The Michigan Daily-Friday, September 14, 1979-Page 7. RECORDS o v CINEMA I PRESENTS PO% Pp I SLOW TRAIN COMING BOB DYLAN Ur A>' a~ f Slow Train Coming Bob Dylan Columbia FC-36120 By KURT HARJU Just a little over 14 years ago, Bob Dp-an went out of his way to spread doubt among the faithful. Producing howls from the beat generation and folk purists who formed the core of his following, Dylan made his electric debut at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival, risking the lable of "sell-out" to develop a new sound. Released almost exactly on the August 28th anniversary of that event, Dylan's latest album, Slow Train Cdiiing is stirring up a lot of controver- syand most of it along the same lines. He'is said to be betraying his roots by shedding the Star of David and em- br'acing the crucifix. It's even been written that he was seen wearing both onihis Hibbing farm, thus adding to the confusion. LIKE THE NEWPORT incident, these charges and all the speculation and publicity surroinding them are pointless and only serve to obscure the real issue. It wasn't whether Dylan played an acoustic or electric guitar then and it isn't whether he is Jewish of Christian now. The question is whether he is still creating valid music and Slow Train Coming proves without a doubt that he is. Slow Train Coming is far from being the gospel according to Dylan. Hehas always used Biblical images in his work; most notably {in the Old Testament atmosphere behind the moral of John Wesley Harding. This latest LP merely represents his first extensive use of the New Testament as a source of inspiration. Dylan has more than crosses to bear during the span of the nine songs he presents us. He seems aware that the uncertainty of his religious identity might be a concern for some and he ad- dresses the problem in, "Precious Angel": Now this spiritual warfare Flesh and blood breaking down You either got faith Or you got unbelief There ain't a neutral ground Otherwise, he avoids preaching and keeps the matter of faith on a personal basis. THE SAVING GRACE of this album is Dylan's indestrucible sense " of humor. On a forbidding-sounding song like "Gotta Serve Somebody," he manages to slip in lines like: You may call me Terry Youdnray call me Timmy You may call me Bobby Oryou may call me Zimmie You may call me R.,J. You may call me Ray You may call me anything No matter what you say You're still going to Have to serve somebody and still have them working for him thematically. "Man Gave Names To All The Animals" is pure fun in the same vein as "If Dogs Run Free" in its good- natured play on words and rhymes. The best two songs are the most for- ceful of the collection-"Slow Train" and "When You Gonna Wake Up." They amount to warnings of the im- peding future and the message of both comes down to "watch out." Lyrically, they're filled with the short, sharp metaphors that made Dylan famous. Yet, even they may have faltered were it not for the crisp sound Dylan has chosen this time. Desire and Street Legal were often hampered by the blurred, carnival nature of the perfor- mances and production. Here, Dylan has sought a smoother, more distinct background with guitarist Mark Knop- fler and keyboardist Barry Beckett leading the way. The vocals are likewise tightened up and toned down-resulting in some pretty soulful singing on Dylan's part. The album as a whole should not be judged too harshly. I wouldn't go as far as Jann Wenner did on a two page spread in Rolling Stone in proclaiming it to be Dylan's best LP of the '70's and possibly the greatest of his career. It's on par with Blood On The Tracks but without the rough edges. Slow Train Coming is a finely-crafted effort that deserves to be listened to. The religious aspects of the album ought not to keep fans from giving it a try. Take it as a new chapter in a fascinating ongoing autobiography. It's hard to put a good book down. Richard Pryor - Filmed Live In Concert (Jeff Margolls, 1979) Funnier than a Steve Martin, faster than a Mork, more powerful than a Robert Klein. Look, up on the stage, it's RICHARD PRYOR-LIVE IN CONCERT. 80 minutes of non-stop hilarity, this film proves Pryor as the funniest stand-up comic to hit the stage in years. "His physical and verbal comic gifts range from expert mimic and pantomimist to witty raconteur."-L.A. TIMES. (80 min) Angell Hall $1.50 7:00, 8:40, & 10:20 Tomorrow: HEAVEN CAN WAIT This Saturday Night TREES IN CONCERT a special appearance of the Ann Arbor folk group, TREES Saturday, Sept. 15-8 p.m. CANTERBURY LOFT-332 S. State, second floor $2.50 general admission beginning at 7:30 p.m. IN CONCERT Sandor and Laszlo Slomovits9 pjn: 1979 a Ste'uad A di 4 ,_701 E. Universit -Friday Auditorium $--- Adfmissio" This concert will be taped by Solid Sound of Ann Arbor for Gemini's first album. Kt Now is the time for all good writers o .come to te aid of he Arts page It is no longer a rumor, but fact: This Monday, Sept. 17 at 8 p.m., the Daily Arts and Entertainment staff will hold its first mass meeting for prospective writers. - Talented scribes fiot all over campus will flock to the offices, of the Daily, 420 Maynard, right behind Barbour'and Newberry dormitories for women. The Arts staff needs entertainment critics and feature writers. Years of experience have taught that talk is cheap, and the editors ask that prospec- tive writers come to the meeting with some sort of writing sample and an idea just what it is they'd like to write about. EXPERTS AGREE that Arts work is challenging and educational, and such experience never looks bad on a resume. What is more, as* critics, writers have their admission paid for, and they often capture the scorn of an entire community. It's great. So, yes, it's true. Monday night at 8 at the Daily. Make a note to yourself and tack it on your rental refrigerator. I THIS WEEKEND at CANTERBURY LOFT SEPTEMBER 14: PHOTOGRAPHY STUDY GROUP. An organizational meeting for those interested in researching and preparing a photography show at the Loft. Friday evening, 6 p.m. THE EQUUS PHENOMENON. An informal reading of the play, Equus, by Peter Shaffer followed by a discussion led by Tony Burdick. Friday, 8 p.m. Free. SEPTEMBER i5 TREES IN CONCERT. A special concert appearance by Trees, an ,Ann Arbor folk group. Saturday, 8 p.m. SEPTEMBER1 SUNDAY EVENING MEDITATION. Personal explorations in Christian spirituality, led by Episcopal Chaplain, Andrew Foster. Sunday, 6 to 7 p.m. Free and open to all. Canterbury Loft is located at 332 South State Street, two doors south of Nickels Arcade on State Street, on the second floor. For information, please call 665-0606. A 2 olice capture convict By TIMOTHY YAGLE A prison inmate escaped from University Hospital Wednesday night and was captured shortly afterwards on the diag, Ann Arbor Police said yester- day. According to police, 24-year-old Robert Harris of Detroit "just walked out of his room" on an all-private medical-surgical floor at around 9:15 p.m. and reportedly surrendered without incident to Ann Arbor police and hospital security guards on the Diag shortly after 9:30 p.m. Police said Harris was brought to the hospital from Southern Michigan Prison in Jackson for treatment of a "heart problem." According to a hospital employee, each room on the general-purpose floor which usually treats pulmonary patien- ts, 10-North, has only one door for en- tering and exiting, presumably permit- ting floor personnel to better monitor patients. Police said Harris is serving senten- ces for second-degree murder, two counts of armed robbery and assault. Ann Arbor police returned him to the prison shortly after his apprehension.