ARTS


The Michigan Daily

Wednesday, September 14, 1983

Page 5

... ..... .....

Records -
Betty Wright-
'Wright Back At You' (Epic)
Until the last several years, it seemed
that reggae rhythms might never
become the potent force on the
American scene that they have long
been in England. But with Musical
Youth crossing the Atlantic in fine
style, and a number of American artists
exploring the possibilities of Carribean
music and integrating it with more
mainstream pop sounds, this im-
pression is no longer viable. In fact, it
now appears that reggae music will
make a dent in the Black Pop market, if
only because so many Black American.
musicians are inspired by it.
Betty Wright is a veteran singer with
a fine vocal range, who has managed
for her entire career to funnel convic-
tion through whatever she's sung. This
hasn't always been easy, because even
though her career reached its zenith
during the golden age of Miami soul in
the early '70s, Betty Wright, like vir-
tually all of the singers of her
l generation, was victimized in the latter
I part of that decade by the need to con-
form to the disco syndrome. With the
advent of, Wright Back At You, Betty
Wright not only leaves those bad old
days behind her, but through her in-
tegration of Thirld World influences,
stakes out a niche in the contemporary
scene which is downright progressive.
Wright Back At You is a complete
album. Not a pair of catchy jams
surrounded by filler, but a collection of
well-written, well-performed tunes.
Five of these songs were co-written by
Wright, and the other four are covers
which apparently were written with
Wright in mind. They all seem to
eloquently express her feelings and
concerns at this time. There are funky,
rock-tinged party rave-ups like the
opening "Burning Desire" and "Live,
Love, Rejoice," and pop-funk of the
grandest variety in the charmingly
sweet "Be Your Friend," and a tune
called "Show Me," which sounds
V almost like a reggafied version of Patti
Austin's "Baby Come To Me:"
In addition, there are a series of even
more pure reggae tunes which work
surprisingly well. "Special Love" has
an absolutely wonderful rocking
groove, and "Reggae The Night Away"
evokes echoes of Steel Pulse's "Rally
Round The Flag," imploring people

from all over the globe to experience
the spirit of reggae.
"She's Older Now" is the first single
from Wright Back At You, and it is the
link which effectively summarizes the
gestures and sentiments of the album,
and perhaps Betty Wright's entire
career to date. The arrangement of this
song is by far the simplest of any on the
record, and it consists of. an under-
stated slow reggae groove, which is
mixed at an unusually low level, so as to
leave the lead vocals as the only up-
front sound on the track.
Betty Wright was originally signed by
Clarence Reid's Alston label at the ten-
der age of 11, and her records have
always reflected a self-consciousness
derived from this fact. "Cleanup
Woman" and "Babysitter" were
among the early songs which used her
youth as a gimmick, and the new
"Special Love" and "Be Your Friend"
make use of this history as a reference.
"She's'Older Now," however, like the
rest of Wright Back at You, em-
phatically demonstrates that Wright is
now capable of harnessing her talent
and image. She is in complete control.
Larking Arnold is in control also. As
the captain of Columbia's Black Pop
ship, he has embarked on a creative
and profitable course. First he signed
Luther Vandross and permitted him to
produce himself when no other label
would do so. Then he went to Belgium
and came home with Marvin Gaye
inked up as well. And now that Betty
Wright has released Wright Back At
You, with the help of Producer Marlon
Jackson and some of his famous
brother - yet another Columbia act
themselves - Luther and Marvin
albums, but if Betty Wright's record is
a commercial success, he just might be
remembered as a patron of carribean
rhythms in American Black popular
music.
Wright Back At You closes with
"Gimme Just Another Try", a song
which is built around a knockdown
blues riff through which the singer cries
out to a lost lover for reconciliation. It is
a powerful song, and one which again
seems analogous to Betty Wright's
career.
However influential this album may
eventually be, it should be remembered
mainly as a personal triumph for Betty
Wright. She's gotten another try, and
it's a smashing success. It's nice to
have her back. -Leizer Goldsmith

Queen Ida brings
royalty to ballroom

By Deborah Robinson
IT'S TIME ONCE again to cook up a
big kettle of gumbo, platters of
jambalaya, and heaps of crawdad pies.
But don't eat too much - when Queen
Ida brings her swampland swing to the
Union ballroom Thursday, you're gon-
na want to dance. And be not alarmed
if you can't locate your favorite cajun
recipe book. Queen Ida and the Bons
Temps Zydeco Band know how to cook.
The Queen, with her five-man band,
made her first Ann. Arbor appearance
last spring with two packed shows at
the Ark. Some people had got the word
about Zydeco. Some people heard
Queen Ida, who won a Grammy last
year, interviewed on "All Things Con-
sidered". The folkie crowd recognized
her from "A Prairie Home Com-
panion".
Of course, the Ark presents certain
limitations to such a hot band. The cof-
fee house has a special atmosphere: in-
timate. Add bon temps, and intimacy is
the equivalent of a steamy bayou cabin
on a Saturday night.
Fortunately, Thursday night's show
will be in the more spacious Michigan
Union Ballroom. Boogiers, be
THE DAILY
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frustrated no more! There is ample
space to rock down. The Union also
provides chairs, tables, and a cash bar.
And so, the stage is set. When Queen
Ida appears, she may seem a small and
fragile lady; don't be fooled. Her
sidekicks include Willie, another
Louisiana native and maestro of the
bullet-proof washboard vest, and 'four
young fellows from San Francisco. The
four stand poised beside their Queen,
electric guitar, bass, drums, and elec-
tric fiddle, ready. Ida slings her accor-
dion over into position, gives the sign,
and zowee. Zydeco. Traditional Cajun
music mixed with rock, blues, and a
country lilt. The Queen quickly
becomes larger than life, her smile and
her singing box reach out to the audien-,
ce.
So prepare yourself. The passwords.
are: bon temps tout le temps (good
times all the time), and laissez les bons
temps roullez. Don't worry about
brushing up the French though, the
Zydeco spirit will take care of that.
Tickets for the 8 p.m. show are $6,
available at Major Events Box office,,
Schoolkids and under the sign of the
crawfish at the door.
RENT A
REFRIGERATOR
Phone
973-6587
For immediate
free delivery

Accordion and zydeco mingle with Queen Ida tomorrow night at the Union
ballroom.

Duck dinner
Squawk! Duck lovers of all plumage
will be meeting tonight at the 6th an-
nual banquet of the Ann Arbor chapter
of Ducks Unlimited. The conser-
vationist-minded group helps preserve
and protect the nesting and feeding
areas of our fine-feathered friends.
The dinner takes place in Weber's Inn
at 7:30 p.m. Reservations taken at $30
apiece (membership dues included) at
973-6585.

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Daily
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