Showcase Lets Them Be Heard : Songwriters Given a Shot at Making the World Sing

Phil Goldberg had been to these things before, and he was prepared.

He carried a carton that held 50 cassettes of songs he has written. He had a shopping bag filled with self-addressed envelopes, stamps, a stapler, lyric sheets and rubber bands. His canvas shoulder bag contained his tape recorder.

He had a pencil stored behind his left ear, nearly obscured by an oversized black beret.

Goldberg, like nearly 1,000 others who swarmed through two buildings at Pasadena City College on Saturday, wants to sell his songs. So he paid $300 to make a demo tape of two of his best. And he spent $100 to attend the 9th annual Los Angeles Songwriters Showcase--two days of seminars, recording workshops and, most important, the opportunity to pitch his work to record producers and music publishers away from the usual protective shield of receptionists and secretaries.

This was Goldberg’s third songwriters’ showcase. No records came of his previous efforts, but he has learned a lot. Especially this: “You do not want to run out of tapes.”

Goldberg’s “true life” job is project director for a local market research firm. He tests the effectiveness of movie advertising for motion picture companies.

But 20 years ago, at age 13, he wrote a song he thought was perfect for the Supremes. And he has never stopped writing music and lyrics.

Recently, some of his songs were actually recorded, by a Swiss duo named Che and Ray.

And so, encouraged, he ended up in Room C-339, part of the crowd of hopefuls waiting to hear the thoughts of a slight man in a purple pullover at the front of the room: Rodney Gordy, a 28-year-old official of Jobete Music Inc., an arm of Motown Records.

Gordy was there to lead a critique session of the hopefuls’ tapes because “I need hits. I need them badly.”

All 40 people in the classroom thought they might be able to supply one. So did the dozen who took overflow seating in the hall.

Alison White, who sells computers in San Francisco, hoped Gordy would want to keep tape No. 27, “It’s Me You’ll Want to Know,” a song she wrote about a man she met at last year’s showcase.

Gaelyn and Bram Larrick, graphic artists from Rancho Palos Verdes, hoped Gordy would choose No. 37, “New Shoes,” their song about buying shoes to dance in.

But after two hours and 60 tapes, Gordy decided to hold on to just two. One of them, he said, he could not really use right now.

The other was Goldberg’s “Two Timing,” an ode to the joys of making love twice in succession.

Gordy told his attentive audience that the song’s verses need work, that the lyrics aren’t sensual enough but that the catchy title and the clever concept had hooked him. He made no guarantees, but he wanted to take the tape back to his office.

Goldberg burst out the door and into the hall, flailing his arms and grinning.

Minutes later, a woman with New Wave hair and a long print jacket approached and asked if he had a card. She liked “Two Timing” too.

He peered at her name tag--Angela Newcome, Rock ‘n’ Roll Records. “Oh, you’re with a record company,” he said. “Here’s a tape.”

“I’m looking for material for the Pointer Sisters,” Newcome said.

“Oh,” Goldberg said. He reached into his carton. “Then I’ve got another tape for you.”

It worked. She took them both.

Goldberg’s voice was cracking with excitement. “Would it be wise to follow up in any fashion?” he asked.

Newcome smiled and said, “I’ll call you.”