The Sydney Morning Herald from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia • Page 114

sex muam WW Oi sq1d couairse SOUTHSISf JOKKNY and TKZ JVUS 0 At Uost Ht OU'VE brought your cheque book Cot Shoes RCA VPL1 7609 Rl VEN though for the first years of his career I Southside Johnny existed very much in Bruce Lm3 Springsteen's shadow he and the (then) Ashbury Jukes recorded some magnificent soul and rhythm and blues-inspired albums. Southside's last couple of albums have been disappointing but this is a real return to form, a gritty soulful collection of songs of love and heartache. Southside and the boys might have shoes you should have this album! S.C. MAIZX H0XTG6KX3Y WooKra 0. Hyfterr LP Larrikin UU 189 I ES, folks, there is mors to Oz swing than Billy Field Montgomery is Li well-established, if sadly not widely heard singer, and on this pleasing record she sashays through an interesting collection of standards and originals with 18 of the country's I better instrumentalists behind her.

Mostly, azz i flavoured, but a couple with punchy funk streak. G.I". JOKN F0O2TY Eye 01 TIm Zombi WEA 25449-1 what do you want to know? lauehed OUNTING the Blue Ridge Rangers album this is John Fogerty's fourth post Creedance Clearwater Revival album. Last year Centretield was an extraordinary offering after a long period of inactivity. Ml Bzt -r anr tye Of The Zombie maintains the standard, even th jugh musically it's different.

Fogerty veering more towards a tough, funky sound. Fogerty has one of the true American rock'n'roll voices, and his guitar playing well, they don't come any more distinctive. Let's hope he includes Australia in his current tour. S.C. a "aba By STUART COUPE "There are songs on this album that I like less than I like others, but the ones I like least I like very much." The first single.

You're The Voice, is a good indication of where Farnham's at these days. You can decide for yourself what that means! Trivia-wise, the video clip for the song features former Skyhook. Greg Macainsh, who Farnham says is going on the road in his band for a pub and club tour later this year. But Macainsh doesn't play on the album. fact hardly anyone plays on it, and it's far from an acapella record! "Actually the record is basically machines a drum machine all the drums are machines and the bass is 99 per cent a DX 7," Farnham said.

"But we worked. We spent a month at my home doing pre-production on the machines. "So we had 99 per cent of the thing programmed so what we spent the studio time on was just a bit of fine-tuning and working on the sounds." case you were wondering, as I was, Farnham does sing on Whispering Jack "but I only did a week's singing on Farnham's previous solo album was Uncovered back in 1980, the disc qualifying for gold status. Uncovered contained the vocal performance that, until Whispering Jack. Farnham was most pleased with a version of The Beatles classic Help.

To this day Farnham is convinced that Tina Turner's version was derived from his. "You only have to listen to it she did it note for note," Farnham said. "I can only assume that she heard it through her manager, Roger Davies, who is an Australian. "The record company wanted me to release Help in England not long after it became a hit here, but it wasn't long after Lennon got shot and I wouldn't have coped well with being accused of jumping on the bandwagon. "I couldn't have handled thaL" John Farnham is one of the nicest human beings in the Australian music scene terrified of offending anyone, or doing anything that might upset or make people think nasty thoughts about him.

1 suspect that's his biggest problem. John Farnham when we met to talk about his new solo album, his first for six years. I was en route to my bank, and Farnham's hoping that his album, Whispering Jack, will sell enough copies to have him laughing all the way to his. It's official that as from this week the man who, two decades ago, gave the world such sugary pop gems as Sadie The Cleaning Lady. Rose Coloured Glasses, and One (Is The Loneliest Number) is no longer a member of Little River Band, the project that has occupied him for the past half decade.

According to Farnham LRB intend to find a new lead singer and continue but he wants out. "I decided I'd given 100 per cent for five years," Farnham said over lunch at the Sebel Town House which was somewhere between Channel 10 and 2DAY FM on his hectic media schedule. "1 really tried and I gave the best shot I had to that, and I can't really convince myself to do anything by half from now on so I figured I should give 100 per cent to this project as well because I've been backed 100 per cent by my management and record company." Farnham does, however, remain a fan of LRB. "It is the best live band in the world, really," he said with conviction. "They're unbelievable players and it was a joy to sing with them." In Farnham's opinion the band's big problem over the past five years was disinterested record companies, and the fact that the live energy didn't translate to vinyl.

There's an extensive chapter on Farnhmam in Helen Thomas and Wendy Milsom's book on the Australian rock'n'roll scene. Pay To Play. In the book's interview with Farnham he claimed that he's never been really proud of anything he's recorded. But. surprise, surprise, that's all changed now.

"I'm happy with this record," he said. "I mean, this is the best record I've ever made. I actually like the record. I don't wince when I hear it. "There's always a cringe factor there.

I can hear things I'd like to do again but you've got to take the brush off the painting one day. "But I really like this record and I'm prepared to accept what happens to it one way or the other. IDPE C3 cnart stereo fm'xm THE ALBUMS TW LW W1 1 True Colours: Cynrfi Lauper 1 3 1 TruoStorias: Talking Heads 1 3 ThaBodoe: B.llyJtxH 7 9 4 Dancing On The Ceitmfl: Lionel Ritchie 3 5 Picture Book: SonptyRed 2 23 I Revanga: EuryttwrMcs 4 12 1 Top Gun Soundtrack: i I Whrtnay Houston: rnvrsibto Touch: Genesis 6 15 10 Back In The High Ufa: Steve Winwood 8 6 11 Cocker: Joe Cocker 11 19 12 Gossip: Paul Kelly The Coloured Gins 13 3 13 Grac aland: Paul Simon 16 3 14 RockALitua: Stevw Nicks 22 39 IS True Blue: Madonna 10 12 10 So: Peter Gabriel 12 18 17 Control: Janet Jackson 15 10 It Dreams Of Ordinary Man: Dragon 17 5 19 The Final Wave: Australian Crawl 14 3 20 Press To Play: Paul McCartney 34 2 TW: This weak. LW: Last week. Wl: Weeks in top SO.

Fast climb. 2Dl3VT RECOMMENDED SnSfcOFM'M LISTENING JOHN FARNHAM. Whispering Jack: Long-regarded as one) of the country's most gifted and articulate vocalists, John's new album merits his return as a solo artist after a four year stint with the legendary Little River Band. With material supplied by some of Australia's finest, including Mondo Rock's Eric McCuskat and Ross Wilson and the writing team of Jon Kennett and Dave Skinner, the album is a fine collection of bold and urgent pop songs spearheaded by the VangeMs-hke first single. foe 're The Voice, which is presently garnishing the Sydney airwaves.

Whispering Jack is released this week and should win the approval of both the critics end public alike for the talented singer. CYNOI LAUPER. True Coours: When the year is out True Colour wi. be among the giants of ISM. As a follow-up to hew 1SS4 murti piatmwm album She's So Unusual, the album builds on all the quetttie that place her in the top echelon of contemporary female artists namely her ability to both write and sing intelligent pop songs and her aan sanse of humanity that shines throughout the album.

Songs bke True Colour. Boy Blum. Change Of Heart and the Marvin Gave time What tGoin'On are some of her strongest songs to date and are delivered with a unique sensitivity. STEPHEN CUMMINGS. 77ms Wonderful Ufa: I've had this album for a few weeks now and try as I anight I cannot drag niy serf away from it.

This is the ex-Sports front man at his soulful and sophisticated test, delivering an album of sack and very tender ballads. GERRY O'SHEA. Music Director at the Enmort) Theatre from October 16th. 250 metres up Enmore Road from Newtown Station. Bus routes 423, 426 448.

John Lennon's energy, life and times are reborn in a brilliantly staged rock musical, set to 40 of the songs that he and The Beatles made famous. From his childhood, through the early Hamburg days of The Beatles and their rise to stardom, to his tragic death. rt 0031 vftfiilCf GBaO ftflkfr dSr THE MUSICAL OF THE LEGEND The first 12 days of this strictly limited season are now on sale. Save S5 on groups of ten or more. Call 266 4999 today.

An Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust Presentation. Performances: Tues, Wed. Thurs 8.00pm. Fridays 5-30 9.00om. TVw, at Tbe Kardeeaab Cafe, Bayswater Rd.

ft. lag Cress, supported by Tbe Viadaleeotes. (1S-3. The Cockroaches aad The Aaaziag Weelleeeleeerrs is a geed sight ef sweaty dance asmec at The Tireli, George St, Cky (e-ls, $5). Adelaide's Exptuuie.

White Mice aad Sydaey's Happy Hate Me Nets are at The Graphic Arts Crab (S-I2-M. MONDAY: The Aagels. X-Mea, The Church, Ckeirheys, aad Jaaip lace rpo rated are at rTeoaiagtee) Markets. (llaax-SJO, Melboarae's Wreckery, aloof with Toys West Beserk, erf oral at Max's, PHersbass las (SJS-1, $4). Eaflaad's Shriek-back play the first ef three coeatCBliis eights at The Thrall, George St.

City. Support heads are Creak Politics, aad itch; Rat (9-1. $21 aad Coloured Steae are at The Veaue, Dee Why Hotel (8-12. $3). Pardee Me Boys take their show to the suburbs, aepeariag at Tracks Cabaret, Easing Hotel (S-l, $5).

THURSDAY: Pink Slips are at Tbe Kardoesah Cafe, Kiags Cress, pmiewiug their debet single. Miracles. Sapperf are Naeghty Rhymes (11-3, $4 Celibate Rifles aad Toys Weat Bescrk perfoiui for free at The Mosaaaa Hotel (S-l I). TODAY: lac 8tb Jehaay Okeefe Menwriai Ceecert is brief kefd af The City Of St eery RSL lub. Geerge St.

City. Perferaxiag tucta sail lass are Berry Staatee, The House ackers. War-rea Williaaas. Jay Jestis, Alaa Dale, aad ethers. Jehaey Tbeedcrs's fiesl Aaslraliaa appears act is at The Mosasae Motet, supported by Qeeeaslaad's Headsteees (a-IS, Paul Kelly aad Tee Ca loured Oris are Saturdays 530 9.00pm.

Sundays SJOorr STUH. w'W mm wg sm 'A I liWCf til i (J Hi Dragee, The Radiators, Ua Hi THE SUN-HLRALD, October 5, 1986 IK "II i.