April 1972
CONTENTS
Dear CREEM: Last night I dreamed about this fantastic rock festival held in a place that was a cross between my old highschool and the world’s largest record store. All the groups and politicos were there. John Sinclair got up to speak and spent the whole time praising Women’s Liberation and Gay Liberation, which was called the Sidewinder Party.
ROCK 'N' ROLL NEWS
Beatle John Lennon has got hisself a bad-ass rock and roll band for partners, said bad-asses being known as Elephants Memory, famed for their Metromedia album Take It to the Streets. Band is slightly changed from that record, adding Wayne “Tex” Gabriel, ex-Motor City whiz formerly with Detroit and Guardian Angel, on guitar.
Records
THERE’S A RIOT GOIN’ ON
Greil Marcus
Muzak With Its Finger on the The Trigger
LOONEY TOONS
DAVE MARSH
Both “Memphis Blues Again,” and “Every Picture Tells A Story” say something that is dismally applicable to our new culture, if that is what we are building. There is no question that each of them belong to a very special set of songs, songs that comment on their audience and themselves with dignity and grace and fluidity, images that prance, music that dances and gurgles out of the record with power and strength.
On the Road With the Beetles in Germany
David McKendry
“Hello.” “Dave, I didn’t get you out of bed did I? Ever been to Europe?” “No, what’s that noise ...” “Well, how’d you like to go? Volkswagen’s doing a press tour of Germany and they want a journalism student to go with them.” “Sure, but what’s that noise?” “I’m in the tub.”
TIGHTEN UP
Vince Aletti
I wish I could just write a fan letter to Smokey Robinson. (Dear Smokey, Ever since I heard “You Really Got a Hold On Me” on the radio in Rick Morris’ room at Antioch . . .) I could have done it I think several years ago. I was crazier then; I didn’t know what I was doing so I actually did more.
Features
Rod Stewart Joins Faces
Dave Marsh
Well yeah, but only to a blind horse.
An Open Letter to Smokey Robinson
Dear Smokey: “And maybe you’ll go away and never call/And a taste of honey is worse than none at all,” poured out of the battered transistor AM radio as two mascara teared fifteen year olds keep a constant vigil at the silent phone. Whatever heartfelt teenage tragedy I was lamenting over, Somkey, you always made me feel worse; which at fifteen was better, because you can really get off on feeling sorry for yourself, syrupy love poems and True Confessions.
Features
The Way You Do the Things You Do
Charlie Gillett
In a list of the hundred best songs of the 1960s, at least ten written by Smokey Robinson would have to be included.
From The Beginning
Dave Marsh
Smokey is leaving the Miracles. This may mean more to those of us in Detroit, who’ve watched the Miracles almost, but never quite, make the break into the Top Forty success that they always deserved, over the last fourteen years, than it does to anyone else but it is a significant event.
The Purple Blues in Beverly Singsong
Jon Carroll
“Whonkers, Capt. Buzz," narbled the Great Blue Angel, pristine to say the least" “Whoa, Billy," interjected the Kid, “physicals were only part of the answer. Questions billyclub more than just our tiny group." “Peach fuzz," scoffed Charlie Bear, looking down his fingernails.
CHARLIE RICH
Peter Guralnick
The following is a chapter from Peter Guralnick’s book, Feel Like Going Home: Portraits in Blues & Rock’n’Roll (a Fusion book, published by Outer-bridge & Dienstfrey). In his review last issue, Charlie Gillett said of this chapter, “. . . (it) simultaneously establishes the greatness (of Rich) and explains why (he) has never managed to get as far as several people with substantially less native ability . . . Integrity, the grit that would tear show biz apart if it were allowed to get too deeply into the system.”
Ten-Best
Michael Goodwin
Why do a ten-best list? Well, they turn out to be habit-forming, as it happens. I did one last year, and it proved to be fun. So this year I did another one, and it was fun too. This is it. (Trumpet flourishes, alarms and ex, cursions) Oh yes, before we begin I should mention that the list is not restricted to films released this year — just to the films I’ve seen this year for the first time.
Bomb Mentality
Alec Dubro
What, in terms of the species, is the greatest threat technology poses to man? Oil spills? Atmospheric pollution? Overpopulation? Chemical wastes? Chickenshit! All of those are reversable within a lifetime or two. But, there remains a peril that is, for all effects and purposes, a permanent damage.
The Kid is gonna Booglarize ya
Ben Edmonds
That Captain Beefheart presented us with The Spotlight Kid in the opening minutes of our battle with 1972 — perhaps the very time when we needed its reassurance the most — says a lot for the healthy development of his vision. That he would even attempt the directional changes so much in evidence here is further indication that he is worthy of every inch of our respect.
Back to the Streets
Dave Marsh
There have been very few attempts to bring latin music into mainstream popular culture. I don’t mean Xavier Cugat. He was on tv the other night in a 1943 Esther Williams movie called Bathing Beauty. Everybody called him “Cugie” and there were ladies with turbans, ruffled sleeves and maracas.
Madmen across the water
Alan Niester
Badfinger, bad fing ger [la. malfingus infected hang nail] 1. inflammation of metacarpal extremities brought about by prolonged exposure to lighted blowtorch 2. any finger severed more than three inches below the wrist. 3. a British rock group of little renown.
The sun hasn’t set yet
Dave Marsh
Mann doesn’t particularly mesmerize me with this; he’s not better than Newman’s version, but the attempt is at least curious. It seems to me that what is needed is more interpretation of the fine songs that are being written, rather than writing one’s own mediocre songs.
Juke Box Jury
GREG SHAW
Jan. 19, 1972 I suppose it had to happen sooner or later: a slow month for singles. Must be the post-Christmas slump, I guess. But slump or no slump there’s always something unexpected to be found on those funny little records, and this month’s surprise just happens to be the Record of the Year (so far).
ROCK-A-RAMA
HOLD YOUR FIRE — Patto (Vertigo):: One of the pleasant surprises of the month — after an overpoweringly mundane debut, this medium crew of British eclectic (everything from middle Dylan to Mose Allison to some David Bowie to Faces to John McLaughlin even) rockers come up with a lightweight, fun album and great lyrics: “Well you could see me there at every happening with my album by the Byrds/ I was shown how to question the great ‘I Ching’ but I couldn’t dig some of the words/ I’ve smoked a ton of marijuana sat cross legged til my legs went numb . . . I’ve been beated down and busted and I’ve wound up on my own/ And there’s nothing left that buzzes me so I’m returning home.”
PARISH HIGH N' BLACK KNIT TIE