4 THE CAROLINA TIKES
SAT., JANUARY 23, 198?
by Tim Walter
Copyright f Stf, TSJ SywOctH FmvrM
Motown Recipes:
New Batch Of Old Gold?
in
Although consistently visible since leaving the Temptations
1969. which was about a year after "I Wish It Would Rain,"
baritone David Ramo s career hasn't been wnat it snouia.
Ruffin elected to solo with Motown, succeeding almost in
stantly with "My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left
Me)," but his stunning talent hasn't fazed us since. When none
of the Motown producers came to his aid, he joined Warner
Brothers. " r 1 : V t:". "
In December, Motown signed Ruffin back into the fold,
along with soulmate, Eddie Kendricks. The industry is now
floating with all kinds of rumors about Motown's plans.
Kendricks did slightly better in his solo career; the tenor left .
the Temps in W71 right aftert' Just My Imagination" and
stayed with Motown until 1977. An Arista disc, "Vintage 478"
was probably his best work of the latter part of the seventies,
and it was only average. Finally, he moved on to Atlantic.
Now that both are back with Motown, do the Motown ex
ecutives have any hot plans to give the durable, although
perhaps now ''overly slick" Temptations a remixed old
fashioned shot in the arm? Time will tell what the brass
doesn't.
The Temptations are now on tour, recording in February for
a March release. Question: who will be in that studio with
.them? "' . 1 X ' !' '':
Look for "Dreamgirls" to run.. .and run, and run. The new
starmaker will undoubtedly tour as well, providing a vehicle
for all kinds of talent.
If you haven't heard, a story that resembles the history of the
sensational rise to success of the Supremes has been cast in a
Broadway musical by directorchoreographer Michael "A
Chorus Line; Bennett. It opened December 20.
It's not reality; in thii version Effie (not unlike Florence
Ballard) is dramatically forced out of the group, but unlike the
tragedy of Ballard; Effie is reinstated in the end. The moral of
forgiveness is almost lost in the sheer magnitude of the show's
musical and visual brilliance.
The other critics are raving about Jennifer Holliday (age 21)
who plays Effie. I was equally impressed with illusionist Sheryl
Lee Ralph as the sleek and chic Deena (a Ross type).
"Dreamgirls" could well give both a launch toward careers oo
vinyl and in concert; it worked for Stephanie Mills after four
years witlt."TheWiz!" r.; :"-;v:
deavant Derricks did a brilliant job of creating vocal ar
rangements that sound like the SupremeMotown cliches of the
60's without neglecting to add a smart 80's touch that is destin
ed to make the cast album succeed on its own merits. Derricks
also has a role, a James Brown-type who loses to the manipula-
tions of Curtis, the hustler (Ben Harney). ' " :
I like the Whispers 13th album, "Love Is Where You Find
It." Leavell Degree suggested stacking the dance songs on one
side with the "romancin" tunes on the flip side. "People don't -like
to be interrrupted at either," he told me. "They want one
or the other, without the mood changing. So, we came up with
a side each." .
"In The Raw" is the fast-breaking single and lead cut from
the dancin side, somewhat typical funk. In my book, the
romancin' side carries the greater appeal. Bet on a slower, but
steady climb with VSay Yes" and possibly "Small Talking."
The Whispers didn't really score until 1980, when "And The
Beat Goes On", became their first gold single. They'd been
working together for 15 years prior J; With the economy forcing -r
consumers into choosing solid values, little wonder they're sue
ceeding now when schlock is falling like dead flies in Raid. By -the
way, MCA joined RCA and Warner's in pricing 43's at
$1.99. At that price, who's buying?
?v
"TSS-.
Guests On Dick Cavett Show
Guest? "apearing on -The
Dick Cavett Show during the
week of January 25, are Saul
Bellow, author, Part ' I, on .
Monday January 25. Nobel'
laureate Saul Bellow's highly
praised books include "The
Adventures of Augie
March", (National Book
Aard;. t953)VHerzog"
(International Literature
Prize, m2ZmM3SZr "Mr.
Sartmler's Planet" (National
Book Award, 1 970): "Hum
boldt's Gift (Pulitzer Prize,
1976), and "To Jerusalem
and Back," Bellow won the :
Nobel Prize for Literature in
1976. His latest novel is "The
Dean's December," ,
Parts II and III of the in
terview with Bellow will be
aired Tuesday and Wednes
day. On Thursday, January 28,
Grace Bumbry and Shirley
Verrett, opera singers, will
appear. Miss Bumbry and'
Miss Verrett, opera stars of'
; international renown, are ap
pearing together for the first
t time in a joint concert at
Carnegie on Sunday,
January. 31. Their, Cavett
show appearance marks the1
- only time prior to the concert
when the two will perform
together "The Letter,.
Duet' form Mozart's "The!
Marriage of Figaro." Both!
Miss Bumbry and Miss' Ver-'
rett were originally mezzo
sopranos who, later in their
careers, successfully switched
to dramatic soprano . roles.
Each began her career as a
choir singer, each, appeared '
on "Arthur Godfrey's Talent
Scouts," and each has won
the Marian : Anderson
Award. ' . " ' .
On Friday January 29, Ar
thur Mitchell, founder and
co-director of the Dance
Theatre of Harlem. Mitchell,,
founded the acclaimed
Dance Theatre of Harlem;
company twelve-years ago,
Prior to that time, he was a
principal dancer , with the
New York City Ballet for fif-'
teen years. In June, 1981,
Mitchell received an appoint
ment to serve on the Presi
dent's Task , Force v on the
Arts and Humanities. At the
time of the. broadcast, the
Dance Theatre of , Harlem
will be ' performing five
week season at City center in
New York, moving to the
Kennedy Center ; : Opera
House in Washington, D.C.:
immediatel v thereafter. The
company's appearance at the
Kennedy Center will be
videotaped and broadcast on
Wednesday, May 5 on the
Kennedy Center Tonight
series' over PBS.
Monday-Friday Daytime
January 25 -29, 1982
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