The Mercury from Pottstown, Pennsylvania • Page 51

Previews ond Reviews By MIKE SANGIACOMO McCartney holds reunion key For two days this month, the Philadelphia Spectrum will host one of the most important men in the world of music. May 12 and 14, Paul and Linda McCartney and Wings sail into the Spectrum in their first American tour. been a long time coming. Now the bad news. If you already have tickets for the show in your hands, the concert will go on without you.

The show is sold out. So far, the Spectrum has hosted two of the famous four, with George Harrison taking the stage last year. Now turn to try to satisfy the hunger for Beatles music. While rumors of a possible Beatles reunion build, McCartney seems to be trying to strengthen his own band. Of the four ex-Beatles, McCartney has had the strongest sense 3 success.

Thus, a Beatles reunion will come when McCartney decides the time is ripe. The latest Wings vinyl effort At The Speed Of features more Wings, and less McCartney. Nine McCartney authored songs appear on the album, one by ex- Moody Blues member Denny Laine, and another co-authored by W'ingsman Jimmy McCulloch. As expected, McCartney and spouse sing lead on most songs, including the wildfire single, Love but the wealth is shared. Each band member gets to lend his lead vocals to at least one number.

The result is a fine, tight album, the best by McCartney and friends since On The Wings is not just side musicians. The band is establishing itslef as an integral part of the new McCartney image. The upcoming concerts go wrong. I think most music lovers would be satisfied with presence on stage in Philadelphia, at last. By the way, if you really feel your continued existence hinges on seeing Paul and friends, there is one way to do it.

Tonight, a lesser known but thoroughly enjoyable musician will be around. Joe Cocker, Kokomo and KGB will be at the Tower Theater, 69th Street, Upper Darby tor a strnge mixture of music. Cocker has bet up and down the music charts so many times, he must be getting dizzy. Just when counted completely down and out, he bounces back. Case in point: Cocker was at a low period two years ago, things have been much worse, out came Can Stand A Little and a radically new Joe Cocker, a sensitive, growling musician who put real life into the songs.

That Cocker is still with us. Kokomo is an Average White Band style white soul group which adequately performs white soul music. Not too good, not too bad, just adequate. KGB is an exciting new band composed of some familier old faces including Mike Bloomfield, Barry Goldberg and other members of the Electric Flag. no place in this world where belong when gone.

And I know the right from the wrong when gone. And you find me singing all these songs when gone. So I guess have to do it while Phil Ochs wrote those songs at a high point in his career, and they most appropriate now that he is gone. The career of the charismatic protest folk singer was a tragic story of success and tragedy which Phil Ochs most appropriate song resulted in an apparent suicide several weeks ago. The world of music is swift.

Yesterday's musicians are quickly swept aside to make way for fresher talents. To many, death meant nothing, but those familier with his work, felt the great loss. What's Saturday and Greg Kihn at the Main Point, 874 Lancaster Bryn Mawr. LA5-5825 Joe Cocker, Kokomo and KGB at the Tower Theater, 69th Street, Upper Darby. L03-9284 Tonight Through Mad House Company of London at Lair, 500 South Philadelphia.

WA3-5559 Hot Tuna at the Tower. Monday and Thin Lizzie at the Roxy Theater, Main Northampton. 262-4503 Little Feat and the Band at the Tower. Pure Prarie League at the Main Point. Tuesday Through Lana Cantrell at the Bi jou Cafe, 1409 Lombard Philadelphia.

L03-9284 Thursday and The Star Spangled Washboard Band at the Main Point. Leon Russell, New Riders of the Purple Sage and the Charlie Daniels Band at the Spectrum. LOVE-222 Tom Waits and Firefall at the Tower. Friday Through Ohio Players and Bohanon at the Valley Forge Music Fair, just off the Devon exit of route 202. N14-5000 Renaissance and Return To Forever featuring Chick Corea at the Spectrum.

Ashford and Simpson and Coke Escovado at the Tower. The Tubes at the Tower Wednesday and Paul McCartney and Wings at the Spectrum. Paul McCartney and Wings.