Friday, December 6, 1968
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
5
The rock hound
Jazz-folk, rock and CW
By WILL HARDESTY
If ever there was a group which could be called "tight," it is the Pentangle. The group may be heard on its first album, THE PENTANGLE, on Reprise.
Former, leader and member of the group is Bert Jansch. He and John Renbourn play guitars. Their work is excellent. They draw more sounds and music from their guitars than anyone I've ever heard before. Adding depth and rhythm to the guitars are Danny Thompson on bass and Terry Cox on drums. Jacqui McShee does most of the singing.
The group's sound is so tight it comes across as created and produced by one mind. The guitars call back and forth and sing to, for and with each other. The bass, except during solos, is almost sub-liminal—it definitely adds, would be missed if it were gone, but is not conspicuous. The drums are the same way. Jacqui McShee's voice ahs that light, husky sound which makes it sexy, but is strong and excellent enough to be a good lead.
Altogther, the group presents a predominantly jazz-folk sound with dashes of classical and blues added for spice. The only amplification is done to Danny Thompson's bass.
All in all, it rates as an excellent album.
Service project has enough work for 50 volunteers
The Community Service Clearing House could put at least 50 volunteers to work today in various Lawrence community projects—if they only had the volunteers, said Joan Frederick, Webster Groves, Mo., graduate student and chairman of the Clearing House Board.
The Clearing House, a project of several interested students and faculty members, maintains an office at the United Campus Christian Fellowship (UCCF) Center, 1204 Oread. Office hours are 2:30 to 5 p.m. weekdays.
Designed as an information center for both students and townspeople, the Clearing House puts volunteers in contact with several agencies in Lawrence that need extra help.
At present, Miss Frederick said, jobs are available in projects such as repairing homes, driving children to classes at the Bess Stone Activity Center of the Douglas County Association for Retarded Children, working with a junior high church youth group, rehabilitating the East Lawrence Community Center and tutoring children in elementary school subjects.
Men are especially needed to volunteer for some of the more manual tasks, Miss Frederick said. Clearing House policy, she added, is that if a volunteer would like to work with a particular agency, the Clearing House will work out the negotiations with that agency.
Letters have gone to most of the campus living groups explaining the Clearing House and asking that volunteers contact the office.
Staff members are eager to speak to living groups and organizations about the Clearing House, Miss Fredericks said, adding the speakers would make their visits armed with a list of project opportunities available and application blanks for listeners to fill out.
★★
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The best part of Nico's latest, THE MARBLE INDEX on Elektra, is the introduction which is quiet and musical. Unfortunately, it progresses into the album's first song which is electrically manipulated to the point of sounding like the screaming of tortured minds and souls.
And, more unfortunately, the first song is indicative of the whole album—macabre, weird, minor, spaced out, halucinatory, monotonous, unintelligible. The album should be sub-titled, "Music To Take or Remember a Bummer By."
She has done much better work.
Persons who enjoy the current trend in rock music to blend in a little Country-Western will probably like BRADLEY'S BAR by The Beau Brummels on Warner Brothers-Seven Arts.
★★★
The Album was recorded in Nashville by the two remaining members of the original Beau Brummels. The Beau Brummels have always had a sound with a hint of CW in it, but this is the
first album in which they have abandoned the rock genre to go entirely CW. This is not to say the album sounds like the cowmanure-still-on-the-cowboyboots, twangy guitar, Grand Ol' Opry-type music. The music of BRADLEY'S BARN has the depth, musicianship and musicality to be beautiful.
★★
Sal Valentino does not have a typical CW voice. His is more mellow and more refined. He has the right twang, but one gets the impression it is a put-on. However, his voice is good—and perfect for the album.
The other Beau—Ron Elliot t-either wrote or co-authored nine of the 11 songs on the album. He also plays guitar-in a strange way. He taught himself to play and didn't know more than one guitar are usually used in records. Hence, he plays both lead and rhythm at once.
The album in non-Ready Kilowatted four guitars, bass, drums and keyboard. The result is a pleasant, good Nashville sound well worth buying.
PANAVISION* TECHNICOLOR* Re-released thru United Artists
Mat. 2:10; Eve. 7:10-10:00
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Mat. 2:30
Sat. & Sun.
Evening
7:15-9:15
JAMES COBURN • JAMES MASON • JAMES FOX • SUSANNAH YORK
Screenplay by DONALD CAMMELL and HARRY JOE BROWN Jr. Produced by MARTIN MANULIS
Directed BY ROBERT PARRISH TECHNICOLOR - COLUMBIA PICTURE - A MARTIN MANULIS Production