Blue Angel

s/t

(Music On CD)

In the early 1980s, Cyndi Lauper sold her soul to the corporate music industry, mongering insipid pop detritus to undiscriminating imbeciles. That she opted to squander her redoubtable talent is now on the historical record. But the singer was capable of significance, as illustrated by Blue Angel's sole studio disc. Its 1980 issuance predated the errant vocalist's enthusiatic bellyflop into pablum.

The effervescent debut was originally released by Polydor. It has since been reissued numerous times, again now by Music On CD. Within the album's 12 tracks beat a familiar Rock'n'Roll heart. Traditionally arrayed chords recalled the music's salad days and lent nostalgic air. 

But the vivacity with which group members dealt them ensured the record's aptness in an era that also witnessed early, exciting efforts by Robert Gordon, the Rockats, and the Stray Cats. 

The record reminded of better times, when wisecracking high-schoolers spun on maltshop stools, couples whirled to jukeboxes' blares, and finned Chevys cruised local loops, their sideburned drivers hunting action.

Particularly striking was the soloing contributed by Arthur "Rockin' A" Neilson. Whether tracks presented were frantic rockers or tranquil ballads, he proved himself indispensable. 

Impelling Blue Angel with rambunctiousnes was erstwhile Tuff Darts drummer John Morelli. That he and the rest of the group offered boundless ebullience was beyond dispute. They were obviously having fun and invited listeners to join the party. Accepting the invitation was our pleasure.

Comes now cold water.

The endeavor came to naught. In failure's aftermath, dejected members took diverse paths. For example, scintillating guitarist Arthur returned to the Blues idiom he'd previously explored. 

Lauper basically turned her back on genuine Rock'n'Roll, though she did reportedly include Blue Angel songs in some otherwise dismal performances. (Today long of tooth, the perfidious chanteuse has been reduced to hawking a skin eruption nostrum in television commercials.)

That unpleasantness aside, persons interested in hearing potential that once rollicked are counseled to seek out this remarketed documentation and celebrate its undersung qualities.

Recommended: "Maybe He'll Know," "I Had a Love," "Fade," "Can't Blame Me," "Late," "Cut Out," "Take a Chance," "Just the Other Day," "Everybody's Got An Angel"

Video: "Late"

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