Bo Diddley and Peter Wolf, a couple of brand-name rockers from the past, have new albums in the stores. One calls on a roster of famous musicians; the other echoes styles more familiar to other acts.
BO DIDDLEY; "Man Amongst Men" (Atlantic). * * 1/2
Bo Diddley, one of rock 'n' roll's bluesiest fathers, returns to the scene with "Man Amongst Men." And it rocks, with plenty of hooks.
But while the blues, purists would argue, are supposed to be gritty, "Man" turns out to be slickly produced and very smooth. Now, that's not necessarily a bad thing. The silken production has the potential to attract all types of listeners and introduce new ears to blues.
And "Man Amongst Men" won't have to lean on the tight arrangements to sell. The musical guest list should give Diddley's latest a jump start. Performing with the legend are the Rolling Stones' Ron Wood and Keith Richards, Jimmie Vaughan, Johnny "Guitar" Watson, Billy Boy Arnold, Johnnie Johnson, the Shirelles and Bon Jovi's Richie Sambora (yes, he can play the blues and is very good).
Tunes such as the rollicking "Bo Diddley Is Crazy," "Hey Baby" - which features Diddley's signature "Diddley beat" - the moody "I Can't Stand It" and the rockabilly closing cut "Oops! Bo Diddley" are among the album's highlights.
PETER WOLF; "Long Line" (Reprise). * * 1/2
Peter Wolf, former frontman of the J. Geils Band, has always rel
ished rhythm. He disco-danced to the group's more rocking beats and swiggled his hips during the band's hearty ballads. As a solo artist, Wolf's spunky urban beats came through on every single he released.
This time the man manages to mix those disco-laden thumps with a Midwestern swagger.
Acoustic guitars, harmonicas and bean-filled shakers give texture to the Wolf's latest release "Long Line." But once the disc starts spinning, the sounds are vaguely familiar.
The John Mellencampy "Rosie," the Rolling Stoneish "Forty to One" (co-written by Aimee Mann) and the Bruce Hornsby-flavored "Goodbye (Is All I'll Send Her)" send the listener on a second-class trip to the heartland.
Bob Dylan's influence strums poetically on "Waitin' Time," while images of Bob Seger drive it home with "Sky High."
While the beats are contagious, Wolf's latest songs aren't really that original; it's all been been done before.
RATINGS: four stars (* * * * ), excellent; three stars (* * * ), good; two stars (* * ), fair; one star (* ), poor, with 1/2 representing a higher, intermediate grade.