Reviews & Previews S P O T L I G H T S P O T L I G H T S P O T L I G H T TAKE ME TO THE RIVER third -degree burns, and then shot By Al Green with Davin Seay herself. HarperCollins Despite the many indispensable 343 pages; $25 charms of "Take Me To The River" THE BROTHERS (penned with hip -hop journalist By Art, Aaron. Charles, and Cyril Neville with David Davin Seay), the book disappoints Ritz as it dissipates near the end. Little, Brown 368 pages; $24.95 Green insists that it isn't true that "the best part of my life was over" Two founts of Southern soul music when he gave up secular singing, SEAL This Could Be Heaven (no timing listed) PINK You Make Me Sick 14:10) ELTON JOHN FEATURING MARY J. BLIGE I Guess have finally told their tales, and yet his thin treatment of his years PRODUCERS: Seal, Henry Jackman PRODUCERS: Babyface, Anthony President, Brainz That's Why They Call It The Blues (4:30) there are similarities in the paths after 1975 does beg the question. WRITERS: D. Palmer, H. Jackman, G. Dimilo Seal, Gersoni PRODUCER: Darryl Simmons recount ties and of worse, the book has been PUBLISHER: not listed WRITERS: A. President, B. Dìmìlo, M. Tabb WRITERS: E. John, B. Taupin, D. Johnstone they -the tears Far hap- Sire Records (CD promo) PUBLISHERS: Me & Chumba Music /E2 /EMI, Ainz- PUBLISHERS: Publishing Happenstance family, the wages of sin and the balm hazardly produced, with few pho- Seal, a consistent top 40 /AC mainstay worth Amil Music/Woodfella Music, ASCAP Ltd. /Rouge Booze of religion, hard -won identities in the tos, no discography, and no index. through a good part of the '90s, has LaFace/Arista 4520 (CD promo) LaFace/Arista 4520 (CD promo) face of racism, the deep roots of Turn to the wonderful Hi boxed Newcomer Pink has certainly shown Sir Elton John has a rich and often been missing in action lately. But as a R &B. Each has also faced similar set for a more complete Green contributor to the soundtrack to the her colors on her first two singles, magical history of coupling with upcoming "The Family Man," star- "There You Go" and "Most Girls," singing partners -but sometimes challenges in passing on an iconic experience. ring Nicolas Cage and Téa Leoni, he both enormous radio and chart hits. their compatibility may not be an narrative. Al Green reminisces as if "The Brothers "-a socio- cultur returns with a vintage- sounding Prepare for lucky No. 3 with "You obvious sell at the outset. Such might he were telling a story on a front al document compiled in conjunc- track in much the tradition of previ- Make Me Sick," a midtempo funkster be said for this duet remake of John's porch, but does so through the prism tion with soul -star biographer ous hits like "A Prayer For The that continues her groove in the Des- classic 1983 top five smash, "I Guess of his deeply divided spirit. Unified David Ritz -does better with the tiny's Child vein. Despite its pedestri- That's Why They Call It The Blues," Dying" and "Kiss From A Rose" (the to the outside diverse among Nevilles' latter days; plus the book latter also comes from a soundtrack- an title, the instantly appealing with R &B grand dame Mary J. Blige. but "Batman Forever"). In the forefront melody and up- to-the-minute produc- But one listen will erase any doubt themselves, the Neville Brothers comes with a helpful index and of "This Could Be Heaven" is Seal's tion of this one raise the bar slightly, that this is actually an amazingly must relay their story separately as discographies not only of the Broth- instantly recognizable voice, brim- with some nice twists and turns with- well- suited tune for a gospel -inspired a sort of alternating oral history. ers together but solo and in collab- ming with emotion that reaches out in its four minutes. Instant radio throwdown. The song appears on The opening of Green's autobiog- oration with others. There is even for true love. Instrumentally, "Heav- action at both top 40 mainstream and John's new "One Night Only -The raphy emphasizes the great singer's a list of recordings by other artists en" keeps it fairly restrained, with a rhythmic is unquestionable; and it Greatest Hits" album, recorded live split personality, as he to him- to in The Nevilles slowly building swirl of strings, elec- doesn't hurt that 21- year -old Pink at Madison Square Garden in New refers referred the text. tric guitars, and drums that envelop (born in Pennsylvania as Alecia York in October, though this is a self in the third person and as three are the reigning first family of Cres- Seal's increasingly dramatic vocal Moore) has taken the media by the promo studio version (and actually people: the soul shaman onstage, the cent City music, and as such, they delivery. While not as immediate as, horns as a regular fixture on MTV, as much better suited to radio in this preacher in carry the say, "Kiss From A Rose," this track well as appearing on cable concert polished form). Blige is a natural with his pulpit, * ?HE .'"'"7 scepter for will remind of specials and, most recently, the cover the song, which features a light hip - listeners the treasures and the a many - they've found before from this talent- of TeenPeople; she's becoming one of hop beat alongside a lilting choir of ed singer/songwriter. Top 40 is a the year's most visible new singers. background voices, plinking piano, private hued world must, while AC is a given. There's Pink is a highly imaged performer and gooey bass. John also conjures man in con- of music - even an AC radio edit, which strips whose attitude -filled persona has his soulful best, bringing the two templation. A fr o - away some of the instrumental-as if apparently clicked with mainstream powerhouse vocalists together in a After a Caribbean the sound of an electric guitar is audiences. This song is a far cry from fashion that makes you wonder how dizzying grooves, but it punches hard in the dead going to offend a 35- year -old. Stick art, this song could ever have been con- rise that gospel and with the radio edit here; it's simply center of today's R &B- flavored top 40 ceived in any other way. Multi- format marvelous. landscape. radio is already beginning to give a saw Green blues, jazz nod of approval to this oh -so -cool climb from and funk, effort, which is as much fun to hear as the rags of pop and (Continued from preceding page) loud tune and whistle a hummable anything else. Of course, it's not the an Arkansas sharecropper's son to rock. In many ways, the story of the refrain, all too rare on the louder side. first time Elton has offered a reprise the riches of a Memphis- mansion Neville Brothers is the story of The band seems to understand how to In The bles and picks up an avuncular title for his to previous hits: Take "Candle superstar, the gulf between sacred American music, with its glories solo debut, "Double Wide," released this amalgamate a catchy hook, a lot of ener- Wind" and "Don't Let The Sun Go summer. Although the Kid produced the gy, and a loud attitude in the same vein Down On Me," with George Michael. and profane in his life threatened to and ignominy alike. record, you wouldn't know it from the as Powerman 5000 before them. Produc- It just goes to show that classic swallow him up. After a string of From the eldest, Art (62), to the sounds of this single. Kracker's voice er Gggarth Richardson brings a wealth of melodies can live again and again. Mn chart- topping classics from "Can't youngest, Cyril (51), the Neville straddles the line between a country experience with him, having produced Elton, it is indeed always a pleasure. Get Next To You" and "Take Me To Brothers are products of Uptown singer and Rock's own super -processed albums for Rage Against The Machine The River" to "Love And Happi- New Orleans' 13th Ward, inherit- Knows Why." vocals on his "Only God and Kittie. Traces of a house beat run sung verses loaded with pop -culture ref- ness" and "Let's Stay Together" ing not only a rich cultural her- From the acoustic steel guitar intro to the through Decker's rhythms, which alter- erences. Unfortunately, this doesn't have - Green gave up singing R &B in favor itage but the locale's soul-crushing catchy, harmonized chorus, "Follow Me" is nate from a dancier vibe to a more as much catchiness as that which pro- refreshingly relaxed and very poppy, a aggressive sound. Watch for this to make pelled "Sitta" up the charts, but it's still a of spreading the gospel. He became racism. Keyboardist Art led the surprise coming from the Kid Rock camp. a showing at the different rock formats. pleasant tune, and it's good to see that the Rev. Green, as pastor of his own world -famous funk outfit the And Kracker can really sing, too. Despite the guys are still on the ball. Full Gospel Tabernacle in Memphis. Meters, and the celestially voiced his connections, it's hard to imagine this A natural storyteller, Green Aaron scored an early solo smash track getting much airplay on the hardest HARVEY DANGER Sad Sweetheart Of The Rodeo (3:20) touchingly recalls his hardscrab- with "Tell It Like It Is," but they rockers.