reviews SPOTLIGHT

SAGA CRAZY 8's RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS Behaviour Law And Order Freaky Styley PRODUCERS: Saga, Peter Walsh Producer. Marlon McClain PRODUCER: George Clinton Portrait BFR 40145 Red Rum Records EMI America ST -17168 Canadian-based quintet's third Eight -piece Oregon ensemble offers a Producer Clinton used his atomic is a wonder of studio technology with surprisingly hip rock commentary on butterfly net to capture the camp SPOTLIGHT Predicted to hit top 10 splashy results. Numerous strong everything from Walter Cronkite to funk of L.A.'s Peppers, and after on Billboard's Top Pop Albums tracks should keep this outfit moving Afrika Bambaataa. Supported by running the band through their paces chart or to earn platinum upward, most notably "Take A springy bass work and bright horns, in Detroit, Clinton winds up with a certification Chance," "What Do I Know ?" and the 8's are a well equipped vocal team dense debut that may please college NEW & NOTEWORTHY highlights "Nine Lives Of Miss Midi." with a good feel for uncompromised radio but yields few pop possibilities. new and developing acts worthy of pop. Contact: P.O. Box 1084, Standing the best chance of boosting attention Beaverton, Ore. 97075. this crowd-pleasing troupe are a RECOMMENDED JOHN COUGAR MELLENCAMP PICKS new releases predicted to Scarecrow danceable version of the Meters' PAINTERS DOCKERS hit the top half of the chart in the NONA HENDRYX PRODUCERS: Little Bastard, Don Gehman & "Hollywood (Africa)" and Sly Stone's format listed The Heat Riva 824 865.1 M-1 (PolyGram) Love Planet "If You Want Me To Stay." PRODUCERS: Various Producer. Not listed RECOMMENDED Other releases RCA AFLl5465 Mellencamp follows a pair of double Big Time BTA 004 platinum albums, "American Fool" ANDRE CYMONE predicted to chart in the respective After a disappointing last outing, This often heavy- handed chug -rock and "Uh- Huh," with a set again AC format; also, other albums of vocalist Hendryx gets tough on this sounds like a future college radio PRODUCERS: Andre Cymone, Prince, Hubert Eaves focusing on the hopes, aspirations and superior quality one. Producers inlcude Arthur Baker, favorite. There's enough melodic Ill tears of everyday in his Columbia FC 40037 Bernard people native coherence to attract commercial Edwards and Hendryx, and Midwest. The first single from the All albums commercially available the collection focuses on hard-edged progressive rock outlets as well, The Prince- penned and produced set, "Lonely 01' Night," is already in in the U.S. are eligible for review rock /dance numbers. although the song repetoire is limited "Electric" is the first single. The rest the top 25, and at least two additional Send albums for review to: in scope. Contact: 6410 Santa Monica of the album also hews close to the singles, "Small Town" and "Rain On Prince sound. Sam Sutherland, Billboard NICK LOWE & HIS COWBOY OUTFIT Blvd., Los Angeles 90038. The Scarecrow," wait in the wings. 9107 Wilshire The Rose Of England Blvd Other key cuts include "R.O.C.K. In Beverly Hills, Calif 90210 PRODUCERS: Nick Lowe, Colin Fairley, Huey Lewis ECOMMENDED Columbia FC 39958 The U.S.A.," a bristling salute to '60s or Fred Goodman, Billboard Lowe's hearty, humorous brand of rock, and "Between A Laugh And A BLACK KOKO POP 1515 Broadway classic pop /rock gets an assist from Tear," which features vocals by Secrets Of Lonely Boys New York, N.Y 10036 Rickie Lee PRODUCERS: Chris Powell, Kerry Ashby, Benny Huey Lewis (a new version of "I Jones. PICKS Medina Country albums should be sent to: Knew The Bride "), which meshes well Motown 6155ML Kip Kirby, Billboard BOBBY WOMACK with a typical set of clever rockers. So Rivers The return of KoKo Pop is a funk - 14 Music Circle Many East PRODUCERS: Bobby Womack, James Gadson laden affair brought to life on the Nashville, Tenn. 37203 G!RLSCHOOL MCA MCA -5617 horn-tinged "Brand New Beat." Running Wild Womack's MCA label debut comes on Columbus, Ohio group's carefully PRODUCER: Nick Tauber Mercury 824 611 the heels of his career revival with a designed and crafted song parade pair of successful albums on Beverly establishes a strong groove that Hard -rocking British quintet gets a Glen Records: "The Poet," which should spread their gains. new image as more stylish vamps, but cracked the top 30 on the Top Pop POP the music, while tighter, sheds none Albums chart in 1982, and "The Poet of its toughness; harder AOR formats II," which reached the top 60 last PICKS should relish tracks like "Let Me Go" year. This effort features backup by COUNTRY and "Nowhere To Run." SQUEEZE such top musicians as Wilton Felder, PICKS Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES Jeff Baxter and David T. Walker. MARTI JONES PRODUCER: Laurie Latham Live At The Apollo With David Ruffin & Eddie DAN SEALS ALM SP-5085 Unsophisticated lime Kendricks BILLY & BABY GAP Won't Be Blue Anymore PRODUCER: Don Dixon PRODUCERS: Daryl Hall, Reunion of four founding John Oates, Bob PRODUCER: Charlie Wilson the band's ALM SP 6 -5086 Clearmountain PRODUCER: Kyle Lehning Total Experience /RCA TE 16 -5713 EMI America ST -17166 members and new bassist Kevin Sultry, melodic pop -rock in the new RCA AFL1 -7035 The Band's caboose Wilkyson yields a ripe, witty set of Southern vein, paced with an often The duo's last five albums have gone Gap party train Of the flood of emigres from pop into rides the rails with a solid, rock modern pop /rock with often dark stately power and colored with platinum, so this live set should find country music, Dan Seals continues to themes, dressed in their most offbeat touches, including string quick acceptance, although it may not steady groove. Fun from start to be one most listenable and believable. ambitious production yet. Writers quartet; straightforward, but hardly have the legs to match the other finish, but "Rock The Nation" is the In spite of such throwaways as "City standout. and Glen Tilbrook are unsophisticated, production. albums in total sales. The first single, Bombs away. Kind Of Girl" and "Bop," there's not up to snuff, with infectious vignettes a medley of "The Way You Do The a number on this album that wouldn't ( Time FULL FORCE covering murder "Lack YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN'S RISING FORCE have been at home on country radio Things You Do" and "My Girl," is PRODUCERS: Full Force, J.B. Moore, Robert Ford Jr. Forever "), domestic crisis ( "King Marching Out already number 44 on the Hot 100. Columbia BFC 40117 10 years ago. The pickers Lehning has George Street ") and even hijacking PRODUCER: Yngwie J. Malmsteen assembled to back Seals' authentic Other highlights: three of the duo's T. & ( World "). Polydor 825 733 Brooklyn's answer to Booker the "Hits Of The past top 10 hits and their version of voice and their arrangements are Second solo album from this MG's has already made its mark as Stateside Paul Young's recent No. 1 single; impeccable. BILLY CRYSTAL young Swedish guitarist again the production and instrumental force "Everytime You Go Away," which behind Lisa Lisa and U.T.F.O., and Mahvelous! spotlights impressive technique while Hall wrote. The duo's only previous RECOMMENDED PRODUCER: Bob Tischler hewing more closely to hard rock comes to the fore here. Their debut A&M SP-5096 live album, "Livetime," was released draws on a myriad of influences material with strong vocal emphasis; BUFFETT His ascendance as "Saturday Night in 1978. including soul vocal harmonies, but at JIMMY quintet's top asset remains Last Mango In Paris new top banana Live's" primes Malmsteen's fiery guitar. bottom, they're plying hard-core funk. PRODUCERS: Jimmy Bowen, Michael Utley. Tony Crystal for what should be one of the Brown BAR -KAYS MCA MCA -5600 year's best-selling comedy turns. LODGIC Banging The Wall Divided between live and studio bits, Nomadic Sands For a man wedded to the nautical life, PRODUCER: Allen A. Jones this debut taps his familiar cast of PRODUCERS: David Paich, Tom Knox, Steve Porcaro Buffett seems eternally without a Mercury 824 727-1 M-1 comic figures (world class nerd Willie) AIM SP -5094 working compass. In this album -as and impersonations (Fernando Lamas, Sleek, melodic electronic pop from a FLESHTONES The venerable Bar -Kays slide from in his others -there is a disconcerting Speed Connection II Howard Cosell and Sammy Davis Jr., West Coast quintet that backs its their usual hard edge to the sparser, amalgam of school -boy whimsy, old - PRODUCERS: Richard Gottehrer, James A. Ball sexy funk of their top 20 -bound "Your who tackles "We Are The World "). stylish arrangements with strong IRS MCA -5627 man visions of mortality and a /MCA Place Or Mine." The group's subtle choral harmonies, smooth solo vocals Underground bar band caught live in generalized tendency to read large ROMANTICS in line with producers Paich and new attack still commands the dance message into small visions. The Paris offers up rough -hewn rockers, floor but now aims to claim a broader Rhythm Romance Porcaro's own Toto blueprint. Definite including covers and reworkings of melodies are pretty and the lyrics are PRODUCERS: Peter Solley, Gordon Fordyce mainstream potential. base with a fresher, more modern usually clever-but what does it all Nsmperor F2 40106 earlier tunes. sound. "Banging The Walls" and point to? Pop -rock quartet scored big last year "Dance Your Body" dont shy from RORI TELEVISION'S GREATEST HITS with their single "Talking In Your PRODUCER: David Kershenbaum the Bar -Kays' funk formula; they just RIDERS IN THE SKY and look to mine a similar vein Qwest 25313 (EP) Various Sleep," PRODUCER: Steve Gottlieb cover a lot more chart territory and to Saddle Pals here. Loaded with wide open, Beatle- Four -track mini -album nods toward TeeVee Toons TVT 1100 reflect today's musical trends. PRODUCERS: Robby Adcock. Riders In The Sky Rounder 8011 esque chording, "Rhythm Romance" the dance floor through sweeping Double- record set features the These cowpokes is a quest for the ultimate hook. Best electronic production; blonde original recordings from more than 60 commedia dell arte results are on "Mystified," "Test Of songstress' vocal shadings have the television shows, from "The have gone and cut a children's album, Time" and "Better Make A Move." same sweet pop undercurrents as Rifleman" to "The Mod Squad." An complete with a sanitized version of Madonna, a likely model. odd yet intriguing package that will "The Old Chisholm Trail" (intended, GREGG ROLIE probably generate a fair amount of no doubt, to prepare the kiddies for PRODUCERS: Kevin Bill Schnee Beamish, JEROME CARLSON fraternity parties) and a young Columbia BFC 40080 press in consumer publications. PRODUCER: Danny M. Hilley A1;1'lll\Mr11E'l' wrangler's introduction to the Contact (212) 307 -0720. Keyboardist, vocalist and founding Carlsongs of America Records The results are fast. The alphabet, "The Cowboy's ABC." member of both Santana and Journey, Blue-chip support, including Chet reach is vast. And the call is Wholesome without being prissy. MATT BIANCO Rohe has been relatively silent since Atkins and Michael Johnson as well as To a Whose Side Are You On free! place Billboard his departure from the latter band, Swedish studio players with Abba PRODUCERS: Danny White, Mark Reilly, Peter Collins Classified ad, call Jeff Serene ROY ACUFF but returns here with a strong credentials, gives a high -tech gloss to Atlantic 81268 (800) 223 -7524. PRODUCERS: Not listed at Columbia Historic Edition FC 39998 combination of earnest rockers and this digital vanity set for a Minnesota Slickly arranged and produced vocal well crafted pop offerings. Several businessman; songs and singing, trio combines studio technology with This is a very valuable collection of outstanding tracks, notably however, don't match the pro samba rhythms and romantic early recordings -some dating back "Marianne," "Young Love" and trappings. underpinnings for a well executed to 1936, before he joined the Grand "Close My Eyes." debut. The Thompson Twins go to Ole Opry-of the man who would Rio?

58 BILLBOARD SEPTEMBER 7, 1985 www.americanradiohistory.com