Rock and rollin By STEVEN WILDSTEIN Rod Stewart's latest album. A Night on the Town. provides insights into the singer-composer-arranger's head. but it also makes us aware of the rock star's shortcomings. . Rod has given a new LP witha “fast side" and a “slow side." One can quickly dispense with the fast side -—RECORD REVIEW because of its obvious inferiority. Rod always has been known to be compe- tent on both fast and slow songs. Just look at Never a Dull Moment or Every Picture Tells a Story. two of the singer's earlier albums. _ Unfortunately, Rod Stewart tries to live up to his past reputation as a man for all seasons and presents a very uneven performance on his latest release. His sensitivity surfaces on the slower songs: Tonight's the Night. The First Cut is the Deepest. and Killing of Georgie. Parts I and I]. These ballads are pleasing, but the faster songs are ordinary and boring. Stewart should leave the faster rock rhythms to David Bowie. Steve Miller and'thc disco tune writers. all of whom do _]USlICC‘ to the rock beat. Stewart arranges the “fast side" well and‘ receives more than adequate support from the Tower of Power horn section. Rod's lyrical phrasing is also interest- ing and poetically convincing. Yet all of these good things fail to pump life into Rod's “fast side" duds. Pretty Flamingo is pretty awful, Big Bayou is a big bore. The Wild Side of Li_'/'(- is tame: Fool_/or You is foolish; and Bull Trap. even though it is the best apple in this rotten bunch. would be more aptly named Yawn Trap. All of these songs have interesting Thursday, September 9, 1976 Connecticut Dally Campus Page 9 ARTS & FEATURES moments. yet they fail miserably when viewed as wholes-. But one must give credit where credit is due. Tonight's the Night is the album's opening and best song. Rod wrote this one, and he shows off his songwriting ability in this sensitive " rrwg 1 I seduction. The song has a very nice saxophone solo and a moving string section. Rod sings this roniancer warmly and ends it with luring|_'.'- spoken French sounds. which have tickled this rcviewer's interest. But if you don’t "parle fraiicais." it isn't Start sofes his touch \\‘ot‘tlt your shelling out four or five bttcks to find out. Rod Stewart docs perform a nice \'ersioii of Cat Steven's The First Cut is I/It’ l)eep¢'.s!. Rod sings this one soiilfiilly and phrases his lyrics su- perhl_\'. The instriimeiits are well- ai'i'aiigc(l. p:ii'tieiiltti'ly the acoustic guitar. I\'i/ling u/'(ieoi'gie Parts I uml II is the alhiini's holilest and most interest- ing statement. It tells of :i iiiale lioniosexual. \\'llU “as one of the "kindest gii_\s l exer kneu" and “iieeileil lo\ e like :ill the rest." Sure. l.oit Reed and Daxitl BU\\lL‘ h:t\e exploited the shock \'.'.llllC of bisexual- ity in the past. but this song repre- setits the first seiisitixe l_\'i'ies li_\ a rock 'n roll stud s_\'inp:itlii/ing with the lioniose.\tial hero's problems. This Item's stoi‘_\ iiieliiiles his re- birth and ends with his death in Nt‘\\ York ('it_\'. The hero could be either real or lietitioiis. Ste\rart's |_\‘i‘ieal _ plirasiiig is reniiniscciit of Bob D_\'laii's assertixeiiess and iron_\' on [flood ml lllt’ ’I'rut'/its. It's basically a good soiig. hut Rod shoiililii't hasc iiieltitletl that axrftil "tloo-iloo—tloo—iloo" gir|s' chor- tis and that ohiio.\ioiis trhistle at the end of the song. Trmle Wim/.s is the only song not _\'et nieiitionetl. It's all right il'_\'ou like that sort of graiitliose g:ti'liage. with more iiielapltors llyiiig aroiinil than you can eolllil. So, ulial can he said‘? Tliree songs are good. and si.\ are L‘ll(llll‘L‘(l. Not too good. This l'L‘\‘lL‘\\'t'l‘ \\ otiltl lime to say that none of its can do e\er_s'lliiiig \\ ell. Rod Ste\\'ai‘t iiieltitletl. liiit he should rceogiti/e his elleeti\t.'iiess on hallatls and eoiieeiitrate his cl'l"orts on them. —*-V A .~. - t -—w- \ '~ ~. -. -- '-.i ..—v« . ».r . i . .- -. .r . -- .. I . *. l . - .- ‘ .1 ~. aw, -.- .»-r ._ or -. , _. t - . . v . . , . . - - . vl . v_ ;_.-4”) _._;s.__] .--._va ._~.-'-..“ ..- ,: : __ .,l_ u._-‘-‘' ,- ._‘ .- __»| 2.: *._i_ .3 .__tI _‘...~i.,Vl .:.:"-._i| ..—~.,__i‘ ‘rT._: ...:-.._.| ,4.,.’~..-’\‘ r I . .- I — . _ . . . . . _ . _ .. , _ . , , , ,_ _ _. ,. _. I I I. I _, CIDRA PROFESSIONAL AND PARAPROFESSSIONAL TRAINING WORKSHOPS i, ;_l FALL 1976 4 Wednesdays. 8-10 PM. Nov 10,17. Dec 1.8 ‘:3 Friday. 7-I0 PM. Oct 1. Saturday and Sunday, 10 AM-6 PM. Oct 2.3. presentations on group dynamics, each participant becoming a member of a lni Tpersonal Communication skills Friday, 7-10 PM. Oct I. Saturday and Sunday. 10 AM - 6 PM. Oct 2.3. Fee: UCONN students $15. nonstudents $25. An opportunity for interested persons to improve their listening and communication skills. Special emphasis will be placed on learning empathy. a listening skill which helps up to get in touch with the feelings of others as well as our own. Introductory Workshop in Group Facilitation Fee: UCONN students $50, nonstudents $100. A basic introductory experience combining experential learning and theoretical personal growth group. THE FOLLOWING WORKSHOPS ARE BEING OFFERED TO PERSONS WHO ARE ALREADY IN SOME HELPING CAPACITY AS A COUNSELOR OR FOR 3.3 THOSE VETERANS OF GESTALT OR OTHER PERSONAL GROWTH GROUP . ENCOUNTERS. Intermediate Gestalt Skills Saturday and Sunday. l0 AM - 0 PM. Dec 4.5. Fee: UCONN students $25. nonstudents $50 Information will e presented on the role of the Gestalt therapist in facilitating growth and the Gestalt approach to working with various universal life themes. Gestalt Approach to Counseling: An Introductory Workshop Tuesdays. 8-10:30 PM, Sept. 28 - Nov 16 Fee: UCONN students $50, nonstudents $100 We will cover basic gestalt approach with short lectures. demonstrations. and some individual practice of techniques. Hopefully a positive personal growth experience for each participant. Intermediate Workshop in Group Facilitation _ Counseling Skills: Beyond Empathy 3;. Wednesdays. 3:30 - 5:30 PM. Oct 6- Nov 17 and Dec 1. Friday. 7-10 PM. Oct 29. Saturday and Sunday. 10 AM - 6 PM. Oct 30.3]. it» Fee: UCONN students $50. nonstudents $100 _ Fee: UCONN students $15. nonstudents $25 7‘ We will cover skills to be used in counseling individuals after an awareness of feelings has been reached. Methods for assisting a person in clarifying their values and for facilitating the process of problem solving will be taught. Two parts: (1) the opportunity to co-train with a professional trainer in various other group activities. (2) discussion of theoretical aspects of leading groups and clinic each student's ongoing group. - \ YGGFRASIL: The Center for Personal Growth Stop by anytime at 4 Gilbert Rd. on the UCONN campus or feel free to call 486-4737. We will be glad to answer any and all questions. -—"~ - —- - . . . .. t... - I ..— _- .- _- ..- ,i -».,t ‘~.,l ._.--»._k ~.t "'-’-I"P"':.l‘*":l‘7E">l’Z?"" - " » 7-‘ . 5'. 7' « 3- . I‘. ~ . 1 . '~ , :1 .. ;-. :-. ~ . , .r ,- , --- ,- -- , 2-'7,'W“;l’-7-"Ll -'~' '7 " 5 " -V " V '1’. .