Singles Bar

Rip It Up, Issue 108, 1 July 1986, Page 29

Singles Bar

SOS Band

The Finest (CBS 12”)

Sure is one of the finest slices of vinyl on anyone’s turntable at the moment. Jam and Lewis produce another smoothie that flows and grows. Love the acapella with guest vocalists Cherrelle and Alexander O’Neal. Skipworth and Turner Hot Pursuit! (Festival 12”) A solid beat keeps this in top gear, and the vocals are soul powered. But the mix needs cooling down, a little too rocky for me. Turn it over and there’s a new version of ‘Thinking About Your Love’ with excellent vocals. Little Richard Great Gosh A’Mighty (MCA 7”) With the elemental force of an atom bomb, the “quasar” of rock delivers another inspirational sermon. Fine pumping piano and a thumping bass drum provide fervent backing for the divine one’s soulful shouts. Heaven 17 featuring Jimmy Ruffin The Foolish Things to Do (Virgin 7”) A ballad from ex-Temptation Ruffin, produced and played by Heaven 17. Both perform well, expecially Heaven 17, who sound very American styled. Close to the Freddie Jackson/Lilo Thomas school of sophisticated soul. The flip is a cover of Luther Vandross’s ‘My Sensitivity’ sounding real cool. Sam Cooke Wonderful World (RCA 7”) Re-issue of one of the most perfect songs ever done. It’s beauty is in simplicity and the way Sam Cooke’s voice sounds so warm. Backed by ‘Chain Gang,’ another soul-pop classic. They don’t make them as good as this anymore. Doug E Fresh and the Get Fresh Crew The Show (Chrysalis 12”) The original Human Beatbox with heaps of clicks and beeps with a rap that’s as funny as they come. This version cuts out a lot of the more suggestive lyrics, and the chorus from ‘Michelle,’ but the mix is better than the other versions. The other side has the ultra wild ‘La Di Da Di’ which restores the smut quota. Certainly the hippest record of the month.

Sly and Robbie Make ’em Move (Festival 12”) From the Material-produced Language Barrier album, a funk jam from the rhythm meisters. As per usual the bass is the real star, with enough boom to sink a battleship. Cameo role from Doug E Fresh as the Human Beatbox imitating Sly is a nice touch.

Isley, Jasper, Isley Caravan of Love (Epic 7”) Hit record time for the Isley Brothers off-shoot. With the intense romanticism and languid groove, it’s got numero uno written all over it. E G Dally

Say it, Say it (A&M 12") Okay you can stop looking, they’ve found the new Madonna. Mr Jellybean must be real happy in that this could revive his flagging career. Pity this hasn’t got an ounce of the talent that the real Madonna has —Hbut hey, that’s showbiz! The Smiths Big Mouth Strikes Again (Rough Trade 7” & 12”) In 10 years time Morrissey’s going to be writing the theme music for BBC documentaries on Evelyn Waugh. But at the moment he’s still mining the tortured artist bit. The flip side features an instrumental that at first I thought was Dire Straits — sure sounds like it. Vanity Under the Influence (Motown 7”) Much better than previous efforts, even though ‘Pretty Mess’ was a lot funnier. Almost tasteful lyrics but she’ll never make the cover of Broadsheet. Music-wise it has a nice groove, but nothing spectacular. Sigue Sigue Sputnik 21st Century Boy (Parlophone 12”) Modern pop music is just so vacant, so it’s good to see “Bands” like this milk it dry. Almost a remake of their first single and it should make a mint. Such honesty is heart-warming. Pet Shop Boys Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots of Money) (Parlophone 12”) Even more honest, with the boys intoning “I’ve got the brains. You’ve got the looks ... let’s make lots of money ...” That’s stark real-

ism for you, pity the music sounds so dated — circa 1984. Prince Mountains (WEA 12") The beginning sounds like Michael Jackson’s 'Don’t Stop (Till You Get Enough)’ and then it starts to go downhill so to speak. Nice cover though, with Prince looking like some sort of gay caballero. AD/DC Who Made Who (EMI 12”) I prefer the early band with Bon Scott singing about 'Big Balls’ and - stuff. This is a bit light and tasteful, but the flip 'Guns for Hire’ has some nasty guitar and it’s live' The Cure Boys Don't Cry (WEA 7”) Re-sung and club mixed, but lacking a certain something the original 1979 version had. This one is almost acoustic and very . light. The flip is much better, a slide guitar version of 'Pill Box Tales’ remixed from 1979, and previously unreleased. The Real Thing You to Me are Everything (PolyGram 12") One of my all-time fave’s from 1976, re-made and modelled by DJ mixers Froggy, Simon Harris and KC. Still sounds lovely after all these years and in the new mix a great mid-tempo dancer. Chic Four Track (Atlantic 12”) Essential soul funk from the dance machine that was Chic. All tracks are the full length versions and nice to have on the one disc. ‘Good Times’ is perhaps the most perfect disco track ever made.

Kerry Buchanan