Newspapers / University of North Carolina … / Nov. 28, 1978, edition 1 / Page 12
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Billy Joel’s latest similar but different By David Griffith “But if we shift the rhythm into overdrive, we could generate a lot of heat ... on 52nd Street." These words are part of the title track of Billy Joel's 52nd Street. While most of the songs easily accomplish this goal musically, there are some songs that just do not fit. Three of this record’s nine tracks do not belong. The first of these is “Honesty.” “Honesty” is a song begging a lover for sincerity. The words and music are soft. Two other songs fit this category (“Rosalinda’s Eyes” and “Until the Night”). They are all good songs, but they are not in anyway involved in overdrive. Yet the biggest pro blem with 52nd Street is it follows The Stranger. The Stranger is an almost perfect recor ding, and 52nd Street is badly flawed. The lyrics tend to be repetitive of the past. For example, “Stiletto" is very similar to “She's Always A Woman.” Compare these words from “She's Always A Woman." “Then she'll carelessly cut you and laugh while you're bleedin' " to these from "Stiletto.” “Then she says she needs affection, while she searched for the vein. She's so good with her stiletto, you don't really mind the pain.” Lyrically, the best cuts are “Big Shot” and “Zanzibar,” but unlike The Stranger, the lyrics are not that important. It is the music that mat ters, and there is some really great music on this album. The first thing one should realize is that 52nd Street was at one time known as "Swing Street,” the street of the great jazz clubs in New York City. This collection is very jazz oriented; Freddie Hubbard provides a trumpet that over- powers everything else on the recording. Hub bard's talent is showcas ed on “Half A Mile Away,” the strongest rocker on the album Hubbards trumpet. Richie Cannata's sax ophone and clarinet, combine with Joel's keyboards and vocals to provide the listener with white hot jazz. “ Big Shot" is the best written of all the songs. “Big Shot” is a study of snob appeal. "You went uptown riding in your limousine, in your fine Park Avenue clothes. You had the Dorn Perignon in your hand and the spoon up your nose." Musically, “Big Shot” features the keyboards (of course). Cannata's saxes, and Liberty DeVito’s drums. It sounds something like carnival music, and is slightly reminiscent of “Captain Jack" off The Piano Man. “Zanzibar" is another song that should be listed as one of the highlights of this album. The words are sports oriented. "Ali dances and the audience ap plauds. Though he's bathed in sweat he hasn’t lost his style. Ali, don't you go downtown. You gave away another round for free,” and "Rose he knows he's such a credit to the game, but the Yankees grab the headlines every time. Melodrama's so much fun in black and white for everyone to see.” As the song unravels one learns it is really about a young man's infatuation with a waitress at a nightclub. The music starts off slow, builds to an exotic piano sound, and ends with Hubbard's trumpet spiriting for the tape. “Stiletto” is a song about a man's disbelief at the cruelty of the woman he loves. Joel’s piano fires off notes like a rapid firing weapon and is accompanied by clarinet, saxes and DeVito's drums. “My Life” is the cur rent Joel hit. Piano is highlighted and the lyrics are above average for this record. “I don't need you to worry for me cause I'm alright. I don't want you to tell me it's the time to come home. 1 don't want you to say anymore, this is my life. Go ahead with your life and leave me alone." Lyrically, this has got to be Joel's worst effort, but musically 52nd Street is the one of his best. One can tell Joel's heart is in this album by listening to the title track. It's not like The Stranger which gave one something to think about, but is just for the fun of it. Page twelve/Carolina JournaUNovember 28, 1978 SpeakUp By Don Waterman What one thing would you like to see done on campus, more than any other thing, during your stay here? Steve Swetnam Political Science Sophomore I'd like to see the UNCC basketball team go to the NCAA finals again and I think they should also build more dorms like on the north end of the campus. Cassidy Laizure Earth Science Sounds Greek to me By Jimmy Twining What's happening with Greeks lately? —Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity recently held the 8th Annual Miss 49er Pageant. They deserve a lot of credit for the time and effort they put into it. The theme of the pageant was “Exploring the Fine 49.” Like most big time pageants, the contestants were judged in such competition as costume, swim suit, talent, evening gown and impromptu questions. Karen Houston, who was sponsored by Alpha Phi Alpha was crowned Miss 49er. —Chi Phi represented the fraternities in the all- campus football championships last week. Strangely enough, they had to win the championship game twice before finally being recognized as champs. This was due to a protest that was filed by the oppos ing team. They didn’t let the pressure get to them as they won the game on an unbelievable catch by Bill “Bozo” Dubose. —The Land and Interfraternity Development Com mittee (LAID) met last week, as they are preparing the groundwork for a very positive manner and the LAID Committee will submit recommendations and suggestions hoping to conclude the plans for the ac quisition of land before the first of the year. The time element is extremely important so that a bill can be drawn up and presented to the North Carolina Legislature in January. So if any of you Greeks have any good ideas, let your representative know. —On the lighter side, there have been three open house parties in the past few weeks which were all good parties. Two of these were liquor parties while the other was held at Grover’s. I must admit the Sig Eps make good hot dogs and their pledges mix a good triple. —The IFC has worked out a procedure with the athletic department enabling all the Greeks to sit in the same section at the basketball games this year. It will take the commitment of the IFC Reps to collect the activity cards and get the tickets back to the brothers in time for the games. This is another good opportunity for Greeks to back the 49ers. Frankly, I think the Athletic Department should give us as many tickets as we want in the best seats available in appreciation of our contributions to homecoming week. Everyone knows that without Greek participa tion. this week would practically go unnoticed. Without our contributions the homecoming parade would consist of maybe three floats. -On Nov. 16. the Dr. William A. Davis Memorial was dedicated. Thanks are extended to Sig Eps for their contributions in the project. Junior I would like some of the become more like the bike thing. to see clubs active racing Lisa Holt Biology Freshman I’d like to see a football team and eventually a stadium on campus. Sophia Koinis Sophomore There should be more dorm space. Steve Eckel UEE Senior There needs to be bet ter parking space. When they built the new parking deck, stu dent parking permits went up to 50 percent. We (the students) should at least be per mitted to park there. Wr ^W] Tcc RESTA '‘Mi LUHCHEOM SPECIAL Mon Fr i Meat, two veg, bread coffee or tea Patio Open Every Night College Court A partments Convenient & Private No Lease Requited One Bedroom across from Gus’s C ali 597-120€ after 0 p.m. uni@n KWIKSTOP (2 mi. n of UNCC rm hwy 49) DISCOUNT BEVERAGES Imported laser & wine 10% discount on ail cases of beer
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Nov. 28, 1978, edition 1
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