The Optimist (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 69, No. 31, Ed. 1, Tuesday, January 26, 1982 Page: 3 of 11
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A-3
Playing by the rules
in the game of life
fk a "Wlers-C'as
One man's least-liked '81 albums
Again this week let me say that these are
my ideas of the worst recordings of 1981. If
your favorite album ends up on the worst list
that's your opinion and I make no apologies.
Now on to the music.
Styx Paradise Theatre (A&M) More
commercially acceptable but completely
uninteresting music from the band that
defines coliseum rock. The only thing
remotely interesting about the album is the
laser etching on the disc and even the design
of the etching is uninteresting. If only Styx
could return to the type of music they played
"The Grand Illusion."
REO Speedwagon High Infidelity (Epic)
Even though this is the biggest selling album
of 1981 1 can't find anything really good about
it except that at times it could make fair
background music although radio overkill
ruined even that aspect. That something as
mediocre to bad as this gets so much airplay
while acts like the Jam or the Clash are
ignored really makes one wonder about the
state of radio today.
Journey Escape (Columbia) Everything
Journey has done since "Departure" has been
pompous overbearing and boring. The latest
album is no different. Journey has fallen into
the trap of taking itself too seriously; witness
for example Neil Schon's jazz-rock project
with Jan 'Hammer. Steve Perry isn't really
Journey's downfall but the music was a lot
more interesting before he joined.
Plasmatics Beyond The Valley Of 1984 (Stiff
America) The Plasmatics are fun to watch
especially on the "Tomorrow" show but their
records lack the visual aspect. All you get on a
Plasmatics album is awful "music" and some
cheap cheese shots of Wendy O. Williams. The
new album goes far beyond their first album
but they still remain a one-joke act with
nowhere left to go.
ACDC Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
(Atlantic) After Bon Scott original lead
screamer for ACDC died and was replaced
by Brian Johnson the record company
decided to give the "fans" one last album with
Scott. So they dug up an old record that
previously was unavailable in the U.S. and
released it. They shouldn't have bothered.
me J
kaleidoscope
Jeff Slatton
Stevie Nicks Bella Donna (Modern) For all
her beauty and good intentions Stevie Nicks'
album is a real let-down. "Stop Draggin' My
Heart Around" with Tom Petty sounds like
something Petty might have wisely left off one
of his own albums. "Leather And Lace" with
the Eagles' Don Henly sounds too much like a
Waylon and Jesse song (except for the male
vocal of course).
Van Helen Fair Warning (Warner) The title
should be enough to give some idea of the
quality of music contained thereon. David Lee
Roth continues to strut (you can actually hear
it) while the band drones on. The thing is
these guys might stand a chance if they'd try
something new.
Stars On Long Play (Radio Records) This of
course is simply the biggest affront to any fan
of popular music. These guys can turn
anything into disco. The Beatles medly is
especially offensive the worst part is that it
starts with an Archies song. After listening to
"Stars On 45" it was hard to imagine a whole
album of this kind of trash but they did it.
Blondle Autoamerican (Chrysalis) Blondie
gained popularity through "Parallel Lines"
its third and strongest album. Everything
since has lacked something. "Autoamerican"
lacks a whole lot. Blondie must have gotten
tired of rock because there isn't any here.
Especially bad are "Rapture" which at-
tempts to set Deb Harry up as a great rapper
and "The Tide Is High" trying to establish the
band as a reggae force.
Air Supply The One That You Love (Arista)
Wimp rockers of the year. This stuff's so
sugary a diabetic could go into a coma on one
listen. Air Supply does seem to have some
talent somewhere maybe they should try
making shoes. As recording artists they fail
miserably.
looking up
ft
v
JeffLevlng
I love games. Whether it's vicarious par-
ticipation in a televised football game an
intense game of intramural volleyball or an
evening of pinochle I like it. I guess it's the
combination of competition entertainment
and challenging tests of skill that make it so
enjoyable.
Sure I get frustrated by superior opponents
or aggravated when I don't perform up to my
own standards. But after a while I remember
"Hey it's only a game." Then I shrug it off
and play another round.
There's just one problem: I sometimes
begin to think of life itself as one big game.
Meeting people becomes a Halloween
costume party. Everyone has his favorite
mask on and the object is to be the last person
revealed.
Self-disclosure is actually a game of
charades. You can't just tell someone about
yourself; you have to act it out be non-verbal.
And finding an empathetic ear when you
most need one calls for a game of hide and
seek. Close your eyes count to a thousand
then start searching (and no calling "All-ee
all-ee in-come-free! " is allowed).
In these games no one wins.
The Teacher liked games too. Sure
everyone remembers the guessing game at
the well in Samaria or the times when he
played tag by the Sea of Galilee using the
catch-phrase "Come follow me." And some of
his riddles still stump people today.
Why he even had a magic show. He could
change water into wine make bread by
spontaneous regeneration and perform some
real water ballet!
But the games he played were different.
They had genuine and lasting meaning. Each
one was meant to expose the players to each
other even to themselves. You see the
Teacher was the only dealer. When he dealt
all the cards were face up.
He's still the dealer today. He still calls the
rules and knows every card in our hands.
Maybe it's true that life is a game. But in
order for all of us to win we have to play
dealer's choice.
wIMjGyouMoofe
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The Optimist (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 69, No. 31, Ed. 1, Tuesday, January 26, 1982, newspaper, January 26, 1982; Abilene, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth99616/m1/3/?q=%22%22~1&rotate=90: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Abilene Christian University Library.