Bask in 'Summer' perfection
Land Of The Endless Summer: Cindy Combs (Better Day Records)
CINDY Combs was best known until now as the composer of several early hits for Olomana in the 1970s. This perfect album redefines her as a seductive vocalist and accomplished guitarist. Five of the songs are originals by Combs; producer Berry Andelin contributed two more.
The arrangements are relatively simple but beautifully thought out in creating a varied palette of moods and tempos. Each is a polished gem. Combs' acoustic guitar and Bruce Hamada's bass are the primary instruments; other instruments are used sparingly and with excellent results. The total absence of synthetic strings and the other archetypical cliches of typical local recordings is particularly welcome. There are no lame remakes or slapdash filler numbers either.
Few remakes ever compare to the definitive recording but Combs' rendition of "Ei Nei" is one of those rarities. It offers an imaginative new perspective on the song and displays her talents as well.
Song lyrics, English-language translations and performance credits complete this perfect musical portrait.
Ethnicology 101: Frank DeLima (Pocholinga) CD and cassette
ROY Orbison, Lerner & Loewe, Merle Haggard, Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim are among the uncredited contributors to DeLima's newest collection of song parodies and ethnic humor. DeLima and Patrick Downes wrote the new lyrics for "On The Street When You Live," "Okie From Muskogee," "Oh, Pretty Woman," "Maria" and "I Am Woman." Producer David Kauahikaua serves as engineer, arranger and synthetic orchestra.
"Honoruru, Hawaii" is the most imaginative parody. The seminal presence of the Village People's "San Francisco (You've Got Me)" can barely be heard. The addition of Japanese lyrics is one of several things that makes this number a creative triumph.
The duo employs a Gilbert & Sullivan melody as the vehicle for "Bishop Estate Trustee." Opponents of the current trustee system will applaud this one (The title is the same as Nux Vomica's previously released CD single but the songs are completely different).
DeLima also recycles his ever-popular observations on the cultural foibles of local Japanese, Okinawans, Chinese, Koreans, "titas," Filipinos, "Portagees," and Caucasians who speak with heavy Southern accents. Time was when he and Downes wrote and recorded completely original songs like their Hoku-winning "Waimea Lullaby" of 1980. Perhaps they'll get back to that on the next album.
See Record Reviews for some of John Berger's past reviews.
See Aloha Worldwide for locals living away.
John Berger, who has covered the local
entertainment scene since 1972, writes reviews of recordings
produced by Hawaii artists. See the Star-Bulletin's Home Zone
section on Fridays for the latest reviews.
