Daily Press from Newport News, Virginia • Page 85

Dal fy'press" The Times HeraldrFrTday 267 1988" "13 Top records i 1 1 u. i umi i 1 1 ii iii v. if i Carver grad rocking with the baddest Williams mastered some sultry dance steps, as night after night Madonna would "run over to me, tear open my shirt and rub her hands all over my chest. It was nice." There was also plenty of sweat involved; following the boss's example, band and crew members swam and jogged daily. While Williams enjoyed the high life, his close association with superstars made him seem inaccessible to many less stellar performers.

During a recent recording session, Robert Palmer reportedly told Williams, "I've wanted to work with you for five years, but word was out that you were Michael's man and I shouldn't try it." Williams shakes his head. "See, Michael has so much clout in this business, when he says, 'Don't mess with my the rest of the world don't." But turning away customers is nothing new. Williams says he's practically priced himself out of the market anyway. Besides, he has already launched the next phase of his career: producing. "The day before I came out here, I put the finishing touches on an album I'm producing.

It's by Marvin Gaye and it's going to be a hit." Producing an album is possibly the most grueling, brain-busting job in the music business. It consists of assembling and arranging songs, finding and hiring extra musicians and engineers, experimenting with sound mixes and inspiring the performers. "The producer is also the guy who stays up the latest. The singers go home at 11 p.m. I stay until 5 a.m." But the long hours pay off Williams earned $5,000 per song for his work with Gaye, plus "three points" or about 6 cents, for every album sold.

Producing two tracks on Boz Scaggs' new comeback album earned him similar wages. "I'm about to become a millionaire," Williams winks. album, Jackson asked Williams to play guitar. After dismissing Jackson's telephone call as a prank, Williams accepted. "Michael is a gentleman, a businessman, a very intelligent man," says the good-humored Williams, relaxing over a Lowenbrau at a local pub.

"He doesn't say a lot, especially around adults. He's almost afraid of adults. But he knows what he wants, and he gets it. When he comes into the studio, there's no messing around; he has everything mapped out." But Williams insists Mr. Moon-walk is not a dictator in the studio.

Indeed, Jackson is often the butt of producer Quincy Jones' taunting. "See, Michael is a very sensitive, very straight person. He used to be a Jehovah's Witness. But Quincy is just a guy real people, you know. Sometimes Quincy will go whisper something in Michael's ear, maybe a raunchy sex joke, and Michael will go crazy.

He'll start laughing and screaming and chasing Quincy all around the studio." Williams worked with Jackson on both "Thriller" and "Bad," though none of those sessions equalled the magic of his "Off the Wall" experience. "When we were in the studio, I didn't think Thriller' was as good as 'Off the Nobody did, not even Quincy. But it turned out to be a phenomenon." During the "Bad" sessions, Williams cut every song 10 or more times compared to "Off the Wall," when most of the songs required Local hits This week's local Top 10 comes from country station WKEZ (94.1 FM), courtesy of Music Director Tim Morgan. 1. Don't Close Your Eyes, Keith Whitley, RCA 2.

Joe Knows How to Live, Eddie Raven, RCA 3. If the South Woulda Won, Hank Williams Warner Bros. 4. Streets of Bakertleld, Dwight Yoakam and Buck Owens, Reprise 5. Do You Love Me, Just Say Yes, Highway 101 Warner Bros.

6. That's What Your Love Does to Me, Holly Dunn, MTM 7. A Little Bit in Love, Patty Loveless, MCA 8. Don't Give Candy to a Stranger, Larry Boone, Mercury 9. Strong Enough to Bend, Tanya Tucker, Capitol 10.

Addicted, Dan Seals, Capitol Billboard hits Best-selling records as listed this week in Billboard magazine: Singles 1. Roll With It Winwood, Virgin 2. Monkey, G. Michael, Columbia 3. 1-2-3, Miami Sound Machine, Epic 4.

I Don't Wanna Go on With You Like That, Elton John, MCA 5. Make Me Lose Control, Eric Carmen, Arista 6. I Don't Wanna Live Without Your Love, Chicago, Reprise 7. Hands to Heaven, Breathe, 8. Sign Your Name, Terence Trent D'Arby, Columbia 9.

Sweet Child o' Mine, Guns 'n' Roses, Geffen 10. Fast Car, Tracy Chapman, Elektra Albums 1. Roll With It, Winwood, Virgin 2. Hysteria, Def Leppard, Mercury 3. Appetite lor Destruction, Guns 'n' Roses, Geffen 4.

Tracy Chapman, Elektra 5. He's the D.J., Jazzy JeffFresh Prince, JiveRCA 6. Faith, G. Michael, Columbia 7. OU812, Van Halen, Warner Bros.

8. Dirty Dancing, RCA 9. Let It Loose, Miami Sound Machine, Epic 10. Open up and Say Ahhl, Poison, Enigma Black singles 1. Loosey'a Rap, Rick James and Roxanne Shante, Reprise 2.

Nice 'n' Slow, Freddie Jackson, Capitol 3. Watching You, Loose Ends, MCA 4. Make It Last Forever, K. SweatJ. McGhee, Vinlertainment 5.

Mamaclta, Troop, Atlantic 6. Oil on Your Own (Girt), Al B. Warner Bros. 7. Groove Me, Guy, Uptown 8.

Husband, Shirley Murdock, Elektra 9. That Girl Wants to Dane With Me, Gregory Hines, Epic 10. Love Will Save the Day, Whitney Houston, Arista Country singles 1. BluMt Eyes In Texas, Restless Heart, RCA 2. Wanderer, Eddie Rabtxtt.

RCA 3. Give a Little Love, Judds, RCA 4. I Couldnl Leave You II I Tried, Rodney Crowell, Columbia 5. A Little Bit In Love, Loveless. MCA Just Say Yea, Highway 101, Warner Bros.

7. 1 Have You, G. Campbell, MCA 8. Joe Knows How to Lhw, Eddy Raven, RCA 9. It the South Woulda Won, Hank Williams Warner Bros.

10. The Gift, The McCarters, Warner Bros. By Billy Warden Staff Writer David Williams has thrown down with the baddest stars in pop music. He's done the bump and grind with Madonna. He's shaken his tail feather with Mr.

Bad, Michael Jackson, and even mixed it up with Jackson's pet chimp, Bubbles. Phil Collins, Stevie Nicks, Julio Iglesias David Williams has rocked them all. Williams' guitar has been his ticket to the top. At 37, he is the hottest session guitarist in all of pop, an ace meloc maker and a dead-eye lick master earning more than $500 for three hours of work. Last week, Williams was in Newport News for a family reunion; he grew up on the Peninsula, graduating from Carver High School now Hines Intermediate School.

After graduation, Williams high-tailed it to Chicago, where he joined favorites, the Dells. In 1978 he landed a record deal, threw together a band, Chanson, and hit the charts with "Don't Hold Back." A lot of ears were paying attention to Williams' sinuous way of mining a groove, but none were more important or more impressed than those of Michael Jackson. Getting ready to record his "Off the Wall" Changes in store for WDDY By Billy Warden Staff writer WDDY is changing its name and image. In September, the small Gloucester station will trade its country format for golden oldies under a new moniker, WXGM (1420 AM). Owner Tom Robinson said WXGM'8 playlist will consist of pop hits from the '50s and '60s with a few cuts from the '80s.

"Stuff like Lionel Ritchie will be all right, but nothing newer than 1987." WXGM also will hitch up with syndicated nostalgia rides like "Dick Clark's Rock, Roll and Remember" and a Motown anthology, "Motor City Beat," on Saturdays. Despite the drastic changes, the station will continue to broadscast NASCAR races on Sundays. Robinson expects the new format to attract scads of new listeners and advertisers. "There's a huge spillover of people in high school and college just discovering oldies music justleok-at 'Dirty Dancing' It's- Staff photo by Scott DeMuesy David Williams has played guitar for Michael Jackson. only one take.

"There was more tension than usual when we were recording A lot of hands were trying to stir the pot. A lot of low-down people were trying to get a piece of the action." And plenty of people were trying to get a piece of Williams, including Madonna, who recruited him to pick 'n' play on her "True Blue" album and tour. "She's a sweetie, a sensitive person who's been tormented a lot. At the same time, she's got that Italian craziness. She's perfectly capable of looking anybody, anybody, straight in the eye and saying, 'You don't know what you're talking about.

Get the hell outta She's much different than Michael in the studio. She says things like, 'Go for it, play what you feel, For the "True Blue" world tour, ain't no way" he and partner Dick Lamb are buying back WWDE-FM from its current owner, EM ens Broadcasting. Saunders and Lamb founded WWDE (101.3 FM) in 1978 and sold to Eden in 1986. Saunders stayed on as general manager and Lamb as Radio AM WMBQ 740 (W), news. Top 40 WTAH 790 (N), oldies, CBS news WNIS 850 (P).

NBC news, talk WKGM 940 (Smithfield). Christian, SRN WPMH 1010 (P), Christian. MBS WCMS 1050 (N), country. ABC WZAM 1110 (N), Christian, talk WNOR 1230 (N), rock WTJZ1270(NN), Christian WGH 1310 (NN), pop, sports WRAP 1350 (N), urban contemporary WPCE 1 400 (P), Christian WDDY 1420(G). country WLPM 1 450 (Suffolk), oldies WPEX 1490(H), oldies WVAB 1550 (VB).

beach music WJQI 1600 (VB). soft adult host of the station's morning show. "Look, we couldn't afford it even if we wanted it back," Saunders said. A former WWDE employee said, "Larry and Dick visibly aged when they owned the station. Getting out and staying out of ownership was and is the smart move for them." stations FM WHOV 88.3(H), jazz WHRO 89.5 (N), opera, jazz, classical, NPR WFOS 90.3(C).

classical WCWM 90.7 (W), variety WOFM 92.1 (C), rock WFOG 92.9 (Suffolk), easy listening WMYK 93.7 (Elizabeth City), urban contemporary -WKEZ 94.1 (Y), country WJQI 94.9 (VB), soft adult contemporary WLTY 95.7 (N), adult contemporary WQSF 96.5 (W), easy listening WGH 97.3 (NN), pop WNOR 98 7 (N). rock WYFI 99.7 (C), Christian WCMS 1005 (N), country WWDE 101 .3 (H), adult contemporary WOWI 102 9 (N). urban contemporary WNVZ104 5(N), pop WXRI105 3 (P). Christian WSKX 106.9 (Suffolk), country easy to dance to, and its message is simple. Advertisers find it easier to relate to oldies because it's what they grew up with.

I mean, even I have trouble relating to Conway Twitty. Advertisers also feel people in professional fields listen more to oldies than country." Robinson believes the change won't shake off his country listeners. "People who grew up in the '50s and '60s turn country because they are unhappy with adult contemporary and hit radio formats. I think they'll stay tuned to us because this is the music they really want; it's their roots." Although switching to oldies means going head-to-head with a number of powerful Hampton Roads stations, including WLTY (95.7 FM), Robinson said the competition won't be as fierce as the battle for country listeners. WDDY could make little progress against the market dominance of WCMS (100.5 FM) and its main competitors, WKEZ (94.1 FM) and WSKX (106.9 FM).

The station has spent close to $40,000 improving its equipment and gearing up for the format switch. Recent engineering adjustments to the tower and transmitter have made it easier to pick up the signal in Williamsburg and Yorktown. Despite rumors to the cont- rary Saunders sayB there-.