BRIEFS

Rip It Up, Issue 58, 1 May 1982, Page 18

BRIEFS

Tenpole Tudor Let The Four Winds Blow (Stiff) Eddie Tudor's Mum asked me to say something nice about her little boy's second LP, so 1 said that it makes most comedy records look like World War 11. "But it's not a comedy album," she said. "Oh, no?" says I. "Well what about the " 'Rup De Doh, Diddle EE Day's on the title track? And the Punky'n'Western feel on the single 'Throw-in' My Baby Out With The Bathwater'?" Honest, this album is a must for your next Medieval Fancy Dress, or similar

exotic gathering, but play it really loud. And Eddie's Mum? Well, she conceded the point ... D.McL Nils Lofgren The Best (A&M) The acceptable face of mid-70s American rock. This isa collection of the Best 'of Lofgren's material from 1973-79. It wisely devotes itself largely to the earlier part of this period, , when Lofgren was every critic's fave rave and his music was known as punk rock! This is a good collection, and the quality contained herein perhaps explains why Tofgren has never made it in the States. SG Black Uhuru Tear It Up Live (Island) Recorded during last year's European tour, which also yielded a mighty video clip I recall seeing on RWP. The band is much the same as on the last two studio LPs, the material all pre-Red. Worth having just for 'Abortion' and 'Guess Who's Coming To Dinner', though it sounds like it was mixed from inside a drain pipe. DC Blam Blam Blam Mini LP (Propeller) • This may look the same as your Maids To Order EP, but it's actually the Blams' first release in Australia. The difference is that this is cut and pressed in Aussie, and it includes both 'No Depression' and 'Got To Be Guilty'. You don't need me to tell you how good it is. MP Rowan Atkinson Live In Belfast (Arista) It is stating the obvious to point out that Rowan Atkinson is an ex-

ceptionally visual comedian. His bug eyes, bee-stung lips, rubber face and elongated; spastic limbs are an integral part of his humour. Therefore this album should be a video cassette. I saw Atkinson perform essentially this same show in Edinburgh' and howled with laughter till I•: was begging for mercy. It does not transfer well to vinyl. PT Sugar Minott Good Thing Going (RCA) Lincoln 'Sugar Minott was one of Jamaica's bright young boys, formerly billed as The Ghetto Singer', a youth with a strong message and a sweet voice. His Black Roots LP, from the days he was signed to Island, showed so much promise. Pity. Good Thing Going is unsubstantial lovers' rock with a strong disco leaning, one single and a lot of candy floss. DC Johnny Guitar Watson The Very Best 0f... (DJM) Johnny Guitar Watson has long been an exponent of wry funk. His Gangster of Love' (remade here) is one of the funniest of rock standards. And he plays a very mean guitar. Frank Zappa a disciple of the Watson style, calls it the "icepick in the forehead" sound. But while Watson has been rocking for more than 25 years it is only with his disco-y DJM albums that he has hit paydirt. He has since changed labels, but this collection accurately sums up the recent work of a sadly underrated artist. For early material, consult the excellent The Ganster is Back album on Red Lightnin'. KW