Wednesday, January 9, 1974 THE MICHIGAN DAILY Page Five Wednesday, January 9, 1974 THE MICHIGAN DAILY Page Five Dylai By WAYNE C. JOHNSON The lights dimmed a respec- table half hor late, the cheers went up and Bob Dylan, folk legend and singer, walked onto the Chicago Stadium stage with The Band. The standing ovation that en- ri hasn't lost sued was sparked by people who knew they would not be disap- pointed, no matter what. Every- where people said things like, "There he is!" though that was perfectly obvious. They began to play fast and hard so as not to lose the excite- ment of the audience. Promoter Bill Graham I e a n e d on a speaker and swayed happily with the music. At $7.50, $8.50 and $9.50 a ticket he should have been ecstatic. He expects to make $5 million for Dylan and himself through Midler shows spirit; rBrain Salad Bob Dylan I don't think of Bette Midler as an interpreter. That's why side one of her newest release Bette Midler (Atlantic SD 7270) is so disappointing. But if you, like I do,. think of her as a performer - the show- stopping, stage - stomping Di- vine Miss M - then side two is made to perfect order. Her aim throughout the album is to display her vocal virtuosity. She can sing those slow ones - Hoagy Carmichael's "Skylark" or Doris Tauber and Johnny Mercer's "Drinking Again" - but not with half the feeling that she brings to the medley of "Up- town - Da Doo Ron Ron" on side two. is a tour de force in which she handles all parts. Note for note, it beats "Boogie Woggie Bugle Boy," the best number off her debut album. The additional lyrics add that sexual showiness that is so much a part of her live act. "Twisted" is Barbara Streisand in drag - an outrageously funny song. "Higher and Higher" is the testament that "I Shall Be Re- leased" wasn't - it keeps get- ting faster and more fervent un- til she's way above us and the rest of her back-up and off sing- ing on her own. -KURT HARJU Wild Tales': Nash left out in the cold By KURT HARJU Graham Nash's success as a singer and songwriter has always been precarious. As the least- known member of the popular Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, his output was the weakest but it did have its place. His work since then has been too simplistic for my taste though his collaboration with David Crosby did prove that it had some merit. His latest al- bum Wild Tales (Atlantic SD 7288) still leaves me out in the cold and makes me wonder just where he fits in as a solo artist. The album starts out promis- ingly enough with the title tune- it's got a great rhythm and fine slide guitar by David Lindley, Jackson Browne's ace guitarist. He doesn't have a strong voice but his phrasing is adequate and moves the song right along. The next song "Hey You (Looking At the Moon)" shows the country influence that pre- vades much of the album. The music's slower - so you listen to the words. There isn't much there - and that's his biggest mistake. In "Prison Song," for example, he asks the question: Kids in Texas Smoking grass, Ten year sentence Comes to pass. Misdemeanor In Ann Arbor, Ask the judges Why? but that's about as far as he gets to confronting the burn- ing issues of our day. He just doesn't have a whole lot to say. And it's a shame really. The music's not bad at all. "And So It Goes" has all the quiet in- tensity of a Neil Young song (say "Cowgirl in the Sand") but all he has to say is "Everybody knows' Music gets you high." Most of the songs have good melodies and the performances are con- sistently strong. "You'll Never Be the Same" is a fine country song with the re- frain: As long as life's a grain of sand Tossing and turning in the tide I'll say it once again You'll never be the same but that's as close as he comes to making a true and moving statement. I keep wishing he had really told us some wild tales. Hell, he probably knows enough-having been a part of a supergroup and nearly marrying Joni Mitchell who does the LPs art work). Gossip would do just as long as he said something meaning- f'il. But he insists on walking on Thin Ice Music, and you can hear it breaking every once and awhile. __ ARTS soars with Brain Salad Surgery (Co- tillion 66669). All the songs are well-written and performed, with the possible exception of "Benny the Bouncer", a stupid little dit- ty about a bloody barroom brawl. But if you've waited almost two years for a new Emerson, Lake and Palmer album, Brain Salad Surgery is well worth the wait. Keith Emerson uses synthesiz- ers to their fullest range, creat- ing the beautifully poetic sound of "Still . . . You Turn Me On", and the macabre mood of "Toc- cata". "Karn Evil 9" is a long, mu- sically complicated piece which takes up two-thirds of the al- bamrn. The concept is of a futuristic society with computers, star- ships, bloody carnivals and inter- planetary wars. The concept goes well with ELP's near-total electric sound; drummer Carl Palmer even uses electric per- cussion synthesizers. Palmer provides good, basic percussion, and gets a solo once or twice. Greg Lake's vocals, boss and guitar work are as fine as ever. Emerson continues to explore new uses of electronic keyboard music. At times, it's hard to believe all this music came from only three people. The music is not repetitive or monotonous like so much music today. This is pure progressive rock music. Brain Salbd Surgery will prove to be one of the better al- bums of the new year. -ELIJAH LANGFORD ROCK "STAR" HOLLYWOOD (UPI)-"A Star is Born," the film classic that featured Judy Garland, will be remade by Warner Bros., with a contemporary rock and roll setting. th eJ ticket sales. Dylan vetoed a movie of the tour which would have made him richer and his fa-s even happier. The opening night concert on Jan. 3 had been a success ac- cording to most Chicago review- ers. Amost predictably, one cratic called it a "religious experience," a term normally associated with sex and LSD. It was a moviag e'ent for the minds and "souls" of the audience which was solidty tned in to Dylan's every move- ment and sound. Bob Dylan has been gone from the public view for so long that his ret!rn could not have failed to arouse excitement. If he stays visible long enough the fervor will die, but not until everyone who wants to see him gets to. His music has remained con- sistently popular during his ab- scence, which always keeos the possibility of a personal appea- ance alive. Who, for example, dmbts that the Beatles will play together someday for at least one lucky crowd of ticket holders. It feels very good to listen io him sing. He harmonized almost constantly, lending freshness and new meanings to every song. On "Like A Rolling Stone" he near- ly spoke some of the lines, grip- pin, the listener with the texure of the words. The face of Spiro Agnew flash- ed through more than one per- son's mind as Dylan sang, "How does it feel to be on your own; a complete unknown." The Band gave an excellent performance with and without Dylan. The choice of the sang "Stagefright" seemed tightly ap- propriate to the aging star, who rested while they played. Dylan magi c did seem ner oos and very sslf- conscious bt considering the adulation dumped upon him, it could have been worse. The most disappointing aspect of his nervousness was his failure to speak to the audience between songs as he has in past concerts. Everyone has heard at least one of his songs but few have heard him say anything. A small rap would have en- deared him to his fans forever. Perhaps the faceless blob in front of him looked too impersonal. maybe he just didn't feel like it. In a rare interview indThe New York Times, Dylan admit- ted that the role of prophet was flung upon him. "It had to be somebody and happened to be me," he said. He sang a few new tunes at the concert from his unreleased album on Asylum Elektra but the response was not overwhem- ing. It was Bob Dylan, Prophet of the 60's, they wanted to hear. The new tunes were pleasant but not outstanding when played with the oldies. The papers reported that after the Jan. 3 concert the audience had held lighted matches as a silent sign to Dylan that made him reappear for an ecore. The next night, the audience jumped the gun and lighted the matches after Dylan had only finished playing his secind set. The crowd was so anxious to please him that they detracted a bit from the lovely trib-ite. Dylan has 36 more concerts to go and they are all guaranteed to be great, unless he doesn't show. The people who love him will not let him fail. Her selection and treatment of Kurt Weill's "Surabaya Johnny" is interesting but, like Dylan's "I Shall Be Released," it lacks a certain commitment that makes them such soulful songs in other versions. Only "Breaking Up Somebody's Home" opens up on side one and gives us an indication of what's coming. Side two is simply great. Her voice seems better suited to this faster and flasher material. She sings as a trio in the sec- ond part of the opening medley "Optimistic Voices - Lullaby on Broadway" and "In the Mood" Keith Emerson, along with Rick Wakeman of YES, has been an innovator of electric key- board music. Several years ago, Emerson combined talents with vocalist/guitarist Greg Lake and drummer Carl Palmer to form Emerson, Lake and Palmer. Off to a slow start at first, Pictures at an Exhibition show- ed Emerson's talent at the key- board, but the album was gloomy and melancholy. Two years ago, Triology showed how three great musicians could integrate their efforts well enough to sell a mil- lion copies without the help of a single. The group has surpassed itself NEW WORLD FILM CO-OP PRESENTS CULTrUkRE CANUAR FILM-New World Film Co-op presents Ashby's Harold and Maude in Nat. Sci. Aud. at 7, 9:05 tonight. Cinema Guild presents Primitive and Modern Counterparts in Arch. Aud. at 7, 9:05 tonight. Ann Arbor Film Co-op presents Russell's Women in Love at 7, 9 tonight in Aud. A, Angell. MON. JAN. 7 TUES. JAN. 8 1&9pm. WED. JAN. 9 THURS. JAN. 10 Modern Languages Aud. 3 Natural Science Aud. Next week see: PINK FLAMINGOS (Mon.) DIARY OF A MAD HOUSEWIFE (Tue.) & FELLINI'S ROMA (Wed. & Thurs.) Jan. 21-Bunuel's BELLE DE JOUR Jan. 22 & 23--STATE OF SIEGE I Jan. 24-JOHNNY GOT HIS GUN Jan. 28 & 29-BUTCH CASSIDY & SUNDANCE KID 41 PLO SKOWBAR PRESENTS TONIGHT WEDNESDAY and THURSDAY JANUARY 9th and 10th LEOPARDS COVER: $1.00 coming FRIDAY and SATURDAY January 11th and 12th BROOKLYN BLUES BUSTERS COVER: $1.00 I" l i 777A M'1,',?.w.