The Californian from Salinas, California • 30

Tr- TT TT TTTT-Tr- Saturday, Sept. 6, 1986 Salinas Colifornion 30 Simply (Red British band took America by surprise with its hit single Sometimes you dont see it when its right in front of your nose. Where Im from, it was a very strong rirt of the culture." he continues. Since was 13 or even younger, I was buying those records Aretha, Booker 4 The Al Green. Sly and the Family Stone, James (Brown), of course, plus lot of jazz and Jamaican reggae.

And I guess Ive become a bit of an encyclo- r-dia of it. I dont think I imitate anyone, ve just taken a little from all of them. The precision of Simply Red's sound jj remarkable considering that the present unit has been together less than two years. After dissolving his punk-rock band, the Frantic Elevators, Hucknall dropped out of sight for three years, spinning records in English clutis and collecting unemployment compensation before deciding to rekindle his musical career He formed a new group in January 1984, but by years end he had fired them all. They were playing all the cliches." he explains.

I wanted something else." He then recruited his current ensemble: bassist Tony Bowers, drummer Chris Joyce, guitarist Sylvan Richardson. keyboardist Fritz McIntyre and trumpeter Tim Kellett. The band's first show was a three-night stand at Londons Hammersmith Odoon, opening for Hucknall's hands-down idol James Brown We only had two weeks to rehearse," he recalls. I was kind of overwhelmed, but it was a great experience. I remember joking, My career is over! There's nothing else I can do!" Hucknall figures a few more singles will spin out of Picture Book" before Simply Red's next album is released.

But he says nearly all the material for the follow-up LI is written including two songs he wrote with Lamont Dozier of Motowns legendary Holland-Dozier-Holland songwriting team and will not be a carbon copy of the first despite its No. 1 single. Holding Back the Years' was a hit everywhere else and America isn't that unique, but really, yeah, I was surprised." he admits. But after being surprised, you've got to get on with it. You've got to play.

"So we had our No. 1 in America, I got drunk, and got on with it. I think I've adjusted quite well By JimMcFarlin Gunner Nes Se'vte As the ballad "Holding Back the Years" glides out of the radio for what seems like the fourth time in an hour, the young lady turns to me. "The woman who sings this song has got to be the ugliest woman Ive ever seen!" she declares. "Thais not a woman." I say know ing-ly.

His name is Mick Hu unall. He's the lead singer of Simply Red, a new British group." This young woman is not alone in her confusion. Simply Red the six piece Manchester, England, band named for the flaming. shaggy curls of its founder and vocalist bolted seemingly out of nowhere this summer to snag Americas No. 1 pop single with Holding Back the Years." The tunes iazzv, seductive feel, coupled with Hucknafl's ballad style, sparked comparisons to such new-era British songstresses as Sade and Alison Moyet.

Many fans of the single assumed that the singer was a woman. Many still do. And the supporting video, in which the slight Hucknall walks against a stiff breeze with his crimson hair flying, does little to clarify matters I find that quite amusing, actually," says Hucknall, 25. We re just completely unlike Sade. The idea of the first album was to show a diversity in our material, but because we're British, people in America picked up on the style of that single.

That's not my style. To have a style means youre locked into a certain kind of music. So you can say my style is no style." Thats certainly true of the mournful, soulful Holding Back the Years, the impact of which was best described by Rolling Stone review er Rob Hoerburger: At first nothing much seems to happen except three piano chords, and you start to wonder how this song got on the radio And then a soft, subtle, killer hook grabs you. and you don't want it to go off the radio." Holding Back the Years" doesnt come close to defining the range of musical textures in Simply Reds debut LP Picture Book," released in the United States last year. The impressions run Chris Joyce, Fritz McIntyre, Sylvan Richardson, Tony Bowers (left to right, standing), Tim Kellett and vocalist Mick Hucknall make up the Manchester, England, group Simply Red which took America by surprise this summer.

from the stinging, sweaty neo-soul of "Money Too Tight (to Mention)," the album's first single, to the bluesy Sad Old Red" and a remake of Talking Heads' Heaven" that sounds like a slice of gospel. The thread that holds it all together is the groups faithful attachment to the roots of 1970s American soul music. A flood of British bands has tried to recreate the essence of vintage for their own pop music. Some (Scritti Politti. Dexys Midnight Runners) have succeeded better than others (Culture Club.

Simply Red is already among the best of the lot. carrying soul from Manchester on the strength of Hucknalls impressive, emotional vocals. British bands have apparently been more obsessed with than their American counterparts. Hucknall reasons, because the last thing people do sometimes is clean their own doorsteps. Rhino Records makes a profit out of the obscure This weekend Art Krna'i Gallrrlat.

San Joan Bautista. All Indian Market, Saturday and Sunday. Native American juried fine arts and crafts show and sale. 623 2379. Dance Monterey Peninsula College.

Traditional Chinese dance by magician Grance Chang and solo dancer Gordon Liu, both from China 3 pm. Sunday, MPC Theater. $5. $3. Events Monterey Peninsula-Corsrlte Club, Corvette Concours and Car Show.

Saturday and Sunday, Monterey Fairgrounds. 663-384-1. Music The Club, Monterey: Delbert McClinton Band, Saturday. Cocoanut Grove, 400 Beach Street. Santa Cruz.

Woodv Herman. Sunday. 423-5590. Monterey Bay Symphony. two free pops orchestra concerts at 1 m.

Saturday at the Smith Hook Winery Sunday at 2 m. at the Monterey Fairgrounds. Soloists Stephanie Myszak, soprano, and Jeremy Cohen, jazz violin. Classical Radio, 93 FM. Classics of film and stage from 3-4 p.m., 8-10 a Sunday Brunch classics bv request.

KO.MV 1340 Golden Age of Radio The-ater 10-11 a m. and 4-6 m. each Saturday KIIIP 93.5 FM and General Feed 4 Seed, from 11 a m. to noon Saturdays. Michael Overman and Marty Headman Saturday, local singer songwriters.

429-7661. Jovce Jones, nationally known organ virtuoso, two concerts at 2 p.m. and 8 pm. Sunday on the new Casavant pipe organ at Carmel Mission Basilica. Reservations for both concerts made at the rectory.

Theater Ul The Studio Theater Restaurant No Sex Please. We re British. Thursdav-Sunday. Dinner seating at 7 p.m. with curtain at 8:30 p.m.

624-1661. Barn Theater Cabaret- at 8 Saturday, Thursday and Sept. 12. 14. 15 Matinee are at 2:30 pm.

Saturday, and Sept 13, 20 and 22. Tom Foolery is 8 tonight, and Tuesday. 423-4734. Tours Tours of the Castro-Work Adobe, 1-3 p.m. Saturdays.

$5. 720 Via Mirada, Monterey 372-7591 CC Santa Cruz Arboretum open to the public from 2 to 4 p.m. Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Trained guides take visitors on tours of the exotic proteas and grevilleas in the South African and Australian gardens, some of the largest collections of these plants outside their native lands. Native plants also are displayed.

427-1305 or 426-8705. Bay Area Events Mason Street Greater Tuna." Golden Gate Theater, S.F.: Cats, 1-800-233-3123, l-( 800 -762-7666. The Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View: Bill Cosby, tonight; Manhattan Transfer, Sunday; George Benson, Thursday; Sept. 20, Hank Williams, Sept. 21, Anne Murray Sept.

22, Pointer Sisters; Sept. 26, Oak Ridge Boys; Sept. 27, Johnny Mathis, Sept. 28, Mr. Misters.

Polo Classic, at 2:30 p.m. Sept. 13 at Golden Gate Park. Admission is $10 for the day. Tickets 415-563-5650.

Winners Circle III, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 21 at Strybing, 9th Ave. and Lincoln Way.

Award winning cars. Admission $7 per person. Tickets at the gate only. 415-661-1361. By Steve Dollar Ga-'n" Npav Se-vce LOS ANGELES Theres a big rumble churning beyond the fringe of the West Coast entertainment industry.

It not an earthquake, but it comes frem underground. Its the sound of success, maverick-style. exemplified by an uncommon record company. You might call it a singular stampede. Its led by Rhino Records home of such eccentric un-hits as wrestler Fred Blas-sies "Pencil Neck Geek" and "The Best of Ixiuie, Louie as well as a raft of '50s and '60s reissues that smartly rescue classic rock from archival vaults.

It's quite an extraordinary story." says Harold Bronson, team to a staff of more than 20. A pair of pop culture addicts in their mid-30s, Bronson and Foos have parlayed an obsession with the odd and obscure into a business that generates more than $3 million a year in sales. How odd? Try a few of these: Wrestling Rocks," a compilation of ringside romps featuring such tracks as "Wrestlers Just Wanna Bust Heads. by Shell Shock Shannon and His Hollywood Manglers. An album by The Temple City Kazoo Orchestra, sporting an all-kazoo rend.tion of Led Zeppelin's Whole Lotta Love." And the company's latest inspiration, The Rhino Brothers Greatest Flops." which showcases both the above acts plus such delights as The Inter The story starts eight years ago when Rhino was the name of the record store that Foos owned and Bronson managed in the Westwood district near the University of California at Los Angeles.

It was supposed to be a joke Wild Man Fischer, a Rhino regular. recorded a single called "Go to Rhino." which was given free to customers as one of the stores zany promotions. But the gimmick became an underground favorite At an initial investment of S3, it was Rhinos first release. Now Rhino is thru ing With scarcely a hit record to its name, the label has made a profitable expansion from a storefront operation to a roomy Monica warehouse, from a two-man national Elvis Impersonators Convention But to focus merely on the oddities is to miss the whole picture. As Bronson points out, Rhino's interests are diverse, divided among novelty items, a bustling business in reissues and the promotion of contemporary groups.

"The bottom line is that we can put out about anything we want." Bronson says. And they do. A glance at Rhino's 1986 catalog which boasts the companys trademark rhino-cerous cruising on a motorbike reveals a dizzying assortment There are such 80s acts as Fhranc (a witty songwriter who's billed as a "Jewish lesbian folksinger). Logo for Rhino Records in Santa Monica who co-owns the label with fellow Rhino Brother Richard Foos. It's like a Horatio Alger story or the Beatles Apple label but doing it right.

Joels Bridge doesnt cross river Turntable hits Record reviews lost some of its magic. As always, the performances rely on the relationship between Zawinul coloristic Dyboard parts and Shorters epigrammatic saxophone solos; but for the most part, Zawinul seems too caught up in the architecture of his compositions, while Shorter's terseness turns into actual silence at points. Two cameos by guitarist Carlos Santana add some extra energy and textural excitement, but for the most part, theres little here Weather Report fans havent heard before. By J.D. Considine Ganre" News Servce Billy Joel: The Bridge (Columbia).

In many ways, this is Joels most artistically ambitious album to date, but thats the problem. Although there are some nice, melodic moments here, they pass so quickly that even hard-core fans are likely to find the project bewildering. Its fine for Joel to flirt with jazz, but hy set Big Man on Mulberry Street so high he can barely sing it? And his BILLY JOEL The Jazz Butcher: Blody Nonsense (Big Timet. This English eccentric boasts a wonderful sense of melody balanced by a warped sense of humor, and thats enough to make the best bits here positively addictive. Some of the songs, such as Grooving in the Bus Lane or The Devil Is My Friend are amiable goofs others, like Jazz Butcher vs.

Prime Minister or Caroline Wheelers Birthday Present, are a little more arcane in their humor. Best of all, though, are jazzy numbers like Partytime and Drink, which support their lyrical conceits with some surprisingly suave music. (Big Time Records, 6410 Santa Monica Los Angeles, Calif. 90038) The Associated Press The following are Billboard hot record nits ss they appear in next week issue of Billboard magazine Copyright 1966, Billboard Publications Inc Reprinted with permission. HOT SINGLES 1 "Take My Breath 2.Dancmg on the Ceiling" Lionel Richie (Motown) 3.

Stuck With You Huey Lewis The News (Chrysalis) 4 "Friends and Lovere" Carl Anderson Gloria Loring(Carrere) 5. "Venus" Bananarama (London) 6 "Higher Love" Steve Wmwood (Island) 7. "Sweet Freedom" Michael McDonald (MCA) 8. "Words Get In the Way" Miami Sound Machine (Epic) M.C. (Profile) 10.

"Baby Love" Regina (Atlantic) TOP LPS 1. "True Blue Madonna(Sire) 2 "Top Gun Soundtrack" (Columbia) Platinum (More than 1 million units sold.) 3. "Back in the Highlife" Steve Win-wood (Island) Hell" C. (Profile) Platinum 5 "Eat Em and Smile" Devid Lee Roth (Warner Bros 6 "Invisible Touch" Genesis (Atlantic) Platinum 7. "Dancing on the Ceiling" Lionel Ri ehie (Motown) 8 "The Bridge Billy Joel (Columbia) 9.

"So" Peter Gabriel (Geffen) Gold (More (hen 500,000 units sold) 10. "Control" Janet Jackson (ASM) Platinum COUNTRY SINGLES 1. "Little Rock" RebaMcEntire(MCA) 2 "Country State of Mind" Hank Williams Jr (Warner-Curb) 3 Got My Heart Set on You" John Contes (Columbia) 4 "In Love" Ronnie Milsap (RCA) 5 "Stand a Little Ram" Nifty Gritty Dirt Band (Warner Bros 6 Always Have. Always Will Janie FrickielColumbia) 7 "Lonely Alone" The Forester Sitters (Warner Bros 8 Guitars, Cadillacs" Dwight Yoak-am (Reprise) 9 4 Juice Newton (RCA) 10 "Ten Feet Away Keith Whitley (RCA) ADULT CONTEMPORARY SINGLES 1 "Friends and Lover Carl Anderson Gloria Loring (Carrera) 2 Stuck With You" Huey Lewis 4 The News (Chrysalis) 3 "Words Get in the Way" Miami Sound Machine (Epic) 4 "Dancing on the Ceiling" Lionel Richie (Motown) 5 "Take My Breath Away" Berlin (Columbia) 6 "Sweet Freedom Michael McDonald (MCA) 7 "Higher Love Steve Wmwood (Island) 8 "Taken In Mike 4 the Mechanic (Atlantic) 9 "Glory of Love" Peter Cetera (Warner Bros It All Away" Geneti (Atlantic) BUCK SINGLES 1 Goes My Mind" Laved (Atlantic) 2 "Aint Nothin Gom On but tha Rent" Gwen Guthrie (Polydor) 3 "All Cried Out" Use Liea 4 Cult Jam with Full Force (Columbia) 4. "The Ram" Oran Juice" Jone (Def Jem) 5 "Love Zone" Billy Ocean (Jive) 6." When I Thmk ot You Janet Jack- eon (A4M on the Ceiling Lionel Richie (Motown) 8 "Word Up" Cemeo Atlanta Adit) 9 "Walk This Way" Run-D C.

(Profile) 10. "One Love" Whodmi(Jrve) choice of guest stars is great, but why relegate Cyndi Lauper to the background of Code of Still, thats nothing compared to Baby Grand, a feary tribute to the piano thats more maudlin than a Paul McCartney number. Worse, Joel adds insult to injury by offering his Ray Charles impression alongside the genuine article. That sure seems like a funny way to pay a tribute. Mantronix: The Album (Sleeping Bag).

The basic components Mantronix wires into its sound are pretty run-of-the-mill for hip-hop, ranging from the vintage electronic percussion to M.C. Tee's standard-issue raps. But Mantronix definitely has a way with the music, or rather, the sounds that go into their music. They assemble their jams with funky finesse, revving up the machinery behind Bassline until the rap evaporates into pure rhythm. Especially noteworthy is the Mega-Mix, which is about as CONCRETE as this music gets.

(1974 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10023) Weather Report: This Is It (Columbia). This may be the first group in history to break up because it got along too well, for after 15 albums, the band has for the time being, at least decided to call it quits. The relationshipbetween Josef Zawinul and Wayne Shorter has been comfortably productive over the years, to the point that it seems to have The Smiths: The Queen Is Dead" (Sire). ir The Smiths epitomize all that is admirable and annoying about British new music.

Though the band's material is terrifically tuneful, thanks to Johnny Marrs incisive, visceral guitar work, singer Morrissey has a tendency to wander away from conventional notions of pitch, often manglfhg the bands melodies in the process. Here, Morrissey is mostly in control of nis voice, and delivers some dazzling phrasing in Cemetery Gates and Bigmouth Strikes Again. But the most affecting performance is There Is a Light That Never Goes Out, in which Morrisseys vocal vulnerability is played against the warmth and richness of the arrangement to convey a romantic view thats as chilling as it is poignant..