ALBUM REVIEWS

L.A." sterling one -volume collection of defined by simplistic, guitar - POP emphasizing production. Guaranteed Bird's best '40s recordings (some of toe- tappers: "Rack My Brains," SPOTLIGHT which are excerpted on the "Bird" "Better Days." Light Years soundtrack album). Album package, PRODUCERS: Jimmy Bowen, Glen Campbell which duplicates the film soundtrack's MCA 43210 art, will display well. Seminal stuff, THE NORTHERN PIKES Campbell's voice remains glorious in a GARDNER COLE Secrets Of The Alibi neatly remastered by Jack Towers. is essentially domestic - PRODUCER: Gardner Cole PRODUCERS: Rick Hutt, Fraser Hill, the Northern collection that Warner Bros. 25739 Pikes life devotionals and testimonials. LYLE MAYS Virgin 90974 /producer who penned hits Jimmy Webb penned eight of the 10 Street Dreams for Madonna and Jody Watley tries Canadian outfit's first Virgin album cuts here. PRODUCERS: Lyle Mays, Steven Cantor Geffen GHS 24204 his hand at crooning his own tunes, was enjoyable -if somewhat with chartable results. Cole writes lightweight- Bowie -influenced pop; Longtime keyboard colleague of Pat slick, up- the -middle pop; single "Live follow -up showcases a woolier sound Honky Tonk Angel Metheny ranges far and wide on solo and image, ear for PRODUCER: Tony Brown session, which finds him traveling It Up" is the best example here of his but the group's MCA 42223 radio-sensitive sound. melody is intact. Best: "Wait For Me," ECM-ish routes in diverse settings "One Good Reason." Without sounding like either (except (solo, small group, combo with for the hard -edged accent), Loveless is IVAN NEVILLE strings). Excellent roster of sidemen BRITTON the artistic successor to Loretta Lynn includes Bill Frisell, Marc Johnson, If My Ancestors Could See Me Now and Reba McEntire. Here she imparts PRODUCER: Danny Kortchmar Rock Hard Peter Erskine, Steve Gadd, and Steve Polydor 422 834 896 PRODUCER: Britton a charming earnestness to a variety Jordan. BON Those expecting to hear the dulcet, Backstage BSR 71288 JOVI of good material, of which "Don't Poppish metal set is bolstered by New Jersey Toss Us Away" and "I'll Never Grow vocal -oriented tones the Neville clan is PRODUCER: Bruce Fairbairn CORNELL DUPREE & WHO IT IS known for may be disappointed by strong vocals and melodies; group's Mercury 836 345 Tired Of You" are standouts. Coast To Coast this offering; all others will revel in use of dynamics and backing vocal PRODUCER: Jean -Pierre Weiller -Letourneur Uneven album ranges from the Antilles New Directions 90984 the fiery rock'ñ soul stylings style points toward Boston as a heavy inspired heavy metal /gospel peak of LEE GREENWOOD influence. With indie Greatest Hits -Volume Two With former Stuff mate Richard Tee, keyboardist Ivan dishes up. "Not Just proper exposure, "Lay Your Hands On Me" to such package could click significantly PRODUCERS: Jerry Crutchfield, Jimmy Bowen, Lee among others, in tow, guitarist Another Girl" stands out. - valleys as "I'll Be There For You," Greenwood likely with the Michael Wagener- MCA Dupree returns with a set of highly most which is an outright steal of the 42219 mixed "Don't Wanna Be Your Fool." polished urban -flavored jazz that BILLY BRAGG Beatles' "Don't Bring Me Down," and This 11 -song collection reaches from should easily rekindle old fans' Workers Playtime the overblown, anachronistic "Living 1984 to 1988 and includes such hits as PRODUCER: Joe Boyd ROBIN WILLIAMSON affections. High-class musicianship In Sin." That said, Fairbairn's adroit "God Bless The USA," "I Don't Mind Elektra 60824 Ten Of Songs will disappoint production gives even the weaker cuts The Thorns (When You're The Rose)," and quality production Only socialist singer /songwriter PRODUCER: Robin Williamson no one. Flying Fish FF 448 appeal, and when the guys hit their and "Mornin' Ride." Bragg would emblazon his album stride, as on "Love For Sale," "Wild cover with the legend "Capitalism Is Beautifully crafted album, the first Is The Wind," and the single, "Bad Killing Music." But Bragg's since 1981 devoted to multi - Medicine" (in a slightly extended outspoken politics frequently take a instrumentalist Williamsoñ s own version here), the result is rock'n'roll back seat to deep emotion on this compositions, will delight longtime CLASSICAL he'd never stray heaven. May not move 8 million but unusually affecting set; listeners who fans who thought TWITTY won't fall much short. CONWAY only know his broadsides should from his more current traditional #1's: The Warner Bros. Years check "She's Got A New Spell." material. Highly recommended. PRODUCERS: Various Warner Bros. 25777 Expertly produced by longtime U.K. HANDEL. WATER MUSICK ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK folk specialist Boyd. Solid standards from the master, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, McGegan Parador Moon Over NEW AND among them "I Don't Know A Thing Harmonia Mundi HMU 907010 PRODUCER: Maurice Jarre LLOYD COLE & THE COMMOTIONS MCA 6249 About Love," "The Rose," "Slow More evidence that some of the best Mainstream Hand," "The Clown," and Jarre, the man behind music from period- instrument recordings are now PRODUCER: Ian Stanley "Somebody's Needin' Somebody." being produced here in the U.S. Capitol C -90893 such blockbusters as "Lawrence Of NOTEWORTHY Arabia," creates a loose sound Spirited readings, wonderfully After months of release in the group's VERN GOSDIN film's fictional ROCK CITY ANGELS balanced and set in a sympathetic native England and some soured U.S. evocative of the The Best Of Vem Gosdin Young Man's Blues acoustical framework. All three suites label deals, the latest work by the country of Parador. Commercial PRODUCER: Gary Sanford Paxton to PRODUCER: Joe Hardy Warner Bros. 25775 from the festive score are included. smoothest, most suave voice in pop appeal only soundtrack fans. Geffen GHS 24193 music this side of Bryan Ferry finally This is an important roundup of Crushing two-record, 15-song debut VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: FANTASIA ON A THEME emerges here. Cole branches out from Gosdin's hits from the '70s, including by L.A.-based Southern immigrants OF THOMAS TALLIS; THE LARK ASCENDING "Yesterday's Gone," "Till The End," the straight pop of his earlier outings, displays a classic hard -rock -band English Chamber Orchestra, Menuhin "Hangin' On," "It Started All Over venturing into jazz and alternative BLACK sound funneled through a soul- blues- Arabesque Z6568 Again," "Never My Love." terrain. Best: "Jennifer She Said" and punk sensibility. Hot licks galore, Menuhin is a persuasive interpreter of the sly, attention -grabbing "Sean stiletto -edged vocals, and street -smart this music, thoroughly imbued with Penn Blues." songwriting will find ready admirers the idiom and a master at coaxing in the Stones /ZZ Top /Georgia string players to do his lyrical SHINEHEAD WINGER Satellites camp. "Deep Inside My JAZZ bidding. Some shorter Vaughan PRODUCER: Unity Atlantic 81867 PRODUCERS: Claude Evans, Jam Master Jay Heart," "Our Little Secret," "Beyond Williams pieces bolster this accessible & Davy D Babylon," and "Hush Child" lead program. Nondescript hard rock brings to mind Elektra 60802 a less interesting Kix, another Hill bumper crop of killer cuts. Smashing Jamaica -born an Bronx -raised rapper stuff. RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: SCHEHERAZADE project; "" single rocks MILT JACKSON has got it happening -original beats, Philharmonia Orchestra, Boughton inoffensively. Several members honed Bebop positive message, sharp raps. Top BULLETBOYS Nimbus NI 5128 in Alice PRODUCER: Nesuhi Ertegun their skills working Cooper's PRODUCER: Ted Templeman cuts here are Jay /D collaborations East -West 90991 A follow-up to the participants' band. Warner Bros. 25782 "Unity" (which blends "Come Superbly recorded digital set reunites charting "Planets," the exotic piece Together" and "We Shall Overcome ") Big label push is on for this L.A. begs for somewhat more emotional NEW FRONTIER vibist Jackson with producer Ertegun, Cooke- "Chain foursome, which Warner views as the PRODUCER: Richie Zito, Phil Kaffel and the Sam inspired with compelling results. Hot lineup freedom than Boughton delivers. Mika /Polydor 835 695 Gang Rap." Set also features second coming of Van Halen. While - Included in the program is Rimsky's a including Jon Faddis, J.J. Johnson, Second shot from new Mika imprint is Jamaican hits "Who The Cap Fits" (a group may not feature personality "Russian Easter Festival Overture." as distinctive as David Lee or Eddie, it Jimmy Heath, and Cedar Walton - by an L.A.-based quartet that flexes a Bob Marley homage) and "Golden A seductive color picture of tale - up metal to running through such bebop classics straight -up- and -down rock sound. Touch." A vital fusion of island serves enough stomping spinner Scheherazade on the disk face lure the troops. "Hard As A Rock" is as "Ornithology" and "Now's The Group's sound isn't entirely toasting and homegrown styling. Time" should result in strong sales adds collectible points. distinguished, although Monty Byrom the kind of single -entendre smasher that will bait sales hooks; album wild during these "Bird"-conscious times. is a convincing enough front man. INCORPORATED THANG BAND CD version has extra track. And Famous is cover of the Strongest blast here is leadoff single Lifestyles Of The Roach card an unexpected PRODUCERS: George Clinton, Bootsy Collins O'Jays' "For The Love Of Money." "Under Fire," penned in part by Warner Bros. 25617 THE ART FARMER QUINTET Bernie Taupin and Martin Page. Blame It On My Youth From the bright and wacky Pedro Bell PRODUCER: Helen Keane album art to the martial grooves Contemporary C-14042 ALL ABOUT EVE funk quintet pays tribute to P- PRODUCER: Paul Samwell -Smith inside, The Bellamys are USA Today set to Flugelhornist Farmer has seldom Mercury 834260 Funk circa "One Nation Under A music. They have a keen ear for sounded as velvety as he does on this Seductive debut by English quartet Groove." However, band lacks its co- trends and yuppie nostalgia, and they superb, straight -ahead date, which SPOTLIGHT: Predicted to hit top 10 on Bill- features an ear-grabbing vocal stylist producers' special madness, which sing of these matters with finds him receiving marvelous support to board's Top Pop Albums chart or to earn plati- in Julianne Regan and a distinctive may limit the project's appeal forbearance and affection. Add to from the ever -underrated Clifford num certification. folkish sensibility conveyed through Clinton's faithful. "Body Jackin' " (not these virtues spring -tight picking and Jordan on tenor and soprano sax. Title NEW & NOTEWORTHY: Highlights new and contemporary instrumentation (no house music despite the trendy title) you have a generally bright catalog of track is one of the finest ballad developing acts worthy of attention and other interest. is serves as an OK intro. American pop culture. releases of special mean feat). "Every Angel" interpretations in recent memory-a PICKS: Releases predicted to hit the top half emphasis track, but disk is all of a monument to Farmer's great melodic of the chart in the format listed. piece qualitywise. Should not be WAYLON JENNINGS gifts. RECOMMENDED: Other releases predicted ignored by album rock, college, or Full Circle to chart in the respective format; also, other al- alternative programmers. PRODUCERS: Jimmy Bowen, Waylon Jennings bums of superior quality. COUNTRY MCA 42222 All albums commercially available in the With a comfortably familiar delivery, U.S. are eligible. Send review copies to Jean HUXTON CREEPERS Jennings chronicles the ways of the Rosenbluth, Billboard, 1515 Broadway, New Keep To The Beat York, N.Y. 10036, and Chris Morris, Billboard, PRODUCER: Alan Thorne, Huston Creepers troublemaker, the homeless, the CHARLIE PARKER 9107 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, Calif. Big Time /Polydor He rejected, and the empty successes. Original Bird/The Best Of Bird On Savoy 90210. Send country and gospel albums to REISSUE PRODUCER: Michael Cuscuna Ed Morris, Billboard, 49 Music Square W., Aussie outfit's first offering through Rebels Without A Clue co -wrote six of these cuts, the best of Savoy SJL 1208 Nashville, Tenn. 37203. PolyGram recalls the pioneering work PRODUCERS: Jimmy Bowen, James Stroud which include "Woman I Hate It" and of countrymates the Easybeats, MCA /Curb 42224 "How Much Is It Worth To Live In Lest anyone forget, Savoy reissues a

72 BILLBOARD OCTOBER 1. 1988 www.americanradiohistory.com