ALBUM REVIEWS Top 60 Best of the rest REO SPEEDWAGON: Good TroubleTED NUGENT: Nugent(Atlantic (Epic EPC 85789) Prod: Cronin/K50898) Prod: Ted Nugent. Richrath/Beamish/Gratzer First one for Nugent on Atlantic but the Reo Speedwagon specialises inur-style is still the same; a potent mix of gent hard rock, rather than unremittingmacho imagery, desperate, throaty heavy metal. Although the band pro-vocals (from Derek St. Holmes) and jects a very American image (witnessthekindofthrustingbutnot -too - the sleeve pics on this new albumpretentious guitar work which is the which feature a typical band -on -the -trademark oftheDetroit maniac's road theme) it seems to have caughtsound. As always, plenty of attack and the British imagination where othersa good mix in which the music is heard have failed. This perhaps has to dowith the minium of portentous heavy with the way the band strikes a balancerock studio effects. Fonda fitness plus good rock Ted Nugent: same style for Atlantic between good melodic material and a GARY US BONDS: On The Line (EMImoments come when they are not suitably strident instrumental feel - it sold in excess of 200,000 over the past AML 3022) Prod: Bruce Spring-trying to be funny, particularly with aten years. Juju music is the traditional doesn'tletitselffallheadlong into steen/Miami Steve Van Zandt creditable version of 'The Sun Ain'tdance genre of the country's largest American 'soft rock'. This album is upImagine the Springsteen band, but to a good standard for the group and Gonna Shine Anymore' and a medley'tribe the Yoruba and blends modern with a smooth, black vocalist, perfor-linking Dreamin',"Dream Baby' and should see their success continuing. electric guitars and synthesisers with maing the kind of uptown R&B with`Dream Lover'. Their huge popularityAfrican talking drums and chanted FRANKIE MILLER: Standing On Thewhich Springsteen has made his namewill ensure consumer interest in thisvocals. There are even reggae -style Edge (Capitol EST 12206) Prod:and you get an accurate idea of thistop -value budget package. dub effects. Although not as powerful LP. Contrary to his earlier hits Bonds Barry Beckett VARIOUS ARTISTS: Another Satur-or jazzy as Fela Kuti, this music has a After years of writing fine songs andhas turned out to be a classier singer danceability and freshness that will get than one would have imagined and hisday Night (Oval OVLP 506) making very reasonable albums with The re-release of this cajun samplerover to the increasing number of Chrysalis,Miller breaks throughin voice here is nicely set off by plenty of British African music enthusiasts. that loose, grainy New York musicalbum with an extra four tracks now America with the aid of Capitol. He bringing the total to 16 means that anyGLENN FREY: No Fun Aloud (Asy- could well repeat the trick in Britainplayed by a set of musicians that includes not a few Springsteen alumni.fans looking for an introduction to thelum K52395)Prod: Glenn Frey because this is straight forward soulful music can get very good value indeedAllan Blazek Jim Ed Norman rock with many of the slow groovers Its good stuff but perhaps too near The Maestro to take off without a hit single.from this LP. Renewed airplay interestWith the Eagles no longer a recording co -written with former Free bassist in Johnny Allan's 'Promised Land' plusforce, this album by the band's lead Andy Fraser who knows a thing or two SYDNEY DEVINE: Take My Hand alowchartplacingfor Tommysinger will plug the gap well. Frey is in about generating drama on songs like Precious Lord (Emerald Gem GESMcLain's 'Sweet Dreams' (withbiggreat form vocally and while songs like `Zap Zap' and 'It's All Coming Down 1220) Prod: Sydney Devine interest in Scotland for this single) has`She Can't Let Go' and'IFound Tonight'. Miller's own `To Dream The Back with the Belfast label after a briefgiven new focus to an album that runsSomebody' are haunting reminders of Dream' is full of typical feeling whileunsuccessfulattempttotranslatethe gamut of today's Louisiana styles.past glories, the treatments are suffi- 'Firin' Line', co -written with the excel-Northernpopularity into nationalWith few cajun albums available nowciently varied to give this solo effort a lent Moon Martin, sounds like a hit. acceptance, Devine may wellfindon the books of the major companies,realindividualidentity. Look outin JUDAS PRIEST: Screaming Forlimited territorial objectives pay a bet-this Oval collection is a valuable one.particular for a punchy revival of John- Vengeance (CBS 85941) Prod: Tomter dividend. While he doesn't alwaysROY WOOD: The Singles (Speedny Taylor's'I've Been Born Again' and Allom sound totallycomfortable with theSPEED 1000) Prod: Various a heartfelt 'All Those Lies'. With the Something of a concept album fromchoice of key, this package of religious15 cuts from the Roy Wood catalogueEagles name on it, the album would the internationally successesful Judassongs is well -suited to his homespun,stretching from 'Flowers In The Rain'have charted. Priest, it concerns a mythical winged -country -influenced style. With familiarand 'Fire Brigade' of 1968 right up toCHICAGO: Chicago 16 (Full Moon warrior called The Hellion, a poster ofmaterial like 'Old Rugged Cross', 'Pre-`OTT' released this year. They are all cious Memories' and Peace In The K99235) Prod: David Foster which is given away free with copies. theoriginalrecordingsandchartOne of yesterday's giants, Chicago hit Valley', featured, Devine should be on This is the first Priest album for 18 Wood's bouncy career for The Move,the comeback trail and prove they still course to take his total LP sales past months butitisdoubtful that the through Wizzard and into less suc-pack a potent punch musically. But the one million mark. following that Rob Halford and co built cessful, though by no means less clas-their place in today's marketplace is up with concert and festival appear-JANE FONDA: Jane Fonda's Work-sy solo work. A useful collection for thedifficult to define. Evidently concerned ances will have evaporated. Priest areout Record (CBS 88581) Prod: Marymany fans of Wood and his 14 -yearswith coming to grips with contempor- an unashamedly heavy metal bandKushner as a leading writer, producer and bandary requirements, their intricate and there is no let up in the barrage ofOnly those people already dead couldfront man. arrangements have moved on from the rock which they unleash on this album.have missed the deluge of fitness andSTEVE FORBERT: Steve Forbertold jazz-rock format, and the songs are Differencesbetweenthenumbersdiet aids which has hit the UK this(Epic EPC 85297) Prod: Steve Burghalso out of the top drawer. However, might be subtle but that will not troubleSummer. Jane Fonda's similarly titled Analtogethermoresophisticatedthe album is more likely to appeal to the fans. book is already a best seller and theapproach to his recording from Stevethose with fond memories than win LYNYRD SKYNYRD: Gold And Pla-attraction of an internationally famousForbert whose charming slightly down-hordes of new admirers. tinum - The Very Best Of Lynyrdactress could well boost sales of thisat-heel style of quirky folk song hasVARIOUS: Dreamgirls (Geffen GEF Skynyrd (MCA MCDW 456) album. However, it does come after nobeen turned into a more grandiose and85578) Prod: David Foster As can be seen from the success of theless than four exercise albums - all ofpowerful all-round production for theA smash hit both on Broadway and in reissued yet again 'Freebird' Lynyrdthem TV advertised. Since the albumnew album. He remains on vocals andthe US charts, Dreamgirls is the story Skynyrd is one of those bands whichhas been out in the States for someacoustic guitar, but he is joined byof three black girl singers who rise to will not be forgotten. This album hastime it is hard to understand why CBSbrass sections or rock band back-upsuccess during the years 1962-72. It been repackaged especially to attractwaited so long. The backing musicmen to beef out songs like `Ya Yais, of course, denied that this is merely the new audience which is finding LSincludes numbers by The Jacksons,(Next To Me)' and 'It Takes A Wholea fictional account of The Supremes for the first time, a two record set whichREO Speedwagon, Brothers Johnson,Lotta Help (To Make It On Your Own)'career although as a pointer to the is sure to be given plenty of exposureLinda Clifford and Billy Ocean butwhich sound like good radio records.quality of the music itis not too far perhaps Ms Fonda's narration of the at rock discos.Itincludes the full- His version of Jackie De Shannon'swrong. The score is a powerful one, length version of 'Freebird', along withactual instructions could have shown a`When You Walk In The Room' provesand is largely responsible for this show the group's only other UK hit 'Sweetlittle more zest. a good choice of covers while his ownbeing the biggest Broadway musical Home Alabama'. The group's followingCANNON AND BALL: Together (MfPmaterial is heartfelt and clever at thesinceAnnie,and the performance, in the UK was always more than this50561) Prod: Geoff Gill same time. particularlyof Tony award winning bare statistic reveals and LS are stillWhile they are unlikely to pose threatsKING SUNNY ADE AND HIS AFRI-Jennifer Holliday is equally impress- the most popular Southern rock boogieto anybody in the vocal stakes, Can-CAN BEATS: Juju Music (Islandive. At present the show is enjoying a band since the Allman Brothers. Othernon and Ball's first effort on disc is stillILPS9712)Prod: Martin Meissoniercult status in the UK, with a strong stand out tracks are `Gimme Threerather likeable. As befits the two topIn Nigeria Sunny Ade is the biggestblack following and the word of mouth Steps', 'Saturday Night Special' andcomedians, the contents often have athing on the market.