Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 26 November 1977 — Page 12

PARC 19 THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER tmvjc u. SATURDAY movIMHR 26, 1977

Entertainment George Duke here Dec. 9

By LYNN FORD

.laz/. keyboardist GEORGE Dl ! KE will bring his much criticized crossover sound here s p.m. Dec 9 when he plays the Expo ('enter with a special

ijues£ to be named.

Duke with his latest LP Reach For It" has explored even further the various corss o\ er sounds associated with its predecessor. "From Me to You.” The new album's title cut making a lot of noise, both terally and figuratively, and is *ne of the fastest selling singles

i his fall.

!n "Reach For It," Duke runs ;he gamut of todays sounds v\iih the midtempo funk title ut as well as slower ballads (lie h«- flowing “Just For You,” in x hich Duke makes the most of ri> keyboard synthesizer work) light jazz f'Hot Fire," which has piano work equalling that of Raul I)e Sousa's “Sw eet Lucy." «hich Duke produced), and ■ rgasrn rock (“Watch Out iaby," complete with Donna Summer like moans). v “Reach For It," the first single which has all but storm ed local playlists, is just about what’s happening now, but is unoriginal and lacks imagi nation it sounds like a Bootsy’s Rubber Banu cut from the overpowering bass line to Duke's ghost like vocals), which are probably the ingredients that make it a solid '-eller. And that'* * what counts. Duke had been, prior to From Me to You,” heralded as a true jazz artist, but has met much criticism of late for his selling out” to the commercial

*ound.

“To me it’s jive," Duke says :tb ut the rap he's getting. “It’s almost as bad as people knock

SUNSHINE PROMOTIONS & ROCK PRODUCTIONS

WELCOME

And Introducing Poctcetl

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27 “o'" MARKET SQUARE ARENA All Seats Reserved: $8.50-$7.50 & $6.50 ON SALf NOW AT: MARKET SQUARE ARINA BOX OFFICE, ROSS A BABCOCK, ROSS A YOUNG, ALL INDIANAPOLIS L.S. AYRES STORES, SUNRIZE in MUNCIE AFTERMATH in KOKOMO, SLATEWOOD RECORDS in LAFAYETTE KARMA in BLOOMINGTON, tnd SUN RECORDS in ANDERSON

;'f v;

Soul Sounds

ing interracial marriage. You don’t have to lose your identity because you’re a melting pot.” And by listening to thr And bv listening to the WHOLE "Reach For It” LP, instead of just the single, critics w ill find Duke’s an even better jazz artist then before he

"stretched out.”

Oh, by the way, tickets to the Duke concert are on sale at $6.50 and $5.50 from the usual

outlets.

***

Another artist to slightly alter his sound recently is BILL WITHERS. W ithers, who gives the image of a guitar-playing folk singer in brown skin, has left his basic guitar, vocal and piano work found in early hits “Ain't No Sunshine" and “Lean On Me" behind for a more musically involved sound. Withers’ latest LP, “Menagerie," finds added horns and strings to give his basic sound a more commercial appeal. Withers retains the vocal overdubs, especially in single hit “Lovely Day," w hich opened the beautiful “Lean On Me.”

*** «

TONY ORLANDO, as reported last issue, returns to the stage this weekend in San Carlos, California’s Circle Star Theatre after a brief s^miretirement, but late word has it he will be without backup duo DAWN. TELMA HOPKINS andJOYCE VINCENT WIL SON. who had appeared on records and in person with Orlando since 1969, have ap-

parently gone solo. No details for recordings or tours were

available.

O’JAYS will have a doublepocket greatist hits set out soon to mark their 20th year in the business, while PARLIA MENT’S new album is called, now get this, Funkentelechy Vs. the Placebo Syndrome." The album continues the outer space funk concept started by leader GEORGE CLINTON two years ago with “Mothership Connection.” New album includes the current single

“Bop Gun.”

Top 10 Singles Here are the week’s “Top 10 R B Singles” in order of public acceptance as determined by The Recorder Entertainment

Staff:

LW/TW

*1./1. “Serpentine Fire" Earth. Wind and Fire (Columbia). *2./2. “Don’t Ask My Neighbors" Emotions (Columbia). *8./3. “Reach For It"-George Duke (Epic). 3./4. "Don’t Be Affraid"-Ronnie Dyson (Columbia). 9. /5. "Somebody’s Gotta Win, Lose ’-Controllers (Juana). 7./6. “You Can’t Turn Me Off High Inergy (Gordy). 5. /7. "Send lt”-Nickolas Ashford/Valerie Simpson (Warner

Brothers).

0./8. "Say You Love Me”Floaters (ABC). 6. 9. "Belle"-Al Green (Lon-

don).

10. /10. “Lovely Day" - Bill

Withers (Columbia).

Believe Me.. When I Tell You BOB WOMACK SR.

Happy Thanksgiving! The weekly “Soul Brothers’ Top-Ten” popular R&B singles and albums as determined by the Black press from coast to coast are as follows: Beginning with the SINGLES: (I). “Back In Love"...LTD (A&M). (2). “Boogie Nights” Heatwave (Epic). (3). “You Can’t Turn Me Off’...High Inergy (Gordy). (4). “Do Your Dance’’...Rose Royce (Whitfield). (5). “Dusic ...Brick (Bang). (6). “Serpentine Fire”... Earth, Wind & Fire (Columbia). (7). “Shake It Well”... Dramatics (ABC). (8). “If You’re Not Back In Love By Monday’’.... Millie Jackson (Spring). (9). “Coin’ Places” ...Jacksons (Epic). (10). “Brickhouse” Commodores (Motown). The ALBUMS: (I). “In Full Bloom”...Rose Royce (Whitfield). (2). “Something To Love”...LTD (A&M). (3). “Barry White Sings For Someone You Love’’...Barry White (20th Century) (4). “Too Hot To Handle”...Heatwave (Epic). (5). “Shake It Well"...Dramatics (ABC). (6). “Patti LaBelle"... Patti LaBelle (Epic). (7). “Turnin’ On" ...High Inergy (Gordy). (8). “Slick”...Eddie Kendricks (Tamla). (9). “Brick" ...Brick (Bang). (10). “Baby It’s Me” ...Diana Ross (Motown). FOR THE RECORD: Actor James Earl Jones, starring in the one-man show, “Paul Robeson” did a strong $65,846 in its recent Cleveland, Ohio, week’s stage showing. Jones opened in Chicago on November 15 at the Studebaker Theater. Another show cleaning up on the road is “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow Is Enuf.” It’s fourth and final week at the National Theater in Washington, D.C., did capacity business of $129,065...Sidney Poitiers “A Piece Of The Action” is No. 7 in the latest list of “50 Top-Grossing Films,” having grossed up to the week ending November 12, $2,590,836. CORRECTION: Due to a typographical error which appeared in last week's column with regards to Ms. Lu Rem Chandler, executive Secretary in-charge of the offices of both, the Joe Moore Realty Company and the law firm of Eugene Hollander (Westside). The young lady’s name should have read: Ms. Lu Rene Chandler...So sorry. Believe Me! SPOT NEWS: Film crews for "Big Blue Marble" ITT’s award-winning international children’s TV series, have been busy getting the new series together for next season. A recent trip took them to Kenya where they filmed the daily life of an athlete in training and learned about some differences between the tribal and urban life-styles in Africa...Alex Haley, author of “Roots” returned to the Hall of Records in Annapolis, Md., last week where he found mention of the slave ship that brought his ancestors to America. The material will be used as part of a TV documentary on Haley which will be shown sometime next year. Louis Gossett, the Emmy-Award winner for his “Fiddler” role will co-host the documentary. Pepsi Cola recently hosted a press breakfast at the Waldorf in NYC to announce it was sponsoring the new “Tony Brown’s Journal” that will debut on commercial TV in February. The 13-half-hour programs will examine problems of interest to Blacks and the relations between the races. The Pepsi Company is putting up in excess of $400,000 for the series that was once “Black Journal” when it was on PBS. The new series will be available free to commercial stations with Pepsi doing two of the five one-minute commercial spots and the stations are free to sell the other three for themselves. Some 25 stations have already been cleared for the program. Channel 20 and 40 should look into the situation...Believe Me! Singer-actress Melba Moore, spokesperson for “Big Blue Marble” was among those honored on last Friday, November 18 when “The Unique,” Magazine held its Awards-Luncheon at the Georian Suite in the “Big Apple.” Arthur Ashe, Naomi Sims, Marcia Gillespie and Rosetta LeNoire were also honored. TV GUESTS: For your forthcoming national televis-ion-viewing information, the following artists will be seen: Gladys Knight, Richie Havens and Patti LaBelle among others, will guest on “The Rolling Stones’ 10th Anniversary Show” Friday. Nov. 25.. .Marlena Shaw will be featured on the Merv Griffin Show, Dec. l...Lou Rawls will guest the Dinah Show, Dec. 2.. .Joe Frazier will be on the Merv Griffin Show, Dec. 6. And Bill Cosby along with Cleo Laine will also appear on the Merv Griffin Show, Dec. 8. For time, and local TV channel

information, check with the new Recorder TV section. TIDBITS: The Phillips Temple CME Church will sponsor their Second annual Harvest Tea & Fashion Show this coming Sunday afternoon, Nov. 27. Starting at 4 p.m. until ? Several local, and out-of-town models will participate in this magnificent affair. Incidentally, “MISS BLACK AMERICA,” Claire Ford, will make a special guest appearance. We will cover “the action” for our reading fans...Believe Me!...A new musical about America’s first Black poetess. Phyllis Wheatley, is in the works for Broadway. The state production will be titled “My Child” with a cast of 15. Bobby Womack, noted recording star, has been out of action the prior year due to the fact, he was doing some research on new musical material at his Los Angeles pad. The dude will be recording again real soon. Bobby will feature a new ‘hard-pushing’ all-star backup aggregation. We just might dig some of the sessions...Some Musicians Never Retire, But Return To The Scene Stronger

‘Harlem’ will play week-long Walker stint Actor Fred Williamson and a healthy supporting cast will return to the screen this week in another of a long list of sequel films, “Hell Up in Harlme,” sequel to “Black Caesar,” at the Walker Theatre. Film will be showing as a co-feature with “Final Chapter Walking Tall.” Williamson, returning as Tommy Gibbs, Godfather of the Harlem mob, shows his struggle to make a return to power with a new “family” and the attempts of mob-hit men to make them “orphans.” Joining Williamson in return roles are Julius W. Harris as his father; Gloria Hendry as his former girlfriend; and D’Urville Martin as the preacher who was his best friend. Soundtrack for the film, unlike its predecessor which was scored, ironically, by the Godfather of Soul, James Brown, was performed by Fonce Mizell, who produces albums for jazz artist Donald Byrd, and Freddie Perren, who has performed the same duty for the Miracles, the Sylvers and Yvonne Elliman. Than Ever! Until Next Week Let It All Hang Out!...And “That’s The Black Truth:"

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HEY, FOLKS! NEW WALKER THEATER M7 INDIANA *31-5578 OPEN WEEKDAY 4:30 SATURDAY ■ SUNDAY 12 NOON SEATS NOW SHOWING

Buford Passers love for his children and slain wife will .move you. His courage will inspire you. And what happens to him will anger you.

ALL NEW!

Adventures of the true life hero... HKAL CMWEB WALKING M BO SVENSON as Buford Rjsser in FINAL CHAPTER WALKING TALL

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BLACK GODFATHERS BACK! ...there’s gonna be

S ~ *~FRED WILLIAMSON “HELL UP IN HARLEM’ , sta" rg julius w Harris - Gloria hendry Margaret avery d urville martin |

A Larry Cohen Film • A Larco Production BQ-^C An American International Release. *'WI

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COME OUT AND BRING A FRIEND

The Spirit Of Thanksgiving Is The Spirit That Binds

All

HAPPY YHANKSGIVING To You & Your Family FROM YOUR FRIENDS AT... AT LOVING 105 uufle lOSFTH

SOUL SYERiO