ALBUMS

• DAVID BOWIE: YOUNG AMERICANS: 1975: 4 1/2 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: Bowie in transition- which in his career happened often. His “Philly Soul” album- he has left the glam rock world- this is more an R&B album than anything. Two of Bowie’s more famous songs and biggest hits are on this- Young Americans #28 and Fame #1-in which John Lennon helped write. An enjoyable record- it is on the 1001 albums to hear list- what did the Dean of Rock Music Robert Christgau have to say- he called it ‘an almost total failure.”

• ELVIS COSTELLO: NORTH: 2003: 3 1/2 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: After a return to loud rock and roll with When I Was Cruel- its back to easy listening Elvis. This is an album you have to be in the mood to listen to that is for sure. The songs were written by Elvis and Elvis was in love- with current wife Diana Krall. 11 well written ballads featuring Elvis the crooner. Again its not a bad album- but you have to be in the mood for this.

• THE STEEL WHEELS: NO MORE RAIN: 2013: 2 1/2 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: The problem I have with this -isn’t the music but that this is in many ways recycled music by The Steel Wheels. Most of them were from the Trent Wagler solo albums or Wagler- Lapp albums before The Steel Wheels got together. Its not like they give radically different versions of the songs either. Maybe if they didn’t have enough material for a new album- they could have released nothing. This is disappointing. Again the music is good but I have all the albums connected with the group.