Fine Young Cannibals

The English Beat's guitarist and bassist got together with singer Roland Gift for this emotionally rich marriage between 1960s jazz-accented soul and modern New Wave. Fresh songwriting and Gift's personal perspective helped this become a hit on both sides of the pond, with highlights including club staple "Johnny Come Home," "Blue" and the ballad "Funny How Love Is."

Andy Cox and David Steele aren't quite up to Beat-quality tunes or the post-Caribbean funk that might compensate, and some will find Roland Gift's Brit-soul strain affected. Me, I knew he was singing about something real long before I checked out the lyrics, which testify as does all too little black crossover these days to an ordinary life of hard choices--a lot harder than whether to believe that woman, which rest assured does enter into it. (Grade - B+)