Slush, mush ana trash

Scan page 15

Not a very good start for SO's rock column by Andrew MacDonald very ARMED with Roget's Thesaurus (15p. from a jumble sale) and the new edition of the Oxford Pocket Dictionary (Christmas present from little sis) I set out with the idea of a new, snappy, punchy column for Socialist Organiser.

This is it. It is intended to be a regular thing covering not just rock music but the whole aspect of "youth" culture:

Why bother? At best, young people, who are a fair chunk of the population are patronised - more often than not simply told to shut up and do as they are told.

One way youth have defined their own existence is through rock culture.

Why should a socialist paper be worried about that?

record is a record, a punk is a punk, a hit is a hit.

Not quite. The record industry isn't just a multi-million pound rip-off machine. The main stream definitely is, but now and then the teenage rebellion and desire to turn the world "topsy-turvy" shines through.

This curious situation -youthful imagination versus monopoly capital morons is what is going to be examined - or in rock's very own jargonese - "move with the groove or be removed' A lot of the so-called 'youth culture' , first of all, isn't all that youthful and is rather messy. Just have a look at the charts at the moment.

The charts, as everyone knows, are the planet which the rest of the industry orbits around. They're fundamental to the whole set-up.

Most people also know that secretly the charts are rigged by record promoters. Every so often a case comes to light - like last week, RCA got caught and had to foot the bill for a £5,000 inquiry - but generally it's all done outside the limelight (you know, the old public school boy network stuff.

Charts

In any case the BBC have the apparatus sown up via Radio One and Top of the Pops, which more or less determines which records are bought and which ones are left on the shelf. A few favours here and there can decide record sales running into thousands of pounds.

And in the eyes of the CBS, RCA, EMI etc Board of Directors, music comes second. Well it must do, with the trash, slush and mush which finds it's way into the charts!!!

Last week there were no less than seven compilation singles in the hit parade. They are the records you hear on the radio which sound at first like an original hit, then there's three hand claps and the punch line from another "smash' (cringe) is • regurgitate Banal, tasteless, limp, in:: and hackneyed puke.

Record buying teenager need these records lik AUEW members need Terr Duffy and John Boyd. Star on 45 Volume 2 by Sta sound was bad, really bad but another dozen soun alikes! It's enough to mak the rest of the slush, mus and trash look good.

But is anyone trul inspired by any one of 95: of the records in the single charts with such gems a 'Love Song' by (couldn' put it better myself th 'Simple Minds'; 'Caribbea Disco' by Lobo' (as i lobotomy) and I Lov Music' by Enigma (as i enemic).

The album charts are a loathsome, too, and can b easily categorised as follow!

The. irremediable: th official BBC album of th Royal Wedding; Cli: Richards' 'Love Songs' an Bucks Fizz!

The Wretched: No Slee til Hammersmith by Moto head, Bruce Springsteen 'The River' (watch it, ed and Disco Daze and | Disc Nights.

And the unwholesom: Koo Koo by Debbie Harr Kings of the Wild Fronti by Adam and the Ants ar Neil Diamond's Jazz Singer.

It's a depressing pictu looking at the bulk of tł charts. Perhaps somethir nicer will appear by ne week.