Records: Pick of Pop

By W.B.

SLAVED; Slade (Polydor. $5.98). Move on over, Grand Funk Railroad. Slade is a tough bluesy English combo that could well become the new champ of hard rock. Try Gudbuy T'Jane, their current English hit, for a starter.

GEMINI; Erroll Garner (London, $5.98). In his 60th or so LP, Jazz Pianist Garner sounds fresher and more original than he has in years. Standards like How High the Moon and It Could Happen to You comprise the usual teasing introduction and pleasing acquaintanceship. Two Afro-Latin originals, Gemini and Eldorado, burst with exhilarating improvisation.

THE ACADEMY IN PERIL; John Cale (Reprise, $5.98). A bizarre, whimsical but steadfastly intriguing serving of pop esoterica from a young composer who has worked with both John Cage and the rock group, Velvet Underground. Cale's orchestral writing (played by the Royal Philharmonic) often sounds like ersatz Charles Ives, Cale's piano parts (played by Cale himself) like sleepy Debussy. Yet within their pop context, they possess a kind of "laid-back" mood that may just appeal to the rock young.

THE JOURNEY; John Simon (Warner Bros., $5.98). No Top Ten hits here either, just a lot of honest musical fun and pathos from the man who produced and played on The Band's momentous second album. From the striding joy of The Real Woodstock Rag to the jazzy melancholy of King Lear's Blues (Cordelia), Simon shows an individuality all too rare in pop today.

TOMMY; Rod Stewart, Ringo Starr and other rock stars; the London Symphony Orchestra (Ode, 2 LPs, $11.96). To record and package this LP extravaganza, Ode President Lou Adler spent more than $400,000, then quickly earned it all back in sales that last week zoomed past the $1,000,000 mark. Sad to say, symphonic treatment dulls the edges of Pete Townshend's now classic, some times pretentious "rock opera." Stick to the original version by The Who.

DOUG SAHM AND BAND (Atlantic, $5.98). Call it country blues, Texas swing or western cum soul, Doug Sahm has come up with a rollicking bag of songs that combine the best of both the white and black rural traditions. The undeniable excitement of the recording is the result, perhaps, of the presence of a number of distinguished "extra" sidemen: Dr. John the Night Tripper, Guitarist David Bromberg, and, of all people. Bob Dylan, who plays guitar, harmonica and organ and even lends a little vocal counterpoint to (Is Anybody Going To) San Antone. . W.B.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.