The Pittsburgh Press from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 113

Pittsburgh Press, Dec. 2, 1979 F-7 'Cornerstone7 A Sturdy Hit For Styx By PETE BISHOP Led by the hit ballad "Babe," Styx's "Cornerstone" SP-3711) is one of the country's most popular albums. And it's a good album from a quintet that's mmm mm Their best overall works are straight-ahead rockers "Schoolgirls," "The Breakout" and "The Ripper," ballad "Silver Lining" and "The Shape of Things to Come" and "Stepping Stones," where tough, lean rock meets good melody. There's something very appealing about this album. It's not great, because the songs aren't great, but it beats the heck out of a lot of debuts.

'win LEON RUSSELL DEC. 8 7:30 10:00 P.M. Tickets $8.50 $9.50 HS 3661) is as basic as it gets. Three years away from recording hasn't changed "that little old band from Texas" one whit: plenty of sparse, power-blues rock and raspy, boozy vocals by Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill. Problem is that no stylistic diversity yields repetition which yields monotony.

Nothing really sticks out, although two blues-form rockers, "She Loves My Automobile" and "Dust My Broom," are a bit better than the rest. Two other songs aren't too bad: "Esther Be the One" in slow minor, as commercial sounding as ZZ Top gets, and the fast, rowdy, blues-form "Hi Fi Mama." And that's the biggest "sin." Just like its predecessor, "Tejas," "Deguello" is nowhere near as rowdy or fiery as ZZ Top and its fans can be. fate Pat!) Cfjotr of Jtttsburgff fast Decoming one of the biggest bands in the business. The playing and singing are excellent, as usual. The production often is grandiose, as Styx gets increasingly further from basic rock 'n' roll and a bit carried away with arty mm mm DEC.

6 8P.M. Tickets $6.00 DUQUESNE TAMBURITZANS W. William Wogner, Music Director Kenneth I. Axelson, Organist presents THE CHRISTMAS STORY by Ron Nelson A CEREMONY OF CAROLS by Benjamin Britten TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4 at 8:00 P.M. CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION Ellsworth Nevill Avenues, Shadytid Admission $4.00 Students $3.00 Tickets Available at the door DeYOUNG DEC.

21 American Dance Ensemble presents NUTCRACKER Mail or Phone orders: Palace Theatre, Greensburg, Pa. 15601 Phone 836-8000 Now you can enjoy one of the world's great orchestras. Here's how: Though we are 98 sold out, our subscribers notify us when they are unable to attend a concert. We put these tickets on sale at Heinz Hall box office as they are called in. It's first come, first served.

GEORGE touches. But it's largely tasteful. And while they remain the weakest ingredient, the lyrics are more accessible than on Styx's last LP, although a stiff shot of "Blue Collar Man's" directness certainly would help. If another hit ensues, bet on "First Time," like "Babe" a pretty, decidedly middle-of-the-road ballad featuring Dennis DeYoung, one of rock's best singers. "Love in the Midnight" (the disc's best words) and "Eddie" are the best in the harder vein, followed by "Borrowed Time" and "Never Say Never." "Boat on the River," a zippy, Mediterranean-style dance on which Tommy Shaw stars on mandolin, is a fine novelty number.

In short, a good effort, overblown at times, from a very talented band. IF IT'S BASIC rock 'n' roll you want, ZZ Top's "Deguello" (Warner Brothers LOU LEWIS, singer (and no slouch on guitar) for a Scottish quartet called the Headboys, sounds like the Strawbs' lead singer, Dave Cousins, in both voice and sometimes hammy delivery. And the Headboys, on their same-name debut disc (RSO RS-1-3068), often are very Strawb-y. slightly off-the-wall but with very good playing and enough musical muscle to avoid the "oddball" tag. They're far more musically sophisticated and adventurous than most New Wave bands, with catchy arrangements, strong melodies, winning vocals (all four Headboys sing) and an outstanding keyboardist in Calum Malcolm.

Where they fall down is in song-writing. The LP has 12 songs, so they're necessarily short, and the lyrics aren't overly mature. CAMJN, wydd ANNOUNCES mmmmu Singer Anne Murray A Winner Her Own Way SPfCiAl SCORPIONS MOTHERS FINEST SUN.DEC.9 7.30PM CIVIC ARENA TICKETS $8.75 Seats Available at all National Record Mart Stores and the Arena box office plus TRAVIS SHOOK TONIGHT DEC 2 PLENTY OF SEATS AVAILABLE Box Office Opens IfldiX at 1:00 P.M. through Show Time. Tickets $9.75 Reserved This Week's Symphony Program: Today at 2:30 p.m.

CHRISTIAN BADEA, Conductor DANIEL PHILLIPS. Violinist Performing works by Berlioz, Mendelssohn and Tchaikovsky THC NEXT PROGRAM: Friday, December 14 at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, December 15 at 8:00 p.m. Sunday, December 16 at 2:30 p.m. EMIL TCHAKAROV, Conductor CHO LIANG LIN, Violinist performing works by Haydn, Saint-Saens, Debussy and Stravinsky RUSH SEATS: $3 each, available to students and senior citizens 1 5 minutes prior to concert time at the Heinz Hall Box Office.

(Limited) Tonight at 8 p.m. Tomorrow at 7i30 p.m. POPSI A Christmas Program of Traditional Holiday Favorites SPECIAL EVEMTS Sunday, Dec. 9 at 4 p.m. HOROWITZ (Sold Out) Sunday, December 9 at 8 p.m.

Monday, December 10 at 8 p.m. Tuesday, December 11 at 8 p.m. Handel's MESSIAH Tickets: $7.50, 6.50, 5.00 (at box office) For ticket information on all concerts, call 281-5000. RKOtDMG MVKfS rlC" ptiwmi mma "A jK His By JERRY SHARPE When Anne Murray scored with "Snowbird" in 1970, the public flipped over her. But veterans of the music industry An Elegant, Special Way I I to Spend New Year's Eve THE TAMBURITZANS AT HEINZ HALL nnounce A I Tell Pittsburgh area residents about vour new business with a classified ad under as tney always do with an unknown's first hit took a wait-and-see attitude.

For one thing, their trained ears told them that "Snowbird" had such outstanding lyrics Bulletin Board." Call 263-1201. and terrific melody that even Nellie Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Patrick Frantz, Artistic Director HER NEW ALBUM, "I'll Always Love You" (Capitol SOO 12012) although not as strong as her last one which is turning platinum has the makings of another winner. In fact, "Broken Hearted Me" from this collection has been on the charts for weeks. And there are "You've Got Me To Hold On To" and "Stranger At My Door," both the type of middle-of-the-road sound Miss Murray is known for. The whole album is done with sophisticated string and horn backup spiced at times with a dobro guitar to give it just a touch of country.

The best performances are her version of the upbeat "Daydream Believer," which was penned by John Stewart in 1967, and the moving "Wintry Feeling." It tells a sentimental story about a lonely girl looking at the cold Montreal sky and thinking about the boyfriend who left her for sunny California. One of the most impressive qualities of this Canadian song queen, who was once a physical education teacher, is her insistence on managing her own life instead of letting record companies and public relations firms take it over as they so often do with music stars. FOR EXAMPLE, she took a year off after the birth of her son, William. And after Dawn was born last April, she announced she was taking six months off. She has offices in Toronto, where she lives and records.

And she has kept road shows down to a very few because "I hate the pace you're compelled to keep." She does some TV shows and the current album is her second this year. She explained, "I just want things to be right in my life. I want my life to be worthwhile to my family want to have time for them." I 8 tZS A A PERFECT 5 Wl) ft HOLIDAY 5 nmSk j'M TREAT! I I $lW I DEC. .31 1 I I I AT 8:30 P.M. I Tickets $8.50, 7.S0, 6.50 5 I on ule it Heini Hall Kaufmann's ft FOR GROl'P DISCOUNT PHONE (412) 2814185 Notune from MISS MURRAY Nowheresville could have gotten attention with it.

But in the nine years that followed, Anne Murray has been under consideration for almost every award in the music industry. And she was practically semi-retired for four of those years. In 1979, her "You Needed Me" won the Academy of Country Music's Song of the Year Award. And that same year she walked off with the Grammy as "Best Pop Female Singer of the Year," beating out Donna Summer, Carly Simon, Olivia Newton-John and Barbra Streisand. And back in 1974, she won the Grammy as best country music singer.

So now at the age of 33, the native of Spring Hill, Nova Scotia, laughs and says, "One year I'm a country singer. The next year I'm a pop singer." She should have added one more category: folk singer. Miss Murray, who has a one-of-a-kind, low pitched voice, is really a unique blend of pop, country and folk that's why she appeals to so many people. THE BIGGEST HOLIDAY CONCERT PARTY Wo Carry LES PAUL GUITARS LOMAKIN MUSIC 633 Liberty Dtn. EVER IN PITTSBURGH starring the Do Not Forget Nutcracker tickets are the perfect holiday gift they're never the wrong color or size! Gift certificates for Nutcracker available! 8 The Press 2 2 Old ewsboy Fund 2Bm 7 1 The Pittsburgh Pre Pittsburgh.

PA 13230 Check payable to: Press Children's jb Hospital Fund 2 Prices: Mat. Eve. 11, 10, 9, 6, 3 For tickets or group discounts, Tickets also available at Heinz Hall and Kaufmann's or mail coupon. PBT Hours Mon f'n 9 am to 9 pm Sot Sun .9 am to 4 pm for Instant Charge 281-0360 Call Last year all performances sold out! Order NOW. SPECIAL GUEST Phone (day) (eve I.

Name Address City reate -Zip. i. it First choice: No of seats Date of the Piiir jplc Saujc 75 Reserved Festival atall National Record Marts the Arena box office. Time S- Build your own home and let your personality shine through with your own designs. For a place to build it.

look under "Lots for Sale" in today's classified ads. Second choice: No of seats Date Check Master Charge Account No ID Kaufmann's Sears Exp Date Visa ICANo. (mco-op Mail with SELF-ADDRESSED, STAMPED ENVELOPE to P.t1sburah Ballet Theatre. 244 Boulevard of the Allies. Pittsburgh.

PA 15222. msMssm.