The Los Angeles Times du lieu suivant : Los Angeles, California • 521

Rock 'rf Roll Willie Nelson: Country Music With a Concept BY ROBERT HILBURN I. Ill I Ml! 7i fly jar si I ed Just the right crisp, distinctive edge that a project like "Phases and required. After a reprise of the title theme, Walkin'," the next song, tells us the woman has made her decision. It's, better, she decides, to leave than to stay. She simply has to be strong enough to face the fears of such a move: If guilt is the question Then truth is the answer J'vebeen lying to me all along There ain't nothing worth saving Except for one another And before you awake, -I'll be gone.

The next tune, a Nelson composition that was a hit single for Waylon Jennings last year, is one of the album's best songs, but it is out of place on side one. Far from the sentiments established in the opening song (the woman wanting love, but this song I Never has her suggesting she wasn't able to give love. The lyrics, in part: "You'll not want to remember a love as cold as mine." "Sister's Coming Home" and "Down at the Corner Beer Joint" fit the mood of side one more effectively. The woman returns to the security of her mother and sister, where an attempt is made to cheer her up, get her mind on other things. She even goes down to the local club for some rock 'n' roll dancing.

But the final song on side one finds her reflecting on her future, wondering if love will work out better next time. There isn't, of course, any way of knowing. Side two the man's side opens With "Bloody Mary Morning," a rous- Except for Merle Haggard's tributes" to Jimmie Rodgers and Bob Wills or Johnny Cash's prison concerts and tales of the Old West, the term "concept'' has, rarely been applicable to country music. For the most part, albums seemed the lowest priority on the schedule of country music performers whose-careers are built around grueling, aU most endless personal appearance, tours. Since it is hit singles rather.

than album tracks that get the radio exposure and jukebox play so helpful in-' keeping the crowds turning out for. concerts, why, the theory went, waste, time and energy on album cuts? There have been, to be sure, great' Individual tracks on various country albums, but rarely the continuity of design required to create a single, dominant mood or emotion. Thus, Willie Nelson's new "Phases and Stages" (Atlantic SD 7291) is an" important breakthrough. Not only is it: a concept album deserving of attention, but it, hopefully, will inspire oth er country artists to use more care and. ambition in the production of their own albums.

The "concept" in Nelson's album involves the breakup of a marriage. Side one is devoted to describing the woman's side of the story; side two tells the man's side. The result:" a chilling, authentic reflection of the contradictory, semi-desperate fe li ngs from the tensions of making the decision to leave, to the relief of having finally made the decision to the uncertainty of what lies ahead that accompany such aviolently emotional move. The album opens with a recurring theme: Phases and stages Circles and cycles Scenes that we've all seen be Nelson's vocal style, as in his earlier recordings, is deliberately underplayed; restrained, yet dramatic in the. Willie Nelson's "Phases and Stages" a his-and-her approach to a broken promise.

Hell" (a song with none of the melo drama of its title), he begins from his depression. By the time of the final song, "Pick Up the Tempo." Nelson has as the title implies begun to regain his balance. Recovered from the shock of separation, he is ready to continue. Broken love is a common theme in country music, one that has been a strong part of Nelson's music. But he ing, finely sketched portrait of a musician returning home from the adventures including romantic of the road.

But he finds no one waiting. Suddenly, the loss sets in. In the album's finest song, one that contains much of the simple eloquence of Hank Williams' best work. Nelson sings: "This is the very first day since she left me That I've tried to put my thoughts in a song And all I can hear myself singing Is that I still can't believe that you're gone." "It's Not Supposed to Be That Way is another song of adjustment. In the largely instrumental "Heaven and Pop Album Briefs nas never put the theme to such bold, ambitious or effective use as in "Phases and Stages." There are flaws in the album, but it works as a concept because it creates a sharp single focus and mood.

In that way, it is one of the most important country albums in years. Not only is the album a step forward for country music, but, hopefully, it will serve as the means for Nelson, who has always been part of the "Nashville Underground" or progressive wing of country music-to reach a wider audience. Though Nelson first gained attention in the early 1960s as a songwriter1 (such Nelson songs as "Funny Howl Time Slips Away," "Night Life" and! "Crazy" have been" recorded by such varied artists as Frank Sinatra, Elvis 1 Presley, Al Green and Aretha Frank- tus Qua A Records bP 3615. Status Quo, whose personnel' once tendered such soft-spoken offerings as "Matchstick Man," now maintains itself as one of Britain's loudest, nonglitter power quartets. The band's latest boogie-based album, "Hello," again falls short of solving the repeti-tiousness which plagues its narrow, rather reactionary style of blues rock.

Six of the mere eight cuts on the album contain essentially the same undistinguished lumbering bass and low guitar riffing. "Blue Eyed Lady" does achieve some melodic individuality, while "And It's Better Now" tantalizes by opening with the delicacy of the band's early style before returning to its present coarse throbbing. STANN FINDELLE Bang. The James Gang. Atco SD 7037.

The James Gang was at its best when its music centered around guitarist Joe Walsh After Walsh left the group, "however, he replaced with the lackluster Dom Troiano. As a rer suit, the group's next two albums died miserable artistic and commercial deaths. Now, Troiano, too, is gone and Tommy Bolin, who worked "on Billy Cobham's "Spectrum" album, has joined the Gang. As "Bang" shows, Bolin is far too versatile for the thankless task of showering heavy metal riffs. Still, there are some memorable moments, all of which can be found on the single "Must Be Love." -CAMERON CROWE" A New Life.

Marshall Tucker Band Capricorn CP 0124 Distributed by Warner Bros. Records. This album is a welcome arrival at a time when rock n' roll is in sore need of fresh talent With its debut album last year, the Marshall Tucker Band proved a promising new force from the South and its follow-up album, is superb. From the rhythm blues of "Another Cruel to the country-tinged "Fly Eagle Fly," it's two rewarding efforts in a row. C.

manner ot an actor rather than a traditional country singer. It underscores" perfectly the ache and loneliness of the album's opening scene: A woman, resentful over being neglected, is near-ing a decision. She is. tired, the song tells us solemnly, of "Caring for someone who don't care any moreLearning to hate all the things She once loved to do." The instrumental backing on the-song and throughout the album is: brilliantly controlled, economic and tailored. Producer Jerry Wexler, who ha3 demonstrated an excellent feel for earthy Southern-based music in his work with such artists as Aretha Franklin and Tony Joe White, took, Nelson to.

Muscle Shoals, (rather than the traditional country music rec- ording center of Nashville, Tenn.) to. record with some musicians Roger Hawkins on drums, Barry Beckett on keyboard who have been associated, more with rhythm blues and rock than country music. The move provid- FIFTY -FOUR imj, nis distinctive vocal style (a precise phrasing that is more often associated, with jazz than country music) attracted some record producers. Before moving to Atlantic Records last year. Nelson had recorded a dozen albums, all but one of them for RCA.

True to the tradition of country music albums, there were some excellent tracta on several of the albums, but nothing in his large body of work to PllAV rr "Phaoaei on1 A. IIUOWO UI1U Stages." It's a major work by. an artist II wnose laient nas long deserved more attention both inside the country field and outside of it.