European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - September 4, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Review Don Johnson sings new tune on first album by Jonathan Karp Washington Pott the always fashionable  vice Star Don inn san has once again set a Standard. He has recorded the first Rock album in which All the  manage to sound As if they Haven t shaved Lor three Days. His album . Marks Johnson s debug Ai a sifter. While it s no masterpiece inc album in t Likely to wind up in the discount bins Nel to is by former to heartthrob  Casidy and Scott Baio. The single which was released 3 week ago has been i climbing the charts and Retting  radio airplay. Rough and Good natured / limit at Breaks no ground but covers corporate Rock territory us equally. Johnson s voice in Oiler words will penetrate even the Crank est car radio. The album however keeps to inc Slick image of Miami vice and hardly establishes Johnson As an Mist with insight Inlo music. Most of heartbeat sounds Fine. Johnson hits inc mites with a Gritty forceful new and the studio band pounds away adroitly. But this is still a product and Johnson is still the Star. Lite a Cal month mtg will air ,1 documentary on the making of the  video which is described by an epic records spokesman As an hour Long work with a surreal plot Anil no dialogue. The video which is budgeted at More than $1 million could make Don Johnson the first to Star to create an album that makes him an even bigger tvs in. And if the Long form video succeeds it could pave the Way for other Rock Aries is to tackle the same formal which would be Welcome when to stars have tried to Transfer their video Success to Vinyl the reception usually has been tepid ind the product fetid David soul Uhn Travolta Lisa Hartman and Ohnson s Miami vice co Star Philip Michael Thomas Are among the Many who have seen their albums fizzle. The late Ricky Nelson and Rick Springfield had some Success Bill have not been liken seriously As artists. And then there s always in Nabors. Johnson May be different my these i Oaks. Primarily because he s guilty of Talent by association. Among the album s Contri Vulors Are guitarists Stevie Ray Vaughan rolling Stone member Ron Wood and Dpi Tail Zappa singers Bonnie rail Michael Des Barres and Willie Nelson songwriters Bob Seger and Tom Petty and comic actress Vav hoops Caldbergh who raps on a song thai did nol make the album but will probably be used in the video. 11 Hinh Johnson s taken the right move by surrounding himself with some talented and Well known people from the Industry said billboard Talent editor Steve Celt who expects a positive reaction to the album. He immediately broke Down a lot of barriers that he might  Meed if he d done it alone pie records is promoting i jul till As a serious Effort Johnson has turned Down ill to requests for interviews As Par of epic s  i pin the support of radio programmers ind Rock critics. We would like his audio in a to be a Cross Section Miami vices Don lotion is mating cacti Inlo the recording Industry. Of a Ojile who basically buy Phonon Rippli albums nol just part Leeni and people who  h a i if Vic " said fit Nib finist Elliot Mintz. John  to wite two tunes Olhorui-.1 n r Ai pro lured written and arranged by other in Hanson has written Sonfist before for an Allmain Brothers album called enlightened Rop Uei so this in t completely new for him he holds Hii own with the other . Ironically the two biggest clunkers Cost from the two most established writers Petty and Segur. His singing though pleasant lacks sub Tely and Seldom varies in Lono. The formula works but it s still a formula. To s leading Man is now the band s front Man. As a Singer he s convincing and likable but nol very interesting. Lyrically the album is As Bland As they come. The songs have no Point of View and lend to ramble simplistically about love heartache and it sales Ness. This vagueness May lend itself belter to Virlen which will Supply the images that the songwriters failed to provide. Another problem is believe Billy. Son s with lines like Don t sure something that Well both by sorry or i need a Friend right now imply