Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • 77

Chicago Tribune, Thursday. Jury 23, 1992 Section 5 7 Tempo Home Entertainment 34fljd 0 fB am We fjfl eAY Jair 19 fluently in English and Spanish gives his second album its title, and, truly, it is no idle boast. For his facility with either language is such that you almost forget the savage beats and rhythms he and co-producers Julio Bronek Wroblewski, Tony G. and DJ Muggs have created to accompany his polyglot lyrics. What impresses most is his knack for translating the rhymes he has just spoken while staying within the meter he has established in that particular song, M.M.

Jerry Butter Iceman: The Mercury Years (Mercury) -k-k-kVi Long before he successfully entered local politics, Jerry Butler was one of Chicago's top soul singers, with a stage manner so supercool that he was dubbed "Iceman." Butler's velvet-smooth baritone had already set the world ablaze before his signing with Mercury Records in 1966, but he soon hit his full commercial stride, as this two-disc set illustrates. Although creamy ballads such as "You Don't Know What You Got Until You Lose It" and "Mr. Dream Merchant" offered a clue to his future, the soul singer's classic 1967-70 collaborations with Philadelphia producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, notably "Never Give You Up," "Hey, Western Union Man" and "Only the Strong Survive," represent Butier at his best, the swirling Philly sound powering "Moody Woman'' and "What's the Use of Breaking Up." Butter's Philly connection was so mutually beneficial that the early '70s Chicago productions that make up much of the second disc seem somewhat uninspired by comparison. B.D. things off with a gniff "Bingo" (B-I-N-G-O, in a whisky-chafed voice), but things get mellower with Patty Loveless, Chris Hillman, Mary-Chapin Carpenter and Emmylou Harris offerings.

Also delightful are Buck Owens' "If You Can't Find a Reason to Be Happy" and Peder-sen's "Clean Room Blues." Aimed at younger listeners, adults need not fed embarrassed if they find their toes tapping, as wdL Gary Dretzka Glenn Frey Strange Weather (MCA) 'i It may be cynical to call "Strange Weather" Glenn Prey's social-consciousness album, but that's an apt description of his fourth solo album since the demise of the Eagles. Previously Prey's solo work has alternated between gooey love songs (True and movie and TV show anthems Heat Is On," "You Belong to the Now, perhaps following the lead of former Eagles partner Don Henley, Frey has gotten topical. He warns about the ailing environment in "Long Hot Summer," belatedly castigates Ronald Reagan in "He Took Advantage," decries rampant materialism in "I've Got Mine" and "Big Life," and ponders romance in the post-AIDS era in "Love in the 21st Century." Unfortunately, Frey comes off as just another Johnny-come-lately on the relevancy bandwagon, while the album's best songs rPart of Me, Part of You," "Strange leave the politics outside the bedroom door. Dan Kening Mellow Man Ace The Brother With Two Tongues (Capitol) Mellow Man Ace's ability to rap there and a few background shouts during the chorus to let you know they made die trip. The album is primarily devoted to showcasing Ronald Isley's knack for crooning a pop ballad.

On such tracks as "Searching for a Miracle," "Sensitive Lover" and "Brazilian Wedding Song" the payoffs are as achingfy beautiful as anything the band recorded during its heyday in the late '70s. In fact, several references to Isley Brothers hits of the past are cleverly woven into the new material as a touchstone between then and now. Mitchell May Dr. John Coin' Back to New Orleans (Warner) Folks have been waiting for Dr. John to do this record for a long time.

About 20 years, in fact, since he recorded his last tribute to New Orleans music and one of his best career albums, "Gumbo." If "Goin' Back" follows "Gumbo" chronologically, it precedes it in terms of musical history. Here the roots of "Gumbo's" golden era are exposed in 18 tracks celebrating early blues, brass band, Mardi Gras Indian tribe, minstrel and other morsels that were tossed into the New Orleans musical melting pot. Even classical music gets a nod in the opening "Litanie des Saints," a syncopated vodun processional inspired by Louis Moreau Gottschalk, one of the first composers to introduce Caribbean, southern U.S. and other "folk" ele-rrnts into classical European forms, presaging both jazz and world music. From there (circa 1850), the good Doctor rambles in classic yet casual Crescent City style through a century of musical history with a string of familiar tunes written and UP Ed ft the Blues Imperials What You See Is What Yon Get (Alligator) 'j Derivative in the extreme, Chicago blues guitarist LiT Ed Williams bases his rudimentary slide style on that of his uncle, the late J.B.

Hutto. Williams re-creates Hutto's high-energy approach accurately enough witness his rousing cover of Hutto's "Please Help" on this disc but he has seldom come to terms with his uncle's subtler side, resulting in some truly one-dimensional contemporary blues recordings. Music critics have championed the young guitarist and his Blues Imperials for their relentlessly ragged sound, though this third outing for Alligator is their most polished to date. Saxist Eddie McKinky, a recent band addition, mercifully brightens the shuffle-heavy Grooves, and Williams' originals, rom the rocking "Out of the House" to a downbeat "Long, Long Way From Home," seem a bit more varied. Extroverted high jinks may be enough to delight his concert audiences, but LiF Ed Williams finally sounds ready here to shake his uncle's stylistic shadow.

Bill Dahl Isley Brothers Featuring Ronald Isley Tracks of Life (Warner) 'j Ronald Isley (aided by producer Angela Winbush) writes, arranges and sings every song, while brothers Ernie (guitar) and Marvin (bass) seem relegated to hired-help status with only a guitar solo here and Lit' Ed Williams models his style after J.B. Hutto, but has little of his uncle's subtlety. inspired by or closely linked to such N.O. legends as Professor Longhair, Jellyroll Morton, Fats Domino and Louis Armstrong. Not a few contemporary N.O.

artists guest on this album, which, remarkably, is the first that Dr. John (who began his career in the mid-'50s golden era of actually recorded in his hometown. Chris Heim Electric Light Orchestra Part Two Performing ELO's Greatest Hits live (Scotti Bros.) no stars ELO cover band recorded at some unnamed location with the Moscow Symphony Orchestra. Brilliant idea! Promotions all around! Mark Caro Gregg Alexander Into ifomication (Epic) The "Beverly Hills, 90210" version of Prince is here, complete with his gorgeous face, guitar and songs filled with sexual play-by-plays. Alexander "Tracks of Life" is a showcase for Ronald Isley's vocals; his brothers stay in the background.

always sings with that musky, moany voice so associated with Prince and he funks up even the ballads like "Michigan Rain" with a snazzy drum beat. Whether it's "Smokin' in Bed," "Cruel With Me," "Intoxifornication" or "Electric Girlfriend," however, the idea is the same and the songs pretty similar, too. But also as with Prince, this stuff is made for radio and pretty kind on the ear, if not revolutionary. Brenda Herrmann Various artists Country Music for Kids (Disney) If your youngsters are running around the house with an achy-breaky heart, and they don't why exactly, it might be helpful if Mom or Dad picked up this country-music primer for their enlightenment Produced for Disney's Spotlight Artist Series by Jay Levy and Herb Peder-sen, it features original and traditional songs with a good-timey and a decidedly non-condescending bluegrass feel. Merle Haggard kicks DOW SHOES Famous Brands for Less Dyeable Pumps 25-35 OFF Hi KIDS' KNIT HkvOnly $1499 VPSffisX Dyed To Match 00 extra TOPS, BOYS' CASUAL nuiia SllM Mod.

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