Page Two THE MICHIGAN DAILY Tuesday, November 30, 1971 Page Two THE MICHIGAN DAILY Tuesday, November 30, 1971 records MayalI: Another landmark 1. I; Ul Baily Calendar Tuesday, Nov. 30 ail Film- By HARRY HAMMITT John Mayall has been promi- nent on the British blues scene for close to a decade. During this period, he has never failed to provide the public with a constantly changing, very per- sonal, brand of blues. He was the one responsible for first bringing the vast talents of Eric Clapton, Peter Green, and Mick Taylor to public attention. After the swarm of imitators that fol- lowed Mayall's Bluesbreakers had made British blues mean- ingless, Mayall made a radical change to a modern folk blues style that is well-preserved on Turning Point. Even with this incredible success to his credit, Mayall refused to stagnate. He disbanded his Turning Point band, moved to California, and got his first American band to- gether. Again, he was incredibly successful. this time exposing the highly underrated talents of violinist Sugarcane Harris, and guitarist Harvey Mandel. The first album with this line-up, U.S.A. Union, was good, but not nearly as good a representation as is found on Back to the Roots. Mayall has formed a new band, presenting us with a trio consisting of himself on har- monica, rhythm guitar, twelve- string guitar, piano and vocals; Jerry McGee on lead guitar, do- bro, and sitar: and Larry Tay- lor on bass. Memories (Polydor PD-5012) is their first album together. Not only is it a new departure for Mayall, but .also a new landmark. It is impossi- ble to know what Mayall will come up with next, but he never fails to give the public the best, in modern white blues. The theme of the album is the memories of Mayall. The record begins with the title song which is the story of Mayall's early childhood in England. The song has a good melody and is a break away from the blues pro- gression. Although the song could easily stand on. its own merits as a nice melody, it is the arrangement that turns the song into something monumen- tal. The instrumentation is sparse throughout, with Mc- Gee's sitar fitting subtly into the background. Then, near the end of the song, Mayall's har- monica comes in with the per- fect touch of haunting nostal- gia. This is immediately followed by "Wish I Knew A Woman," a graphic description of an ado- lescent boy. Mayall's lyrics are very well-fitted to the song: What's wrong with me? I still got virginity Guys are driving me mad with all the women they have had All I got is my hand for satis- faction every night Mayall's harmonica and Mc- Gee's dobro get a real work- out during the number. It is amazing how much this song rocks even with the lack of drums; few musicians could pull it off as well as Mayall does. Much of the credit has to go to Larry Taylor's beautifully de- pendable bass, but Mayall's gui- tar is what cements the rhythm together. Following this is "The City," another nice rocker, and two slow reflective songs. Side two starts out with "The Fightin' Line" which is about Mayall's army life during the Korean War. This sing is ex- tremely effective in tying lyrics and music together. Mayall's harmonica, again, highlights the song. "Grandad" is a slow coun- try-style blues which fits to- gether well and is highlighted by the dobro of .McGee. "Back from Korea" is possibly the best song; it rocks with incompara- ble ferocity. Finally, "Play the Harp," is the only live on the album and would be rated a throwaway if done by lesser talents. but Mayall brings it off with some nice rollicking harmonica. Possibly the key the Mayall's success is the ability he has to attract outstanding musicians to his bands. McGee had pre- viously played with Delaney and Bonnie, and with the entures. Taylor was the bassist for Canned Heat. When you get musicians as, good as this to- gether and add the exceptional composing talents of.Mayall, you are bound to be rewarded with some good music. Memo- ries is such an album. A new entry from England is Russell Dean (Metromedia KM D 1046). Dean is a singer who sounds a lot like the Bee Gees. Generally, the songs are pleas- ant, but undistinguished. One of the faults lies in the fact that the backing is by studio mu- sicians who never get moving. The musicianship is good and clean throughout, just unin- spired. From California, Dory Pre- vin -- Reflections in a Mud Puddle/Taps, Tremors and Time Steps (United Artists UAS-55- 36) is another album that is above tolerable, but quite unin- spiring. Previn sings and she always sounds out of breath and unable to hit high notes. The interesting part of the record lies in the lyrics which the fair- ly unique and conversational in tone, as witnessed by some- thing like "The New Enzyme Detergent Demise of Ali Mc- Graw." Jim Carroll (A&M SP 4323) is also from California. Carroll not only sings, but he also plays the guitar. He spends the ma- jority of the first side playing songs that are based complete- ly on one acoustic riff that goes nowhere. On the second side he gets better, but, -still, it doesn't approach being sensational. The one things that places this al- bum above those of Dean and Previn is that there, is more interplay between musicians, due in part to Carroll himself, but mostly to guitarist David Spinozza, and pianist Craig Do- erge. Bloodrock, of course, is a fairly well-known group whose reputation is based on the fact that they are heir apparent to Grand Funk, or worse. In U.S.A. (Capitol SMAS 645), their new- est record, they give ample proof that their reputation is justified. The entire record is a series of rock riffs that con- stantly grate against the lis- tener's ears and remain thor- oughly tuneless throughout. The lyrics are insipid and com- pletely deserve their musical fate. The only good things to say are that the sound is clean which may be due to the engi- neering rather than the group. If you already like Bloodrock, or Grand Funk, then this album is for you. Varsity Cheer, or a History of The Western World at Half- time (Folkways FTS 31310) is referred to as a "comical-musi- cal-satirical - poetical - histori- cal - political - sexual - eco- nomic - religious - patriotic" re- cord, the brainchild of one Myles Jackson. The record em- ploys written dialogue and short songs interspersed with actual, conversation w i t h teamsters, stockbrokers, and Beatles' fans. The record was put together between 1963 and 1971, so some of the things included may seem hard to relate to at this time. The record is a good di- version and sounds something Alley Cinema, 330 Maynard' Max Ophul's "La Ronde" 7 and 9:30 p.m.* Fifth Forum "Plaza Suite" 7 p.m.* "Desperate Characters" 9 p.m.* State Theater "Bless the Beasts and Children" 1,3,5,7 and 9 p.m.* Campus Theater "Medicine Ball Caravan" 1,,35,7 and 9 p.m.* Michigan Theater "Play Misty for Me" 1,3,5,7 and 9 p.m.* Other Events- U. of M. Ski Club Meeting 3529 S.A.B. 7:30 p.m.* *denotes events for which admission is charged I AT STATE & LIBERTY Program Information 662-6264 OPEN 12:45E SHOWSAT1,3, 5, 7, & 9:05 P.M. COLUMBIA PICTURES Presents STANLEY KRAMER'S Roaon o Ends Wednesday) GP Starts :... Thurs. _ SOULT MOSO5ULI wwmnw....- (Eu zg DIAL 5-6i9. "One of the most excit- ing films you'll. see this yea r. - Det. News CLINT E AST WOOD . .. I M 4. like a forerunner of the Fire- sign Theatre. With competition in the re- cord industry as high as it is now, it is essential to have a high-class product in order to succeed. These records, while not being too intolerable, are not outstanding, and as a con- sequence, will probably not sur- vive. -M W-NmyYVRFD I I . ... ~i~ a RO O ,X Read Daily Classifieds "PLAYMISTY FOR ME" 1 Subscribe to The Michigan. Daily Lynn Redgrave, Alan ("the King of Hearts") Bates, James Mason GEORGY GIRL TONIGHT-TUESDAY-NOV. 30th ONLY auditorium a angell hall 7 &9 30 still only p.m. 75c presented by the ann a rbor film cooperative ENDS TON ITE WEDNESDAY, DEC. 1-4 P.M. A LECTURE ON PHILOSOPHICAL A'ND me + byDR. B.K. BAGCHI of the neuro-psychiatric institute, U of M Fourth in the series "DIMENSIONS OF RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE" DECEMBER 8-"ON CONSCIOUSN ESS" by Frithjof Bergmann DECEMBER 27-"HUMAN POTENTIAL" by Gene Houston ANGELL HALL-AUDITORIUM D Sponsored by the Program on Studies in Religion and the Office of Religious Affairs 4M G G G GG GG & dI LA RONDEL4 : l dir. MAX OPHULS. 1950 AN ELABORATE SATIRE ON SEXUAL BEHAVIOR. With great subtlety, Ophuls presents a panoramic display of illicit love in old Vienna, commenting on the futility of transitory elatonships in ten timeless sketches full of humor and tenderness. With SIMONE SIGNORET. THE ALLEY CINEMA 330 MAYNARD TONIGHT ONLY-TUESDAY, NOV. 30 SHOWS AT 7 & 9:30 $1.00 Coming Wed.-BERGMAN'S "PERSONA" sponsored by ann arbor film cooperative PRICE BREAK on the SONY 120,DELUX Portable Cassette Recorder ALSO STARRING KENNETH MARS SADA THOMPSON JACK SOMACK FROM THE NOVEL BY CO-PRODUCER GER ALD O'LOUGHLIN ,ASUE ALAFX PAUL LEAF ',CHARLIE" PAULA FOX ALLA PRODUCED - WRITTEN DIRECTED BY FRANK 0. ELROY COLOR by TVC A PARAMOUNT PICTURE ;* R = ALSO--2ND HIT ItI 111111 V A L Li III a 0 'liTH rr-UM "PLAZA SUITE" 7 TH AVENUE AT LIBERTY "DESPERATE 9700 -CHARACTERS" 97 INORMATIN 76-9700R STARTS WEDNESDAY! Joe IHiB, the movie: "A BEAUTIFUL WORK, PART I- STORY, PART SOCIOLOGY AND IN LARGEST PART, A FILM BALLAD ABOUT A FOLK HERO! 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