ROCK • A • RAMA

ROCK.A.RAMA

CURTIS MAYFIELD - His Early Years With the Impressions (ABC)::The anonymous liner notes for this disc contain the disclaimer: “This isn’t just a “Best of . . .” or a “Greatest Hits” album - it is a collection of the early work of a contemporary musical genius.” But, like it or not, that’s exactly what this doublevolumed album reveals itself to be. Mayfield, together with Jerry Butler (a one-time Impressions member), pioneered the development of the “cool” Chicago R&B sound that fully emerged, in the mid-Sixtics, in the work of Gene Chandler, Billy Stewart, Major Lance and, of course, the evolving Impressions. Motown’s Detroit-based approach was always grittier and more strident contrast Martha and the Vandellas’ “Heat Wave” with “Gypsy Woman” or “People Get Ready” and you have both prongs of the fork that began to urbanize the term “rhythm ‘n’ blues” into “soul”.

ERIC JUSTIN KAZ - If You’re Lonely (Atlantic):: Weird. What’s a nice Jewish boy like Eric doing writing these depressing songs that sound like Protestant hymns? Dunno, but he does it okay, although his songs sound better in the hands of Tracy Nelson or Bonnie Raitt. .