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THE MUSICAL BOX
By RirV Nir»
Discs That Deserve
Your Attention
Endless Wire
By Gordon Lightfoot
Gordon Lightfoot is s living legend in the field of music. The Canndisn
bsllndeer recently celebrated his 20th anniversary in the music industry by
releasing his latest album. Gordon lightfoot's singing and song-writing style is
incomparable; there has never been anyone else like him, and probably never
will be. His voice is a musical monument. Over the past 20 years Lightfoot's
distinct voice has shown no signs of deterioration; rather it has improved over
the years.
His recent popularity\an be attributed to the success of his last three
singles, ‘’Sundown," "Carefree Highway," and "Wreak of The Edmund
Fitzgerald."
The first single released from the new album is "The Circle is Small," a
decent song that gets bogged down by an overly repetitious chorus. A better
choice for the single would have been “Sometimes I don't Mind. It is a fast
paced song with a strong ‘ ‘hook'' (melody), and a chorus that is hard to forget.
The album is pop oriented, more reminicent of the "Sundown" album than
his last album “Summertime Dream." What distinguishes the latest album
from the last two albums is that there are a few more last paced songs, and the
glossed over production has sugar coated the music, thus making it more
commercially oriented. Fortunately, the music is not too sweet to swallow, so
the music is easily likable. The lyrics are decent, but not as poetic as they have
been in the past. The saving grace of the album is Gordon Lightfoot s narrative
vocal style, which produces the magical effect he is known for. His ever present
personal touch is evident, but I’m afraid that it does not reach as deeply as it
has on his past albums. Another problem is that the album is a little too “laid
back,” due to the production. The production has drowned out whatever
philosophical presence the music might have hail, and more unfortunate is the
fact that the lyrics are also lacking in this senso. Do not get me wrong; this, is a
good album, even though I am slightly disappointed with the result.
While the album will be accepted by some and rejected by others, it will
eventually become just another chapter in the great career of Gordon Lightfoot.
Choice Cuts; "Daylight Katy," “Dreamland." “Songs the Minstrel Sang,"
"Sometimes I don’t Mind," and "If Children Had Wings.”
The album is currently #40 on the Billboard charts.
Citadel
By Starcasile
This is Starcastle’s third album. Each album has steadily Improved; this is
he groups best album. The group is also developing a respectable following,
rhich is well deserved. The group can’t escape being compared to the group
•Yea.” but there are some notable differences. The b«di. Amencan, so
inlike their British counterparts, they see no need to eiplofelbe art-rock
tenre, or to record ten, fifteen, or twenty minute songs with en^ess soloing
L soaring vocals. This a band in the r«l sense of the word. The mumc is
Jeer and concise, and the vocals are mixed down so that the mosic iJ “
ipot light. To give the vocals equal weight would be an injustice to the music.
^ music 1, quite enjoyable, and the band’, musical mterpUy and vo«d
larmonies are smooth and engaging. Even when the band cranks it up, they
"^Cnu^s^w. of Song." "Wing, of White,” "Chang, in Tun.."
rod ‘' Why Have'They Gone
The album is currently #209 on the Billboard Charts.
Homecoming
Homecoming at Mercer has always
been a time for spirit, activities and
basketball, and the 1978 Homecoming is
no exception.
Homecoming night, Feb. 18, the
Mercer Bears vs. Georgia State. The
presentation of Toby and Tot, and the
over all spirit award winner will be
announced after the game.
The overall spirit award winner will
receive a trophy and a 860 cash prize.
Groups may accumulate points for the
spirit award by attending the Teddy Bear
and Bear games. Group members should
sign in at a designated table by 8:16.
Additional points may be gained
through the display that best represents
the Homecoming theme, “It’s a Bear
world.” Points will also be awarded to
groups participating in “Skit Night’,“ on
Friday, Feb. 17, at 6:30 p.m. in the
cafeteria.
EVENTS FOE HOMECOMING
Sunday, Feb. 12
Gong Show in the cafeteria at 7:30
p.m. * N
Monday, Feb. 13
Pie-in-the-face at 10:00 a.m. in the
Co-op.
Voting for Super Bear begins
Tuesday, Feb. 14
Voting for “Mr. Legs”
Wednesday, Feb. 15
Bear Hunt all day. Turn bears into
SGA office between 12:00 p.m. and 5:00
p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 16
Steve Gibson doing caricatures in CSC
from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Dinner in the cafeteria with music by
jazz ensemble * *
"The Front" showing at 8:00 p.m. in
room 314 CSC
Friday. Feb. 17
Steve Gibson in the CSC from 9:00
a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Color Day - All students and faculty
are asked to wear M.U. colors or jerries
Skits in the cafeteria from 6:30 to 7:30
p.m.
Pep Rally - Bonfire on the ROTC field
from 7:30 to 8:30.
Saturday, Feb. 18
Basketball games in the coliseum
beginning at 6.
Dance at the coliseum from 10:00 p.m.
to 2:00 a.m.
THE RAVEN OF ROCK
By Daryl Toor
HEY, HEY. THEY’RE THE MONKEES (PART I)
In 1964 the English rock group the
Beatles arrived in America and the
British invarioh began. Don Kirshner, a
TV series producer, decided it was time
to cash in on the phenomonal success of
rock groups.
Kirshner found four young musicians
whom he felt could imitate the Beatles
in a television show to satisfy the
Beatles fans who wer? disappointed
when John Lennon announced that the
Beatles would not make any more
movies or TV appearances. Michael
Nesmith played guitar and sang in
Redneck bars in Dallas, Texas. He wrote
his own songs and was having difficulty
securing a recording contract. Peter Tork
was found in Washington, D.C. playing
in a high school talent show. Micky
Dolenx was discovered playing in a local
band in L. A. and won Kirshner over with
his pleasant and witty personality. David
Jones, a 20 year old singer from
England, was thrown in to add an
“English group" effect.
In 1966 Don Kirshner Productions
dubbed the group “The Monkees."
During reherals, disaster struck. Ne
smith discovered that he could not write
enough songs for the group, so Kirshner
found two singer-song writers, Tommy
Boyce and Bobby Hart, to help. A second
problem arose. Kirshner discovered
that each individual Monkee was a good
actor and musician when alone, but the
boys could not “ring and play.at the
same time." A back-up group was
brought in, and TV production continu
ed.
The show “The Monkees" premiered
in the Fall of 1966 and was a smash
success. The title song. “(Theme From)
The Monkees," went to 91 on the
Billboard charts. Kirshner was shocked!
\
He produced the group’s first album.
“The Monkees," and it went gold. Their
second album “More of the Monkees"
also went gold.
John Lennon wrote in a letter to Don
Kirshner ‘ ‘This group is cheap. It is clear
they can not sing or play together and
ought to be outlawed." He formed a
movement to decry the Monkees.
Unfortunately for Lennon, other artists
liked the group. Neil Sadaka, Carole
King, Neil Diamond, and others
answered The Monkees distress call.
They wrote songs for the group (3 out of
4 became hits), and, while helping The
Monkees, they also helped their own
careers. “The Monkees Show" was in
the top 10 Nielson ratings in 1967. A
third album was released entitled
’’Headquarters.’’ This album recognized
other musicians who had helped the
group in the past and was the Monkees
first venture at singing and playing on an ^
album together. The album went
platinum. The Monkees went on a U.S.
tour and sold out every concert hall.
Their success was phenomonal and
challenging. The Beatles recognized this
and Paul McCartney decided the Beatles
should do more movies to avoid
competition.
The Monkees were the first group an
average rock fan could name every
member of since the Beatles. Everyone
remembered Mike Nesmith, guitarist
and tall guy who wore a funny green hat,
Peter Tork. the naive one, Micky Doles,
the wild comedian, and Davy Jones, the
lovable Englishman who girls were crazy
about.
NEXT WEEK: More albums, break-ups,
and the futures of the group members. .
(Part II)