finest moment on the tape is her reunion with the late Chicago bluesman Willie Dixon, who was her producer at Chess, and guitarist Buddy Guy. The three cut loose with a rocking version of their semi-scandalous hit "Wang Dang Doodle." Among the other high points, "Let the Good Times Roll," "I'm a Woman Now" and "Love Game."

The off-stage interviews and conversations are kept to a minimum, but they're revealing - the band tends to stay at Quality Inns when it travels. They're also touching, particularly the comments of Taylor's husband, who died soon after the interview was recorded.

This kind of music, with its uncompromising style and rough edges has never found a wide popular audience, but it could. The electronic tricks and gimmickry of today's pop hits look like mighty thin beer compared to this. The raw emotion and power of Taylor's voice comes across, even through a crummy little TV speaker like mine.

Emmylou Harris is getting back to her musical roots, too, with "Emmylou Harris and the Nash Ramblers at the Ryman." Again, this tape was made without any of the self-conscious electronic wizardry that we associate with music videos.

The Nash Ramblers are an acoustic group, and the tape was made at the Ryman Auditorium, home of the Grand Old Opry until 1974. The simple presentation doesn't distract you from the music.

Emmylou Harris looks great with gray hair. Her comments, usually explaining why she chose each song, are brief, and each of the band members gets a few seconds to explain what he's doing, too. My own favorites are Nancy Griffith's "It's a Hard Life Wherever You Go," Bill Monroe's "Scotland" and a nostalgic version of "Abraham, Martin and John."

Moving to the other end of the music video spectrum, where electronic tricks and overdubbing are the point, we have "Moon Shadows" by the Irish group Enya. This short tape includes its debut hit, "Orinoco Flow," and some scenes and music from the Steve Martin film "L.A. Story."

All in all, it's an interesting collection. For my money, a little of this New Age, mystical pop goes a long way, and "Moon Shadows" stops at the right time. The intricate harmonies and unusual rhythms are reflected in the warm, fuzzy visuals.

The most recent entry in the "Rabbit Ears We-All-Have-Tales" series of fairy tales is "Puss in Boots." This version, written by Eric Metaxas and told by Tracey Ullman, sticks close to the familiar details of the quick-witted cat who saves his dim young owner.

The simple drawings are complemented by Jean Luc Ponty's music. My only real criticism is of the silly French accents Ullman gives some of the voices. They're hard enough for adults to understand and will probably be baffling for younger kids.

New releases this week:

An American Tail: Fievel Goes West: *** Produced by Steven Spielberg. With voices of Dom DeLuise, John Cleese and Jimmy Stewart. Rated G. MCA/Universal, 72 minutes.

Animated feature about the further adventures of the immigrant mouse is brief, breezy and fun. Some of the jokes are corny and some are irresistible. A cartoon tribute to the western movie genre.

Other People's Money: *1/2 Stars Danny DeVito, Penelope Ann Miller, Gregory\ Peck. Directed by Norman Jewison. Warner. Rated R for language; 120 minutes.\ What starts as a biting satire degenerates into a populist drama without\ teeth. DeVito plays a ruthless corporate raider, and Miller plays the lawyer\ who tries to thwart him.

The Doctor: *** Stars William Hurt, Christine Lahti, Elizabeth Perkins. Directed by Randa Haines. Buena Vista. Rated PG-13 for language and graphic operating-room scene; 135 minutes.

William Hurt's impersonal bedside manner is turned on him when a malignant tumor lands him in the hospital. By far the most convincing and expertly crafted of the human growth movies last summer.

THE ESSENTIALS: (All these are unrated and contain no offensive material) Koko Taylor: Queen of the Blues *** MPI. 55 min.\ Emmylou Harris and the Nash Ramblers at the Ryman *** Warner. 48 min.\ Moon Shadows ** Warner. 25 min.\ Puss in Boots ** 1/2 Rabbit Ears. 27 min.