ALBUMS

• THE KINKS: STATE OF CONFUSION: 1983: 4 1/2 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: Riding the back of the successful single from this album- the nostalgic “Come Dancing” #6- this album was the second most successful Kinks album as far as the album charts- peaking at #12- Low Budget was the tops at #11. Hard to believe a band as great as The Kinks never had a Top 10 album in the US. While I had liked their previous three albums- this is their best since Muswell Hillbillies a dozen years earlier. Favorites- State Of Confusion, Don’t Forget To Dance, Heart Of Gold, Long Distance and Come Dancing. An outstanding Kinks rock record.

• THE PENTANGLE: BASKET OF LIGHT: 1969: 5 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: A British folk-jazz band- I first encountered The Pentangle on Larry Kirwan’s Celtic Crush radio show. This was their best and most successful album. Light Flight, Springtime Promises, Once I Had A Sweetheart. On the 1001 Albums To Hear list.

• ELVIS COSTELLO: PUNCH THE CLOCK: 1983: 4 1/2 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: This Elvis’s 8th album is the first I don’t give a 5 star rating- which doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not an outstanding album- it has just always come up a little short of 5 for me. A more pop sounding album- it was clear Elvis was wanting a hit- bringing in new producers-Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley and Elvis did get his first Top 40 single in the US with Every Day I Write The Book #36 with the video featuring celebrity look a likes of Chuck and Diana. Other favorites- Let Them All Talk, Pills and Soap, The Greatest Thing and Shipbuilding.

• THE WHO: TOMMY: 1969: 4 1/2  STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: The Who’s most famous album by far- but not their best- Who’s Next is miles ahead of the rest. I’ve always called it an overrated album- but it gets so much hype it can’t help but be. But having said that it is a pretty impressive album [ as far as their concept albums go I prefer their 1973 Quadrophenia } Tommy is on the list of 1001 Albums to Hear.

• ELVIS COSTELLO: GOODBYE CRUEL WORLD: 1984: 3 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: In the reissue of Goodbye Cruel World- EC wrote- “Congratulations! You just bought the worst album of my career.”- There were tensions in the group- especially between Elvis and bassist Bruce Thomas. This was EC’s 9th album and at least in my opinion he was 8 for 8 before this one. Maybe he needed a break he was releasing a new album every year. It’s not so much the material is bad but the sound/ production comes of as slick. Elvis would say “they got it wrong as you can in terms of the execution’ of the album. That said it’s not a terrible failure- but in terms of what he had accomplished up to this point it seemed like it. A bid for a hit single in the US- with The Only Flame In Town- with back up vocals by Daryl Hall [talk about trendy} fell short at #56 on the billboard Hot 100. Maybe the real problem here is- Elvis had finally ran into a wall as far as his songwriting goes. These songs just don’t match up quality wise with his earlier works. It happens.

• ALICE COOPER: GREATEST HITS: 1974: 5 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: Out of all the shock rocker types- Alice Cooper has to be the best of the bunch commercially and artistically. The guy put on a great show and in listening to this greatest hits-which isn’t a complete greatest hits but does cover his best period- impressive. This covers Alice Cooper as a band not the solo artist. School’s Out. I’m Eighteen, No More Mr. Nice Guy, Billion Dollar Babies, Elected,  Under My Wheels some of the gems.

• ELVIS COSTELLO: KING OF AMERICA: 1986: 5 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: Elvis had released a new album of original material every year from 1977 to 1984. He took 1985 off as far as new releases- and taking 20 months off after the release of his first dud and worst album- Goodbye Cruel World- was a smart move. He came back in 1986 strong- releasing two excellent albums King Of America and Blood & Chocolate- in a seven month period. Elvis brought in T- Bone Burnett as producer. 15 songs- including  cover of The Animals classic “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” which was a minor hit in the UK and Eisenhower Blues from bluesman J.B. Lenoir. The album is less pop sounding than the previous couple albums- with more of a county feel to some of the tunes. Blood & Chocolate would be a return to a more rock sound.