European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - January 29, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                It was a great year for music Koek espoused humanitarian sin in 1985, raising million of dollars for african famine Telie Fand Ether comes. By Frank Spotnitz United press International Ock n Roll had a Banner year in 1985, becoming As potent a social Force As it s been since the 1960s. Rock espoused humanitarian Lam a live Aid and Usa for Alrica invaded the rest of popular culture with music videos and showed Olf How Good it can be with Bruce Springsteen who headed the biggest Rock re Roll tour to he Story. Ii was a Good year Lor old favourites like Bob Dylan and Tina Turner. The latter not Only cemented her comeback but nearly set the live Aid Slage on lire with her sizzling duet with Mick Jagger in Philadelphia. It also was a Good year Lor newcomers. Boston s til tuesday Philadelphia s the Hooters the pretty boys of wham cheerful in Trina and the Waves sleek Sade richly talented Whitney Houston and ust Lika dad Julian Lennon All scored High with their first rulings on he charts. Other events for the music record books were Madonna s mass exposure on the covers of Playboy and Penthouse As Well As time1, Little Steven s impressive anti apartheid Appeal Sun City and farm Aid fashion Aid. School Aid and every other Type of Aid inspired by lha original band Aid. In the broken hearts department Springsteen married Julianne Phillips Carly Simon tied the knot with drummer Russ Runkal Billy Joel married Christie Bra Oklay Ron Wood made it official Ullh to Howard and of course Madonna hitched Sean Penn. Gelling Down to business though there was a Strong Harvest of Good music Here is ills writer s completely subjective list of the 10 Best pop a Burns released during the past Calendar year 1. John Fogerty Centerfield. Ogerly s Reedy voice and sure handed Rock instincts might have been in a Lime capsule the past 10 years. His first album in All Hal time is a Brilliant comeback crowing Ullh enthusiasm in the title track cleverly belittling a record company Boss in another and just having a Good time throughout. It s been nearly a year but i still Haven t tired of listening to those joyous Modals in Rock n Roll girls one of the year s Best singles even if ii is a bit too reminiscent of 1975 s Rockin Aii Over the world. Indeed Centrefold s weakness is thai despite some minor experimentation. It Breaks Little ground stylistically. But just having Fogerty Back and in full command of his abilities is enough to make this album the year s Best. 2. Talking Heads units creatures. Eight years after their audacious debut this Art Rock band continues to so Orlle. Enlighten and amuse. Little creatures is by far their tightest most amiable work to Dale which does no make in their Best up Only their most accessible. Even the Lytle borrowing Samuel Beckett s phrase to describe children seems to be giving us a sly Wink David Byrne must be Given the lion s share of credit for conceptualizing writing and vocalizing but talking Heads is a solid band from front 1o Back with musical instincts thai rarely err 3. Sting the dream Othle Blue turtles. Fears that sting s Solo debut would to a self and urgent Romp through jazz land faded away As this up spun on turntables across America. The lyrics May sometimes be self righteous but More often than not they Are deeply moving especially the eloquent plea for peace in russians with hypnotic rhythms expertly played by a band of top rate jazz musicians. That tha music from ills up is Able to drown out Sling s enormous ego and succession of self congratulations in bring on the night. The film about the making of this album is proof of its Potency. 4. Dire Strait Brothers in arms. Mark Knoller s triumphant return from a sabbatical spent Wal Long film soundtracks finds him at the top of his form. Mis murmuring Monotone ranks with Bob Dylan s for its paradoxical Emot Veness his guitar work is delicious and his lyrics have a Way of latching onto the obscure and making it seem Universal. The album s big hit Money for nothing. Ironically is among his least Subtle compositions a Randy Newman esque alack of redneck attitudes toward Rock. 5. Mick Jagger she s the Boss. I was sceptical about the All Star lineup Jagger assembled Lor this up his first soil Elford. It seemed As if he was sculling the record s resume with everyone irom Jeff Beck 10 Herbie Hancock and hat maybe All this Talent was disguising some nol so hot material. Asil turns Oul. She s the Bossis simply inexhaustible Adelight Lul danceable album whose grooves already Are As shot As my 2-year-old copy of the stones undercover. There s an awful lot of posturing on the record one suspects Jagger does t really believe Haft of what he pouts but in sure is fun listening to him. I. Graham Parker and the shot steady nerves. Parker is one of our very Best rockers and yet he still can l fight his Way onto radio playlists. This energetic Outing is the Best since his classic squeezing out Sparks. The political commentary is biting even Savage on break them Down the wll is inexhaustible and the sheer danceable Lidyof lha tunes irresistible. Wednesday january 29, 1986 support from the shot is not As Dysli Nellve As the Rumour Parker s former backup band but the Groove Slit runs deep. Steady nerves is an undiscovered treasure. 7, Euryth Mlot be yourself tonight.  Lay Olf the synthesizers a Little on this album giving Dave Stewart s guitar some breathing room and the results Are amazing. Annie Lennox has never been in greater command of her vocal chords which have been the cause of much concern lately and she holds her own in the soul department during a Duel with aretha Frankyn on Sisters Are Doin it for themselves. Love you like a Ball and Chain is the spinel Ingler though. When she howls you feel All the pain and anger of real passion.  Pally and the heartbreaker a Southern accents. Ii might Well have been called one Man s  the Florida born Petty tries on different Southern characters and attitudes with mostly pleasing results. Particularly stunning was the Dave Stewart collaboration of Don t come around Here no More which was matched with an equally impressive music video. Another highlight was the Robbie Robertson produced the Bestol everything sounding a lot like the Besl of the band. Petty is a Rocker in the Seger Springsteen Mold but with a unique Way of yelping Yarling and just wrapping his voice around a phrase that gels you in the gut. Ii Only he d do something about those mul ton chop sideburns. 9. Prince and the revolution Paisley Park. Prince proves his strangeness is for real on this disappointing followup to last year s purple rain. The inspiration is decidedly psychedelic and the 60s frolicking works beautifully on a few tunes especially Raspberry Beret and Paisley Park. But his Royal badness lets his tendency toward self indulgence get in the Way on several other tracks and the whining of the politically strange America is grating. Still there Are enough memorable moments to Merit this up a place among the top 10. 10. Bab Dylan Empire burlesque. Ii was not she album to earn Bob Dylan a Posler on the Walls of today s american teen age bedroom but Empire burlesque is a spirited passionate Efi Orl from the angry Walling of clean Cut kid to the size King Rock v Roll of when the night comes falling. Not surprisingly however the most effective number is the simplest dark eyes with just Dylan s nasal voice acoustic guitar and a Harmonica is a stirring lament for Mankind s Lolly. The stars and stripes Page 13