Top PRioRiry

traffic • for fro m home RA HIC, "FAR FRO M HOME," YIRqIN After Steve's multi format exposure overload through the late '80s, this UnSingle oneis Tbrilliant move — and career course correction aside, it's damn catchy ain late '60s kind of way. No synth. No horns. No female vocalists. That's not to say that those ingredients couldn't once again be combined for Platinum payback. But what Winwood and Capaldi needed — and have realized — on this go round a is solid blast from the past The flute (reminiscent Johnof Barleycorn) is what you notice first, followed by the trademark minor chords and bluesy extended song structure, complete with plenty periodof piece Hammond work and just the proper amount of well placed fuzz tone. Gotta love the fact that you can't make out all the words on first pass, too, just like in the old days. mightIt also be significant that Steve and Jim wrote the tune, as opposed to Steve's collaborations

•••,,TrefelW with Will Jennings that most recently blanketed the airwaves. Be aware that other than Capaldi's signature stick work, Winwood plays all the instruments, flute included. Also be sure to make max use of the Pro-CD's live version of "Glad" from Winwood's last tour. Speaking of which, the 70 city Traffic tour starts May 18th, with May 3rd the day the record hits retail. hutii Acts To Follow

The Grays j Very Best Years

n ob Rub, Gm Too FAT Loaf, "ObjEcTs IN Thu RETENdERS, ”HiglIT IN My .wha Quays, "Vasty BEST MEacuRy This new MREAR VIE W MIRROR May pVEINS," SIRE/ WARNER YEARS," Epic From the iro band, led by former Mary's Danish APPEAR CIOSER Thaa Tim Bros. The Most Added track of Sham Bo album comes this track, members Dave King and James A RE," MCA This massive (and the week, with 96 stations firing which has already charted AAA.at Bradley Jr., was quickly snapped popular) artist was the Grammy win- up 22*at Hard Hundred debut to Now it's just getting started AORat up after formedit in Los Angeles. ner for best rock vocalist. Now he go with the 9" Triple position.A with an add at WA VF, after solid Don Gehman produced the debut clocks in with another Steinman col- "In my humble opinion it's their early before the box play at KLOS. album, due out in mid-May, and laboration, checking in with 10-a best song since the Learning To This quartet theis latest example the band will be on the road soon. minute-plus album version and edits Crawl LP," says KBCO's Ginger ola generation that got introduced Mercury's already spreading the of varying lengths. WBFL and WTPA Havlat "Chrissie Hynde still to rock roll& by , word with sampler cassettes going are already on this one. Eric sounds sweet," says John Ross at the Sex Pistols, XTC and the to college reps and one-stops. Andersen at WBFL calls this "the WSHE, "and likeI her 'advice to Buzzcocks. Jason Falkner used to King says he now has the chance 'Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad' of the chick rockers' on the back of the be Jellyfish,in Buddy Judge used to get down musicto instead of new LP. The full-length edits don't CD single. Be sure to check it to be ain band that opened for worrying about whether his record matter. It's all solid." Meat takes his out." Chrissie's shaved legs seem General Public, and was label's gonna stay business.in Loaf on the road this summer with to be attracting drooling attention in the last touring version of 'Til (The Danish's two former record major radio support — he's had from some programmers. Tuesday. So here we have a labels are both now history.) The three Top 10 tracks at rock radio. "Chrissie Hynde makes my tongue youthful approach to the music, band takes its name from Johnnya Sales hisof current album are now hard," says Jay at WZXL. but by experienced musicians. Cash routine that Red Hot Chili past the 11 million mark worldwide. "Chrissie's got bada attitude, but "Listen to The Grays record and be Peppers guitar tech Robbie Allen "Millions and millions of record buy- I still love her, says Ralph the first to discover the next big used to do on stage gagas a open- ers can't be wrong," says WIMZ's Tortora of WBAB. "The best thing thing," says Michael Young of ing act. They didn't plan keepto Billy Kidd "It's Broadway," says they have done years."in WRZX. "Very Best Years' from the the name, but after they played Dave Frisina at WAOX really"I like Grays definitely appeals allto the e once and got offered four record it. It's very melodramatic." demos... Good stuff!" says WSHE's deals that night, they ended up John Ross. "Everybody in this staying with the monicker. We band a is lifelong song fanatic," think they'll rule. says bass player and keyboardist Brion, one of three singer-song- writers in the band. Too often, we hear new bands that have the sound, but not the material to back up.it "Very Best Years" a is delightful exception. No shades of gray here...

.1. .. , —.4-41S WEEK'S AOR REVIEWS RESUME ON PAGi-- 8

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T HE REP O R T 3 APRIL 15, 1994