Courier-Post from Camden, New Jersey • Page 98

44 14 4 dr deft or COURIER-POST, Friday, November 16, 1979 27p POP 'N' Bob Marley and reggae: the honeymoon goes on By BILL KENT For the Courier-Post Thanks to Eric Clapton, Steely Dan, Robert Palmer, and a cult of American funk fans, reggae was the superfad of the early 1970s. Musicians "discovered" the soulful reggae beat, played with it like a new toy, cut a few tunes, and then shrugged it off, waiting for a new fad to come along. In its wake we now have the Police, a harsh New Wave reggae mutation, and little else. But Bob Marley is still the prophet of reggae, and his concert on Nov. 7 at the Philadelphia Civic Center showed the standing-room only crowd that the real reggae definitely stands up.

In its pure form, reggae expresses a religious experience with Biblical roots. It is the anthem of the Rastafarians, who take their name from the Ras Tafari, the original tribe of the 18th century Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie I. WHEN THE Rastas came to Jamaica in the 1930s, their music became a unifying theme for the oppressed poor, and continues to this day. When Bob Marley sings, "Get up, stand up! Stand up for your rights!" he means it. "I Shot the Sheriff," is a song of pride, for the sheriff represents the cruel authorities that "kill things before they can grow." For this reason the Jamaican government, which controls the island's only two radio stations, is doing what it can to keep reggae off the air.

Reggae concerts cannot be advertised and tourists are treated to overdoses of calypso. Ironically, Marley's music is heard mainly in the United States and the relatively affluent nations of Europe. His message is usually ignored. Beyond the cries for justice, however, is the spirit of reggae: an intensly optimistic vision dedicated to spreading as many good vibes as possible. Marley's traditional opening number, "Positive Vibrations," evokes a stirring, unifying force.

The message is one of triumph that reminds us that though we may be oppressed and tormented in this life, there is still the joy of the spirit to sustain us. That joy was abundant when Bob Marley and reggae still bring joy to a concert. Stars in Philadelphia and the Chapin plays the Valley Forge Eagles at the Spectrum on Sun- Music Fair tonight and Saturday Marley was on stage. If only it would stay with us forever. BONNIE RAITT stayed with us for a triple-encore concert at the Academy of Music Sunday night, singing mean and mournful blues and with plenty of sassy bottleneck slides.

Freebo's booming tuba turned "Give It Up" into a showstopper, equalled only by a sensational version of Robert Palmer's "Landslide." Bonnie plugged the energyconscious soon-to-be-released MUSE concert records, souring slightly with a naive anti-nuke song. Though woodfires may be cozy, and solar power clean and free, we still need some super duper technology before we can turn the power plants off. According to some perversions of physics, it is possible to be in two places at the same time. Just travel a few thousand light-years to the nearest black hole, jump in very carefully, and you might be able to see both Fleetwood Mac at the Spectrum and David Bromberg at the Academy of Music on Wednesday, Nov. 21.

If not, it's a tough choice. Country pop fans can look forward to Kingfish tonight at day, Nov. 18. Taxidriver Harry night. Charlie Daniels says he's been 'rocked till he's ragged' I By HERB DITZEL now, keep on singing loud.

It's all I Gannett News Service right now, heaven should be proud." CHARLIE DANIELS BAND Daniel's answer to "I Left My "Million Mile Reflections" Heart in San Francisco" is his (Epic) own "Mississippi." No fancy Charlie Daniels, the patriarch guitars, piano or screeching of southern rock, has been play- vocals on this one. Only Daniels ing music since he was 16. And reflecting on how much he now, 26 years later, it's time to misses the land of the Spanish dwell on the past. Thus we get moss. "Million Mile Reflections." "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" is the band's most Appropriately Lane," the Tennessee cessful hit single since "Uneasy opening with Rider." Filled with classic fiddle cowboy pleads that he's been licks from "Fire On The to death" and "rocked until I'm raged," in countless tain, Run, Boys, Run" and "The Devil's In The House Of The Rishonky tonks and concerts as he ing Sun," the is 3 minutes moved down the road in his life song and 35 seconds of fun, although it of music.

deals with the serious theme of "Jitterbug" is great, thanks to the devil going to the Peach the vocal belting and piano play- State and challenging a country ing of Joel "Taz" DiGregorio. boy named Johnny to a fiddle With the aid of female back- duel. If Johnny loses, the devil ground vocals and kicking brass, wins his soul. If the boy wins, he the listener can easily be per- gets the devil's fiddle of gold. suaded into dancing around the Guitarist Tom Crain's "Let floor in 1940s style.

the Blind Man Play" is a pensive "Reflections" is a tribute to ditty about an old black man the late performers Elvis Pres- who stands on a street corner ley, Janis Joplin and Ronnie and picks guitar. Van-Zant. Each star is eulogized This album a combination with Daniels singing about their of rock, country and jazz, as are accomplishments before break- all the band's efforts is by far Charlie Daniels, the patriarch of southern rock. ing into the chorus: "It's all right the group's best..