A (Meg) Christian Revival

By Lisa Rainsong

Meg Christian's third album, Turning It Over, has just been released, and it is well worth the wait. The ten songs on this album have the exceptional warmth and intimacy of her earlier recordings plus stronger, more solid instrumental arrangements. The supporting vocals, arranged by Cris Williamson, contribute to the overall texture of the music.

The title song is a moving piece about major changes in the way Meg perceives her life. This song,

possibly her finest, will stay with you after hearing it just once.

Also included on this album is Julie Homi's "There's A Light," one of the most beautiful coming out/love songs I've heard. The melody line is backed by rich jazz harmonies that are enhanced by very effective supporting vocals.

I was pleased to see that Meg chose to record two original guitar pieces. Her excellent guitar accompaniments add a great deal to her songs.

Any woman who is into sports—particularly lifting

Rainsong and Mudslide Plus

By Susan Woodworth

On August 29, over 200 women attended a celebration, sponsored by Oven Productions, which featured a performance by the Mudslide and Rainsong Trio, with Kate Thomas on drums. The event, which commemorated the months of time and energy contributed by women to bring Judy Chicago's The Dinner Party to Cleveland, was held in the same hall where the exhibit had been installed.

This trio is the latest musical format used by Mudslide and Rainsong. Previously they played together as a duo and as a four-woman band known as Sister Rhapsody. These women have performed throughout northeast Ohio at coffeehouses, street fairs, and in concert in Cleveland, and have also

1st Monday in October

By Sherah Newman

First Monday in October, starring Jill Clayburgh as Ruth Loomis, the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court, could not have come out at a more appropriate time, considering President Reagan's recent appointment of Sandra Day O'Connor to the same position. But this timely coincidence is virtually the only aspect of the film that resembles reality.

Clayburgh, who has been type-cast in strongwilled, over-achieving woman roles, brings all those charcteristics to the character of Loomis. Still, she is unconvincing as the first woman justice of the highest court in the land. For one thing, she appears too young to have gained enough experience to achieve that honor, especially when she is seen in contrast to her eight greying "brothers," as they are called.

She is cast opposite Walter Matthau, who plays a stubborn liberal who approves of women on the court because "the bench would smell better with a little perfume". That is, until he meets Ruth. The two engage in an ongoing battle of the sexes and the movie turns into a saga of their relationship.

As it progresses, First Monday in October becomes increasingly hard to believe. Incidents such as Clayburgh kissing Matthau and Matthau coming to Clayburgh's apartment and dragging her out of the shower contribute to the incredibility of the story. Scenes of Clayburgh playing tennis have no place in the film except to show some leg shots of a braless Clayburgh running for the ball. While I have no doubt that even Supreme Court justices have a need to be healthy and fit, we can't seem to escape women being seen as sexual objects, regardless of their

career.

The movie does have some funny moments, although the end is a bit odd as Clayburgh and Matthau suddenly reconcile all their differences.

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played at the open mike at the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival.

Mudslide and Rainsong write and perform much original material. Because Rainsong's lyrics carry a feminist message, they have experimented with vocals and instrumental arrangements to amplify the quality of the lyrics. "Seeds in the Wind" and "Take Care of Yourself" are two numbers which reflect this work.

At the Dinner Party farewell celebration they offered a varied set, moving from the folk ballad style to blues to instrumental to jazz, including two more women on a couple of numbers. After the break, some sound problems and a boisterous crowd made it difficult to hear the lyrics. "Don't Call Me Girl" and "Never Gonna Lose Myself Again" held the audience, but perhaps a little audience participation and sing-a-longs would have helped hold the crowd's attention as the energy built for the dance scheduled later in the evening.

The trio has some nice material; their challenge now is how to package it for different situations.

REVIEWS

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weights and working out-will be delighted with "Gym II". This upbeat's celebrates women getting strong and developing those muscles we're not supposed to have. The album demonstrat Meg has continued to develop her rich, warm veral range, and expressive singing style. In auuition, her skill as a songwriter has expanded. In songs such

as

"Restless" and "I Wish You Well," her music and lyrics complement each other to create vivid feelings and impressions.

Some women have commented that Turning It Over is not as political as Meg's other albums. It seems to me that while the politics are still there, they act more as a background for songs about personal growth and change.

Meg Christian's first two albums, I Know You Know and Face the Music have become "classics" of women's music, and Turning It Over will certainly join them. All three albums are recorded by Olivia Records, P.O. Box 12064, Oakland, California 94604. Turning It Over should be available soon at Coventry Books..

Women, Divorce and Money

Mary E. Rogers. McGraw-Hill, 1981. $10.95.

By Mary Walsh

Any woman who has gone. through a divorce knows what an agonizing time it is: emotions run rampant, and decisions affecting her whole future are made when a woman is least prepared to make them. A good lawyer is a necessity at this time to supply the needed objectivity, but a woman contemplating divorce can go a long way toward helping herself by reading Women, Divorce and Money by Mary Rogers even before she sees an attorney.

Rogers, a California financial adviser to women; takes a practical, step-by-step look at the financial aspects of divorce, both shortand long-run. She describes various financial options open to divorcing women, and takes much of the mystery out of financial planning. Using clear and simple instructions, she encourages women to overcome their fears of the unknown and to empower themselves by understanding and asserting their financial rights. Among the topics she covers are how to organize our finances and figure out our actual cost of living; how to keep emotions under control and prepare to negotiate a divorce settlement with a clear mind; how to decide whether to keep the family home; what insurance, if any, is needed; how to plan the financial future; how to approach the market place and aim for a career; and what to know and keep in mind if a new marriage is contemplated.

Clearly, this book will be of use only to middle-

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class women who own property at the time of their divorce. It sets aside the legal and emotional aspects of divorce, and concentrates exclusively on divorce as a financial transaction. However, it is well written and easily understandable, and perhaps its greatest asset is its feminist emphasis on women's strength and self-reliance. It is a valuable tool, particularly for women who have been primarily homemakers and who now face a strange and frightening world.

Boos and Bravos

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BOO: To the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for its abortion control bill which seeks a 72-hour waiting period, parental or court approval for a minor, notification of the father of the unborn, and counseling which includes color photos of fetal gestation stages before and after the performance of an abortion.

BOO: To Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska, for requiring women to sign an informed consent form provided by Alaska Right-to-Life.

BOO: To Wisconsin, Delaware, California, New York, Illinois, Arizona, Pennsylvania and Oklahoma, where legislation is pending to prohibit priváte health insurance companies from covering abortions.

BRAVO: to the General Synod of the United Church of Christ which acted by an approximate vote of 700 to 20 to reaffirm its pro-choice position.

October, 1981/What She Wants/Page 7