The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • 347

ME RECORD RACK EWF MISSING SOME OF ITS FIRE "ELECTRICAL UNIVERSE" Earth Wind Fire Columbia QC 38980 "CONTINUATION" Philip Bailey Columbia FC 38725 A new Earth Wind Fire album isn't the cause for anticipation that it once was It's not that EAT fronted by studio whiz Maurice White has lost its status as the superstar band of popfunk It's Just that they're not mavericks and there are too many other groups and artists who are coming up with more challenging sounds EWF's last truly exciting album was 1979's "I Am" Interestingly that album was the first to include tunes from outside composers Here the best cuts are those written by Martin Page or Page and Jon Lind both non -EWF members and the album focuses on dance and romance as opposed to the more serious ideals of cosmic bliss and brotherhood that this eight-member aggregation usually espouses EWF is still master of the contemporary big-band style: busy but not bloated The overall feel is jubilant and the Emotions-like harmonies on the bouncy "Moonwalk" are mildly affecting Still this isn't the influential cutting edge of popfunk that you'd expect from this highly touted group Philip Bailey's solo debut "Continuation" is a much better album and it contains the kind of brash wit that usually escapes EWF Bailey co-lead singer of decorates the lyrics with a striking jazz-colored touch Unencumbered by White's cosmic direction he rocks out on the boastful strut of "I Know" and "The Good Guy's Supposed to Get the Girl" He gets serious on "Desire" with its shimmering backup vocals by Sister Sledge and theme of self-determination but the album's is "Your Boyfriend's Back" Lines like: "This is like a nightmareHe's coming up the backstairs Help me hold the door!" are punctuated by gunshots and sirens and Bailey delivers it with heretofore umevealed humor It must be tough to be comical and cosmic at the same time JOHNSON LET'S GET QUIZZICAL "TWO OF A KIND" Sound track Various artists MCA MCA 6127 As the successor to Olivia Newton-John's tracks on "Grease" and "Xanadu" this album is a disappointment: It includes just four tracks by Newton-John only one of which ranks with her best work But as a pop sampler featuring a variety of styles and artists it's a qualified success Newton-John's seleCtions are split between soft slushy ballads and hard-edged dance rockers The problem is that this sidesteps the style of music in which she's most comfortable: sleek midtempo pop tunes like "Physical" and "Make a Move on Me" The most successful of Newton-John's four cuts is the driving rhythmic "Twist of Fate" But her other rock-edged track the frantic "Livire in Desperate Times" has the forced manic pace of Cher schlock like "Dark Lady" And the two ballads (one of them a duet with John Travolta) have neither the heartbreaking poignancy of "Hopelessly Devoted to You" her big ballad from "Grease" nor the hypnotic rhythm of "Magic" her smash from "Xanadu" But if Newton-John's cuts aren't up to her usual standard the album is redeemed by first-rate material by several other pop stars Patti Austin's "It's Gonna Be Special" is a bright dance track produced by the master of that form Quincy Jones Chicago's "Prima Donna" has the brassy dynamics that have been missing from its recent comeback hits And Journey's pounding "Ask the Lonely" has more pulse and vitality than any of its singles from "Frontiers" The album concludes with "Night Music" a lush romantic instrumental written produced and performed by David Foster who supervised 8 of these 10 cuts The track is perhaps the most stately and elegant pop instrumental since "Nadia's Theme" in 1976 GREIN ON THE ROAD AGAIN "WITHOUT A SONG" Willie Nelson Columbia PC 39110 Nelson is traveling the or heartbreak trail again with his simple straight-as-an-arrow readings of vintage pop classics like "Autumn Leaves" and "Harbor Lights" Songs about loss and regret are given Nelson's reflective wizened he always emerges a survivor of the love wars Listen to "Once in Awhile" and despite its wistful tone you get a sense of the heart's stubborn resiliency Producer Booker Jones gives Nelson's spindly vibrato plenty of room to breathe but the album offers one major embarrassment: Nelson's duet with Julio Iglesias on "As Time Goes By" It's easily the weirdest hookup of the year Where's Way Ion Jennings when you really need him? PEACHES AND CREAM "ROBBERY" Teena Marie Epic FE 38882 Teena Marie is a blue-eyed soul auteur who writes arranges and produces her own records Her fifth album is a concept LP that chronicles the evolution of a love affair Though Marie was a longtime protege of funkmeister Rick James her music actually has more in common with Lionel Richie and "Robbery" is a creamy slice of Broadway soul studded with spasms of vibrato and assorted vocal grandstanding It's all pleasant enough but there's nothing here to break your booty over and "Robbery" certainly isn't the fully realized Masterpiece Marie is capable of McKENNA PAX DE PAATrON "EVEN A GRAY DAY" Tom Paxton Flying Fish 280 The passing of years has certainly mellowed this veteran of what Martin Mull calls the '60s "folk scare" least in this pleasant collection of Paxton newies and oldies (including his greatest hit "The Last Thing on My Mind" the cutting edge of protest and satire which livened up those classic early albums on Elektra With minimal accompaniment Paxton offers ample proof that his clear direct singing style remains intact Nonetheless the record's steady stream of misty-eyed love songs tends to become cloying SHULGOLD RING IN THE NEW YEAR ON MEXECO'S ONLY UWE OAF THE E0 4 I 16 4 of unspoiled Manzanillo sunny Mazatlan and by rugged Cabo San Lucas as we head back to Los Angeles But you must hurry Since space is limited call your travel agent right now and sail with a Princess for the happiest New Year ever Special Princess Values Fly free from LA Airport 3rd person free in a stateroom with available accommodations All you pay is their air fare Lowest exclusive occupancy rate Per-person fare plus 10 Space is limited so make reservations now 1 II Celebrate the New Year in style aboard Mexico's only Love Boat the five-star Pacific Princess Sail December 30 for 8 nights from Acapulco with charming British officers to toast your health A whole ship-full of best friend kind of people to share the fun Cheerful Italian waiters to pamper you Master chefs to tempt you with five fabulous meals a day Plus plenty of big beautiful Broadway- ss style entertainment Between shipboard parties you'll live it up in the most colorful ports in Mexico From glit- tering Acapulco we'll take you to the golden beaches iMiffigili ram MN dr 1111111 011111111 LIto I1 111146116V 0 mu manms rerrill 1 NI safe-I-sound 1011 will fINI9 11 111111raaLzT---u--1U1-- salesound igurallf211E CD MOP 0 NEI ME MUM MI IFFOR ItItHATIP4 ICURIs YSTEM KEN WOOD STEREO FOR 'CUR CAR 49 IFFEREN DIS cLI co 113 04 0 I esi 0 59 A NAtAfit KIC3100 CASSITTIAICEIVER NI $YNINESZEO TUNER PAM AN RC SEPARATE BLE otAtliTS $EEK TAPE MN AUTO MIME NEIS NOISE TO STATION PINSETS INEXICTION SYSTEM Fill SPIPAKIRSI Fill INSTALLATIONI $299 (to $44t) 16g1'1-si-04 95 INSTA LE JIFFORD KEYPA 95 NStALLE t4msoiv VA4wfstplolowtrwofPgT 004 --4- A r- IIMEMIII aUTM73711 10S1 tin 1171171Tranamm Ns A I It 1 law JETIWItlY1717111 111111EMPIZIRTIRMIO1110110: -91191! EU' III HOLIDAY HOURS I (I tor 1 rot 1111 Mon-Sat 9-7 PM I Sun 1-6 I PRINCESS CRUISES EU 0 a.