The Philadelphia Inquirer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Page 112

av i-r- 26 Friday. March 30. 1981 Philadelphia Inquirer Albums PopRock t)n they're not just another pretty sound Lou Reed, Live in Italy (RCA import) This two-record set is a wonderful encapsulation of Reed's career, including long, powerful versions of material from his Velvet Underground days right up through the recent "Blue Mask" and "Legendary Hearts" albums. Reed's vocals are tart and witty amazingly, his phrasing loses very little subtlety In this huge-arena context but the real hero of the album is guitarist Robert Ouine. who delivers some of the finest, roughest, most caustic rock guitar playing I've ever heard.

The Dell, One Step Closer (Private I) Most reunions of veteran groups are awkward embarrassments, with the aging members unable to reproduce the sound that made them famous. This is a pleasant exception to that rule this quintet has recorded a series of terse ballads that emphasize mature emotions and deep but delicate voices. A pure pleasure. Rick Springfield, Hard to Hold Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (RCA) Don't laugh: "Love Somebody" is the teen Idol's best pop-rocker since "Jesse's Girl." and the filler includes good songs from Graham Parker and Peter Gabriel. One of the few soundtrack albums that doesn't cheat its listeners.

Berlin, Love Life (Geffen) They prove their mediocrity by being unable to sound funky even when dance-king Giorgio or odor is behind the studio console. That toad singer ought to spend as much time working on loosening up her phrasing as She does tightening her outfits. Ken Tucker Excellent Vary good Good Fair Poor. Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart of Eurythmics, at the Tower Theater tomorrow By Ken Tucker Inquirer Popular-Music Critic When Annie Lennox of Eurythmics, which will perforin at the Tower Theater tomorrow night, sauntered onto the recent Grammy Awards broadcast dressed as a cross between Elvis Presley and Lily Tomlln, millions of heads must have been scratched all over the country. What was the deal here? Is this the same woman who sang that hit song "Sweet Dreams Are Made of This" in such a humorless oice? Yes, it certainly was.

As is evident on Eurythmics' new album "Touch" (RCA), Annie Lennox docs have a sense of humor, and that's a relief to know. Last year, the million-selling "Sweet Dreams," with its dreamily monotonous melody and awful mock-surrealist video, did a good job of obscuring this act's virtues. "Touch" docs a good job of repairing the damage; filled with strong tunes and a wide range of moods, it is an excellent pop album that has already yielded a solid hit single, "Here Comes the Rain Again." "Rain" has come with its own doom-ridden, portentous video, but you can't have everything, can you? Eurythmics consists primarily of Scottish vocalist Lennox and English multi-instrumentalist Dave Stewart, who first worked together in the English band the Tourists in 1977. After fhree years, Lennox and Stewart left the band to form Eurythmics she sang and operated the tape machine, he was the producer and played whatever couldnt be reproduced by a synthesizer. This odd "band" recorded its first album, "In the Carden." in 1980.

(This album has never been released in America.) However, it was the act's second album, last year's "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)," that zoomed to the top of record charts in Europe, America and most, of the rest of the world. "Touch" is an equally successful followup, an album that reveals the deadpan wit that sur- such Philadelphia folk artists as Ray Naylor. Ned Bachus, Kim and Reggie Harris, Laurie Marks and Juan and Jenny Avila. The "It Could Be a Wonderful World" festival will be held tomorrow and Sunday at the YWCA, 2027 Chestnut St. Daytime sessions begin at 9 a.m.

The evening concerts will be held at Drexel University's Main Auditorium, 32d and Chestnut Streets, at 8 p.m. Tickets for daytime activities are $5 per day. Evening concerts are $6 and tlO in advance and $8 and $12 at the door. Full-festival tickets are $15 and $25. For more information on the concerts and where to get tickets, call 438-9344 or 4384)870.

Tomorrow night at the Painted Bride Art Center, jazz veterans Middy Middleton and Billy Gault will perform. Saxophonist Middleton has played with such jazz artists as Philly Joe Jones and the Saxophone Choir. Pianist Gault has traveled with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, the Donald Byrd Quintet and Jackie McClean. Middy Middleton and Billy Gault will be at the Painted Bride Art Center, 230 Vine tomorrow for two shows, at 8:30 and 10 p.m. Tickers are $10.

For more information, call faced during Lennox's comic dress-up on the Grammy Awards show. 'Touch" was recorded in the duo's own studio a 16th-century church that houses a 24-track recording studio, plus an animation studio as well. From the bright clarity of "Touch." it is apparent that Eurythmics are more than just another addition to the wave of British "synth-pop" bands that have been overrunning that country and this one. In concert, Lennox and Stewart put on a smart, ethereal show full of sonic and visual effects that are always inter- esting. if frequently too obviously borrowed from art-school sources.

Eurythmics will be at the Tower Theater. 69th and Ludlow Streets, tomorrow at 8 p.m. Tickets are S12.50 and $10.50. For more information, call 569-9400. Swords Into Plowshares, the local folk-music organization, is sponsoring the "It Could Be a Wonderful World" festival to be held tomorrow and Sunday.

These all-star folk sessions will feature Tom Paxton (headliner for tomorrow's show) as well as Roy Brown, a leader in the Puerto Rican New Song (Nueva Cancion) movement. There will be afternoon workshops featuring Lou Reed Jazz ensemble performs. Main Auditorium, Philadelphia Communuty College, 16th Spring Garden Sts, 751-8210. $2. 50 cents $1 students.

p.m. Wed. (tree workshop 5:30 p.m.; call to register). CONCERT Student Jazz Ensemble perform works by Maynard Ferguson, Don Menza and Jule Sryne. Musttn Theater, Alumni Auditorium, Widener University, Chester Campus, 499-4433.

Free. 8 p.m. Wed. Ongoing gigs ARLINE'8 1823 Sansom St, 569-2754. Thus-Sats, Nile Owl.

Weds-Fris, singer-pianist Andrea Green performs jazz, pop and originals. BLEEPS Rte 70 the Airport Circle. Pennsauken. N.J., 60662-2282. Mons, the Lou Cascetti Quintet.

BLUE RAM Rte 532. Washington Crossing. 493-1262. Fris-Sats ft Weds, pianist Barbara Trent. Suns.

Dixieland Jazz Band. Thus, vocalist Sarah Dean, bassist John Ellis and pianist Gerald Price. DONOVAN'S 1116 Old York Rd. Abing-ton. 884-4407.

Tonight-Sat. Tyrone Co. DOWNEY'S Front 8 South Sts, 629-0525. Upstairs: Weds-Sats, Sonny Troy Trio, featuring songs by Lenny Perna. DOVLESTOWN Bfft 18 State St.

Doy-lestown, 345-6610. Tonight-Sat. Synergy. Weds. Posmontier Bros Trio (through April).

See Nightlife listings for other performers. ENTREES 4040 Locust St. 222-5897. Suns, Ken Ulansey, classical and jazz saxophone. BRIDGET FOV1 2d I South Sts, 922-1813.

Sats-Suns. contemporary jazz with pianist Father John D'Amico. FROO 1524 Locust St, 735-2627. Fris. Sam Dockery Christopher Taylor.

Sats. Bill Meek. Suns-Tues, Sumi Tonooka. Weds, cians. Painted Bride Art Center.

230 Vine St, 925-9914. $5. 8:30 10 p.m. Sat. 8ALUTE TO SATCHMO Penn Jersey Jazz Friends present the Louis Armstrong Memorial Jazz Band.

Halloran Plaza. Rte 130, Pennsauken. N.J. Information: 215-745-6285. $10; $8 patron.

2-8 p.m. Sun. DIZZY QH.LE3P1E Performance by trumpeter and his quartet plus the Penn Jazz Ensemble. ZeHerbach Theatre, Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut St, 896791. $8 $10; $5 $7 students and groups.

4 4 7 p.m. Sun. POSMONTIER BROS QUINTET Original jazz, lunk and Latin music. Havana, 105 Main St. New Hope, 862-9897.

8 p.m.-midnight Sun. PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND Group of New Orleans musicians in their 60s -80s perform. Mitchell Had, University of Delaware. Newark. 302-451-2204.

$9e $4 senior citizens and full-time students (sold out). 815 p.m. Mon (sold out). Also at: Keswick Theater. 291 Keswick Ave.

Glen-side. 572-7650. $10 8 p.m. Thu. THMO STREAM Band performs original compositions.

Penn State Delaware County Campus, Rm 101. Rte 352. Middletown Township. 665-3300. Free.

Noon. Wed. JOE SUOLER'S SWMQ MACHINE Local Taylor. Thus, Taylor Bob Cohen. GERT'S 1437 South St, 545-8782.

Fris-Mons, Herb Nixon Organ Trio (jam session Mons). GREENHOUSE RESTAURANT 333 Bel-rose Lane, Radnor, 687-2801. Fris-Sats. Jerry Samuels: Suns, John McFadden Jr. JARRErrS LOUNGE 2504 Cheltenham Ave, 548-4488.

Thus-Suns, Clifton Burton Xperience. Starts Thu. Through JEWEL'S JAZZ CLUB 679 Broad St. 236-1396. Topaz Room: Fri-Sat.

Joe Johnson Trio. Lounge: Frl-Sat, organistvocalist Trudy Pitts. Thus, jam session. Through April. JOCLYN'S 109 State St, Media, 566-6682.

Weds, Fris-Sats, Mark Kramer Trio (to 414). JOE'S SPEAKEASY New London Restaurant. 114 12th St. 922-5875. Fris-Sats, Tuxedo Junction.

To 428. LAMBERTVLLE HOUSE 32 Bridge St. Lambertvtlle. N.J.. 609-397-0202.

Fris-Sats, Bob Gordon Quartet. IE CONTINENTAL RESTAURANT 496 Lancaster Ave. Berwyn. 647-2540. Fris.

Jon Pruitt Trio. LE COTTAGE Rte 202. Center Square. 278252. Fris-Sats, Bobby Harris Jazz Ensemble, standard and contemporary jao.

Limited engagements JAZZ FESTIVAL Annual event with per-' formarces by students ot Pennsbury, Council Rock, Upper Moreland, Pottstown. Concord, Brandywine and Washington Township High Schools. Pennsbury High School Auditorium, 705 Hood Blvd. Falrtess Hills. 943-6200.

$3. 7 tonight. BILLY BANQ ft FOR BIDDEN PLANET Jazz violinist and his funk band perform danceable funk and free-form jazz. Good-hart Auditorium, Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, 896-6006. $6 at door; $5 advance.

8 tonight. BIX KMCHNER NONET Nine-piece ensemble performs. Main Auditorium, Science Center. Montgomery County Community College, Rte 202 Morris Rd. Blue 8eH.

641-6327 or 641-6336. $3 senior citizens and students. 8 tonight. JOHN BLAKE Jazz violinist teaches master class with young musicians selected from city-wide auditions. Settlement Musk) School.

416 Queen St. 336-0400. Listeners welcome. Free. 2 p.m.

Sat. JAZZ AT THE BRDfi Tenor and soprano saxophonist Middy Middleton and pianist Billy Sault- perform -witltwo- guest -musi- ADRIAN 25th Aspen Sts, 978-9190. Fris-Sats, pianist Tom Dolan and bassist Chuck Taylor play contemporary azz. ALFREDO THE ORIGINAL OF ROME Philadelphia Bourse, 21 5th St. 627-4800.

Fris-Sats, Pianist Trudy Pitts. ALL THAT JAZZ La Wine Bar, 119 18th St. 568-5247. Tonight-Sat. Reverie.

Every Fri, pianist Uri Caine p.m.). Suns, singer-pianist Eric Spiegel (brunch period, noon-4 p.m.). Suns, am session Software, featuring Joel Levine Caine. Weds, jam sessions headed by drummer Tom Cohen. Thus, show tunes and jazz standards with the Posmontier Bros Quartet, featuring vocalist Miss Justine (through April)..