February 1975
CREEM
LYRICS MADE LOUCID I have two questions for you concerning Lou Reed. First, on the song “Kill Your Sons,” he says “CREEM won’t treat me very good,” but what does he say on the next line? I played it over a hundred times but can’t figure it out. Second, have you ever seen Lou with a smile on his face?
ZZ TOP: FROM THE TEXAS UNDERBELLY
BEN FERGUSON
In years past, most Texas musicians have been forced to leave the land of the Lone Star in order to “make it,” but that may now be changing.
KILLER FROGS IN TRANSATLANTIC BLITZ
Lester Bangs
A Franco-American Chronologue Starring Les Variations
Extension Chords
Ovation: Turtle With a Long Neck
Michael Brooks
Contrary to popular belief, the Ovation name was derived from the famous Ovation Brothers who got their name from clammerin’ and clappin’ audiences.
TRAFFIC: Coming or Going
Cynthia Dagnal
“Turn off those fuckin’ lights!” the Phantom of the Balcony bellowed.
Features
JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE WAX RICK WAKEMAN’S Split Level Dome
Jaan Uhelszki
“Another round for all of us!” commanded Rick, grabbing at a passing waiter. “Triples!” he dared. “Did you hear the one about...”
DREEM BAND
Jimi Hendrix (guitar): “One of my great dreams was to play rhythm behind Jimi’s lead. It’s hard for me to think of him as dead because his music still lives and I think it always will. I got to play with him and we enjoyed each other’s company. I didn’t want anything from him and he didn’t want anything from me.”
THE CHRISTGAU CONSUMER GUIDE
Robert Christgau
I happened to switch on the radio a couple of weeks ago just in time to hear Scott Muni enthusing about the sudden wealth of new albums. We’d gone through a bad period, Scotso recalled sadly, but things were righting themselves. It was hard to fit in all the good stuff these days, but have no fear, eventually we’d hear them all youknow-where.
ROCK 'N' ROLL NEWS
Two young men walk into a Cambridge record store. They stride up to the clerk, who is wearing a Richard Betts promo tee shirt, and introduce themselves as members of the Allman Brothers. They offer to buy his shirt, but he refuses. They threaten to “beat the shirt off,” but the clerk won’t give in.
THE BEAT GOES ON
Georgia Christgau
Some people think radio is dead. Some people say it’s just been turned over ... to Elton John. To those of us here in Detroit who thrive on the AM lifeblood of Windsor-based CKLW, perhaps North America’s greatest radio station, Elton’s two hour stint as EJ the DJ was a snore in the middle of an afternoon of programming that does not usually put one to sleep.
KISSES SWEETER THAN CACTUS
LILY CUMQUAT
Austin has succeeded where the millennium failed ... N.Y. News, March 30, 1975 A few of the Ranch Hands are lighting up a joint behind the old corral. It’s just before their upcoming or at least forthcoming concert. This corral is a huge barn-like structure but it has never smelled of decaying hay or manure, just the equally piercing odors of beer and coke mildew on shag carpet.
Letter From Britain
Why Flash-Rock Is More Cosmic Than Ever
Lon MacDonald
The big Battle Of The Bread going on at present in Britain (and mentioned in last month’s letter) is simmering nicely.
J. GEILS HOWLIN’ AT THE MOON
John Morthland
Why is Peter Wolf running in circles around the darkened stage, before the J. Geils Band is announced and the spotlights focus in on him?
JIMMY PAGE
Nick Kent
As a guitarist, Jimmy Page has all the bases covered.
Stars Cars
Rod Stewart
Features
THE GUESS WHO
GENE SCULATTI
Pounds Lighter and Tons Happier, the Winning's Just Beginning for this Canuck Foursome
CHICAGO ON ICE
Richard Kearns
Chicago is a city filled with dirty gray politicians, black leather policemen, and several varieties of cancerous looking trees instead of greenery.
U.F.O.’s, Fitlep, & David Bowie
Bruno Stein
“Have you got any metal in your body?” asked the flying saucer man.
Rewire Yourself
The TEAC 10,000 Mile Performance Test
Lorry Jaffe
Upon taking the TEAC 450 cassette deck from its carton an extreme feeling of delight and anticipation literally takes over.
CREEM DREEM
FLO & EDDIE
ELEGANZ
Lisa Robinson
Did you see the recent Viva spread on cock rings? It’s a step forward to recognize their heterosexual potential to be sure, but Viva didn’t go far enough. For cock rings could become truly important as a decorative as well as a functioning fashion.
Paul Williams: One-Upping Barry Manilow
WAYNE ROBINS
Rock isn’t dead; it’s been stolen.
SHORT TAKES
Lester Bangs
BLOOD FOR DRACULA (Bryanston):: This latest Warhol chopathon is both funnier and an entrail less gory than Frankenstein, which also suffered by a certain stiff prolixity (people riding around in carriages, etc.) that Dracula manages to circumvent with plenty of genuinely humorous dialog and the best mugging (facial variety) seen in any recent film.
Room At The Top (And Bottom)
WAYNE ROBINS
It’s been a decent year for pix, and that’s just the problem. Unless one tries hard, one rarely stumbles into clear and present skunks anymore. Maybe it’s that the choices in New York are more varied: I know my colleagues in Birmingham get two crypto-Disneys a week to choose from.
Tupperwaring With The Stars
JAAN UHELSZKI
Aw, the old man was going to Philly next Friday for one of those conventions and I had nothing to do so I decided I’d throw a hen party. The last time I’d seen any of the gang was over a year ago when we gave Carly a baby shower. I made up a list of the old backstage broads and started calling.
Records
Van Morrison Slugs It Out With Himself
JIM MILLER
Any band blessed with Van Morrison for a lead singer working within a band context would have to be some kind of powerhouse.
ROCK.A.RAMA
HELEN REDDY — Free And Easy (Capitol):: Although she’s had stiff competition recently from Olivia Newton-John, Helen Reddy remains the biggest selling lady on wax and she has finally come up with an album worthy of her talents. Producer Joe Wissert gets extra points for delivering seven out of ten entries in surefire top ten form.
OSCAR KABIBBLER