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SPECTRUM
The right direction '■ DesensitizatiOfl
By DAN CHILDS
It isn't as though Billy Cob
ham needed to cut a solo
album so that music followers
would recognize the top percus
sionist on the current music
scene. With the release of his
last album, “Spectrum,” Cob-
ham has established himself as
one of the standouts in music
today.
Cobham, on a temporary
leave from John McLaughlin’s
Maha vishnu Orchestra, has
formed a band (Spectrum) and
recorded an album bearing the
'You're
going
to Hell!'
By JON HOPE
Fiction
I was walking up to the
entrance of the department
store when some one reached
out and grabbed me by the
arm "Do you know where
you’re going when you die?”
the man asked.
Having had this happen far
too many times, I was ready
with an answer: “Yes. Albu
querque. Always wanted to go
there and I guess then would
be as good a time as any ”
"No, son. Hell! Hell is where
you’re going unless you take
the time to be saved Now.
where is it that you’re going
when you die?” he asked,
speaking as one would to a
misbehaving child.
"Aw. hell.” 1 muttered. I
was caught again
"Yes, son. you will burn
forever in the fiery depths of
hell unless you stop this wicked
life of carousing The time is
growing short. For you are
worthless, my son. You are
manure in the eyes of the
Lord. There is no hope for you.
my son. until you give yourself
fully.”
By now. I was getting more
than a little angry. "Wait just
a second. It’s one thing to
make your beliefs available to
us foolish devils who have not
yet and may never see your
particular light, but it is quite
another thing to ram those
beliefs down our throats. You
condemn far too quickly. The
interaction is all one way.
Open your eyes fully, my son.
before you start selling glass
es.”
"Yes. my son. you will be
condemned to hell lest you find
the one true way Our group.
The Columbians (not affiliated
in any way with the Columbia
Broadcasting System), puts out
this booklet which tells all
there is to know about God and
the mystery of life. Take it, my
son. and read it carefully.”
"Okay. I will read the book
let. Thank you. I really must
be going now.” I started to
walk away.
He grabbed my arm again
“Hey, man, it’s cool that
you’re going to read the book
let, but most of our children
make a contribution to cover
the cost of printing.”
"Okay, you can keep the
booklet ”
"HEATHEN” he shouted,
pulled out a crucifix and
started pointing it at me,
"HEATHEN does money mean
more to you than salvation?
HEATHEN.”
"Okay, you win. Here’s your
dollar.”
"Bless you, my son.”
same name. After nearly two
years with the Mahavishnu
Orchestra. Cobham felt his
own compositions weren’t wan
ted, so he left the group for six
months.
FROM THE outset of the
Spectrum album one can easily
distinguish John McLaughlin's
influence on Cobham and his
musical concepts. Cobham’s
music, however, is funkier,
more down-to-earth than Mc
Laughlin’s, who claims his
music is spiritually inspired.
The most astounding aspect
of the album is Cobham’s
ability as a percussionist to
dominate the music on most of
the cuts. His unique style,
speed and durability arc most
impressive, to say the least.
Cobham’s perfect sense of
timing serves as the most
cohesive factor in Spectrum's
music
The album takes off with a
flying start on the first and
finest cut. entitled "Quadrant
4." It highlights Tommy Bo
Ian’s finesse on lead guitar
which is complimented by Cob-
ham’s intense percussion A
very rollicking number indeed
"Spectrum,” the title num
ber, is dominated by Jimmy
Owens on flugelhorn and Jan
Hammer on keyboards Joe
Farrell renders a fine perfor
mance here on flute and sopra
no sax.
"Anxiety,” another brief
drum solo by Cobham. serves
as a prelude to the final cut on
side one. "Taurian Matador.”
which focuses again on the fine
guitar work of Bolan. At times,
"Taurian Matador” bears a
close resemblance to the work
of the Mahavishnu Orchestra.
THE OPENING number on
side two, "Stratus,” features
Bolan on lead guitar with the
backing of Hammer's electric
piano and Moog synthesizer,
along with Cobnam’s driving
percussion.
“To the Women in My Life”
follows, and is a pensive inter
lude which spotlights Hammer
on acoustic piano
"Lelis is one of the better
cuts on the album and features
Owens on flugelhorn, backed
by Hammer on keyboards,
Barreto on congas and John
Tropea on guitar
"Snoopy's Search” fs a spa
cey little piece that spotlights
Hammer on the synthesizer. It
is a lead in to the final cut of
the album. "Red Baron,” an
earthy number centering a-
round Hammer's electric piano
lick and Bolan's guitar work.
Lee Sklar’s performance on
bass, however, makes the song.
Overall, the "Spectrum" al
bum is worthy of a four star
rating It is an album of varying
moods and patterns, speaking
well for the talent and versati
lity of the musicians, but at the
same time maintaining the
right amount of subtlety. If
Spectrum” is indicative of the
direction in which music is
heading (and I believe it is)
then music lovers definitely
have something to look for
ward to in the future
By IIAP TAYLOR
A little boy and a little girl skipped hand-in-hand, and romped
with happiness and curiosity on their way to school for the first
time On the way they stopped to inhale the sweet, clean
fragrance of a neighbor's multicolored blossom; soothingly
caress the soft furry head of a black, white, brown mongrel
puppy with uncoordinated ears; draw mystical, secret-club
designs in the gravel with the toes of their squeaky, new shoes;
listen in open-mouthed awe to the birds, each whistling his own
personal song; unwrap and eat a crumbly piece of chocolate cake
with smushed icing.
On their second day of school, the children sniffed the fresh
morning air, patted the puppy, whistled back at the birds, and
ate their dessert They did not draw any more designs in the
gravel for their parents had sternly admonished them for
scuffing the toes of their beautiful, expensive shoes.
On their third day of the schoolyear. the children gupled the
sweet smell of the trees, hugged the puppy who ran to meet
them, and consumed their dessert in three cheek-bulging bites.
They no longer paused for the melodic sounds of the birds for
their teacher had scolded them for being tardy.
On the fourth day. the children ran to scratch the puppy behind
the ears, and ate their dessert while in motion, spilling portions
of the two moon-sized cookies and leaving the clear plastic
wrapper to glint in the sunlight. They no longer stopped to
sample the available smells, for their neighbor had complained
of children trampling his flowers and their parents had forbidden
flower smelling with a waggling finger under-the-nose
On the fifth day the* children walked to school grudgingly, the
boys with the boys, and the girls with the girls, passing the time
in idle conversation, eating the parts of their lunch which
appealed to them. They no longer stopped to communicate with
their friend the puppy for a passing motorist, rushing to work,
had run over and killed the black, white, brown mongrel with the
uncoordinated ears.
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